Crookhaven – The Thieves Revenge Written by J. J. Arcanjo. Reviewed by Radhika, Age 10

I really enjoyed this series, and I was on tenterhooks the whole way through. I loved the vivid descriptions that pulled me into the book and allowed me to live vicariously through the eyes of Gabriel and his crew. I could hear the chug of the approaching trains at Moorheart station, was engulfed by the sight of the shimmering black lake and felt the statue’s cold, smooth, polished bronze as I slipped my token in to enter Crookhaven .I practically devoured the book the moment it arrived and was plunged into a whole new world. I feel that this book was an appropriate ending to the series although I didn’t want it to end.

This book has an array of different characters, and I loved them all. My favourite character was probably Penelope, Gabriel’s partner-in-crime who always has a plan and is confident and self-assured. Using just brush and canvas, she can forge an exact replica of Mona Lisa to perfection, jettison her dream of becoming a solo crook to be with her friends and is at the top of the leaderboard in every single class. I love how she always holds her head held high even in tough situations.

I couldn’t possibly write a review for Crookhaven without including the others on Gabriel’s crew. Ade and Ede are the wild tech hackers of the crew – immensely funny and are guaranteed to make you crack up. Amira is amazing at everything sporty and always comes out on top in Crimnastics. Villette is mean on the outside and soft from the inside, finding it hard to trust everybody after being kidnapped by the Nameless. Val is kind-hearted but terrified of the Nameless. Gabriel is the heart of the crew, determined to take the nameless down despite insurmountable challenges.

This book has mystery, adventure and friendships running through it as clearly as a river of lava runs through a volcano. Fiery, action-packed, explosive: this book is perfect for children aged 8-13 who love mystery / adventure. If you liked the Rosie Frost duet, then this series is a must read for you. I would rate this book 5/5.