Author(s): J.J. Arcanjo

Junior Fiction | Claire's Book Talkers

"So this is really a school for criminals." "We are so much more than that. We are a home for the forgotten, a sanctuary for the lost and ... yes, a training ground for the greatest crooks of the future." An irresistible new series about chosen family, high stakes thievery, and what it really means to do good. 13-year-old Gabriel is a brilliant pickpocket, a skill which he uses to keep his often empty belly not quite so empty. And then one day, he's caught. But instead of being arrested, he is invited by the mysterious Caspian Crook to attend Crookhaven - a school for thieves. At Crookhaven, students are trained in lock-picking, forgery and 'crim-nastics', all with the intention of doing good out in the world, by conning the bad and giving back to the innocent.But ... can you ever really trust a thief? With a school wide competition to be crowned Top Crook and many mysteries to uncover, Gabriel's first year at Crookhaven will be one to remember... An irresistible series about chosen family, high stakes thievery, and what it really means to do good. Perfect for fans of M.G. Leonard and Anthony Horowitz.  

CONSTANT READER STAFF REVIEW - CLAIRE

Imagine the likes of Oliver Twist attending an academy akin to Hogwarts, and you will have something resembling Crookhaven! Far from being just petty criminals, the children chosen to study here all commit wrongdoings in the name of setting the world right. Gabriel’s talent as a pickpocket may have originated out of necessity, for his grandmother’s and his own survival, but he soon learns the usefulness of such typically despised skills in restoring the balance of power beyond the reach of the law. However, a darkness lurks beneath the surface at the school; a sinister threat that this band of young thieves, forgers and hackers may employ their training for truly nefarious deeds. As Gabriel’s own mysterious family heritage comes to light, this story examines the blurry divide between good and evil – is anything ever so simply one or the other?