Urban Outlaws

August 15, 2014
A group of teenage misfits takes on the world of government conspiracy and digital terrorism in this series opener. Jack, Charlie, Obi, Slink and Wren are lucky to have one another. Escapees from various types of social service trauma, they've formed a makeshift family that lives under the London streets. They thrive on stealing from the rich, both to fund their independent lifestyle and improve the lives of others through secret donations to nonprofits, and RAKing (performing anonymous Randoms Acts of Kindness). Their harmonious existence is threatened, however, when they discover the whereabouts of the world's only quantum computer, named Proteus, which has the ability to render secrets, barriers and privacy obsolete. The government wants Proteus, as does Del Sarto, a ruthless criminal. Can the Urban Outlaws save the world before they end up in jail-or worse? This debut novel packs in a lot of action that kids will gobble up with gusto. Young readers won't be bothered by the occasional cheesy moment: "Jack wouldn't rest until Proteus was dead." More typical are the many chapters filled with exhilarating drama, clever dialogue, descriptions of cool gadgets, and characters who may be young but who display strong senses of social responsibility. A thrilling tale of a Robin Hood for the iPod generation. (Adventure. 9-13)

COPYRIGHT(2014) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2014

Gr 5-8-Heads up, fans of Alex Rider: here's the next thing! Five British tweens use their advanced skills in hacking, thievery, and deception to take from the powerful and give to those in need. In this first book of the series, the Urban Outlaws (Jack, Charlie, Obi, Slink, and Wren) investigate a villian who uses a supercomputer for nefarious purposes. The gripping plot twists through underground lairs, rooftop break-ins, shadowy government interrogations, and more-almost all at night-with all the fancy tech gadgetry, disguises, and awesomely dangerous athletic skills readers could want. Characters, while distinguished primarily by their independent skills, show off their individual personalities with ready-for-television snappy dialogue. The narrative primarily follows the thoughts of Jack, the mastermind, allowing glimpses into the backstory of these orphans-turned-Merry Men but doesn't get bogged down in set-up or uneccessary description. A fun, fast pick worthy of every middle-grade collection, this may even catch the attention of older reluctant readers.-Rhona Campbell, Georgetown Day School, Washington, DC

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.