Dead Cat Bounce

September 24, 2012
Debut novelist Bennett channels his experience as a trader into a gripping and globe-spanning thriller built around the financial crisis. After 12-year-old Jonah visits his trader father at work, he falls under the mentorship of a brilliant but volatile man nicknamed the Baron who introduces him to the underbelly of the financial world. By the time Jonah is 16, he is working for the Baron, traveling from London to New York and Amsterdam. Jonah doesn't realize just how corrupt the people he's working with are until it's nearly too late, and his attempt to learn the truth and save his father forms the bulk of the second-half action. Bennett capably translates financial and technological chicanery for teen readers, conveying the magnetism of stock trading and how it seduces Jonah. Betrayal, hints of espionage, and a rare glimpse into the machinations of an often-clandestine industry should have readers anticipating the next book. Ages 14âup. Agent: Catherine Clarke, Felicity Bryan Associates.

November 1, 2012

Gr 8-11-This story begins with a heart-pounding hook, a prologue that drops readers smack into a riveting life-or-death drama. Sixteen-year-old Jonah and his dad narrowly escape murderous thugs after downloading computer files. Chapter one is set four years earlier when a young Jonah accompanies his emotionally distant father to his job on the trading floor of a London brokerage firm. Jonah is fascinated with the fast-paced, winner-take-all trading and the sudden wealth it brings. The Baron, a bigwig hedge-fund manager, takes Jonah under his wing, strokes his ego, and plies him with attention, compliments, and gifts. Jonah leaves school early and joins the firm where he eventually discovers that all the wealth isn't always earned honestly. When a trade goes wrong and his dad is blamed for losing billions, he asks Jonah for help. The two find themselves in the middle of a worldwide financial conspiracy where the key players consider murder a part of the game. This high-octane read will appeal to fans of Anthony Horowitz's "Alex Rider" series (Philomel). The only complaint will be the cliff-hanger ending.Patricia N. McClune, Conestoga Valley High School, Lancaster, PA

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