Embassy Row Book 1:

All Fall Down

Ally Carter

Scholastic

2015

Available: Hard copy, paperback, Kindle

    Sixteen-year-old Grace Blakely goes to live with her grandfather, an ambassador, stationed in a small but important country in Europe. She hasn't visited him since her mother's death three year's earlier. It's been too painful and then there's the time she has spent time in treatment. Grace believes her mother was murdered. No one believes her and

BOOK REVIEW: I'D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU, BUT THEN I'D HAVE TO KILL YOU

I'D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU,

BUT THEN I'D HAVE TO KILL YOU

Ally Carter

Hyperion

2006

Available: paperback, hard copy, Kindle, audible

     Sophomore Cammie Morgan is a second generation Gallagher Academy girl. In fact, her mother is the headmistress, which fortunately doesn't cramp her style. Or not much. Gallagher Academy is an all girls-school that's unlike all others. Its curriculum offers classes in chemical warfare, advanced martial arts, code breaking, and other super espionage subjects designed to prepare the next generation of spies.  Cammie is an exceptional student, having mastered all sorts of spy tricks and 14 languages. She's prepared for every challenge imaginable, that is, except

THREE QUESTIONS: ALLY CARTER

THREE QUESTIONS:
FROM ALLY CARTER'S WEB PAGE

HEIST SOCIETY

Where did you get the idea for Heist Society?


The short story is that I was in my car, listening to an audiobook. There was a line in the book–something like “I felt like a cat burglar in my own house”, and I immediately knew I wanted to write a story about a girl named Kat who was a burglar.

How did you come up with the title “Heist Society”?


It was a title that just popped into my head pretty early on, but we (my editor, agent, writer friends) all kept thinking that maybe there was something better. Months and months we searched. We probably came up with dozens of titles—all of which felt wrong. It took a while to realize that was because Heist Society was right. Now I can’t imagine calling the book anything else.

Who is your favorite character in Heist Society? 


That’s a hard one. I love them all in different ways. Kat is very independent and savvy about some things–not so much others. Her cousin, Gabrielle, is the only other main female character and she’s very upfront and honest in a wonderfully blunt and refreshing kind of way.

And then there are the boys… Sigh. So many boys.

BOOK REVIEW: HEIST SOCIETY

Heist Society- Mystery book review

HEIST SOCIETY

Ally Carter

Disney Hyperion

2010

Available: hardcopy, paperback, Kindle, audio

   Katarina "Kat" Bishop has just settled into her new life at a prestigious New England boarding school when she's accused of an unforgivable prank and is kicked out. 16-year-old billionaire Hale has set her up to take the fall. If she'd pulled the job, she wouldn't have been caught. Not with her experience. Her father is one of the world's best art thieves and she's been his assistant for years. At first she's furious with Hale because he's ruined her chance at a normal life. Then she learns that five ultra valuable paintings have been stolen and her father is the prime suspect. The victim is Arturo Taccone, a dangerous Italian billionaire. He wants them back or her father will become history. She has two weeks to locate the thief and to re-steal the art. She puts together a team of teens to pull off the job in a high-stakes romp across Europe.

    This is an action-packed mystery of international intrigue packed with a cast of unconventional characters. There's glamour. Humor. Spies. Exotic locations. The world of art and theft. It's all narrated by a spunky Kat who, in spite of her unusual lifestyle, is a normal teen girl coming to grips with life, boys and how she fits in to it all. A fun read that would make a great movie.

Target audience: Grade 6–10

Mystery/suspense: Action packed

Kid Appeal: High