Going Rogue

Gr 8 Up—Following on the heels of Also Known As (Walker, 2013), safecracker Maggie Silver, now 17, discovers that her beloved parents have been accused by the international but unsanctioned spy ring, "The Collective," of stealing priceless gold coins. Once members of the criminal crew, the "The Collective" has viciously turned against the Silvers. They are forced to go rogue-that is, act on their own, against expectation or instruction-to determine the truth. Completely fun but ridiculous escapades à la James Bond follow as Maggie and her boyfriend, Jesse, and her friend Roux work to clear her parents' names. Maggie plots strategy with the enigmatic forger Angelo and experiences hair-raising close escapes as she discovers the holder of the gold coins and steals them back. As the three teens race through the streets of Manhattan and are finally forced to flee for their lives down the secret tunnels of Paris, the pace escalates to warp speed. While not as well written or tightly plotted as the earlier title, this enjoyable and exciting novel will thrill fans of chick-lit spy capers.—Susan Riley, Mamaroneck Public Library, NY