Moxie and the Art of Rule Breaking: A 14 Day Mystery

Gr 6–9—Thirteen-year-old Moxie was supposed to spend her last summer before high school exploring Boston with her friend Ollie. Her plans are ruined, though, when a mysterious stranger arrives at her door asking for her grandfather and threatening to harm her family if certain "items" are not returned to a dangerous criminal named Sully Cupcakes. Moxie soon learns that her grandfather, now dealing with Alzheimer's, was an accomplice to the 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft, hiding the stolen artwork in locations around the city. Sully Cupcakes has demanded that the artwork be returned to him within two weeks, and Moxie and Ollie race to discover the hiding places and to prevent Cupcakes and his accomplices from gaining access to the priceless masterpieces. Although many of Moxie's stunts are far-fetched (breaking undetected into historical landmarks, arguing face-to-face with dangerous criminals, etc.), most readers will forgive this as they get caught up in the breathless thrill-ride. With the recent announcement that the FBI knows the identities of the Gardner art thieves and is continuing its search for the missing works, this title is especially relevant.—Sarah Reid, Broome County Public Library, Binghamton, NY