Robbie Forester and the Outlaws of Sherwood Street

Outlaws of Sherwood Street #1

by Peter Abrahams

Stephen King's "Favorite American Suspense Novelist" is launching a new series for middle graders

Robbie Forester always knew life wasn't fair, but she never thought she could do anything about it. Until one day a powerful charm comes into her possession, a charm that guides her, her three friends, and her dog Pendleton on the path to justice. But the charm doesn't seem to understand that the path has gotten dangerous, and Robbie and her friends find themselves in a menacing world of thievery, arson, big yachts, and even bigger bank accounts. Will Robbie and her band of thieves end up in more trouble than they ever could have imagined? Edgar Award–winning novelist Peter Abrahams weaves a tale of action, adventure, danger, and magic that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, guessing at every turn.

"Unputdownable. Memorable characters and a breakneck pace make Robbie Forester the total package." - Stephen King

Genres: Mystery, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Adventure, Fiction, Urban Fantasy

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Peter Abrahams is an American author of crime fiction for both adults and children.
His book Lights Out (1994) was nominated for an Edgar Award for best novel. Reality Check won the best young adult Edgar Award in 2011. Down the Rabbit Hole, first in the Echo Falls series, won the best children's/young adult Agatha Award in 2005. The Fan was adapted into a film starring Robert De Niro and directed by Tony Scott (1996).
His literary influences are Vladimir Nabokov, Graham Greene, and Ross Macdonald. Stephen King has referred to him as "my favorite American suspense novelist".
Born in Boston, Abrahams lives in Falmouth, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. He is married and has four children including Rosie Gray. He graduated from Williams College in 1968.

Peter Abrahams is also writing under the pseudonym Spencer Quinn (Chet and Bernie Mysteries).

Reviews

[Brandi Rae Fong · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm normally not so negative in a review, but I was so disappointed by this one and struggled to finish it. The premise was good; a girl finds a magic bracelet that allows she and her friends to harness powers at the most needed moments to carry out social justice. In this case, the majority of the justice was in fighting against a real estate tycoon who was buying buildings in Brooklyn that housed small businesses and soup kitchens. He'd then raise the rent and force out the tennants, all under the guise of the "New Brooklyn Redevelopment Project".

I think where the story lost me was with the magic. The source of it and the powers it enabled was just not explained well enough. It felt like an interruption. Had he just had the kids solve the mystery/beat the bad guy with their own mettle (like in his Echo Falls series or as Carl Hiassen does in his middle grade books), it would have been a much stronger story.

There are still probably kids out there who will like this. And I did read an ARC copy, so maybe some things changed before publication. Overall though, not his best work for this age group.

[Jessica at Book Sake · Rating 3 out of 5]

This version of Robin Hood is a light, quick read. That’s about what I expected for the age range it’s aimed at. The story was cute and entertaining and I think it would be liked by both boys and girls. We have Robbie our main character and three friends of hers (another girl and two boys) that we follow around. Magic powers come and go, but don’t always seem logical for the story. If the powers always came when helping the kids do good or stay safe it would make more sense – winning a game, not so much. It’s never explained where these powers come from and some of the things the kids do, while they are trying to be helpful overall, they just don’t feel like the right thing to do at all times. While it follows the – steal from the rich, give to the poor – they don’t know in full who they are stealing from, which causes the slight issue for me. Kids however might not even see this – just knowing that the one with all the money is bad, those who can’t afford their terms and are being taken advantage of are good. Or parents can fill the children in on what’s what and talk about the issues this book raises.

Reviewed by Jessica for Book Sake.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved Abraham's Echo Falls books, so I was excited for what appears to be another YA series.

This book shares the same major flaw of the Echo Falls book: the protagonist is very good at not realizing things that are completely obvious. If that bugged you about those books, stay away from this one.

Problem is, this book has other big problems. First, the dad constantly talks in language that a middle-schooler obviously won't understand. I didn't find this bit believable from an otherwise pretty good dad.

The biggest problem, though, is in the plot. It's not too much of a spoiler to say that the goal of Robbie and her friends is to rob from the rich (a developer who plans to evict neighborhood businesses across Brooklyn by raising their rent) to give to the poor (the businesses who can't make rent). But the money that goes to the poor to pay their rent - won't it end up right back in the hands of the evil developer?

Sadly, I can't recommend this book. Wanted to love it, did not.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this book, a group of young kids acquire special powers from a charm bracelt and make it their goal to take from the rich (a real-estate tycoon trying to takeover local businesses) and give to the poor (local business owners struggling to pay their increasing rent).

I just could not get into this book. The storyline did not maintain my attention and the plot seemed so slow. I must have totally missed the climax of this book. Sadly...I do not recommend it.

[Lanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alrighty! A Robin Hood novel! Probably my favorite type of book to review, as I freaking adore all things Robin Hood. :)

"Robbie Forester and the Outlaws of Sherwod St." Also published under "Stealing from the Rich" has been rated PG-12 by the Nerd Association of Lanie. Contains some mild language and issues best left to slightly older kids like child abuse, arson, and the attempted murders and/or mugging of kids.

It's a light, quick, fun read, definitely for younger readers, but if you a fan of Robin as I am, I think it's worth looking for at the library or discount stores. good fun, but not without its faults.

Let's look at the things I enjoyed first.

1. Robbie Forester, our main character. It's very important to have a good heroine or hero. And I personally found Robbie to be very likable. An average 12 year old girl, very relatable. She's sweet, slightly scatter brained, and honestly not to bright. she doesn't always listen well and she doesn't really think about what comes out of her mouth. (Like just about every preteen ever.) she endearing really. I found her to be a lot like Olive Dunwoody from "the books of elsewhere" probably my favorite children's urban fantasy series. Robbie was a good fit as a female & modern version of Robin Hood and I think kids will really like her.

2. Tut-Tut. Loved this little guy. :D I so felt for him. I just wanted to reach in the book and pull him out to safety. :'( much as I liked Robbie, I think Tut-Tut was my favorite character. He seemed the most rounded to me. " his back story was so sad. But he's still so sweet. Omg, I want to see more of him!

3. The over all idea of the story is very cool. A young, modern, American girl Robin Hood, gathering up a band of misfit kids to stop a evil real estate tycoon from pushing the hard working people out of house and home for a damned parking garage. Throw in a cowardly but lovable dog and a splash of magic and you've got the bones of a very interesting story.

4. I really liked the scene where the kids decided on the name of their little group. Salis pointing out the connections to by beloved legend. Robbie Forester. Sherwood street. Reminding them of the overly obvious "rob the rich to give to the poor" motto. It was all really super cute. & Tut-Tut acting like he was shooting an arrow. XDAnd the end where a news reporter made a Robin Hood comment. :) (I may have done a little happy squeal like when I first watched "arrow" on tv & the cops made a Robin Hood reference.)

But, sadly, even though I enjoyed parts of this book, there were also things I did not, giving "Robbie forester and the outlaw of Sherwod st." A middle of the road rating. Some place between a 2.5 and a 3, but more towards the three side. So yay there.

Here my list of rants.

1. Writing style and vocab choices. I found the writing to be grating. Hard to follow with to many comas and semi colons breaking the flow of the story. Many, many times I had to back track and read things twice before I could make sense of sentences. Mix that in with Robbie's scatter thoughts and stuff about computers, writing, and lawyer/financial stuff even I struggled to understand....it got confusing at times. and I'm a well read adult! If it was confusing to me, imagine how kids might feel? Confused enough to put down the book and read something else, probably.

2. Silas and Ashanti. Both were very flat and I cared for neither of them. Heck, if it weren't for the gangs need of a techie geek, I think Silas was completely pointless.

3. & now for my main and last problem of tonight: the magic charm bracelet. See, I mentioned earlier that I liked the idea. And I did. A bit of magic in a real world setting always adds a bit of spice to a children's book. The problem lies in the way it was handled. See when using magic, the author must be careful. The magic needs clear rules and boundaries that you have to set up and follow. And when it's added to a setting like modern day Brooklyn, it needs to be explained. It's a neat idea, having the little girl find a magic bracelet that gives her and her friends special powers. But it wasn't explained! Who was that old lady? What was with the owl? How does the bracelet work? Why did it pick them? & why were the kids able to use magic without the bracelet to help them at 1 point, when early we all thought they had to be touching it or Robbie for it to work? It's not consistent! Magic should be kinda like a science. It needs to follow rules and its own sort of logic. Not be an easy out when you work your characters into a jam. I hope that it is explained more in the next book. Because while the magic was a good idea in theory, its delivery fell flat. Cool as it was, the story might have been better off without it. Crime stopping kid detective Robin hoods beats unexplainable magic any day.

Now, I must add that my magic complaints will probably go right over the heads of the intended audience. Kids and preteens aren't going to care about that as much as an adult might. They'll just sit back and enjoy the fun story. & it is s fun story. Also, my issues with the writing style might also be a me thing. Others might love it.

A few problems, but over all, it held my attention and I look forward to reading the sequel. It's definitely a book for younger readers, but with a heaping helping of the suspension of disbelief I think adults can enjoy it to. It might even britup important discussions about social justice and the economy and whatnot.

A good pick for preteens who enjoy urban fantasy books. Maybe fans of "the books of elsewhere" or anyone looking for a light, fun Robin Hood read with a modern twist. Just don't over think it, and it's a good way to spend an afternoon. :)

[talia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite liked it! Fun, fast-paced story of kids vs. capitalism (with some magic thrown in).

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I REALLY enjoyed Robbie Forester and the Outlaws of Sherwood St. I was thrilled to see a book aimed at children/young adults bring up critical issues of today's economic issues. I was thrilled and absolutely shocked to see a children's book use terminology like Social Justice, and actually critique what is wrong with today's brand of capitalism. This is the kind of book that I would like to see the kids in my life read and it brings up economic issues in a clear way that I think is easy for them to understand. I also appreciated that the book included a wide range of people from all walks of life. The story is super sweet, a quick read and again, I think the overall messaging is awesome. I would definitely recommend sharing this book with any older kid or young adult in your life.

[.tee. · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a decent book, I got it for my son from the library and decided to give it a whirl myself. I found it a bit slow, especially in the beginning. I liked some of the things that he brought up in the book, it made it feel more “grown up” to an extent. I know there is a second book which I’ve yet to read but I felt like the powers weren’t explained in any way and it bugged me. It also bothered me that the MC is all about helping out those who are experiencing injustice but when she witness TRUE injustice happening amongst her peers (ie: with Tut-Tut’s abusive uncle) doesn’t do anything. I also feel like her and her parents have a weird relationship... I don’t know... it left A LOT to be desired. I will read the 2nd one only to hope it clears up all that was lacking in the 1st.

[Nisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The grocery store parking lot will hold 1,000 vehicles (so we were not in Brooklyn; I knew that right away,), and 2/5 of the parking spaces are for cars. When you go to buy groceries (Hey! Would I own a car one day? Would that be a good choice? I realized I knew practically nothing about cars.)

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you need a book that grabs your attention right away and is full of action and magic, this might be the book for you. It was my first read over Thanksgiving break and I flew through it. If you look at the title, you might have guessed that this is a light version of the Robin Hood story-take from the rich and give to the poor. The book opens with Robbie, the main character jumping off the subway headed to school. She is late and rushing but she is always aware of stuff going on around er. Everyday, she passes by a homeless woman on this corner. But today, Robbie realizes she is laying on her side and something is definitely wrong. No one has offered aid and even though Robbie is late she decides to help. When she leans over her, the woman acknowledges her as someone who has put money in her cup. Before Robbie can say anything, she is pushed out of the way by 2 paramedics. She stands aside as they begin to load the woman on a stretcher and take her to the hospital. Robbie notices a bracelet slip off of her arm and as she runs to get it the ambulance drives off. The bracelet has a single charm on it-a silver heart. Robbie sticks it on her own arm with a plan to return it later.
But slowly over the next couple of days, Robbie realizes that something may be wrong with her. When things happen that make her upset or mad she appears to gain power power and she fights back to make a difference. In fact, she cannot stop herself from helping. With the help of 3 friends, a young man she meets on the street with a stutter, a fellow classmate who is an amazing athlete, and a nerdy friend with amazing tech skills that they recruit to help, Robbie and her friends decide to follow in Robin Hood's footsteps and try to make a bigger difference in the city they call home. I forgot to mention that Robbie has a great dog named Pendleton that is always getting in trouble but ends up helping them too and that Robbie cannot return the bracelet because the woman died. This is a light fast read about fixing some of the problems in our world. What's not to like?

[Lisa Nocita · Rating 2 out of 5]

Robyn "Robbie" Forester is a twelve year old Brooklyn resident who attends private school and calls her parents by their first names. Her father is an eccentric author and her mother is an attorney. Both seem stereotypically hip--dad is eccentric and disheveled writing about abstract and obtuse musings and mom works all the time for a huge law firm with little regard for personal time. She has a giant dog named Pendleton. In spite of the fact that she has lived in Brooklyn her whole life, she has no friends, purportedly owing to the fact that her parents have recently pulled her from public school to attend Thatcher and her old friends have drifted away. That she attends private school seems an unnecessary plot contrivance designed to explain why she's a loner and meets four new people who are equally thinly drawn. A more likely excuse might have been that Robbie is completely uninteresting as a character!

One morning on her way to school, just outside of the school's subway stop, Robbie pauses by a homeless woman to whom she has given (in the past) a grand total of $1.45 because she sees that the woman is in some kind of medical distress. She addresses the woman, "Are you okay?" But just then medical personnel and police arrive and load the woman up on a gurney and into an ambulance. As they are wheeling her away, a bracelet drops of the woman's wrist and falls into the gutter. Robbie thinks to retrieve it, but is not fast enough to return the bracelet to the ER attendants before the doors are closed and the ambulance rushes away but not before the dying woman can give her a penetrating and meaningful look. The bracelet, as it turns out, confers some sort of power on Robbie that kicks in whenever she confronts social injustice. The first time it is during a basketball game when a ref fails to make a call for an obvious foul and she suddenly has the ability to shoot the winning basket, with a red/gold laser beam shooting out of her eyes in a guiding arc to the basket that no one else can see. Not kidding. Next, when she and mom are walking the dog on their way to their Saturday volunteer position at a local soup kitchen, she discovers that the soup kitchen is closed because the new landlord, a local real estate mogul/business tycoon, has raised the rent sky high and they can't afford to stay open. When said local business tycoon unexpectedly shows up at the doors of the soup kitchen with another attorney from her mom's law firm in tow, the power inexplicably kicks in again and extracts his money clip from his pocket, netting Robbie an unexpected $3100 which she gives anonymously to the nun who runs the soup kitchen so she can keep the doors open for another month. At this point, as the reader, I am still playing along, somewhat intrigued, but not really buying it. Eventually, Robbie ends up with 3 unlikely recruits who all seem to have some crazy connection to the bracelet; Ashanti,a classmate and neighbor with a depressed ex-model mom, Tut Tut, a Haitian orphan immigrant with a terrible speech impediment who occasionally lives with his alcoholic, mean uncle or, most often, on the streets, and Silas, a homeschooled techno geek with a dysfunctional family. They eventually name themselves the Outlaws of Sherwood St. Oh! And, I can't forget the dog. He's part of the gang too and one of the least endearing dog archetypes I've read about in literature. Somehow he's got the power too. Robbie figures out that the billionaire tycoon is up to no good, buying up properties in Brooklyn and forcing the current occupants out so he can redevelop them for more upscale purposes and buyers all in the name of corporate greed aided by a thinly sketched nemesis, Egil Borg, who we are told is a ruthless fixer, but seems more like a Disney caricature of a villain. Robbie somehow manages to get hold of crooked money aided by the mysterious and uncontrollable power of the bracelet and a snowy owl with blue eyes and then gives it to the "poor" tenants of Brooklyn slated for ouster by Gunn, the powerful real estate developer/tycoon. Eventually, his Saudi financiers back out of the deal after Robbie and the Outlaws pull a switcheroo and Gunn gives up his project. Just like that. Happily ever after. Except it's not really because it's evident that is going to be a series.

I have enjoyed Abrahams' Echo Falls series as light mysteries that were blatantly too obvious for adult readers but probably satisfying for intermediate to middle grade readers, a.k.a. my students. Perhaps because of the blurb from Stephen King splashed across the top of the novel, "Unputdownable. Memorable characters and a breakneck pace make Robbie Forester the total package," I was especially disappointed in the novel, feeling the exact opposite! Completely forgettable characters and not at all compelling or compulsively page turning.

The characters are thinly drawn and underdeveloped. The most interesting character in the book might be Tut Tut, who really has a tough time of things, or Perhaps Mr. Nok, the owner of a Thai restaurant who does Mel Gibson impersonations. But, even they have little life breathed into them. Robbie is not particularly clever or altruistic. There's just nothing about her that makes the reader believe she would a) want to do something or b) could figure out what to do. It's completely usual for authors to create an ordinary flawed protagonist but Abrahams failed to transform her into a believable caped crusader. The plot is convoluted and implausible, even if you do believe in the "magic" of the bracelet, which I didn't. It just wasn't described in a way that you could imagine it as likely or probable. It seemed nonsensical to me. And the dialogue was choppy, short-circuited, and stiff, especially between Robbie and her dippy parents. And, honestly, I had a problem with the execution of the Robin Hood motif. In this situation it would have made more sense for Robbie to go to the police with her suspicions and have them handle it in a lawful manner rather than stealing for the purpose of redistributing the wealth herself, actually righting no wrongs, only forestalling them. And how did she manage to convert those Saudi Riyal into US dollars?

I tried to like it and failed. The reviews seem pretty mixed including some really stellar ones, but I just can't see my middle grade readers being impressed with this effort. We shall see.

[Kallie Sweetman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was definitely YA, but it was so cute. Even though Robbie was a 12 year old narrator, it was still an interesting read. Very predictable, but I liked how it was a take on Robin Hood. The kids had great morals and I liked that it had a good ending. It was a good adventure/mystery book for young teens. I wasn't obsessed with it, but that was definitely an age thing. I thought the story had a lot of nice elements, including the fun magic/superpowers, and it was well written

[William Crosby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imaginative.

A bracelet gives powers to those seeking to redress a specific injustice, but it is inconsistent and not reliable (or they haven't figured out the exact criteria that the bracelet wants).

Children try to stop the greedy, inconsiderate acts (kicking people out of their homes, arson) of a billionaire.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter Abrahams knows how to write a great story. I could have finished this in one night if children and lack of sleep did not interfere. I will definitely be looking for the next book in the series!

[Marcie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Peter Abrahams first book in the Outlaws of Sherwood Street series is a quick, light read, and it is a clever, contemporary take on the famous English outlaw, Robin Hood.

[Diana Renn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery meets magical realism in this captivating new children's book by bestselling mystery/suspense novelist Peter Abrahams. 12-year-old Robbie Forester receives a silver charm bracelet from a homeless woman. The charm comes with tremendous powers, which extend to Robbie's three friends and her dog. Figuring out the charm's powers -- how and when it works, and for whom -- is a big part of the mystery. But even more mystery and intrigue is in store for Robbie and her friends. The charm seems to lead them down the dangerous path of the corrupt real estate developer Sheldon Gunn, who is raising rents and ejecting tenants all over their Brooklyn neighborhood. Capitalizing on the charm's strange energy -- as well as their own strengths -- Robbie and her friends form their own modern-day band of outlaws, stealing from the rich to give to the poor.

If you've read Abrahams' YA mystery novels (such as the Echo Falls series, or Reality Check), which are grounded in reality from start to finish, the paranormal element in here might initially come as a jolt. There's a different vibe to this book. Succumb to it. It's a really fun ride. The various powers the "outlaws" enjoy are strange, frightening, even whimsical. (Wouldn't you love to cruise gently around New York with a friend, hovering three stories above the ground?) And while one could argue that these gutsy kids don't need superpowers -- they have plenty of street smarts and intelligence on their own -- there's something fascinating and deeper going on here with this blend of groundedness and imaginative flights of fancy. (In fact, Robbie's dad, a struggling novelist, is actually writing a book related to this topic). Since this book is the start of a series, I figure there's plenty of time for these kids, and readers, to reconcile their real-life strengths with this supernatural aid.

The writing is lovely throughout, and the descriptions of Brooklyn in the winter -- from a sludgy river to snowy streets -- are vividly described. If Mark Helprin had written The Winter's Tale for children (Helprin's novel also explores justice and magic, amidst a wintry New York skyline) it might have looked something like this. And at the heart of this novel you'll find classic Peter Abrahams writing: characters with emotional depth, an intricately plotted mystery, and heart-stopping suspense.

[Scott Butki · Rating 4 out of 5]

well, this is interesting though I just realized this news two years late...

I interviewed this guy for his first two books in his Chet and Bernie series but at that point his real identity wasn't known yet. I'll be interviewing him in December by email about his two new books, one of which is the latest in the series (which has the fun angle of a dog as a narrator - his human companion is a private eyes so it's private detective work from the dog's perspective leading to fun word play like when a "red herring" is mentioned Chet (the dog) gets really confused.
Here's an excerpt/chapter 1 of the next dog book.http://books.simonandschuster.com/Dog...

Anyway it's been revealed the author of the series is Peter Abrahams working under a pseudonym. Details on that here:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles...

So my current reading is that book and a young adult book Abraham's putting out in January called
Robbie Forester and the Outlaws of Sherwood Street
http://www.amazon.com/Robbie-Forester...

My interview with him for the first chet book was here http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2009... and the second was here http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2010...

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Abrahams' Echo Falls series so I was eager to read this one, which I hope is the first book in a new series. The book takes place in New York City. Robbie (short for Robyn) finds a magic bracelet. With friends it enables the group of four kids to even up a few things Robin Hood style, mainly by ruining the plans of a crooked developer. I thought that the power of the bracelet was a bit bizarre and never consistent, but it worked for the story. I also thought that the kids, who are only 12 years old, have a lot of freedom in a big city but being small town myself, maybe it is possible to be street-smart in New York City. The kids were interesting: Robbie, the heroine, is an average girl living with her lawyer mom and a father who writes novels, and not very successfully from what I gathered. Ashanti, obviously a beautiful black girl, is smart and on the prickly side; I'd like to see more of her life, which was left a bit mysterious. Tut-Tut, called that because of an unpronounceable name, is a Haitian boy who stutters badly and is bullied by others. He also has a horrible home life with an abusive uncle. And Silas, a boy computer genius who isn't really in the story much but is the technical genius necessary to make it work. The power of the bracelet involves these 4 kids but could it, would it embrace others that Robbie befriends?

[Pamela Kramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter Abrahams (aka Spencer Quinn) has done it again. He has proven the breadth of his writing abilities and his creativity with his latest release, Robbie Forester and the Outlaws of Sherwood St.

His main character, Robbie (short for Robyn), is an only child. The various characters in the story exemplify diversity, and her own family is no different. Her family is "different" in that her mother is the breadwinner, an attorney who works long hours, and her father is a writer who has published two books and is working on his third.

As a side note, Abrahams imbues the father with quite a bit of wackiness -- all his comments about his new book make no sense to Robbie at all, and the reader gets the impression that the dad likes to hang out at coffee shops and "do" lunch with prospective agents. The mom is definitely the grounded partner here.

There's a lot that doesn't make sense to Robbie and she's not afraid to admit it. The story is told in first person narrative, and she is self-deprecating, funny, and often at sea about the proper thing to say or do.

Read the whole review at: http://www.examiner.com/book-in-natio...

[Ann Haefele · Rating 2 out of 5]

12 year old Robbie finds a magical bracelet which allows her to have super powers when needed to right social injustices. This mystery which uses magical realism tells a story of several misfit middle schoolers who combine their talents to figure out who is the crooked developer who is closing down small companies within a neighborhood. While I really wanted to like this book because of the premise of kids righting wrongs, it fell flat. Not only are many 5th-8th graders not going to understand or have sympathy for the intricacies of small business ownership, but the action segments seemed too over the top and confusing. The ending was left open for a sequel, so I would not be surprised to see another story featuring these characters.

[Ali · Rating 2 out of 5]

Is it odd to say that it was the magic that ruined it for me? Here we have a ragtag group of kids who are thrown together by fate and on a quest for community justice. Sounds good right? Robin Hood meets Scooby-Doo it could have been, but alas not so much. I came across this novel on my annual internet search for news on the next in the Echo Falls series, but this seemed like it would be a welcome substitute. Again, not so much. The good - the kids acted like kids. They weren't self-aware adults in smaller bodies. They overlooked the obvious and took to their task with all the gusto that childhood brings. The bad - just about everything else, but the book scores and extra star for the dog and deliciously described food.

[Jeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I ended up being disappointed by this one. The action seemed drawn out to me--lost in description much of the time. Plus, I'm not sure that I like that the overall moral of this story that it's okay to lie and steal as long as you give the money to the poor. The magic bracelet started as a decent premise, but I just didn't get into the characters--and the portrayal of Robbie's parents is dreadful. I'm assuming that this is just setting up a sequel because there was no sense of closure.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thematically, this is a bit all over the place but Robbie's voice (a touch of the Red Blazer Girls?) holds it together. As this is the start of a series, there's quite a lot of getting to know the characters and the set-up, and the conclusion to this story seems a little far-fetched. However, I like the very diverse cast and the basic premise so I'm hoping subsequent books will be a little less erratic and little more credible.

[Anne Beardsley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Much less exciting than the cover and title promised.

Robin Hood is a dashing, clever, reckless, charming trickster, right? Do I want to read a modern day female teenaged version? Yes! Is this what that was?
Oh golly, no.

Robbie is quiet, compassionate, thoughtful, and will probably grow up to be like her erudite, deep, and pensive father who writes meaningful novels. Nice and all, but I wanted Robin Hood. It's a slower, rather more preachy story.

Ah, well.

[Lisa Shafer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not choke down more than a third of this book, which characterizes ALL panhandlers as good (there are no drug addicts, shysters, or criminals among them) and ALL successful business people as evil (there are no honest, hard-working, fair people among them).
I tend to lean a bit to the left politically, but this book was a Socialist fairy tale. I'm surprised it's legal to sell it in a Republican-dominated state like Utah.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

"In this modern take on the all-too familiar Robin Hood tale, Peter Abrahams creates a truly charming heroine who unexpectedly begins on an adventure of stealing from the rich and giving to the poor."

See full review at:
http://sometimesjenniferreads.wordpre...

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of promise. The premise of the book is a modern day kid Robin Hood.
It just didn't live up to my expectations. The plot lines didn't feel fully explored, and I really wanted to know more about the characters. I think that kids might enjoy it, but it wouldn't be my top recommendation.

[Annie Oosterwyk · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot to like in this story, a magic bracelet which empowers four kids and brings them together to right injustice in their Brooklyn neighborhood. The depiction of New York life is great, with the parents engaged in their professional lives and the kids pretty independent- taking taxis and eating out. The magic aspect was inconsistent and confusing, but I enjoyed the characters a lot.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giving a new twist to the Robin Hood legend set in Brooklyn, New York, Peter Abrahams delivers a suspensful adventure with likable characters, believable villians and four teens, astounded by their new found powers, bonding to prevail against injustice. Read my full review at:


http://bit.ly/xuW5hD

[Emily Rozmus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always dread reading the juvenile fiction that comes in the big box of review books, and I put this off until the last minute. However, this wasn't too bad. It has a great plot and characters that were believable and real. It is a series - too many unanswered questions at the end of the book. I think 5-8 graders will enjoy it.