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Jewel Society #1
Catch Us If You Can
In this new heist adventure series, an elite team of four best friends must track down stolen gems!
For Jasmine, Erin, Willow, and Lili, the first year of middle school is shaping up to be pretty awesome. They've been selected for an A-list academic team because of their expertise in art, math, science, and history. The Jewels, as they call themselves, are already winning tournaments. But things heat up when another local team, the Atkinson Prep Rivals, threatens to steal their spotlight.
To further complicate matters, a beloved ruby necklace is stolen from their school, and the Jewels must go undercover with their skills to track down the culprit. Nothing seems to be adding up--until they look to the most unlikely of suspects . . .
Can the Jewels figure out why the precious ruby was stolen and find it before it's too late? Packed with suspense, thrilling plot twists, and a dash of sparkle, this is a fun new series you won't want to miss!
For Jasmine, Erin, Willow, and Lili, the first year of middle school is shaping up to be pretty awesome. They've been selected for an A-list academic team because of their expertise in art, math, science, and history. The Jewels, as they call themselves, are already winning tournaments. But things heat up when another local team, the Atkinson Prep Rivals, threatens to steal their spotlight.
To further complicate matters, a beloved ruby necklace is stolen from their school, and the Jewels must go undercover with their skills to track down the culprit. Nothing seems to be adding up--until they look to the most unlikely of suspects . . .
Can the Jewels figure out why the precious ruby was stolen and find it before it's too late? Packed with suspense, thrilling plot twists, and a dash of sparkle, this is a fun new series you won't want to miss!
144 pages, Paperback
First published May 28, 2013
15 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 9, 2020
This isn't a bad chapter book, but the whole "quiz bowl + jewel heist + mystery" thing feels like it's trying too hard. I'm also totally fed up with "quirky Asian girl" as a trope.
July 6, 2013
This book was pretty good. It reminded me of The Boxcar Children in a lot of ways. I felt like the mystery was well planned and the book moved at a nice pace. The writing was clean and simple, and the characters were entertaining. This series will appeal to most girls ages 8 - 12.
A few things bothered me about the book. The main one was that the dialogue didn't sound realistic to me. The other thing was the abrupt ending. I am a fan of complete stories, even if it's part of a series. This ending was left wide open, with no real resolution.
That being said, this is still a good book with the potential to get even better as the series continues.
Content: Clean
My blog: Books for Kids
A few things bothered me about the book. The main one was that the dialogue didn't sound realistic to me. The other thing was the abrupt ending. I am a fan of complete stories, even if it's part of a series. This ending was left wide open, with no real resolution.
That being said, this is still a good book with the potential to get even better as the series continues.
Content: Clean
My blog: Books for Kids
June 28, 2021
Oh my god, this is so nostalgic for me; it was one of my childhood/middle school transitioning reads! Pouring through the pages years later was a lot of fun. Of course the whole thing was rather silly, but it was extremely endearing. The series is for kids so there really isn't much more you can ask of it. Definitely a great read for girls under 10.
August 25, 2016
I like the book because I like how the author explained the process of the thief. I would give it 1 more star if the author explained how the jewels got the ruby at the end of the book.
February 5, 2025
☆2.5
Every decision made in this book is a stupid one.
I read this series when I was younger and really enjoyed it so I picked it up again for a reread and wow this first book leaves a lot to be desired. I think the characters are all pretty solid and the whole idea of a quiz-bowl team with mystery thrown in is very interesting however I had a lot of problems with the mystery.
First of all the proof the girls found felt weak at best and downright dumb at worst. They just happened to hear about something and go investigate, those boots just happen to be out of style, those guys just happened to not know about the movie, it's all very weak which is why I'm not surprised the principal didn't immediately go to the police. The problem with this is the mystery never felt like it was progressing you never felt like you were learning more information even though the information was new to you.
Also who tf thought doxxing 6th graders on national television over an accusation was a good idea, like not the Atkinson principal but the principal of their school why did she even tell the other principal which students suspected his students, she could have made it more vague to protect them.
How did the rivals get into the turtle exhibit for a red herring. Like come on what is this.
HOW DID THE RIVALS GET INTO THE MARTHA WASHINGTON EXHIBIT????
Don't even get me started on the Jewel's plan at the exhibit like "Guys people are accusing Jasmine of stealing. You know what we should do? Plan to steal the freaking ruby from the martha washington exhibit in front of a crowd of people with cameras on us at all times" like....chat.....
Also IF THERE ARE CAMERAS ON THE DRESSES WHY DON'T THEY ASK THE POLICE TO LOOK AT THE VIDEO FOOTAGE?? Why don't they get an adult to be like "I'm actually a historian and I know there are this many prongs on the necklace and here is the brochure with this many prongs on the necklace and I heard about the ruby being stolen, is that the real one?" and then the security guard can be like "Egad!!" and then they look at the cameras and boom you're done. Nope, let's steal the necklace instead you stupid ahh-
AND THEN when the rivals stole the ruby from the jewels and were passing it around MAKE A COMMOTION. JESUS CHRIST YELL. SOMEONE YELL OUT "THEY STOLE MY PURSE!" OR SOMETHING SO SOMEONE WILL STOP THEM THEN YOU GET THE NECKLACE OUT OF THEIR HANDS STOP BEING SO PASSIVE IN ALL THE PLACES IT MATTERS.
Stupid decisions are so infuriating. Also I assume the Atkinson sapphire is the same one referenced at the end of the book. Is there like a super old secret uncovered when all the jewels are put together and all the jewels are from different first ladies? Idk but I'll find out because I own this book series now so you bet I'm gonna finish it.
☆2.5 ▪︎ 140 pages
Every decision made in this book is a stupid one.
I read this series when I was younger and really enjoyed it so I picked it up again for a reread and wow this first book leaves a lot to be desired. I think the characters are all pretty solid and the whole idea of a quiz-bowl team with mystery thrown in is very interesting however I had a lot of problems with the mystery.
First of all the proof the girls found felt weak at best and downright dumb at worst. They just happened to hear about something and go investigate, those boots just happen to be out of style, those guys just happened to not know about the movie, it's all very weak which is why I'm not surprised the principal didn't immediately go to the police. The problem with this is the mystery never felt like it was progressing you never felt like you were learning more information even though the information was new to you.
Also who tf thought doxxing 6th graders on national television over an accusation was a good idea, like not the Atkinson principal but the principal of their school why did she even tell the other principal which students suspected his students, she could have made it more vague to protect them.
How did the rivals get into the turtle exhibit for a red herring. Like come on what is this.
HOW DID THE RIVALS GET INTO THE MARTHA WASHINGTON EXHIBIT????
Don't even get me started on the Jewel's plan at the exhibit like "Guys people are accusing Jasmine of stealing. You know what we should do? Plan to steal the freaking ruby from the martha washington exhibit in front of a crowd of people with cameras on us at all times" like....chat.....
Also IF THERE ARE CAMERAS ON THE DRESSES WHY DON'T THEY ASK THE POLICE TO LOOK AT THE VIDEO FOOTAGE?? Why don't they get an adult to be like "I'm actually a historian and I know there are this many prongs on the necklace and here is the brochure with this many prongs on the necklace and I heard about the ruby being stolen, is that the real one?" and then the security guard can be like "Egad!!" and then they look at the cameras and boom you're done. Nope, let's steal the necklace instead you stupid ahh-
AND THEN when the rivals stole the ruby from the jewels and were passing it around MAKE A COMMOTION. JESUS CHRIST YELL. SOMEONE YELL OUT "THEY STOLE MY PURSE!" OR SOMETHING SO SOMEONE WILL STOP THEM THEN YOU GET THE NECKLACE OUT OF THEIR HANDS STOP BEING SO PASSIVE IN ALL THE PLACES IT MATTERS.
Stupid decisions are so infuriating. Also I assume the Atkinson sapphire is the same one referenced at the end of the book. Is there like a super old secret uncovered when all the jewels are put together and all the jewels are from different first ladies? Idk but I'll find out because I own this book series now so you bet I'm gonna finish it.
☆2.5 ▪︎ 140 pages
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2023
This is my favorite book series, 5th reread no I will not be explaining myself.
December 19, 2016
Middle schoolers Jasmine, Erin, Willow and Lili are best friends and members of their school’s newly revived academic trivia team, the Jewels, (named for the acronym made from the first initial of each member’s name.) Each girl is an expert in a particular area of study, and together, they are already developing a great reputation for their school, which is named for Martha Washington. When the school’s ruby - said to be worn by Martha Washington herself - goes missing, the girls are disappointed and saddened. When they find out a rival team from their trivia tournaments might be responsible, they are downright angry - and determined to bring the thieves to justice.
Like the Baby-sitters Club and many other paperback series for tweens, the Jewel Society series celebrates girl power, friendship, intelligence, and diversity, as well as art, museums, history, and culture. Each girl has a particular personality and style, making it possible for every reader to relate to at least one character. Unfortunately, while the series concept - smart girls solving crime - is a good idea, the execution of it feels weak. I don’t expect books like this, which are intended primarily as entertainment, to be of great literary quality. Unfortunately, though, this book takes on too much, and the result is a muddled plot line in which the characters become lost.
While the girls’ involvement on the trivia team and their initial quest to solve the jewel theft are interesting, the story’s later focus on a larger conspiracy comes out of nowhere and feels tacked on to the ending of the book. Since this is a series, I think a prologue introducing the overall concept of the series at the beginning would have made these last-minute developments easier to follow. I suspect later books will be less awkward in their execution because they will not have to manage all the exposition required in a first book. I also hope that future books will be a little less obvious about using characters and situations solely as plot devices. It drove me nuts when the girls kept asking their teacher to take them on Saturday field trips to museums so they could do research on the theft. There is no way a real adult who works with kids wouldn’t have suspected that something was up! Readers really have to suspend their disbelief to enjoy this book, and some will be more apt to do so than others.
Readers who live in the DC Metro area as I do will be pleased to note the references to local landmarks and to the Metrorail system within this story. Kids who have read the Capital Mysteries by Ron Roy and the First Kids books by Martha Freeman might be interested in this new series for similar reasons. I am also happy to report that this book does not involve a romance. Since the characters are in middle school, I suppose this could change as the series progresses, but it was nice to read a book set in middle school that focused its attention on academics rather than crushes.
Typically, I am a fan of lighthearted, easy to read paperback fiction, but this is not the strongest recent offering by Scholastic. For a better mystery series with girls as main characters, try the Sleuth or Dare series by Kim Harrington. Though they are not mysteries the Petal Pushers and Pink Locker Society series are also great paperback choices for girls in grades four to seven.
Like the Baby-sitters Club and many other paperback series for tweens, the Jewel Society series celebrates girl power, friendship, intelligence, and diversity, as well as art, museums, history, and culture. Each girl has a particular personality and style, making it possible for every reader to relate to at least one character. Unfortunately, while the series concept - smart girls solving crime - is a good idea, the execution of it feels weak. I don’t expect books like this, which are intended primarily as entertainment, to be of great literary quality. Unfortunately, though, this book takes on too much, and the result is a muddled plot line in which the characters become lost.
While the girls’ involvement on the trivia team and their initial quest to solve the jewel theft are interesting, the story’s later focus on a larger conspiracy comes out of nowhere and feels tacked on to the ending of the book. Since this is a series, I think a prologue introducing the overall concept of the series at the beginning would have made these last-minute developments easier to follow. I suspect later books will be less awkward in their execution because they will not have to manage all the exposition required in a first book. I also hope that future books will be a little less obvious about using characters and situations solely as plot devices. It drove me nuts when the girls kept asking their teacher to take them on Saturday field trips to museums so they could do research on the theft. There is no way a real adult who works with kids wouldn’t have suspected that something was up! Readers really have to suspend their disbelief to enjoy this book, and some will be more apt to do so than others.
Readers who live in the DC Metro area as I do will be pleased to note the references to local landmarks and to the Metrorail system within this story. Kids who have read the Capital Mysteries by Ron Roy and the First Kids books by Martha Freeman might be interested in this new series for similar reasons. I am also happy to report that this book does not involve a romance. Since the characters are in middle school, I suppose this could change as the series progresses, but it was nice to read a book set in middle school that focused its attention on academics rather than crushes.
Typically, I am a fan of lighthearted, easy to read paperback fiction, but this is not the strongest recent offering by Scholastic. For a better mystery series with girls as main characters, try the Sleuth or Dare series by Kim Harrington. Though they are not mysteries the Petal Pushers and Pink Locker Society series are also great paperback choices for girls in grades four to seven.
June 22, 2013
Book one of the Jewel Thieves series introduces us to a group of four sixth grade friends who make up the middle school's trivia bowl team. Although the girls have vastly different personalities and personal styles, each has her own areas of expertise that help make the team, called The Jewels, successful at trivia bowls, regardless of the competition.
When someone steals the school's mascot, a precious ruby necklace The Jewels are convinced that they have the tools to crack the case. But soon, the principal suspects that one of The Jewels may be the one behind the robbery. Desperate to solve the mystery, the girls uncover as many clues as possible -- and soon begin to suspect that a rival trivia team may hold the key to the identity of the culprit.
Can The Jewels uncover the mystery necklace in time to clear their names, or will they be forced to forfeit the trivia bowl -- as well as their own reputations?
This was definitely an adorable, fast-paced, exciting book that is sure to appeal to any middle grade readers, especially girls, who like a good mystery. It almost had a Baby-Sitter's Club feel to the story -- if they were detectives instead of babysitters, of course -- although I suspect that most girls young enough to read JEWEL THIEVES are far too young to have read The Baby-Sitter's Club, right?
My biggest disappointment in this book was really just that the story literally stopped without warning, before we ever had a chance to finish the mystery of the ruby necklace. Is this one event the basis of the entire series? I'm not entirely sure. I like the premise and the setup for the series -- I just didn't like the way that things stopped so abruptly before advertising book two.
That said, CATCH US IF YOU CAN is still worth the read. I'm sure my elementary school self would have devoured this book in a single setting, eager and waiting to find out what happens in the next installment....
When someone steals the school's mascot, a precious ruby necklace The Jewels are convinced that they have the tools to crack the case. But soon, the principal suspects that one of The Jewels may be the one behind the robbery. Desperate to solve the mystery, the girls uncover as many clues as possible -- and soon begin to suspect that a rival trivia team may hold the key to the identity of the culprit.
Can The Jewels uncover the mystery necklace in time to clear their names, or will they be forced to forfeit the trivia bowl -- as well as their own reputations?
This was definitely an adorable, fast-paced, exciting book that is sure to appeal to any middle grade readers, especially girls, who like a good mystery. It almost had a Baby-Sitter's Club feel to the story -- if they were detectives instead of babysitters, of course -- although I suspect that most girls young enough to read JEWEL THIEVES are far too young to have read The Baby-Sitter's Club, right?
My biggest disappointment in this book was really just that the story literally stopped without warning, before we ever had a chance to finish the mystery of the ruby necklace. Is this one event the basis of the entire series? I'm not entirely sure. I like the premise and the setup for the series -- I just didn't like the way that things stopped so abruptly before advertising book two.
That said, CATCH US IF YOU CAN is still worth the read. I'm sure my elementary school self would have devoured this book in a single setting, eager and waiting to find out what happens in the next installment....
March 4, 2013
In the first book we meet the Jewels, a group of girls at a private school who are on the school's academic team. Although they are only sixth graders competing against older students, they have smoked their competition. Maybe a little too well. Their arch rivals, the Atkinson Prep Rivals, have been caught lurking around their campus and mysterious show up wherever the Jewels are and their school's prized Martha Washington ruby necklace has gone missing? Did the RIVALS swipe it?
February 17, 2013
charecter:jasmine,erin,willow,lili PLOT:IS TO FIND THE RUBY NECKLACE SETTING:QIUZ BOWL,PARK
Want to read
January 18, 2013It well be a good book to me.
September 3, 2014
Mini Me Corner Review Coming Soon
Read
February 1, 2016reminded me of good ol' days
hmmmm
hmmmm
February 20, 2016
This book is about 4 girls who need to find a ruby. But 4 other people also want to get it.Who will get the ruby first?I thought this book was a great book because it had a moral.
February 3, 2015
It was a really good book, I love the idea of the book, it was awesome!
February 3, 2016
mysteriously wonderful!
read-as-a-kid
April 1, 2018Loved this so much as a kid.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews