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Loot
In the spirit of The Goonies and Stand By Me comes this #1 Best Selling Kindle YA short about adventure, friendship and risking it all for the Atari 2600.
It’s the autumn of 1977. Twelve-year-old Andy Astoria’s life is about to change forever. His aunt dies, leaving behind a farmhouse full of treasures. And the Atari 2600 is about to be unleashed on throngs of adoring fans at Middlebrook Junior High.
On a perfect Halloween day, Andy convinces his best friends, Carl and Teddy, to skip trick-or-treating. Their mission? Search his aunt’s farmhouse for cash so they can purchase their generation’s Holy Grail. Two tiny problems. They’ll have to navigate the winding hills of northern New Jersey to get there. And manage to outrun Andy’s pack of crazy, greed-fueled relatives hot on their trail.
Will they make it to the farmhouse in one piece? Will Andy discover something more important than the treasure? When in doubt, leave the candy…and go for the LOOT!
It’s the autumn of 1977. Twelve-year-old Andy Astoria’s life is about to change forever. His aunt dies, leaving behind a farmhouse full of treasures. And the Atari 2600 is about to be unleashed on throngs of adoring fans at Middlebrook Junior High.
On a perfect Halloween day, Andy convinces his best friends, Carl and Teddy, to skip trick-or-treating. Their mission? Search his aunt’s farmhouse for cash so they can purchase their generation’s Holy Grail. Two tiny problems. They’ll have to navigate the winding hills of northern New Jersey to get there. And manage to outrun Andy’s pack of crazy, greed-fueled relatives hot on their trail.
Will they make it to the farmhouse in one piece? Will Andy discover something more important than the treasure? When in doubt, leave the candy…and go for the LOOT!
29 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 27, 2015
About the author
Chris Keane
3 books78 followersChris is a graduate of Rutgers University and studied the art of storytelling at Gotham Writers' Workshop in New York City.
Chris' first publication, "Loot," became a bestselling Kindle Short Read, in the category of Young Adult Fiction. "Loot," set on Halloween in 1977, tells the tale of three boys who skip Halloween to hunt for cash to purchase an Atari in an old farmhouse belonging to one of their deceased aunts. Adventure ensues in his coming-of-age tale in the spirit of Stand by Me and The Goonies!
In addition to authoring prose, Chris is a screenwriter. In 2013 he wrote the screenplay for a short film, The Baseball Card, about three twelve-year old boys who fight over a Don Mattingly baseball card during the summer of 1984. The Baseball Card was an official selection of the Garden State Film Festival, Hoboken International Film Festival, and Maryland International Film Festival in 2014.
Chris' first publication, "Loot," became a bestselling Kindle Short Read, in the category of Young Adult Fiction. "Loot," set on Halloween in 1977, tells the tale of three boys who skip Halloween to hunt for cash to purchase an Atari in an old farmhouse belonging to one of their deceased aunts. Adventure ensues in his coming-of-age tale in the spirit of Stand by Me and The Goonies!
In addition to authoring prose, Chris is a screenwriter. In 2013 he wrote the screenplay for a short film, The Baseball Card, about three twelve-year old boys who fight over a Don Mattingly baseball card during the summer of 1984. The Baseball Card was an official selection of the Garden State Film Festival, Hoboken International Film Festival, and Maryland International Film Festival in 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 1, 2015
Downloaded for free from Amazon.co.uk
This was a bit of an unusual short story about a group of boys who go to ransack Great-Auntie Edie’s house, because it’s rumoured that she left a lot of cash hidden before she died, and the boys really want to buy an Atari! The boys then have a bit of an adventure, and run into someone they don’t want to run into!
This was an amusing little story though, and if you like something a bit different you’ll probably like this.
6.25 out of 10
This was a bit of an unusual short story about a group of boys who go to ransack Great-Auntie Edie’s house, because it’s rumoured that she left a lot of cash hidden before she died, and the boys really want to buy an Atari! The boys then have a bit of an adventure, and run into someone they don’t want to run into!
This was an amusing little story though, and if you like something a bit different you’ll probably like this.
6.25 out of 10
January 28, 2023
This book definitely reminded me about the goonies. It is a small story that has some adventure and you can feel yourself going with these boys on this adventure. It also reminded me about when the Atari came out and I was still a child myself. Great refreshing story.
January 24, 2016
When I saw the cover, I knew right away what type of book this was going to be. I looked at the title and thought arcade, and then I looked at the boys and thought a friend adventure. Therefor the cover gets a big thumbs up from me.
Now on to the story. This is a coming of age book and set in the late 70's when video games were becoming big. I liked this book because it took me to another era. I will say that this is not for all readers, but if you like YA/coming of age/ adventure books, then you will probably enjoy this story.
The dialogue of the boys was funny. It was realistic to the era and how boys think. Chris did an excellent job at this. There is a bit of emotional depth but not enough for me. Then again this story didn't need it. That just comes down to the readers likes not the talent of the author. I want to make that clear because this isn't a story that targets a broad range of users; it targets a small, precise range.
I had fun reading this because a lot happens and the reactions of the characters make you roll your eyes or laugh at loud. You get suspense as well and there is a lot of rising action that everyone enjoys as a reader. The ending ties up just right.
If you like video games and ever played Atari then you'll understand the main character beautifully.
Now on to the story. This is a coming of age book and set in the late 70's when video games were becoming big. I liked this book because it took me to another era. I will say that this is not for all readers, but if you like YA/coming of age/ adventure books, then you will probably enjoy this story.
The dialogue of the boys was funny. It was realistic to the era and how boys think. Chris did an excellent job at this. There is a bit of emotional depth but not enough for me. Then again this story didn't need it. That just comes down to the readers likes not the talent of the author. I want to make that clear because this isn't a story that targets a broad range of users; it targets a small, precise range.
I had fun reading this because a lot happens and the reactions of the characters make you roll your eyes or laugh at loud. You get suspense as well and there is a lot of rising action that everyone enjoys as a reader. The ending ties up just right.
If you like video games and ever played Atari then you'll understand the main character beautifully.
October 14, 2015
Loot is an amazing story that brings me back to being a kid in the 80's. Chris Keane is an amazing author who writes characters that we can all relate to. His story is nostalgic, fun, and mysterious at the same time. I love the interaction of the main characters, Even though their adventure isn't that far from home it feels like a grand one. If you like this story check out the short film he wrote called The Baseball Card.
https://vimeo.com/79301192
https://vimeo.com/79301192
December 4, 2015
Copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
This definitely reminded me of Under the Empyrean Sky (The Heartland Trilogy, #1) – Cael and his friends.
3 goofy friends in search of treasure – Meet Teddy, Andy and Carl
I never played Atari 2600 but I can certainly understand the attraction as I was (and still am) diehard fan of Mario and other video games.
This is very sweet and short story but it got finished as I started reading –
I definitely wanted more…:)
This definitely reminded me of Under the Empyrean Sky (The Heartland Trilogy, #1) – Cael and his friends.
3 goofy friends in search of treasure – Meet Teddy, Andy and Carl
I never played Atari 2600 but I can certainly understand the attraction as I was (and still am) diehard fan of Mario and other video games.
This is very sweet and short story but it got finished as I started reading –
I definitely wanted more…:)
February 4, 2017
This story is billed as "in the spirit of Goonies and Stand By Me" - I found that to be exactly the right way to set expectations. The book captures that uniquely adolescent thirst for adventure, and Chris makes it easy for the reader to see the world through the eyes of Andy and his friends.
I was left feeling like the story ended too soon, but that is not a criticism here. To tell a complete story in a work of this length, and still develop characters to the point that we want to hear more about them... that's a success. I'll read more from this author.
Biases: I met the author and learned of this story from him directly. I believe I'd feel the same way about the book if that were not the case, but he's a heck of a guy so I admit I wanted to like it :). I mention this only because I find Brandon Sanderson's Goodreads policy to be a good set of guidelines.
I was left feeling like the story ended too soon, but that is not a criticism here. To tell a complete story in a work of this length, and still develop characters to the point that we want to hear more about them... that's a success. I'll read more from this author.
Biases: I met the author and learned of this story from him directly. I believe I'd feel the same way about the book if that were not the case, but he's a heck of a guy so I admit I wanted to like it :). I mention this only because I find Brandon Sanderson's Goodreads policy to be a good set of guidelines.
January 21, 2016
This was an engaging, nostalgic coming of age tale set in 1977 about three boys who go "treasure hunting" in a deceased aunt's farmhouse so they can buy the treasured Atari. The main character, Andy, comes to terms with unexpected feelings regarding his aunt's death. The writer is gifted with putting the readers right in the atmosphere of the time and place the story is set. The characters are well defined in a concise way through their dialog and actions.
I was given a copy of this story by the author for fair and honest feedback, and I look forward to reading more from him.
I was given a copy of this story by the author for fair and honest feedback, and I look forward to reading more from him.
January 30, 2016
Loved this is was definitely a breath of fresh air from the intense stories I have been reading lately.
The story is about three boys who decide to go treasure hunting in a deceased aunt's farmhouse, hoping they can find something of value they can sell to by, an Atari game system.
This is a light read, and the descriptive characters were a lot of fun and as I was reading the short tale, I found myself reminiscing about my own childhood.
The story is about three boys who decide to go treasure hunting in a deceased aunt's farmhouse, hoping they can find something of value they can sell to by, an Atari game system.
This is a light read, and the descriptive characters were a lot of fun and as I was reading the short tale, I found myself reminiscing about my own childhood.
December 19, 2015
Fantastic! I would definitely recommend this read to anyone looking for a quick story with a Goonies/ Stand by Me vibe. Good for any age.
March 2, 2016
Nice boy bonding book
I enjoyed this little story of friendship and understanding. It reminded me of a simpler time when people still talked to each other.
I enjoyed this little story of friendship and understanding. It reminded me of a simpler time when people still talked to each other.
October 31, 2015
Read the original review over at http://www.chantolaspinall.com.
Andy Astoria is dead set on getting an Atari 2600. For all you cool cats out there who was wondering, it’s just a fancy home video game console. The boy has his speech down and his strategy is fool proof. Well, in his mind anyway. All he has to do is butter up is mom and as a team they’ll persuade the more daunting challenge; dad. Pretty easy.
He goes home to find a letter saying that his Aunt Edie has died and he should come over to his Aunt Cally’s house. He goes. Nothing else on his mind but the sweet Atari 2600. And I mean nothing. Finding his mother distraught, he mans up and faces his dad. Alone. He drops the news, ignoring the fact that he is literally at his dead Aunt’s wake. Have you no love, have you no compassion, man? He wants what he wants and is willing to forget about getting a gift for Christmas. In Jamaica we’d say, “Di yout serious so til’. (The youngster is serious). Sweet proposal right? Well, the dad didn’t take the bait saying it was too expensive. With his bubble busted he takes himself up to the deck.
What is Andy to do? How else is he supposed to fertilize his young mind? He needs the game. A solution is presented. Well, not directly to him. But thanks to the chatty adults and the blessing of good hearing, he finds out that his dead Aunt has loads stashed away somewhere in her ol’ farmhouse. He isn’t the only one who wants the loot. The entire family wants a hand in the share. However, the determination of youths wins every time.
Andy and his trusted friends heads out to the farmhouse. Their mission, find the loot and then purchase the game. So they ditch the traditions of Halloween’s trick- or- treating. The calling of the valuables proves oh so strong. They are off, but aren’t the only ones in search of treasure that very night.
Doug, Andy’s larger than life, sixteen year old cousin has his sights set on Aunt Edie’s money. His plans urgent, he needs to move out of his mother’s house. With the essentials packed; a canteen, boots, a riding jacket, food rations, a med kit, and a Swiss Army knife, he heads to Sussex on his dirt bike. Who will come out with the loot?
My little heart couldn’t take so much excitement and suspense. From the boys almost being ran over by Doug, to them being shot by an old lady. It was too much. I wasn’t ready!!! I could hear the pounding of my heart as Doug entered the house, knowing darn well that the boys had beaten him to the treasure. Then Carl pulls out a hunting knife he found inside the house on Doug. Geez. My heart nearly stopped. Much drama, fun, suspense and laugh awaits you. Happy Reading!
-Chantol Aspinall.
Andy Astoria is dead set on getting an Atari 2600. For all you cool cats out there who was wondering, it’s just a fancy home video game console. The boy has his speech down and his strategy is fool proof. Well, in his mind anyway. All he has to do is butter up is mom and as a team they’ll persuade the more daunting challenge; dad. Pretty easy.
He goes home to find a letter saying that his Aunt Edie has died and he should come over to his Aunt Cally’s house. He goes. Nothing else on his mind but the sweet Atari 2600. And I mean nothing. Finding his mother distraught, he mans up and faces his dad. Alone. He drops the news, ignoring the fact that he is literally at his dead Aunt’s wake. Have you no love, have you no compassion, man? He wants what he wants and is willing to forget about getting a gift for Christmas. In Jamaica we’d say, “Di yout serious so til’. (The youngster is serious). Sweet proposal right? Well, the dad didn’t take the bait saying it was too expensive. With his bubble busted he takes himself up to the deck.
What is Andy to do? How else is he supposed to fertilize his young mind? He needs the game. A solution is presented. Well, not directly to him. But thanks to the chatty adults and the blessing of good hearing, he finds out that his dead Aunt has loads stashed away somewhere in her ol’ farmhouse. He isn’t the only one who wants the loot. The entire family wants a hand in the share. However, the determination of youths wins every time.
Andy and his trusted friends heads out to the farmhouse. Their mission, find the loot and then purchase the game. So they ditch the traditions of Halloween’s trick- or- treating. The calling of the valuables proves oh so strong. They are off, but aren’t the only ones in search of treasure that very night.
Doug, Andy’s larger than life, sixteen year old cousin has his sights set on Aunt Edie’s money. His plans urgent, he needs to move out of his mother’s house. With the essentials packed; a canteen, boots, a riding jacket, food rations, a med kit, and a Swiss Army knife, he heads to Sussex on his dirt bike. Who will come out with the loot?
My little heart couldn’t take so much excitement and suspense. From the boys almost being ran over by Doug, to them being shot by an old lady. It was too much. I wasn’t ready!!! I could hear the pounding of my heart as Doug entered the house, knowing darn well that the boys had beaten him to the treasure. Then Carl pulls out a hunting knife he found inside the house on Doug. Geez. My heart nearly stopped. Much drama, fun, suspense and laugh awaits you. Happy Reading!
-Chantol Aspinall.
May 4, 2016
The author contacted me and was kind enough to give me a free e-copy of Loot in exchange for an honest review - one that is loooonnnng overdue because of my hectic course load.
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Loot is a fascinating, unique story that jumps right into it without delay. We follow the story of Andy, a young boy growing up in the 70's who is in dire need of the newest gaming console the Atari 2600. With the news of his great aunt's passing there are also rumors of thousands of dollars hidden at her old farmhouse. Andy - accompanied by his two friends - set out on Halloween night to scrounge up enough money for the Atari.
Overall, for the size of the story it was wonderful! Unfortunately I am a fan of details, so often when reading this I was left wanting more details to help set the scene or to effectively express the situation. If there was more meat to match this wonderful little story, the rating would've been a full 5 stars.
-------------------------------------
Loot is a fascinating, unique story that jumps right into it without delay. We follow the story of Andy, a young boy growing up in the 70's who is in dire need of the newest gaming console the Atari 2600. With the news of his great aunt's passing there are also rumors of thousands of dollars hidden at her old farmhouse. Andy - accompanied by his two friends - set out on Halloween night to scrounge up enough money for the Atari.
Overall, for the size of the story it was wonderful! Unfortunately I am a fan of details, so often when reading this I was left wanting more details to help set the scene or to effectively express the situation. If there was more meat to match this wonderful little story, the rating would've been a full 5 stars.
October 19, 2015
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you remember the Atari 2600 game system then this will bring you down memory lane, this is a quick read that is just perfect for the fall/Halloween time. It is about friendship, adventure and games! Andy, Teddy and Carl need to get their hands on the Atari 2600 system but can't get their parents to buy one. Andy has the perfect way to get a hold of some money to buy the Atari and all the games out if the boys can get to his Great Aunt's house, who just passed away and hated banks, so rumor has it she has money stashed all over the farmhouse. Only problem is they need to find the hidden loot before any of his cousins get their hands on it. The three boys head out on the bus to the old farmhouse and have quite the adventure to obtain some loot and miss out on all the candy loot from Halloween.
I look forward to reading more from Chris Keane as I fully believe this would have been a great full length novel. I give it a 4 out of 5 stars.
If you remember the Atari 2600 game system then this will bring you down memory lane, this is a quick read that is just perfect for the fall/Halloween time. It is about friendship, adventure and games! Andy, Teddy and Carl need to get their hands on the Atari 2600 system but can't get their parents to buy one. Andy has the perfect way to get a hold of some money to buy the Atari and all the games out if the boys can get to his Great Aunt's house, who just passed away and hated banks, so rumor has it she has money stashed all over the farmhouse. Only problem is they need to find the hidden loot before any of his cousins get their hands on it. The three boys head out on the bus to the old farmhouse and have quite the adventure to obtain some loot and miss out on all the candy loot from Halloween.
I look forward to reading more from Chris Keane as I fully believe this would have been a great full length novel. I give it a 4 out of 5 stars.
October 7, 2015
What a short, fun read! I wish it was a bit longer; it was over too soon. Definitely Goonies-style, so if you're a fan of the old 80's flick or if you grew up in the 70's or early 80's, then you'll probably enjoy this book. Tons of references to circa 1980 candy, toys, household items, etc. Took me back.
The story itself was good, kept me reading and I especially enjoyed the characters. It would be nice to see more adventures with these guys! Some errors which influenced my rating a bit, but overall an easy, fun read that I would recommend to anyone. (YA or adult)
The story itself was good, kept me reading and I especially enjoyed the characters. It would be nice to see more adventures with these guys! Some errors which influenced my rating a bit, but overall an easy, fun read that I would recommend to anyone. (YA or adult)
December 3, 2015
A short and fun story is the best way to describe this book. Sometimes you are just in the mood for a quick read and this one is fits it perfectly. It follows a group of teenagers who go in search of some easy money hidden at the home of one the boy's late great aunt. Entertaining and easy to read, if you are in the mood for a short mystery check this one out.
October 20, 2015
When you read indie books, you never know exactly what you're going to get, but this one I quite enjoyed! The storyline was engaging and relatable, the characters were familiar and exciting, and outside of a few awkward transitions, the writing was good! It will be worth your time!
November 1, 2015
This book is a fun read; perfect for reading around Halloween.
It could do with a little more work on editing, but otherwise it's a great book.
It could do with a little more work on editing, but otherwise it's a great book.
February 14, 2016
I really liked this book, I wish it could have been longer as I was enjoying the story and then it just ended. Great ideas, interesting characters, and a good story line.
April 30, 2016
I liked this short but deep story. It started as a fun teen expedition, but ended on so much more. Heroes and villains, family and distant relatives, and life and death.
April 10, 2016
Just wanted to say Thank-you to Chris Keane for sending me this!! An awesome read.
Loot follows the story of Andy and his pals on a treasure hunt. Andy's aunt passes away and she is known to have kept her money stashed around her property. Andy has been eyeing up an Atari 2600 for him and his friends for a while now so he plans to go score some money and buy one! Andy's family are at the harsher end of the behavioural spectrum and his cousin Doug knows where the money is too which is cause for concern. Time is in short supply and its ticking away, who can get there first.
Loot is a short story, but covers a lot of ground in its minimal duration. Themes like a death in the family, dysfunctional family behaviour, moral issues and young children's friendships. CK did a great job with this little piece, decent setting, the kids are as devious as ever and it recaptures the antics that were present in stories like Stand By Me.
7/10
This was a little piece for the author as he so kindly shared his material with me. For other reviews like this please check out my blog alwaystrustinbooks.blogspot.co.uk and like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter :D Have a great day!
Loot follows the story of Andy and his pals on a treasure hunt. Andy's aunt passes away and she is known to have kept her money stashed around her property. Andy has been eyeing up an Atari 2600 for him and his friends for a while now so he plans to go score some money and buy one! Andy's family are at the harsher end of the behavioural spectrum and his cousin Doug knows where the money is too which is cause for concern. Time is in short supply and its ticking away, who can get there first.
Loot is a short story, but covers a lot of ground in its minimal duration. Themes like a death in the family, dysfunctional family behaviour, moral issues and young children's friendships. CK did a great job with this little piece, decent setting, the kids are as devious as ever and it recaptures the antics that were present in stories like Stand By Me.
7/10
This was a little piece for the author as he so kindly shared his material with me. For other reviews like this please check out my blog alwaystrustinbooks.blogspot.co.uk and like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter :D Have a great day!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2015
Copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
This is the story of 3 boys who want an Atari 2600 and after the aunt of one of the boys dies and the family believes she has hidden lots of money in her farmhouse, the boys sneak off on Halloween in search of the money to buy the new game system they desire.
The story itself is cute. It is a very short and quick read and I enjoyed the story quite a bit. It is well written and a fun read. So why the lower rating? Honestly with the storyline and the size of the book it would be great for a younger audience, however there are a few curse words in the book that weren't really necessary and would keep it from being targeted toward kids of same age as the 12 year old boys in the story. I have a 12 year old that would probably love this book, but wouldn't recommend it due to mild language, which is a shame cause it really is a good story.
This is the story of 3 boys who want an Atari 2600 and after the aunt of one of the boys dies and the family believes she has hidden lots of money in her farmhouse, the boys sneak off on Halloween in search of the money to buy the new game system they desire.
The story itself is cute. It is a very short and quick read and I enjoyed the story quite a bit. It is well written and a fun read. So why the lower rating? Honestly with the storyline and the size of the book it would be great for a younger audience, however there are a few curse words in the book that weren't really necessary and would keep it from being targeted toward kids of same age as the 12 year old boys in the story. I have a 12 year old that would probably love this book, but wouldn't recommend it due to mild language, which is a shame cause it really is a good story.
October 24, 2015
This story was an ok read. The setting is creative as well as the character motivation. I got a Goonies vibe from the story giving me a nostalgic feel as I read. The characters are a little cliche, but not to the point where they came off boring. I enjoyed the backstory of the Aunt and the nephews I wish it was brought up a lot more. My problems for Loot stem from the fact it's only 25 pages long. If it had been longer it would of been fantastic! More story time would have added more room for the creativity I've seen while reading it.The suspense at the end of the story had me biting my nails, and the ending was unexpected. Loot is a worthy read.
January 6, 2016
Loot leave me wondering about Andy feelings towards his deceased aunt. I would have loved to have seen more into Doug's life, even though the story wasn't about him completely as I feel that he has more of a connection with their deceased aunt. Plus I couldn't help, but wonder why he choose to be a bully toward his cousin despite the obvious jealousy. Any who, Loot was a alright read.
December 12, 2015
Loved it. A nostalgic childhood romp with Goonies like characters who learn a valuable life lesson, that some things are worth more than money. An enjoyable little adventure that will leave you craving more.
January 1, 2016
Looking For Cash
In 1977 a group of boys spend Halloween night searching for lost money to buy buy Atari's 2600 console. A rather nostalgic piece that will remind you of Stephen King's story The Body(which became the movie Stand By Me).
In 1977 a group of boys spend Halloween night searching for lost money to buy buy Atari's 2600 console. A rather nostalgic piece that will remind you of Stephen King's story The Body(which became the movie Stand By Me).
September 4, 2016
Good Retro Read
Reminds me a little of a "Stand By Me" set in the 70s. I was expecting a slightly different outcome but as a child of the 70s it still called out to me none the less.
Reminds me a little of a "Stand By Me" set in the 70s. I was expecting a slightly different outcome but as a child of the 70s it still called out to me none the less.
November 16, 2015
Cute short story.
January 3, 2016
A bit exaggerated in terms of the characterization, but a quick interesting read.
Read
January 8, 2016This started off really good but the ending was rather weak. Good short but would have been better just a bit longer.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews