Overview
Jonah Wish, a brilliant computer hacker, is the newest addition to an elite group of teen outlaws all hired by the same mysterious benefactor, Nathaniel Coldhardt. Each of them offers a unique talent: Patch is a one-eyed locksmith; Motti can dismantle any electrical system; Con's charm is truly mesmerizing; and Tye can detect a lie with more precision than a polygraph. Under Coldhart's watchful eye, this motley crew races from a high-tech underground conference centre to exotic locations where they hunt for priceless ancient artefacts that may bring riches . . . or the secret to eternal life.
Synopsis
Jonah Wish, a brilliant computer hacker, is the newest addition to an elite group of teen outlaws all hired by the same mysterious benefactor, Nathaniel Coldhardt. Each of them offers a unique talent: Patch is a one-eyed locksmith; Motti can dismantle any electrical system; Con's charm is truly mesmerizing; and Tye can detect a lie with more precision than a polygraph. Under Coldhart's watchful eye, this motley crew races from a high-tech underground conference centre to exotic locations where they hunt for priceless ancient artefacts that may bring riches . . . or the secret to eternal life.
Katherine Wise, Teen Reviewer - VOYA
Jonah Wish, the prison escapee and computer hacker ("geek") finds himself under the watchful eye of Coldhardt, a millionaire who loves stealing from other millionaires. With the help of Coldhardt's talented band of teenage misfits, Jonah dabbles in dangerous Egyptian mythology that might hold the formula for creating eternal life. The book is full of twists that make you gasp, a budding romance, and some laugh-out-loud lines you cannot help but read to friends. VOYA CODES: 3Q 4P J S (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2006, Bloomsbury, 352p., Ages 12 to 18.
Editorials
Children's Literature
Seventeen-year-old Jonah is in the second month of his year-long sentence, which he is serving in a Young Offenders Institution. His thoughts are always on his computer and his fingers are itching to break codes. Around 3:00, Jonah hears a crashing sound and footsteps, but no one in the corridor was making any commotion. Why were other teens he has never seen suddenly in his cell? Who was this Coldhardt they were telling him about? Why was he being broken out of the institution? His experiences with all these new individuals lead him on a trek he never knew was possible. Imhotep; Ophiuchus, the thirteenth sign of the zodiac; an elevator that takes people underground; Samraj; Cairo; and spells are just the tip of the iceberg in this unforgettable adventure. The characters are well developed and believable. There are twists and turns throughout the book, yet the reader can accept this plausible plot and enjoy reading every page. I was hooked right from the start; nevertheless, I favored the last half because, by then, I knew each character and the excitement of the final challenges made this a real page-turner. "As Jonah stood before a stone alter, horrible, contorted shapes that might have been faces laughed and screamed out of the sides in bas-relief. On the alter was a body. It was emaciated, swamped in a long, decorated tunic, and a cloak . . . .It's a man," Jonah whispered, "he looks about a million years old . . . .I—I think he is still breathing," This would be a great movie. The special effects would be fantastic! 2006, Bloomsbury Publishing, Ages 13 up.—Kathie M. Josephs
VOYA
Jonah Wish, the prison escapee and computer hacker ("geek") finds himself under the watchful eye of Coldhardt, a millionaire who loves stealing from other millionaires. With the help of Coldhardt's talented band of teenage misfits, Jonah dabbles in dangerous Egyptian mythology that might hold the formula for creating eternal life. The book is full of twists that make you gasp, a budding romance, and some laugh-out-loud lines you cannot help but read to friends. VOYA CODES: 3Q 4P J S (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2006, Bloomsbury, 352p., Ages 12 to 18.—Katherine Wise, Teen Reviewer