The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne by Jonathan Stroud
Reviewed By: Alice Mitchell, Youth Services Manager
Genre: Science Fiction
Suggested Age: Kids and teens (10-15)
What is this book about? Scarlett McCain is used to taking care of herself. She’s quite capable of making a living, even if that happens to be by robbing small banks. On her way to deliver her recent plunder to someone she owes money to, she stumbles upon Albert Browne locked in the bathroom of an overturned bus in the middle of the wilderness. It becomes abundantly clear that he’s on the run as well – she’s used to dodging pursuers, but the Faith House operatives’ explosives really are overkill. Luckily, it turns out Albert has some skills that might help both of them. Now Scarlett has to team up with a host of characters to get him to the Free Isles near London, and get herself out of the mess that is really all his fault to begin with.
My Review: I’ve been a big fan of Jonathan Stroud’s writing for a long time, and this book held up to my expectations of him. It’s full of his trademark humor, suspenseful moments of terror, and likeable characters. Confident, no-nonsense Scarlett and gentle-but-powerful Albert are unique and fun to read about, and the villainous Dr. Calloway was intriguing and insidious. The only way this book could be improved is to get a sequel.
Three Words that Describe this Book: daring, suspenseful, mischievous
Give This A Try if You Like… Holly Black, The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo, Rick Riordan, and Rick Riordan Presents
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.
