URBAN OUTLAWS, by Peter Jay Black

The story: Five kids live in a hidden bunker under the streets of London. They're the Urban Outlaws, orphans living off the grid, each one using their special abilities to get away with Random Acts of Kindness while staying one step ahead of their enemies--the people whose money they've stolen to finance their good deeds. But when they "transfer" a cool million from criminal mastermind Del Sarto, it doesn't take long before they realize that this time, they may have bitten off more than they can chew.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG-13; sexual content G; Nudity G; substance abuse G; magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (parental abandonment; kids committing crimes) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Here's a story whose heroes model themselves on Robin Hood: they specialize in stealing money from bad guys and using it for good causes. (No one seems to question the idea that it's okay to steal as long as you're stealing from bad guys. Am I the only one who finds this a dubious piece of morality?) Preaching notwithstanding, boys especially will like this one because it's one wild caper after another featuring lots of cool techno-gadgets, and without a whole lot of character development to get in the way of the story. If you liked Jude Watson's "Loot", you'll like this one too.