About the Book and Author
Readers aged 7-11 year who like funny books will enjoy this story about a boy called Jesse who gets to accompany his grandad on a cruise for retired people.
To Jesse’s surprise there are some interesting characters on board: Mysterious cat burglars, crime lords and smugglers … and odder than that, Gramps knows them all!
When an attempted murder occurs, Jesse decides it’s time to find out what they’re hiding, and catch the villain responsible. But Gramps might be hiding the biggest secret of all … can Jesse unravel the mystery, before time runs out?
Tom Vaughan was a journalist, a TV producer and is now a children’s author whose first book was Bin Boy. To find out what inspired ‘A Gangster Stole my Trunks’ you can read this interview on the Scholastic website.
Emma McCannis a freelance illustrator, part-time library assistant, sporadic painter/print maker, occasional cake baker, and regular mess maker. She studied illustration at Kingston University, London, where she found myself in the unusual situation of being picked up by a publisher at my degree show in 2003. My first self-penned picture book, “Fish Don’t Play Ball” was published in 2004. My second, “Munch”, followed in 2005 and was longlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal.
Book Review
I would recommend it to someone who enjoys books about investigating and crime
This book was about a kid called Jesse, who has to go on a cruise with his Grandad. It doesn’t see like it will be a very interesting story to start with, but when the cruise starts, it soon gets very interesting!
There is an attack, some stolen trunks and even a murder, and it was really interesting trying to work out who the bad guy was! I really enjoyed the illustrations in the book as well. The ending came as a surprise.
Although I’m not a fan of crime or investigating books, I really enjoyed how this book was written, and I would recommend it to someone who enjoys books about investigating and crime.
If you would would like to buy a copy of the book we invite you to order it from your local independent book shop.
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Alternatively, we suggest that you visit your local library and request to borrow a copy from a friendly librarian.
Whichever you choose, we hope you enjoy being part of your unique reading community – happy reading everyone!
Reviewer Profile
- Name: Sam
- Age: 9 years
- Likes: Leeds United FC, burgers and apples crumble
- Dislikes: doing chores, West Ham and Liverpool Utd. FCs
- Favourite Book: Mega Monster by David Walliams
- Favourite Film: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows II
- Favourite Song: Anything by Ed Sherran
