Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Scholastic Inc.
Pages
226
Description
Jackson Greene has a reputation as a prankster at Maplewood Middle School, but after the last disaster he is trying to go straight--but when it looks like Keith Sinclair may steal the election for school president from Jackson's former best friend Gabriela, he assembles a team to make sure Keith does not succeed.
Description
Saving the school -- one con at a time.
Jackson Greene has reformed. No, really he has. He became famous for the Shakedown at Shimmering Hills, and everyone still talks about the Blitz at the Fitz.... But after the disaster of the Mid-Day PDA, he swore off scheming and conning for good.
Then Keith Sinclair -- loser of the Blitz -- announces he's running for school president, against Jackson's former best friend Gaby de la Cruz. Gaby hasn't talked to Jackson since the PDA, and he knows she won't welcome his involvement. But he also knows Keith has "connections" to the principal, which could win him the election whatever the vote count.
So Jackson assembles a crack team to ensure the election is done right: Hashemi Larijani, tech genius. Victor Cho, bankroll. Megan Feldman, science goddess and cheerleader. Charlie de la Cruz, point man. Together they devise a plan that will bring Keith down once and for all. Yet as Jackson draws closer to Gaby again, he realizes the election isn't the only thing he wants to win.
Jackson Greene has reformed. No, really he has. He became famous for the Shakedown at Shimmering Hills, and everyone still talks about the Blitz at the Fitz.... But after the disaster of the Mid-Day PDA, he swore off scheming and conning for good.
Then Keith Sinclair -- loser of the Blitz -- announces he's running for school president, against Jackson's former best friend Gaby de la Cruz. Gaby hasn't talked to Jackson since the PDA, and he knows she won't welcome his involvement. But he also knows Keith has "connections" to the principal, which could win him the election whatever the vote count.
So Jackson assembles a crack team to ensure the election is done right: Hashemi Larijani, tech genius. Victor Cho, bankroll. Megan Feldman, science goddess and cheerleader. Charlie de la Cruz, point man. Together they devise a plan that will bring Keith down once and for all. Yet as Jackson draws closer to Gaby again, he realizes the election isn't the only thing he wants to win.
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
226 p.; 7.6 inches
ISBN
9780545525534
Similar in this library
Lexile
660L
User reviews
LibraryThing member acargile
The Great Greene Heist by Varian Johnson is a realistic fiction novel about con.
Jackson Greene is famous in his school for pulling cons. He learned from the best, his grandfather, who was a con artist. He is currently on the outs with his best friend whom Jackson would like to be his girlfriend,
Jackson has his "geek" friends who help him out. Gaby's brother, Charlie, is his right-hand man who has helped Jackson with cons over the years. Gaby has asked that Jackson live the straight and narrow path, so she doesn't know anything is going on. Bradley is recruited because he works in the office and has access to information and keys. Heshemi is their techno geek who can do whatever is needed in that area. Megan is pulled in to help with the con because they need a girl and she can help with the technology issues as well.
I like the realistic characters in that everyone is a different race. In real life, we are not all one race or nationality. This is a group of kids representing all colors who are just people and the story can exist without worries about prejudice from the kids. The con unfolds at a nice pace and good wins out in the end in this fun novel. If you liked The Fourth Stall, you will like this novel as well.
Jackson Greene is famous in his school for pulling cons. He learned from the best, his grandfather, who was a con artist. He is currently on the outs with his best friend whom Jackson would like to be his girlfriend,
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Gaby. Gaby has decided to run for Student Body President, but Keith wants the position. Keith is the resident rich guy who needs to be president in order to beef up his transcript to get into an elite private high school. Although Gaby isn't talking to him, Jackson plans a con to ensure that Keith doesn't win because he bought the election by giving money to the principal.Jackson has his "geek" friends who help him out. Gaby's brother, Charlie, is his right-hand man who has helped Jackson with cons over the years. Gaby has asked that Jackson live the straight and narrow path, so she doesn't know anything is going on. Bradley is recruited because he works in the office and has access to information and keys. Heshemi is their techno geek who can do whatever is needed in that area. Megan is pulled in to help with the con because they need a girl and she can help with the technology issues as well.
I like the realistic characters in that everyone is a different race. In real life, we are not all one race or nationality. This is a group of kids representing all colors who are just people and the story can exist without worries about prejudice from the kids. The con unfolds at a nice pace and good wins out in the end in this fun novel. If you liked The Fourth Stall, you will like this novel as well.
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LibraryThing member Paiger1979
Realistic fiction is never my favorite genre to read, but I have to say, this book was a surprise. A very cleverly written book that kept you guessing about just how Jackson was going to pull off the heist of the year.
Who: The infamous Jackson Greene never thought he would be breaking his own code
The Gist: Jackson Greene is not new to cons, heists, and epic pranks, but his last prank, the Mid-Day PDA, caused him to lose his best friend. Gaby had a secret crush on Jackson, and he on her, but when he ‘had to’ kiss another girl for the prank, Gaby refused to talk to him. Not only that, he got caught and wound up in more trouble than he was used to. So he swore off conning for good. But now that he has learned that Keith is running for Student Council President against Gaby and he is planning to take away funding from clubs and organizations that he doesn’t like, Jackson has to come up with something to save the school and hopefully win back Gaby. Jackson assembles his team Ocean’s Eleven style and proposes his plan. The team comes together on election day to pull off the con of the year, but Keith’s father, who has a lot of pull with the school and principal, will do everything he can to ensure that his son wins the election.
Final thoughts: The book starts off with a huge cast of characters all thrown at you at once. There were several times at the beginning where I had to look back and be reminded of who a certain character was. But once I figured it all out and learned more about the characters, the book really started to hook me. There were even a few laugh out loud parts in the book that had me giggling. Students will connect with both Jackson and Gaby, and enjoy trying to figure out just what Jackson will do. I am really curious to see how my students like this book. It is one of the few realistic fiction book choices that I have.
Who: The infamous Jackson Greene never thought he would be breaking his own code
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of conduct. Rule number 3 – Never pull a con for love or a girl. But when his former best friend, Gaby, is in danger of losing the race for Student Council President to the biggest jerk in school, Jackson knows he has to find a way to help.The Gist: Jackson Greene is not new to cons, heists, and epic pranks, but his last prank, the Mid-Day PDA, caused him to lose his best friend. Gaby had a secret crush on Jackson, and he on her, but when he ‘had to’ kiss another girl for the prank, Gaby refused to talk to him. Not only that, he got caught and wound up in more trouble than he was used to. So he swore off conning for good. But now that he has learned that Keith is running for Student Council President against Gaby and he is planning to take away funding from clubs and organizations that he doesn’t like, Jackson has to come up with something to save the school and hopefully win back Gaby. Jackson assembles his team Ocean’s Eleven style and proposes his plan. The team comes together on election day to pull off the con of the year, but Keith’s father, who has a lot of pull with the school and principal, will do everything he can to ensure that his son wins the election.
Final thoughts: The book starts off with a huge cast of characters all thrown at you at once. There were several times at the beginning where I had to look back and be reminded of who a certain character was. But once I figured it all out and learned more about the characters, the book really started to hook me. There were even a few laugh out loud parts in the book that had me giggling. Students will connect with both Jackson and Gaby, and enjoy trying to figure out just what Jackson will do. I am really curious to see how my students like this book. It is one of the few realistic fiction book choices that I have.
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LibraryThing member SamMusher
What a blast! A nerdy heist film set in middle school... a diverse cast I can't wait to spend more time with... wordplay that made me laugh out loud... This one will be an easy pitch to my 6th and 7th graders, I'm sure.
LibraryThing member amandabock
I didn't like it in the beginning. There were too many characters to keep track of without enough, well, character to distinguish them. A list would have been helpful. I mostly liked the feeling of being dropped into an in-process situation, but sometimes it made me feel like I should know more
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than I did. However, I love a good con/heist, and it won me over in the end. If you've seen the classic heist movies and tv shows, there are some great references hidden throughout. I really hope there will be more. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookbrig
Entertaining and quick read. I liked the Ocean's 11 heist feel, the characters are endearing, and it's just a fun read.
LibraryThing member Sarah220
Jackson Green is a con artist that could rival Danny Ocean and he's still in middle school. Jackson follows the rules...mostly. But when a stuck up rich kid bribes his way into the Student Council election against Jackson's ex-best friend (but still current crush), he knows he can't let her down
Varian Johnson does a great job of writing interesting, believable kids and ridiculous (but still realistic) adults. The heist is fun and geeky references are funny. You'll definitely be rooting for "Gang Greene" to win the day.
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(if she still won't have anything to do with him). Varian Johnson does a great job of writing interesting, believable kids and ridiculous (but still realistic) adults. The heist is fun and geeky references are funny. You'll definitely be rooting for "Gang Greene" to win the day.
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LibraryThing member eas7788
What's not to like? The tone of the book is perfect -- light and affectionate. Fun characters, a zippy plot, a heist for all the right reasons, nerdy yet cool middle school kids, a racially diverse cast. My only quibble is that it relies too heavily on boys-like-girls-like boys tropes leading it to
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gender stereotypes and some hackneyed moments. The characters in no way seemed like 8th graders either, but who cares? I'm really glad this book exists. Show Less
LibraryThing member ftbooklover
Jackson Greene lost his best friend, Gabriela de la Cruz when he was caught sort of kissing another girl. After four months of no communication with Gaby, Jackson vows to help her win the student council presidential election against the hated Keith, who Jackson knows will cheat to win. Jackson
The Great Greene Heist is truly a middle school equivalent of Ocean's 11 with Jackson filling the role of planner, Danny Ocean. The con Jackson proposes has several layers and all of them build into a twist and turn filled last couple of chapters that make this book wildly entertaining. My only complaint with the story is that the staff members of the school are all generalized as being, prejudiced cheats, but overall, The Great Greene Heist is a fun story well worth the read. 4 1/2 stars.
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recruits Victor, Bradley, Megan, and Charlie, all with their own specialties, to help with the election and develops a plan, but several thing go wrong before they can even get started.The Great Greene Heist is truly a middle school equivalent of Ocean's 11 with Jackson filling the role of planner, Danny Ocean. The con Jackson proposes has several layers and all of them build into a twist and turn filled last couple of chapters that make this book wildly entertaining. My only complaint with the story is that the staff members of the school are all generalized as being, prejudiced cheats, but overall, The Great Greene Heist is a fun story well worth the read. 4 1/2 stars.
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LibraryThing member jennybeast
Hmmmm, ok, so I liked the crew in this book, and I appreciate a good heist, of which there were several interlocking elements in this book. Also, I think dropping us in medius res to begin with is excellent, although it did make me wonder a few times if there was a previous book. That said, this
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isn't so much a mile-a-minute plot -- it's an intricate read, that proceeds at a measured pace. Also, since it is ALL about elections, tampering with elections, buying elections, etc, it's a bit upsetting to me given the current political climate. Finally, holy hiccups but these kids take their elections and themselves very seriously. I mean, come on, it's a middle school student body election -- do people really care that much? I went to a non traditional school, so I'm honestly perplexed. Anyway, still a great, clever crew and a solid heist book. Show Less
Awards
South Dakota Children's Book Awards (Nominee — 2017)
Oregon Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 2017)
Keystone to Reading Book Award (Nominee — 2016)
Maud Hart Lovelace Award (Nominee — 2017)
CCBC Choices (2015)
The Best Children's Books of the Year (Nine to Twelve — 2015)
Notable Children's Book (2015)
Nerdy Book Award (Middle Grade Fiction — 2014)
Idaho Battle of the Books (2018)
Texas Lone Star Reading List (2015)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Kids (Fiction for Older Readers — 2014)
Call number
J4D.Joh