Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Thrilling postapocalyptic heist sequel has suspense, action.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In THE NOTORIOUS SCARLETT AND BROWNE: SCARLETT AND BROWNE, BOOK 2, Scarlett and Albert are back on the road, headed to rob another town's faith house. This one is said to be heavily guarded, booby-trapped, and full of ill-begotten treasure. They arrive in town and get to work, Albert reading the minds of the guards and Scarlett gathering supplies and donning a wig and dress -- since the pair's likenesses are slapped on wanted posters all over the country. The heist is a success, though their escape is harrowing. A hunt ensues, and after Scarlett thinks she has their pursuers beat, she celebrates with a gambling binge. That's when a strange thin man -- a faith house operative with some frightening powers that rival Albert's -- shows up, exhibiting nothing like the restraint that Albert possesses. Scarlett barely gets away from the operative and is sure he won't stop hunting her until she's dead.
Is It Any Good?
This satisfying sequel has a summer blockbuster feel, with action, action, and more action, gritty outlaws, sarcastic humor, and tons of suspense – and it's well-written too. You know you're in for a cinematic reading experience from the get-go, when three bandits encounter Scarlett and Albert and their boundless talents on the road. Even with the bandits training guns on the infamous teens, the marauders never stand a chance. And that's just the warm-up to the real action: a heist, a chase, a gambling house shoot-out, a kidnapping (no, two of those), and a bargain that will send the pair deep into scary ruins filled with all kinds of horrors – especially the bitey kind. At least five times, readers will wonder how on this apocalyptic earth Scarlett and Albert will come out alive. And each time they'll be surprised.
That's not to say that The Notorious Scarlett and Browne is all notorious exploits. Readers will learn more about Scarlett's past, both the trauma of her loss and her humorous introduction to meditation. We also get a few more hints about how the cataclysm happened and what part others with Albert's talents may have played in it. And we take a closer look at the injustices of this world, with the hypocrisy of the faith houses and the slave trade. Plus, there are hints that Albert may continue to persuade Scarlett to do some good in their fractured world -- in between heists, of course. The pair may already have a ballad written about their many misdeeds, but it's clear from this satisfying sequel that there are many more thrilling and surprising verses to come.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the spectacle of the gallows in The Notorious Scarlett and Browne. How does the infamy of the criminals play into it? What does this event remind you of from the past? What about the present?
At the start of section V, there's a flashback to Scarlett meeting a woman meditating on the street. She explains her secret to freedom. What is it? Do you agree with her? Does Scarlett?
What do you think is next for Scarlett and Albert? Will you read their next adventure?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Adventure
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Knopf Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : April 25, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 12
- Number of pages : 432
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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