Quigley, Emma. Bank. Little Island, 05/2024. 252pp. Fiction. Paper $9.99. 978-1-9104-1197-1. GRADES 5–8. LOW ADDITIONAL.
School chums Finn and Luke set up an informal bank with their friends, lending small amounts of Euros to classmates, charging high interest rates, and making quick payoffs. Seems like a great idea, but things quickly get very complicated as the operation gets larger and more complex. Fast and easy money quickly becomes a problem as they spend their new wealth while trying not be noticed by their parents, who have their own financial issues. American readers may be confused by some of the Irish terminology and inconsistent vocabulary; for example, “football” and “soccer” are used interchangeably on the same page. It’s hard to keep track of all the characters and their interconnected tangle of debts, loans, and promises, and none of the kids get into trouble for their scheme. All characters are Irish European.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library