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About This Book
ISBN13: 9780060875077 |
Powells.com Staff Pick
Baby (her given name) is thirteen with no mother and a heroin-addicted father — not a feel-good kind of storyline. Lullabies for Little Criminals is a humorous and nerve-racking story. I disliked every character in the novel at some point, but O'Neill made me care about these sad people, and want to find out if they could create decent lives. This is O'Neill's first novel, and to her credit, she wrote about unpleasant themes without pity; Baby is fragile, but with the will and smarts to survive.
Recommended by Brodie, Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Publisher Comments:
Baby, all of thirteen years old, is lost in the gangly, coltish moment between childhood and the strange pulls and temptations of the adult world. Her mother is dead; her father, Jules, is scarcely more than a child himself, and always on the lookout for his next score. Baby knows that 'chocolate milk' is Jules' slang for heroin, and sees a lot more of that in her house than the real article. But she takes vivid delight in the scrappy bits of happiness and beauty that find their way to her, and moves through the threat of the streets as if she's been choreographed in a dance.
Soon, though, a hazard emerges that is bigger than even her hard–won survival skills can handle. Alphonse, the local pimp, has his eye on her for his new girl; and he wants her body and soul –– what the johns don't take he covets for himself. At the same time, a tender and naively passionate friendship unfolds with a boy from her class at school, who has no notion of the dark claims on her –– which even her father, lost on the nod, cannot totally ignore. Jules consigns her to a stint in juvie hall, and for the moment this perceived betrayal preserves Baby from terrible harm –– but after that, her salvation has to be her own invention.
Review:
Review:
Synopsis:
At thirteen, Baby vacillates between childhood comforts and adult temptation: still young enough to drag her dolls around in a vinyl suitcase yet old enough to know more than she should about urban cruelties. Motherless, she lives with her father, Jules, who takes better care of his heroin habit than he does of his daughter. Baby's gift is a genius for spinning stories and for cherishing the small crumbs of happiness that fall into her lap. But her blossoming beauty has captured the attention of a charismatic and dangerous local pimp who runs an army of sad, slavishly devoted girls—a volatile situation even the normally oblivious Jules cannot ignore. And when an escape disguised as betrayal threatens to crush Baby's spirit, she will ultimately realize that the power of salvation rests in her hands alone.
About the Author
What Our Readers Are Saying
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Average customer rating based on 4 comments:
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julieb43, February 24, 2008 (view all comments by julieb43)
I loved this book from beginning to end--it whole-heartedly deserved to win the annual Canada Reads Contest. Baby, the novel's young female protagonist, was so captivating. It was one of the most original and touching stories I've read in a long time. It will make you laugh and cry, and you won't want to put it down.
I had the good fortune to meet the author at my local library and she was delightful. I look forward to many more great books from her.
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Jumpee57, January 20, 2007 (view all comments by Jumpee57)
One of the best books I have read in a long time. O'Neill shares some insights that are powerful and thought-provoking. I am a teacher in a juvenile detention center and am now reading it to the resident's at the center. Their reactions say it all..that it makes them laugh and cry and feel not so alone in this world. Anyone who works with kids, especially those kids in dire needs, should read this, digest it, and take a new look at the kids they help.
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rachel baby, January 15, 2007 (view all comments by rachel baby)
i fell in love with this book but it took awhile. There are moments when you hate every character in this book but keep going and you'll find a book with a twisting plot and dynamic characters. You'll alternately want to slap and hug the lead, Baby, as you travel through her childhood and early adolescense.
Heather's humor is dry but i enjoyed it. This is the kind of book you love and love to believe its completely unrealstic that people would live this way, even though you must know while the story isnt true the circumstances are all too plausible.
great read
depending on your cup of tea this book could appeal to both men and women but im just one perspective and there's no way i could accurately do this book justice in a brief synopsis.
READ IT!
View all 4 comments
Product Details
- ISBN:
- 9780060875077
- Author:
- Publisher:
- Harper Perennial
- Author:
- Author:
- Subject:
- General
- Subject:
- Fathers and daughters
- Subject:
- Teenage girls
- Subject:
- General Fiction
- Copyright:
- 2006
- Edition Description:
- Paperback
- Series:
- P.S.
- Publication Date:
- October 2006
- Binding:
- Paperback
- Grade Level:
- General/trade
- Language:
- English
- Pages:
- 330
- Dimensions:
- 7.80x5.72x.85 in. .60 lbs.
