Title: How to Lead a Life of Crime
Author: Kristen Miller
Published: February 21st, 2013
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars!
Goodreads Summary:
A meth
dealer. A prostitute. A serial killer.
Anywhere else, they’d be vermin. At the Mandel Academy, they’re called prodigies. The most exclusive school in New York City has been training young criminals for over a century. Only the most ruthless students are allowed to graduate. The rest disappear.
Flick, a teenage pickpocket, has risen to the top of his class. But then Mandel recruits a fierce new competitor who also happens to be Flick’s old flame. They’ve been told only one of them will make it out of the Mandel Academy. Will they find a way to save each other—or will the school destroy them both?
Anywhere else, they’d be vermin. At the Mandel Academy, they’re called prodigies. The most exclusive school in New York City has been training young criminals for over a century. Only the most ruthless students are allowed to graduate. The rest disappear.
Flick, a teenage pickpocket, has risen to the top of his class. But then Mandel recruits a fierce new competitor who also happens to be Flick’s old flame. They’ve been told only one of them will make it out of the Mandel Academy. Will they find a way to save each other—or will the school destroy them both?
My Thoughts:
I wasn't
sure what to expect with this book when I started it but, the idea of a school
for criminals definitely intrigued me. This book was so much darker and grittier
then I was expecting. Kristen White has created so many interesting characters
full of depth and dark pasts, I really
enjoyed this book in the end although I
had mixed feelings throughout the book while I was reading it.
Flick is not
your average teenage boy, he got his nickname because with the flick of his
wrist he can pickpocket you before you
even know what happened. Flick is on his own
living on the streets of New York City, after running away from the
military school his parents sent him to in Georgia, he decided to visit where
his dad grew up, in New York is where he told him he became a man and he just
had to see it for himself. All his life Flick has been beaten by his dad and
lived with the fact that it was because of his drinking. His dad never loved
him like he loved his brother Jude. But, Jude is gone and nothing in Flick's
life will be the same. All Flick is
known about the Mandel Academy is that his dad went there and it changed its
life, one of the most prestigious schools in the country every graduate becomes
a big shot in the world, everything changes when Flick meets Lucian Mandel the
head of the school and is recruited to join, what he doesn't know is that it's
not just a regular school, it's a school that teaches it's students to become
perfect criminals. Full of dangerous games, Flick is determined to be at the
top of the class.
I really
liked Flick's character, he knew how to play the game to get what he
wanted. He was fierce and tough but, he fought for the people that he cared
about and never gave up even when it seemed completely hopeless. He knew what
he was getting into at the school and watching him maneuver his way through his
classes and his fellow students was so much fun.
His
love interest Joi, was also such an inspiring character in my opinion.
She ran her own sort of homeless shelter, taking in the children who
ended up on the street and taking care of them, making sure they had
food, clothes, and shelter. She like Flick figures out how to play the
game and play it well, and if it wasn't for her I don't know if Flick
would have survived at all.
Every
single character in this book had a story, it really made it easy to
get into the book, I wanted to learn more about each one and hear about
their story and what brought them to the school in the first place.
Miller created characters that I felt bonded too and brought my emotions
to the surface which really surprised me. I do warn that their is some
graphic violence and mentions of drugs and sex in this book.
Overall,
Kristen
Miller really surprised me with how much depth and adventure filled
this book. As far as in YA I can't think of another book that I have
read that is like this one, I really felt like this book reached below
the surface of it's characters and even made me think about how our
world is, you know it has to be a good book when it makes me think
(lol). I haven't read any of her other books but, I am definitely
interested in seeing what her other work is like I enjoyed her writing a
lot
and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
Want to know more about How to Lead a Life of Crime, check out the links below!
This book looks really interesting! The first time I heard about it, I loved the title, but I didn't really know a thing about it. But Flick's history sounds really great!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review!
Sounds like this book is full of really in-depth characters, which I pretty much have to have to fully enjoy a novel. Great review...I keep seeing this pop up everywhere. Need to get a copy so I can see what all the fuss is about!
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