The Infamous Frankie Lorde 1

August 15, 2020
An international thief's daughter starts a new life--and new heist--in this series opener. Frankie, a White middle schooler, is accustomed to helping on sophisticated heists with her internationally renowned con-artist dad, and she likes it that way. When he is finally apprehended, Frankie's world is turned upside down, as she's sent to live with her police-detective uncle in Greenwich, Connecticut, and attend school for the time. Frankie--shrewd, skeptical, and world-wise--is resistant to her new life. Soon, though, she learns of a local millionaire landlord who is abusing his power, keeping his apartments in unlivable conditions and threatening to get many of his tenants deported. Determined to take down the "slumlord," Frankie decides to execute her first solo con. Much to her initial chagrin, she's aided by her persistent new friend Ollie, a "slightly pudgy" boy who Frankie guesses is "of Mexican descent" and whose fashion obsession becomes key to the success of their heist. Frankie's first-person narrative is told in journal format (handwritten, Frankie tells readers, in a lined notebook). This conceit is both unnecessary and inconsistent with her characterization as someone savvy to how recorded information can be used to incriminate her. A lack of engagement with the Latinx and economically marginalized characters so integral to the plot as well as the positioning of Uncle Scotty as an honest cop in contrast to the corrupt justice system places this firmly into White-savior rather than Robin Hood territory. Don't fall for Frankie's con--better heist books exist elsewhere. (Thriller. 9-12)

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 1, 2020

Gr 5 Up-In this series debut, Frankie Lorde's career as an international thief has come to a halt with the arrest and trial of her father. She's now going to live with her uncle, a police detective, and go to middle school. Soon she realizes that her thieving skills may come in handy, even in the suburbs, as she goes up against an evil landlord. Hijinks worthy of a summer blockbuster movie follow, and the making of a friend. While the writing is not astounding, it is solid. Friendship and family are portrayed while romance is avoided, making this a good fit for tween readers uninterested in that trope. The main character is white, her new best friend is gay and "appears to be of Mexican descent," and the evil villain is preying on low-income residents who are primarily Latinx. The use of "illegals" is thrown their way by the villain; only a few times during the book do they share their perspective in their own words. The characters are charming enough to capture the interest of readers who will want to go on further Ocean's 8-esque crime sprees with the team. VERDICT A good but not great entry in the tradition of criminal turned do-gooder for the tween set; likely to be a moderately popular addition at most middle or large libraries.-Elizabeth Nicolai, Anchorage Public Library, AK

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.