Thieving Weasels

August 22, 2016
Adult author Taylor's (Based on a Movie) first book for teens quickly draws sympathy for Cam Smith, a graduating high school senior who works at the cafeteria to afford tuition at his private boarding school. Cam may have his sights set on Princeton, but he is anything but privilegedâhe ran away from his con-artist family in hopes of starting over and pursuing a normal life. Now that the family has tracked Cam down and wants his help on their latest scheme, Cam's above-board life is in jeopardy. Taylor's charactersâincluding gun-toting, tough-talking, biscotti-eating Uncle Wonderful; Hummer-driving, disability-fraudulent Vinny; and conscience-free cousin Royâwill feel plenty familiar to fans of the con-artist/tough guy genre. Taylor puts Cam in an impossible position, unable to trust anyone (especially if they're family) and uncertain whether he can escape his past. As Cam tries to juggle the nefarious demands of his relatives and his own respectable ambitions, Taylor's comedic crime novel entertains with its madcap, rapid-fire antics. Ages 12âup. Agent: Uwe Stender, TriadaUS Literary.

October 31, 2016
Raised by a family of crooks who were always looking to cheat the system, Skip O’Rourke ran away from home four years ago to attend boarding school under the alias Cameron Smith, hoping to permanently rid himself of his past. In his senior year, he receives an acceptance letter from Princeton University, but his uncle—the conniving patriarch of the family—tracks him down to coerce him into a supposed final heist with a large payoff. Reader Daymond vocally conveys the dual nature of the story’s protagonist, using different tones of voice for when Smith is conversing with his boarding school friends and when he is dealing his family. Daymond performs these transitions impeccably, and equally important, he imbues Smith’s inner dialogue with sincerity and frustration that fits the teenage protagonist well. Daymond also works hard to create distinct voices for the large cast of secondary characters—some of which are on the verge of sounding slapstick. A Dial hardcover. Ages 12–up.