Gr 9 Up—Held hostage with her ex-boyfriend and current girlfriend during a bank robbery, Nora must use skills
learned from years spent with her con artist mother to plan an escape. The book alternates between the current
robbery and past scams her mother orchestrated, with the two suspenseful plotlines building to a thrilling conclusion.

Strong voice for the main protagonist 17 year old Nora O'Malley- matches her grit & steely resolve to power through whatever situation she finds herself in, and in spite of an incredibly inappropriate upbringing by a grifter mom and menacing stepfather/criminal. The novel is at its best in the step by step moments when Nora, her friends Wes & Iris, & a few others are trapped in a local bank by two robbers. Author shifts back and forth from the present moment of danger & imminent death to Nora's past - not as well done? But tense and jaw dropping. Some scenes of violence may be difficult; abuse alluded to without any graphic details. ( )

If you can suspend your disbelief and go along for the ride, this is an enjoyable book. Basically a reverse heist, which is something I haven't seen before. The teenage master criminal thing stretched the imagination a bit, but it was fun. ( )

This was so good. Quick witty dangerous. Very well interwoven timelines ( )

Wowza! Read this in two sittings. Un-put-downable. ( )