How to Lead a Life of Crime by Kirsten Miller

Title: How to Lead a Life of Crime

Author: Kirsten Miller

Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 79256

Description:  A teenaged pickpocket, haunted by the ghost of his brother killed by his father, is recruited for Mandel Academy, a school for criminals where only one student survives each semester.

Rubric Rating: Level 3 - Laud It.

Why I Read It: Great title but the cover and size of this book did nothing to entice me to read it.  I picked it up as a book to take with me to the cottage and I figured I wouldn't need to take any others with a book this size.  Turns out, I should have brought a couple of extras.

Lori's Notes:   I picked this book up a couple of times but put it down again because of the length.  Glad I took the time to read it!  The book has good writing, an interesting plot, and moments that made me laugh out loud.  The plot was well devised and executed.  Flick is living on the streets after running away from military school.  He wants to rescue his little brother Jude and his mother from his abusive father but unfortunately he's too late.  Rather than confront his father he lives on the streets and finds he has a remarkable talent as a thief.  He picks pockets with a flick of his wrist - which is where he gets his nickname.  Flick is approached by Lucian Mandel, to attend the prestigious Mandel academy, he agrees, if only to take revenge on the father he hates.  But more is going on at the academy than Flick, or anyone else realizes.  They're not educating underprivileged youth but training them to be uber-criminals.  And getting expelled from Mandel Academy is a death sentence.  Flick's character is complex - he loved his brother and continues to see him as Peter Pan throughout the novel.  The literary and movie references are well done and do not detract from the novel at all.  The plot is engaging in the sense that you begin to wonder whether this sort of crime is indeed taking place in industry and on the streets today.  The characters are well written and even had me laughing out loud at times.  While the story started a little slowly for me, the plot picked up pace quickly and I found myself not wanting to put the book down.  I wouldn't be surprised if this book was made into a movie.

Recommended Readers: Grade 9+.  Good adult read as well.  Highly recommended for book bins, independent reading and library collections.

Themes: Crime and Criminal Behaviour, Brother, Father/Son Relationships, Comparisons to Literary Figures, Relationships, Coming-of-Age, Schools, Survival.

Cross-Genre Links: 
Book and/or Movie: Peter Pan
Movie: Finding Neverland (2004)
Movie: Foolproof (2003)

Post-Reading Discussion Questions and Activities: 

• What is the Mandel Academy and what do they teach?
• Review the course syllabus for the Mandel Academy at the end of the book.  What classes would you take and why?  
• Is the plot of this story plausible?
• Compare the characters of this novel to the characters in Peter Pan.  Who is who and what makes you think so?
• Talk about the classification of students at the school - ghosts, androids, and wolves.  Who are the strongest students?  Justify your answer.
• How does Joi change the group dynamics?  What makes her so powerful?
• Were you surprised by the ending?  Why or Why Not?