The Infamous Frankie Lorde: Stealing Greenwich

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.