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The Classy Crooks Club
Twelve-year-old AJ dreads spending an entire month living with her strict Grandma Jo. Not only does her grandmother dictate how she walks, what she eats, and which rooms she can enter, she fills all AJ's free time with boring sewing lessons. Grandma Jo wants nothing more than to transform her adventurous, fun-loving granddaughter into a prim and proper lady.
But AJ’s dull summer takes a sharp turn when she discovers that her grandmother's "bridge group" is actually a heist club. When Grandma Jo offers to let AJ learn lock-picking instead of embroidery in exchange for help with a few capers, AJ is happy to join her grandmother's madcap band of thieves, who claim to steal only for ethical reasons. But even the most respectable ladies can hide truly surprising secrets, and AJ finds she must decide for herself what it means to be one of the good guys.
But AJ’s dull summer takes a sharp turn when she discovers that her grandmother's "bridge group" is actually a heist club. When Grandma Jo offers to let AJ learn lock-picking instead of embroidery in exchange for help with a few capers, AJ is happy to join her grandmother's madcap band of thieves, who claim to steal only for ethical reasons. But even the most respectable ladies can hide truly surprising secrets, and AJ finds she must decide for herself what it means to be one of the good guys.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 29, 2016
About the author
Alison Cherry
10 books209 followersAlison grew up in Evanston, IL. She is a professional photographer and spent many years working as a lighting designer for theater, opera, and dance. Now she lives in Brooklyn and writes young adult novels full time. She is represented by the lovely and amazing Holly Root of Root Literary.
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March 29, 2016
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Most of the ladies seem to want to share this mysterious secret with me, and that means my time living at Grandma Jo’s house might not be as boring as I expected. Then again, if my grandmother gets her way, it sounds like I’ll be sewing useless stuff all summer, totally clueless about what’s happening on the other side of the wall. How dare she dismiss me without even giving me a chance, just because I’m not like her, obsessed with dresses and tea parties and bridge! Sure, I like to have actual fun once in a while, but that doesn’t mean I should be kept in the dark.
Whatever they’re hiding, I want in. It has to be more interesting than cross-stitch.
When her parents leave for a four week trip to the Amazon rainforest to conduct research on malaria, twelve-year-old AJ is forced to move in with her straight-laced Grandma Josephine. Faced with the prospect of a month filled with etiquette lessons, sewing samplers, and more rules than she can possibly remember, AJ is dreading what she expects to be the longest four weeks of her life until an unexpected discovery proves that not everything – or everyone – are quite what they seem. When it’s revealed that Grandma Jo’s bridge club is really a heist club that ‘ethically liberates’ animals and objects and returns them to their ‘rightful owners’, AJ is offered the opportunity to become an honourary member and take part in their upcoming heists. From abused birds to taxidermied bears, there is no prize too small or too strange as AJ, Grandma Jo, Cookie, Edna and Betty embark on a series of quirky capers undertaken by a motley crew of crooks. As the lines are blurred and the stakes are raised, however, AJ’s time with the classy crooks club begins to seem less like a fun-filled adventure and more like outright thievery, forcing AJ to question her ethics, her choices, and what it truly means to be a lady.
No more sewing? That’s the best news I’ve heard in weeks. And if I do really well with the heist training, maybe my grandmother will actually see my athleticism as useful, even if it’s not ladylike as sewing your name onto a pillowcase. Maybe she’ll stop looking down her nose at me every time I go to soccer or mention my skateboard. Maybe, for once, I’ll feel like the two of us are on the same team.
Alison Cherry is now officially a middle grade author and the world is a better, brighter, and more beautiful place because of it. I was first introduced to Cherry’s work in December 2014 when I read, reviewed, and adored her imaginative Amazing Race-inspired young adult novel, For Real, a story that beautifully explored issues of sibling rivalry and unconditional love in an exciting, unconventional setting. I was later fortunate enough to help Alison reveal the cover of The Classy Crooks Club back in March 2015 and, having fallen in love with the premise and the adorable cover that accompanied it, was quick to add it to my to-be-read list. Thankfully, I can report that I was not remotely disappointed in Cherry’s first foray into middle grade fiction. A candy-coated treat with a rich, satisfying center, The Classy Crooks Club is an irresistible adventure that will have readers frantically turning the pages until the very end.
It’s really late by the time Grandma Jo’s friends go home, and I should be falling asleep on my feet. But I lie awake most of the night, hugging Hector the armadillo and mulling over everything I’ve learned tonight.
My grandmother is a crook.
All my grandmother’s friends, including sweet blue-haired Betty, are crooks. Classy crooks, but still.
I am about to become a crook.
Twelve-year-old AJ is a comic book-reading, soccer-playing, skateboard-riding delight. A girl who eschews the stuffy formality of her full name – Annemarie – and the fussy fripperies her Grandma Josephine considers the trappings of a ‘proper young lady’, AJ is a modern heroine whose characterization subtly and eloquently challenges traditional notions of femininity and womanhood. AJ picks locks, scrapes her knees, and learns that she likes to wear dresses, too. Brave, bold, adventurous, and athletic, AJ’s characteristics are never presented as gender-specific qualities or a inferior approximation of masculinity, but rather a genuine, unapologetic expression of her true self. Despite the outlandish situation in which she finds herself, AJ also remains an extraordinarily relatable character whose struggle to determine and stand up for what is ‘right’, no matter how difficult, is sure to resonate with readers of all ages. Cherry emphasizes the importance of the courage of one’s convictions as AJ is forced to weigh the newfound friendship and acceptance she has found with the flawed but well-intentioned ladies of the club against the ethical complexities of their actions, ultimately underlining the consequences, both good and bad, inherent in the choices we make.
I know I shouldn’t feel excited about the prospect of breaking into someone’s house, but I can’t help it – I do. And I like the way Cookie calls what we’re doing “a project”. It makes me feel like I’m learning a skill for school, totally normal and aboveboard.
I hope my parents and Ben never find out what a delinquent I’ve become.
Part madcap caper, part puzzling mystery, and part coming of age contemporary, The Classy Crooks Club is is multifaceted story that offers a little something for every reader. Young or reluctant readers will enjoy the hair-raising, fast-paced adventure on which AJ unexpectedly finds herself. Where The Classy Crooks Club arguably shines best, however, is in its subtle and astute dissection of interpersonal relationships which discerning readers are sure to appreciate. When AJ forms an unexpected connection with resident ‘mean-girl’, Brianna, fissures begin to appear in her relationship with her best friend, Maddie, who worries that the two are growing apart and AJ no longer has time for her. This, coupled with AJ’s inability to confide in Maddie about her recent heist high jinks because she has been sworn to secrecy, put their longtime friendship in jeopardy. Cherry explores the complications and complexities of adolescent friendship, delving deeply into the fears, insecurities and growing pains experienced by all parties involved. In doing so, the author never resorts to two-dimensional stereotypes or rigid binaries of ‘good vs. evil’, but rather reveals that much like Grandma Josephine’s ‘bridge club’, there is often more to life and its players than initially meets the eye. From taxidermy to lock-picking, no detail is too small to escape Cherry’s notice, and the author’s meticulous research is evident on every page. World-building in a contemporary novel is no less important and Alison Cherry creates not simply a forgettable, soporific backdrop against which the action takes place, but a realistic, three-dimensional world rich with detail that feels tangible and true.
The grannies go back to their planning, and I spend the rest of the day at the table with my plate of forgotten pie, poking and prodding at the insides of the locks. It’s funny – lock picking involves the same kinds of repetitive, small, precise motions as sewing, but this doesn’t bore me at all. It’s like a puzzle, and every time I make one of the tiny pins click into place, I feel a rush of joy. This is going to take a lot of practice, but I know I’ll put in the work. What’s the use of being a thief unless I’m the best thief I can be?
After all, a lady strives for perfection.
A merry, imaginative story about the most unexpected of criminals with a heartfelt reflection on the trials and triumphs of friendship and the ethical intricacies and moral dilemmas we face everyday, Alison Cherry’s first foray into the middle grade market does not disappoint. The Classy Crooks Club is a book I would not hesitate to recommend to readers of all ages and I eagerly look forward to what the author will write next. Readers will be thoroughly charmed by this fun, frolicking romp that is sure to steal their hearts.
Please Note: All quotations included in this review have been taken from an advanced reader copy and therefore might be subject to change.
Most of the ladies seem to want to share this mysterious secret with me, and that means my time living at Grandma Jo’s house might not be as boring as I expected. Then again, if my grandmother gets her way, it sounds like I’ll be sewing useless stuff all summer, totally clueless about what’s happening on the other side of the wall. How dare she dismiss me without even giving me a chance, just because I’m not like her, obsessed with dresses and tea parties and bridge! Sure, I like to have actual fun once in a while, but that doesn’t mean I should be kept in the dark.
Whatever they’re hiding, I want in. It has to be more interesting than cross-stitch.
When her parents leave for a four week trip to the Amazon rainforest to conduct research on malaria, twelve-year-old AJ is forced to move in with her straight-laced Grandma Josephine. Faced with the prospect of a month filled with etiquette lessons, sewing samplers, and more rules than she can possibly remember, AJ is dreading what she expects to be the longest four weeks of her life until an unexpected discovery proves that not everything – or everyone – are quite what they seem. When it’s revealed that Grandma Jo’s bridge club is really a heist club that ‘ethically liberates’ animals and objects and returns them to their ‘rightful owners’, AJ is offered the opportunity to become an honourary member and take part in their upcoming heists. From abused birds to taxidermied bears, there is no prize too small or too strange as AJ, Grandma Jo, Cookie, Edna and Betty embark on a series of quirky capers undertaken by a motley crew of crooks. As the lines are blurred and the stakes are raised, however, AJ’s time with the classy crooks club begins to seem less like a fun-filled adventure and more like outright thievery, forcing AJ to question her ethics, her choices, and what it truly means to be a lady.
No more sewing? That’s the best news I’ve heard in weeks. And if I do really well with the heist training, maybe my grandmother will actually see my athleticism as useful, even if it’s not ladylike as sewing your name onto a pillowcase. Maybe she’ll stop looking down her nose at me every time I go to soccer or mention my skateboard. Maybe, for once, I’ll feel like the two of us are on the same team.
Alison Cherry is now officially a middle grade author and the world is a better, brighter, and more beautiful place because of it. I was first introduced to Cherry’s work in December 2014 when I read, reviewed, and adored her imaginative Amazing Race-inspired young adult novel, For Real, a story that beautifully explored issues of sibling rivalry and unconditional love in an exciting, unconventional setting. I was later fortunate enough to help Alison reveal the cover of The Classy Crooks Club back in March 2015 and, having fallen in love with the premise and the adorable cover that accompanied it, was quick to add it to my to-be-read list. Thankfully, I can report that I was not remotely disappointed in Cherry’s first foray into middle grade fiction. A candy-coated treat with a rich, satisfying center, The Classy Crooks Club is an irresistible adventure that will have readers frantically turning the pages until the very end.
It’s really late by the time Grandma Jo’s friends go home, and I should be falling asleep on my feet. But I lie awake most of the night, hugging Hector the armadillo and mulling over everything I’ve learned tonight.
My grandmother is a crook.
All my grandmother’s friends, including sweet blue-haired Betty, are crooks. Classy crooks, but still.
I am about to become a crook.
Twelve-year-old AJ is a comic book-reading, soccer-playing, skateboard-riding delight. A girl who eschews the stuffy formality of her full name – Annemarie – and the fussy fripperies her Grandma Josephine considers the trappings of a ‘proper young lady’, AJ is a modern heroine whose characterization subtly and eloquently challenges traditional notions of femininity and womanhood. AJ picks locks, scrapes her knees, and learns that she likes to wear dresses, too. Brave, bold, adventurous, and athletic, AJ’s characteristics are never presented as gender-specific qualities or a inferior approximation of masculinity, but rather a genuine, unapologetic expression of her true self. Despite the outlandish situation in which she finds herself, AJ also remains an extraordinarily relatable character whose struggle to determine and stand up for what is ‘right’, no matter how difficult, is sure to resonate with readers of all ages. Cherry emphasizes the importance of the courage of one’s convictions as AJ is forced to weigh the newfound friendship and acceptance she has found with the flawed but well-intentioned ladies of the club against the ethical complexities of their actions, ultimately underlining the consequences, both good and bad, inherent in the choices we make.
I know I shouldn’t feel excited about the prospect of breaking into someone’s house, but I can’t help it – I do. And I like the way Cookie calls what we’re doing “a project”. It makes me feel like I’m learning a skill for school, totally normal and aboveboard.
I hope my parents and Ben never find out what a delinquent I’ve become.
Part madcap caper, part puzzling mystery, and part coming of age contemporary, The Classy Crooks Club is is multifaceted story that offers a little something for every reader. Young or reluctant readers will enjoy the hair-raising, fast-paced adventure on which AJ unexpectedly finds herself. Where The Classy Crooks Club arguably shines best, however, is in its subtle and astute dissection of interpersonal relationships which discerning readers are sure to appreciate. When AJ forms an unexpected connection with resident ‘mean-girl’, Brianna, fissures begin to appear in her relationship with her best friend, Maddie, who worries that the two are growing apart and AJ no longer has time for her. This, coupled with AJ’s inability to confide in Maddie about her recent heist high jinks because she has been sworn to secrecy, put their longtime friendship in jeopardy. Cherry explores the complications and complexities of adolescent friendship, delving deeply into the fears, insecurities and growing pains experienced by all parties involved. In doing so, the author never resorts to two-dimensional stereotypes or rigid binaries of ‘good vs. evil’, but rather reveals that much like Grandma Josephine’s ‘bridge club’, there is often more to life and its players than initially meets the eye. From taxidermy to lock-picking, no detail is too small to escape Cherry’s notice, and the author’s meticulous research is evident on every page. World-building in a contemporary novel is no less important and Alison Cherry creates not simply a forgettable, soporific backdrop against which the action takes place, but a realistic, three-dimensional world rich with detail that feels tangible and true.
The grannies go back to their planning, and I spend the rest of the day at the table with my plate of forgotten pie, poking and prodding at the insides of the locks. It’s funny – lock picking involves the same kinds of repetitive, small, precise motions as sewing, but this doesn’t bore me at all. It’s like a puzzle, and every time I make one of the tiny pins click into place, I feel a rush of joy. This is going to take a lot of practice, but I know I’ll put in the work. What’s the use of being a thief unless I’m the best thief I can be?
After all, a lady strives for perfection.
A merry, imaginative story about the most unexpected of criminals with a heartfelt reflection on the trials and triumphs of friendship and the ethical intricacies and moral dilemmas we face everyday, Alison Cherry’s first foray into the middle grade market does not disappoint. The Classy Crooks Club is a book I would not hesitate to recommend to readers of all ages and I eagerly look forward to what the author will write next. Readers will be thoroughly charmed by this fun, frolicking romp that is sure to steal their hearts.
Please Note: All quotations included in this review have been taken from an advanced reader copy and therefore might be subject to change.
February 5, 2015
Here's the thing about Alison Cherry that everyone should understand: she is hilarious. Her wit and cleverness definitely shine through in her excellent YA titles, but her absolutely over-the-top funniness comes to fruition in this madcap middle-grade romp about a kid who finds out that her grandmother plans and executes heists in her spare time. AJ is incredibly relatable as a soccer-loving middle-schooler who suddenly finds herself in an absolutely bizarre situation. Between the exotic birds, taxidermied animals, lock-picking, hunky chauffeurs, and eccentric old ladies, there's something here for everyone. And it's all amazing.
December 21, 2016
*DNF at 126 pages*
Here's the thing...this wasn't what I was expecting and it just wasn't good enough as it was for me to spend another hour or two finishing. It wasn't bad per se, but here's why I ultimately dropped it:
- The heist part of it, the part why I was reading, was more boring than I hoped.
- AJ is kinda a brat.
- Grandma Jo comes across as kinda a....
- A heist book should have a certain vibe to it, an atmosphere. This was definitely lacking in that department.
I did like Grandma Jo's partners in crime, unfortunately much more than our main characters. Also, I am sure that by the end, AJ will be significantly less bratty and Grandma Jo will be shown to be loving and her previous actions misconstrued, but I am not willing to sit through another 200 pages to get there.
Here's the thing...this wasn't what I was expecting and it just wasn't good enough as it was for me to spend another hour or two finishing. It wasn't bad per se, but here's why I ultimately dropped it:
- The heist part of it, the part why I was reading, was more boring than I hoped.
- AJ is kinda a brat.
- Grandma Jo comes across as kinda a....
- A heist book should have a certain vibe to it, an atmosphere. This was definitely lacking in that department.
I did like Grandma Jo's partners in crime, unfortunately much more than our main characters. Also, I am sure that by the end, AJ will be significantly less bratty and Grandma Jo will be shown to be loving and her previous actions misconstrued, but I am not willing to sit through another 200 pages to get there.
January 19, 2018
3.5 stars. Cute middle grade about a girl who goes to stay with her grandmother when her parents are away.
April 4, 2016
In The Classy Crooks Club, a 12-year-old girl named AJ has to spend the summer living with her super-uptight grandmother, who is desperate to turn her into a well-mannered young lady. Soon into her stay, she starts to notice something is up with her grandmother's so-called "bridge club." They're actually a team of crooks, planning heists to liberate birds and other species from captivity. I have to say there's something adorable about a bunch of criminal grannies, dressed in black, trying to sneak into houses. In the end, AJ is the one who is the adult of the group. This book has humor, adventure, and a great message...you won't be able to put it down!
August 5, 2016
Takes a silly premise (old lady heist club) and uses it for a surprisingly effective examination of friendship and empathy.
March 24, 2020
I thought The Classy Crooks Club was amazing. It is all about this girl who finds out that her grandma and her grandma's friends are Crooks!
May 3, 2016
Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=9549
I love AJ. She is a perfect protagonist because she is just a real middle schooler. She is multi-faceted, funny, has quite a personality, has fears, makes mistakes, and is overall likeable. And she is not the only well-crafted character. Each of the characters, main, secondary, or supporting, are so fully developed that you feel like you know everyone in AJ’s life. I often am skeptical about first person POV because it is always tough to get a character/narrator’s voice perfect while also developing the characters, but Cherry does a great job of both. AJ is a normal middle school girl that is dealing with a quite terrible grandmother who happens to have an unexpected hobby.
Another thing that blew me away about this novel is that something happened that was completely unexpected! Usually when I am reading middle grade novels, I love them but am not often surprised because I can sense foreshadowing and predict; however, Cherry really caught me off guard in this one! You’ll have to let me know if you see it coming!
And finally, I loved the unique premise of the book! Who ever thought there’d be a book about a bunch of old ladies who “liberate” *cough* steal *cough* exotic birds and anything else that suits their fancy?!
I love AJ. She is a perfect protagonist because she is just a real middle schooler. She is multi-faceted, funny, has quite a personality, has fears, makes mistakes, and is overall likeable. And she is not the only well-crafted character. Each of the characters, main, secondary, or supporting, are so fully developed that you feel like you know everyone in AJ’s life. I often am skeptical about first person POV because it is always tough to get a character/narrator’s voice perfect while also developing the characters, but Cherry does a great job of both. AJ is a normal middle school girl that is dealing with a quite terrible grandmother who happens to have an unexpected hobby.
Another thing that blew me away about this novel is that something happened that was completely unexpected! Usually when I am reading middle grade novels, I love them but am not often surprised because I can sense foreshadowing and predict; however, Cherry really caught me off guard in this one! You’ll have to let me know if you see it coming!
And finally, I loved the unique premise of the book! Who ever thought there’d be a book about a bunch of old ladies who “liberate” *cough* steal *cough* exotic birds and anything else that suits their fancy?!
April 20, 2016
I regularly read and enjoy YA fiction, but I can't say MG fiction is ever really on my radar these days. When I won this book via a GoodReads giveaway, I planned on finding a MG reader to give it to. However, the premise sounded so interesting that I couldn't resist opening the first page and taking a look.
Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised to have genuinely enjoyed this book. I was drawn in right front the first page when AJ lamented having to spend a whole month with a prissy grandmother who seemed to have an issue with everything about her--from the clothes she wore, to her soccer playing, and even her nickname. What ensued was a shocking revelation about Grandma Jo's secret life of theft with a group of elderly friends and AJ's struggle to connect with her grandmother's unusual hobby while simultaneously juggling tricky relationships with friends and frienemies.
In the end, AJ faces a major struggle in trying to do what's right, particularly when she can't even turn to the elders around her for guidance because their judgment proves to be quite faulty, to say the least.
I highly recommend "The Classy Crooks Club" for any middle grade reader looking for a good book, as well as anyone who has long ago left their middle grade years but is simply looking for a fun, easy, and enjoyable read!
Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised to have genuinely enjoyed this book. I was drawn in right front the first page when AJ lamented having to spend a whole month with a prissy grandmother who seemed to have an issue with everything about her--from the clothes she wore, to her soccer playing, and even her nickname. What ensued was a shocking revelation about Grandma Jo's secret life of theft with a group of elderly friends and AJ's struggle to connect with her grandmother's unusual hobby while simultaneously juggling tricky relationships with friends and frienemies.
In the end, AJ faces a major struggle in trying to do what's right, particularly when she can't even turn to the elders around her for guidance because their judgment proves to be quite faulty, to say the least.
I highly recommend "The Classy Crooks Club" for any middle grade reader looking for a good book, as well as anyone who has long ago left their middle grade years but is simply looking for a fun, easy, and enjoyable read!
December 19, 2016
I was attracted to the cover of this book when I saw it on the shelf at the library, but I was skeptical of the premise and nearly didn't check it out. In the end, though, I went back and picked it up, and I am so glad I did. I was expecting a sweet and cozy mystery story, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much depth there was to this story. Though the premise is far-fetched, the author uses it to tackle very real questions and issues. AJ must deal with the usual middle school problems: a crush on an older boy, a best friend who misunderstands her motives, a mean girl who tries to make her life miserable, but she is also faced with an ethical dilemma when she realizes that she doesn't want to participate in a heist that may hurt a classmate, and must stand up to her grandmother and risk losing her hard-won approval. There is also a completely unexpected and totally exciting turn of events in the last quarter of the book that I did not see coming, but which worked really well and clinched my 5-star rating.
August 30, 2016
The Classy Crooks Club, by Alison Cherry, is one of the best books I've ever read! The way it starts makes me feel sorry for AJ, because she has to stay at her way-to-uptight Grandma Jo's house, isolated for the outside world, besides soccer practice. But, as the story goes on, and as Grandma Jo's bridge club turns out to be a heist club, AJ seemed super lucky to be included. I thought that all of the old ladies were very nice, but when Besty tried to kidnapped AJ, the tables turned. This was such an interesting book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2017
Overall, I liked it but I thought it was going to be a little funnier. I wish one thing hadn't happened but I still thought it was a fun read.
November 14, 2014
Lucky CP here- laughed my butt off the whole way through:)
August 16, 2015
I got to read this in an early draft and I can't wait for everyone else to read it! Maybe the best, and funniest, Alison Cherry book yet.
May 6, 2016
Funny but with great depth to the story. I really enjoyed this
April 15, 2019
The Classy Crooks Club interested me in the moral dilemma that it poises. In the book AJ is faced with the ethical dilemma when invited to help her grandmother’s group to steal for ethical reasons. The question that arises is the question about is it ever ethical to steal. The answer we seem to get in the story is convoluted. AJ’s decision about whether it is ethical or not isn’t clear cut.
Other than that, the story switched from AJ’s soccer practice/her friends and her time as a thief. This also seems to be slightly jarring. The relationships between friends seem to get complicated much faster than they might otherwise become, and they seem to be able to be fixed quicker than they become as well.
Overall it wasn’t a bad book, but it also wasn’t a good book. I think it can serve as a good starting point for discussions about morals and ethics and what is moral and ethical. I could imagine using the book as a book club book and talking with kids about what they would do, what they think AJ will do next, what ethical decisions can look like in real life, and other questions.
Other than that, the story switched from AJ’s soccer practice/her friends and her time as a thief. This also seems to be slightly jarring. The relationships between friends seem to get complicated much faster than they might otherwise become, and they seem to be able to be fixed quicker than they become as well.
Overall it wasn’t a bad book, but it also wasn’t a good book. I think it can serve as a good starting point for discussions about morals and ethics and what is moral and ethical. I could imagine using the book as a book club book and talking with kids about what they would do, what they think AJ will do next, what ethical decisions can look like in real life, and other questions.
June 1, 2018
Spending four weeks at Grandma Jo's house is going to be torture. AJ is everything her strict and proper grandmother can't stand; athletic, adventurous, and unrefined. But when AJ discovers that Grandma Jo's bridge club is just a front, her summer takes an unexpectedly interesting turn.
The Classy Crooks Club has just about everything you could want from a book. Depth and complexities to the story come at you from every angle, blending heists and action/adventure themes seamlessly with a family/friendship and coming-of-age story. Surprisingly heartwarming, explores relatable teen struggles, unbelievable adventure, love, and drama between friends and rivals alike.
A great example of a book with a strong female cast, I appreciated that The Classy Crooks Club gave solid examples of different ways that ladies can be strong, and didn't keep it to AJ's "non-feminine" preferences.
A brief trigger warning: Don't read if you don't want spoilers but While the account is completely age-appropriate, it might frighten sensitive readers or those who have been similarly victimized.
The Classy Crooks Club has just about everything you could want from a book. Depth and complexities to the story come at you from every angle, blending heists and action/adventure themes seamlessly with a family/friendship and coming-of-age story. Surprisingly heartwarming, explores relatable teen struggles, unbelievable adventure, love, and drama between friends and rivals alike.
A great example of a book with a strong female cast, I appreciated that The Classy Crooks Club gave solid examples of different ways that ladies can be strong, and didn't keep it to AJ's "non-feminine" preferences.
A brief trigger warning: Don't read if you don't want spoilers but While the account is completely age-appropriate, it might frighten sensitive readers or those who have been similarly victimized.
July 14, 2017
Grandmas are sweet. They care for their grandchildren; spoiling the kids rotten. Or at least, that's what you'd think.
AJ REALLY doesn't want to go to her Grandmother Jo's house for a month while her parents go to another country. Her grandmother hates her!!! And it starts off just as bad as AJ expected. But her grandmother is not quite the grump AJ thought she was. Grandma Jo liberates abused animals along with other things with a group of friends. And now, they want AJ to join their mission. At first, AJ has A LOT of fun breaking into houses to "liberate" certain objects. But it soon becomes clear to AJ their motives aren't just and AJ battles with herself to do the right thing.
I REALLY liked the title of this book and the summary sounded great. I was satisfied with this book and recommend it to people who like Sammy Keyes. A lot about AJ reminded me of Sammy Keyes, even if Sammy busts people who steal and AJ is a person that steals. I had a lot of fun reading this book and I feel that a part of me will always remember it.
AJ REALLY doesn't want to go to her Grandmother Jo's house for a month while her parents go to another country. Her grandmother hates her!!! And it starts off just as bad as AJ expected. But her grandmother is not quite the grump AJ thought she was. Grandma Jo liberates abused animals along with other things with a group of friends. And now, they want AJ to join their mission. At first, AJ has A LOT of fun breaking into houses to "liberate" certain objects. But it soon becomes clear to AJ their motives aren't just and AJ battles with herself to do the right thing.
I REALLY liked the title of this book and the summary sounded great. I was satisfied with this book and recommend it to people who like Sammy Keyes. A lot about AJ reminded me of Sammy Keyes, even if Sammy busts people who steal and AJ is a person that steals. I had a lot of fun reading this book and I feel that a part of me will always remember it.
January 25, 2023
Overall, this was a pretty fun read! As a reader a bit outside the intended audience, I found some of the book a little, for lack of a better term, cringey, but it made more sense to me when I remembered how young the protagonist is. I did really enjoy the portions of the book dealing with the heist, and while there isn’t a clearly stated solution to the moral lesson the book introduces, I do appreciate how questionable actions had consequences. Also, was 100% NOT expecting the twist ending, and I audibly gasped while reading it. I can’t tell if this is because it kind of came out of nowhere, or if it was so well done it caught me off guard, but either way, it was an entertaining climax and character pay-off!
Side note : the acknowledgements in this book were a cute touch!!
Side note : the acknowledgements in this book were a cute touch!!
January 17, 2021
This book is such a fun romp! From the beginning, I was super impressed with AJ's voice. I think the author perfectly captured the essence of being a 12 year old stuck at your stuffy grandma's house. The twist was a shock to me, and it definitely wasn't expecting the story to go that direction. The only thing I would say I was a little disappointed in was AJ & her grandmother's relationship. Even after the climax, I never felt like their relationship had progressed enough to my liking. Other than that, would recommend.
May 16, 2017
Such a cute book.
AJ is in a funk as she has to spend a month with her Grandma. Her Grandma is strict and plans on giving her etiquette lessons, doesn't like loud noises....and the list goes on and on.
AJ is totally taken by surprise to learn the the "bridge" club is really a ......heist group. She is even more surprised when she is asked to join them.
Who know her Grandmother and "bridge" could be fun.
AJ is in a funk as she has to spend a month with her Grandma. Her Grandma is strict and plans on giving her etiquette lessons, doesn't like loud noises....and the list goes on and on.
AJ is totally taken by surprise to learn the the "bridge" club is really a ......heist group. She is even more surprised when she is asked to join them.
Who know her Grandmother and "bridge" could be fun.
July 13, 2017
There are the things I found difficult to accept with this book: 1) Elderly bashing, most comments about the "old ladies" including AJ's grandmother are very negative. 2) Stealing, even if you believe it is for a "good" cause is still wrong; 3) Teaching a 12-year old to pick locks is also a wobbly moral issue with me. The story was fun, and two of my teens read it and liked it a lot. I would not recommend it be put on a book list however because of the above mentioned problems.
September 18, 2017
I absolutely loved this book. I really love how her grandmother makes her take etiquette lessons because that shows how much she wants AJ to become a proper young lady. The ending was the best part for me. I love how with everything they steal there is a background behind it with one of the crooks. I also really liked how AJ wants to try to avoid her grandmother and sleep over at her friends house because that's how anyone would probably be if they were stuck in that situation.
March 13, 2019
2.5 stars.
I liked it okay but it felt draggy in parts to me. I also don't know if this should be classified as a 8-12 yr old book; some events in the latter half of the book seemed like they might be a bit mature for that age bracket. That's just my opinion though. Overall it was just not my cup of tea.
I liked it okay but it felt draggy in parts to me. I also don't know if this should be classified as a 8-12 yr old book; some events in the latter half of the book seemed like they might be a bit mature for that age bracket. That's just my opinion though. Overall it was just not my cup of tea.
September 29, 2017
Aj has no idea that her grandma and her friends are a bunch of classy crooks! She is recruited to help them while staying with her grandma. Things take and unexpected turn and Aj has to make some intense decisions. Will they get caught? I really enjoyed this fun story!
September 23, 2019
Cute, unusual story with a weird twist. Loved the main character, and her grandma's goofy friends, as well as her dedication to her family and how she navigated her schoolmates. The climax was a little...odd. But, big adventure so I guess it worked out.
March 10, 2017
Maybe 3.5? An enjoyable read, but while I definitely didn't see that last plot twist coming, it felt a bit... much for a novel of this scope. Still, fun and mostly light-hearted.
July 18, 2017
A cute story with a rather unbelievable plot. Well written and I see the appeal for middle school readers.
March 2, 2018
It was a very interesting book to read. It was also suspenseful to me and a great book for girls.
March 8, 2018
This was a really cute middle grade book. I really enjoyed the story!
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