Lullabies for Little Criminals

9781847246752: Lullabies for Little Criminals
View all copies of this ISBN edition:
 
 
Baby is twelve years old. Her mother died not long after she was born and she lives in a string of seedy flats in Montreal's red light district with her father Jules, who takes better care of his heroin addiction than he does of his daughter. Jules is an intermittent presence and a constant source of chaos in Baby's life - the turmoil he brings with him and the wreckage he leaves in his wake. Baby finds herself constantly re-adjusting to new situations, new foster homes, new places, new people, all the while longing for stability and a 'normal' life. But Baby has a gift - the ability to find the good in people, a genius for spinning stories and for cherishing the small crumbs of happiness that fall into her lap. She is bright, smart, funny and observant about life on the dirty streets of a city and wise enough to realise salvation rests in her own hands.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:
A down-and-dirty debut novel, a harrowing recital of a young life, a funny, innocent, streetwise telling of life on the street--all of the above describe Heather O'Neill's Lullabies for Little Criminals. In an autobiographical essay included in the book, O'Neill, whose own childhood parallels rather closely the life of Baby, her book's heroine, says, "In Lullabies, I wanted to capture what I remembered of the drunken babbling of unfortunate twelve-year-olds: their illusions; their ludicrously bad choices, their lack of morality and utter disbelief in cause and effect." She accomplishes all of the above and more.

Baby is born to two 15-year-olds, and her mother dies a year later. Her father, Jules, is not a bad man, but he is a perpetual kid, without money, education, purpose, moral compass, or any idea of what being a parent is about or how ordinary people live. When the novel begins, Baby is almost 12, and her 12th year turns out to be a very big one indeed. She smokes pot, shoots heroin, loses her virginity, and lives in foster homes, a state detention home, and one seedy, squalid apartment after another. She comes under the spell of Alphonse, a neighborhood pimp, and is so hungry for male affection that she mistakes what he offers for love and care.

Baby and her equally neglected and abused friends long for adulthood, whatever that means. They look up to sophisticated druggies and efficient thieves. Baby says, "I don't know why I was upset about not being an adult. It was right around the corner. Becoming a child again is what is impossible. That's what you have a legitimate reason to be upset over." Baby is matter-of-fact about her predicament. She knows that other kids have lives very different from hers but says, "It never occurs to you when you are very young to need something other than what your parents have to offer to you." This poignant story is beautifully written, sprinkled throughout with humor, pathos, unbelievable privation, and, in the end, the hope of redemption. At least we know that Heather O'Neill grew up to be a writer of no mean accomplishment. --Valerie Ryan

From the Back Cover:

Heather O’Neill’s critically acclaimed debut novel, with a new introduction from the author to celebrate its ten-year anniversary

Baby, all of thirteen years old, is lost in the gangly, coltish moment between childhood and the strange pulls and temptations of the adult world. Her mother is dead; her father, Jules, is scarcely more than a child himself and is always on the lookout for his next score. Baby knows that “chocolate milk” is Jules’ slang for heroin and sees a lot more of that in her house than the real thing. But she takes vivid delight in the scrappy bits of happiness and beauty that find their way to her, and moves through the threat of the streets as if she’s been choreographed in a dance.

Soon, though, a hazard emerges that is bigger than even her hard-won survival skills can handle. Alphonse, the local pimp, has his eye on her for his new girl—and what the johns don’t take he covets for himself. If Baby cannot learn to become her own salvation, his dark world threatens to claim her, body and soul.

Channeling the artlessly affecting voice of her thirteen-year-old heroine with extraordinary accuracy and power, Heather O’Neill’s debut novel blew readers away when it was first published ten years ago. Now it’s sure to capture its next decade of readers as Baby picks her pathway along the edge of the abyss to arrive at a place of redemption, and of love.

Featuring a new introduction from the author

CBC Canada reads winner, Paragraphe Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction winner, Orange Prize for Fiction finalist, Governor General’s Literary Award finalist, International Impac Dublin Literary Award finalist

Praise for Lullabies for Little Criminals

“A vivid portrait of life on skid row.”—People

“A nuanced, endearing coming-of-age novel you won’t want to miss.”—Quill And Quire

“Vivid and poignant. . . . A deeply moving and troubling novel.”—The Independent (London)

“O’Neill is a tragicomedienne par excellence. . . . You will not want to miss this tender depiction of some very mean streets.”—Montreal Review of Books

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

  • Publisherriverrun
  • Publication date2008
  • ISBN 10 1847246753
  • ISBN 13 9781847246752
  • BindingAudio CD
  • Rating
Buy Used
Condition: Very Good
Connecting readers with great books... Learn more about this copy

Shipping: US$ 3.75
Within U.S.A.

Destination, rates & speeds

Add to Basket

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9780062468475: Lullabies for Little Criminals: A Novel

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  ISBN 13:  9780062468475
Publisher: Harper Perennial, 2016
Softcover

  • 9780060875077: Lullabies for Little Criminals

    Harper..., 2006
    Softcover

  • 9781847243935: Lullabies for Little Criminals

    riverrun, 2008
    Softcover

  • 9780002008068: Lullabies for Little Criminals by O'Neill, Heather published by Harper Perennial (2006)

    Harper..., 2006
    Softcover

  • 9781847242334: Lullabies for Little Criminals

    Quercus, 2008
    Softcover

Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace

Stock Image

O'Neill, Heather
Published by riverrun (2008)
ISBN 10: 1847246753 ISBN 13: 9781847246752
Used Quantity: 1
Seller:
HPB Inc.
(Dallas, TX, U.S.A.)

Book Description Audio CD. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!. Seller Inventory # S_336614005

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy Used
US$ 10.25
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 3.75
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

O'Neill, Heather
Published by riverrun (2008)
ISBN 10: 1847246753 ISBN 13: 9781847246752
Used Quantity: 1
Seller:
HPB-Ruby
(Dallas, TX, U.S.A.)

Book Description Audio CD. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!. Seller Inventory # S_364072377

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy Used
US$ 10.25
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 3.75
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Heather O'Neill
Published by Quercus Publishing Plc (2008)
ISBN 10: 1847246753 ISBN 13: 9781847246752
Used Quantity: 1
Seller:
The Yard Sale Store
(Narrowsburg, NY, U.S.A.)

Book Description Audio CD. Condition: Good. Read by Michael McDonald. 9 Presentable AUDIO CDs withdrawn from the library collection. Some library sticker and stamp to the set. You will receive reliable AUDIO CDs that we will polish for you. Enjoy this Audio CD performance. Audio Book. Seller Inventory # 113508092014512

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy Used
US$ 9.25
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 4.97
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

O'Neill, Heather
Published by riverrun (2008)
ISBN 10: 1847246753 ISBN 13: 9781847246752
Used Quantity: 4
Seller:
Bestsellersuk
(Hereford, United Kingdom)

Book Description Audio CD. Condition: Good. Case is cracked , otherwise new and sealed No.1 BESTSELLERS - great prices, friendly customer service â " all orders are dispatched next working day. Seller Inventory # mon0000688126

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy Used
US$ 3.05
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 15.15
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

O'Neill, Heather
Published by riverrun (2008)
ISBN 10: 1847246753 ISBN 13: 9781847246752
Used Quantity: 2
Seller:
Bestsellersuk
(Hereford, United Kingdom)

Book Description Audio CD. Condition: Very Good. Case is cracked , otherwise new and sealed No.1 BESTSELLERS - great prices, friendly customer service â " all orders are dispatched next working day. Seller Inventory # mon0000746925

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy Used
US$ 16.98
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 15.15
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds