Lullabies for Little Criminals
A Novel
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A gritty, heart-wrenching novel about bruised innocence on the city's feral streets—the remarkable debut of a stunning literary talent
Heather O'Neill dazzles with a first novel of extraordinary prescience and power, a subtly understated yet searingly effective story of a young life on the streets—and the strength, wits, and luck necessary for survival.
At thirteen, Baby vacillates between childhood comforts and adult temptation: still young enough to drag her dolls around in a vinyl suitcase yet old enough to know more than she should about urban cruelties. Motherless, she lives with her father, Jules, who takes better care of his heroin habit than he does of his daughter. Baby's gift is a genius for spinning stories and for cherishing the small crumbs of happiness that fall into her lap. But her blossoming beauty has captured the attention of a charismatic and dangerous local pimp who runs an army of sad, slavishly devoted girls—a volatile situation even the normally oblivious Jules cannot ignore. And when an escape disguised as betrayal threatens to crush Baby's spirit, she will ultimately realize that the power of salvation rests in her hands alone.
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Author Extras
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Reader Reviews from First Look
"I've read and enjoyed thousands of well-written, -seen, -told and -executed books over time, but there's only been a dozen or so that come to mind immeditely that had me totally in awe before the first page was done. Ms O'Neill has a stupefyingly stunning way of turning a phrase. My jaw was left dragging and drooling innumerable times as she told her tale in 'Lullabies for Little Criminals'. The awe wears off as the reader becomes one with her character, Baby. Absorption of the kid's lousy life innured me to the deep cuts of what is reality for too many kids. In sharing Baby's life with her so intimately, I also found myself doing what the abused child does: I found a shell and crawled into it. Until that flash from the cosmos forced Baby's path to intersect with geekiest weirdo in class. The love conquers all path sure posited a moral dilemma, eh? Feel goodness and light and be happy, but you must accept that no one who knows you will ever accept this geeky, nose-picking oddity that IS a middle school aged boy (they ALL fit that category in that age group, don't they?). You truly cannot have everything in life. And in Baby's life, she could only have one thing that was good. Well, until the end, anyway. I was completely enamoured with this book from page one. Honestly. The brilliantly balanced phrases O'Neill uses are laden with such wisdom that they're more powerful than daily affirmations, as far as I'm concerned. Thank you for this book to review—it will be highly touted to every reader in my world, to be sure. Most enjoyable, when you're heart wasn't being pureed."
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Julie (Belen, NM)
"I've read and enjoyed thousands of well-written, -seen, -told and -executed books over time, but there's only been a dozen or so that come to mind immeditely that had me totally in awe before the first page was done. Ms O'Neill has a stupefyingly stunning way of turning a phrase. My jaw was left dragging and drooling innumerable times as she told her tale in 'Lullabies for Little Criminals'. The awe wears off as the reader becomes one with her character, Baby. Absorption of the kid's lousy life innured me to the deep cuts of what is reality for too many kids. In sharing Baby's life with her so intimately, I also found myself doing what the abused child does: I found a shell and crawled into it. Until that flash from the cosmos forced Baby's path to intersect with geekiest weirdo in class. The love conquers all path sure posited a moral dilemma, eh? Feel goodness and light and be happy, but you must accept that no one who knows you will ever accept this geeky, nose-picking oddity that IS a middle school aged boy (they ALL fit that category in that age group, don't they?). You truly cannot have everything in life. And in Baby's life, she could only have one thing that was good. Well, until the end, anyway. I was completely enamoured with this book from page one. Honestly. The brilliantly balanced phrases O'Neill uses are laden with such wisdom that they're more powerful than daily affirmations, as far as I'm concerned. Thank you for this book to review—it will be highly touted to every reader in my world, to be sure. Most enjoyable, when you're heart wasn't being pureed."
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Julie (Belen, NM)
"Lullibies for Little Criminals is an excellent book that beautifully depicts the life of a child of a drug addict. Heather O'Neill does an excellent job of telling a story through the innocnet eyes of a child. At times, the novel almost seems as if it is a true story, because the way it is written is so 'real.' The book does an excellent job of making you laugh and other times putting you in tears. I would definitely reccomend it to someone, if they do not mind a lot of offensive language and other things that might be deemed offensive."
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Hannah (Beecher, IL)
"Heather O'Neill certainly struck a chord with this one. This is one powerful book! The character of Baby touched my heart in a way that many characters from novels do not. To be so young and so alone!! Baby's father, Jules, was 15 when she was born, and her mother is no longer around. Jules is a junkie and certainly no role model. They moved around all the time from one bad place to another. Although depressing to see a child that doesn't have the benefit of a traditional loving family, her perseverence and her ability to adapt to change is really a bit of an inspiration. Baby has to make decisions and live her life the way no child should ever need to. This book was fabulous!"
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Stephanie (Bartonville, IL)
"Beautifully written, poignant and painful, Lullabies for Little Criminals is 13 year-old Baby's journey toward finding joy, hurt and herself. Eventually this adventure ends at the beginning, Baby having heroically held onto a capacity for love and hope. Baby endures, her beloved father's alcoholic, heroin addicted daze. She winds her way through the avenues of a pimp, prostitution, and her own drug abuse. All the while she finds beauty and joy, growing like determined flowers through fractured sidewalks in her concrete jungle. The conclusion leaves the reader with hope, along with the uncertainty that is life."
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Marti (Shoreham, VT)
"Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill is an incredibly sad story about a thirteen year old girl, Baby, trying to walk that fine line between childhood and adulthood. It's not sad so that one as a reader does not want to read it (in fact, I stayed up late nights to read it), but it's sad because it so vividly paints the picture of Baby having to grow up too fast because of the irresponsible, drug-addicted adults around her. The most intense criticism should be heaped on her father, Jules, who in his attempts to raise her on his own, ends up in the hospital, in drug rehabilitation, homeless, and at the Salvation Army at various times, leaving a mere child in a foster home, with a neighbor, at a juvenile detention facility, and ultimately, alone, to deal with a very adult world. My heart broke as this poor child ended up living with a pimp, Alphonse, prostituting herself for drug money, while thinking that Alphonse was the only adult who she could rely on to keep a roof over her head. The best parts of the book included instances in which Baby got to spend time with other children and she could visualize her true innocence. Her relationship with a boy from school, Xavier, is especially heart-warming until his child-like innocence, too, is destroyed by these 'adults.' This story moves seemlessly from the innocent experiences of childhood to the stressful events of an adulthood that few of us actually experience, and it takes the reader's heart on its emotional journey."
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Amy (Tucson, AZ)
"Baby's innocence is painfully present for the reader throughout the entire book. I cringed so many times during the story, just afraid for her very existence! Baby seemed so unfocused, always. Looking for love and acceptance wherever she could find it, whether that be from her drugged up father or a pimp on the streets. I think that ultimately, the only true love Baby did find was with Xavier. Even though they were a mere 13 years old, I still felt that they both had a true sense of their feelings. To me, the ending felt a bit abrupt. After waking to find Alphonse dead, I expected a bit more of a reaction from Baby, maybe just due to her age, but even so it would have felt more real. And then the next moment she finds Jules and they ride off to a cousin's home out in the hinterlands of Montreal. It seemed to quick and unexpected. All in all it was an interesting story of this young girl's harsh life, even if it was a bit unbelievable in places."
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Judy (Minneapolis, MN)
"This is a beautifully written novel, more poetry than prose, but at the same time it is painful to read. Baby, the engaging 13 year old protagonist, has a self-awareness that is startling. She is simultaneously street wise and innocent, both an adult and youngster, sometimes the parent and other times the child. At times she seems to be swept along by a predestined fate while at other times she reveals an inner strength that makes the reader want to applaud aloud. Baby is above all always self aware and without much illusion. Baby’s story is a heart wrenching one but it is told so movingly and in such a matter of fact style that the reader is both shocked and amused. Ultimately there is a resolution for the main characters which gives the reader a sense that things although never perfect can be good. It is as much a modern cautionary tale as it is a coming of age novel but by any description it is a wonderful book with a story to tell that will linger long after the last page is turned."
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Maureen (Freehold, NJ)
"This was such a disturbing, heartbreaking book, but it was powerful, and very well-written—hard to put down. This is 'Hustle & Flow' without the hip-hop."
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Sherri (Atlanta, GA)
"The book about Baby and her father Jules shows how a 13 year old girl grows up into a young lady, and along the way tere is alot of temptations. Her father is addicted to heroin and Baby eventually uses the drug. The book is very well written and a pleasure to read. The characters appear realistic and shows how growing up in the wrong enviornment children can make wrong choices that can affect their lives forever. I look forward to read other works that the author will write in the futurs."
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Eileen (East Moriches, NY)
"As a mental health professional, I was thrilled to find this novel, which opens up the sad reality of the world into which children are led by drugs and poverty. The author did a spectacular job in creating a bright, witty little girl, who the reader can't help but find him/herself pulling for. This novel contains a sensational combination of humor and wit, along with heartache and despair. A must read for all those working with the mental health and substance abuse population."
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Kelly (Danvers, MA)
"Wow. Talk about growing up in a cold, cruel world. This is really putting it like it is out there for teens who have live in a world and raise themselves. O'Neill bars none and shows us the reality of living an adult life through the eyes of a child. Even as a Guidance Counselor and hearing and seeing some of the things I have encountered—some of what I read here was overwhelming for me. But unfortunatly, I know it to be the harsh reality of life for some. The way Baby deals with it all is simply amazing. The author is to be commended on this fine piece of literature. I would recommend to counselors and teachers of middle and senior highschool students, as well as parents of the same."
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Sarah (Beaufort, SC)
"The author does a remarkable job of drawing us into a world that relatively few of us have ever inhabited—that of the addicts and aconomically disadvantaged who live on the fringes of society. To do so through the eyes of a 13-year-old girl for whom this world is normal makes for fascinating reading. Baby's is a unique voice with a delightfully screwy viewpoint; once encountered, she gets her hooks into your heart. Her exploits are alternately poignant and amusing, and you just can't help wanting to know if and how she triumphs."
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Lucinda (Richardson, TX)
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