Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

George doesn’t really think of himself as a bad kid, but when he’s kidnapped by Pilfer Academy and told that learning to be a criminal is his new life goal, he’s forced to reconsider. Now he’s attending classes on breaking and entering, stealth, and gadgetry, and it’s clear he’s an early star. Catching the attention of the dean is more of a hindrance than a benefit, however, as jealous students and intense adult pressure only reinforce George’s loneliness and his doubt that this is where he belongs. A theft too far cements it for George that he is no criminal, but escaping from this school of thieves, connivers, criminals, and rogues is no easy task. There’s contrivance in the setup that convinces George’s parents to let him go, but we are talking about a world so bizarre that the punishment is a hellish amusement park ride, so whatevs. School-story buffs with a taste for absurd, off-kilter humor will find this a welcome addition to the mix.