Editorial Content for The Classy Crooks Club

In THE CLASSY CROOKS CLUB by Alison Cherry, Annemarie (known as AJ) has to spend four weeks of her summer vacation with her strict grandmother, Grandma Jo. Grandma Jo thinks AJ should be taught how to be a "respectable young lady." As such, Grandma's Jo's idea of a good use of time is to learn how to do needlepoint and set a proper table. During her visit, Grandma Jo restricts the use of AJ's free time, not allowing her to ride her skateboard around the neighborhood, watch TV or have her friends over to visit. The only outside activity AJ is allowed is to go to soccer practice.
 
Thank goodness for that. Soccer is AJ's escape from the oppression of Grandma Jo's house. AJ gets to play a game she loves and visit with her best friend, Maddie. That is, until AJ and Maddie have a big misunderstanding that results in them barely speaking to each other.

"Author Alison Cherry writes an interesting and funny story about families, friendship and loyalty."

Just about the time AJ thinks her summer is completely ruined, things get interesting when her grandmother recruits her to be part of her "heist" club. Grandma Jo, along with three of her friends, who all look like "respectable old ladies," take turns stealing --- I mean "liberating" --- items from various places. Over the years, they have liberated exotic birds and paintings and all manner of things. They rationalize their behavior by saying the item is "better off" being somewhere else. At first, AJ enjoys helping Grandma Jo and her friends "liberate" things, but when they plan on stealing a painting from someone she knows, things become more complicated for AJ.
 
Author Alison Cherry writes an interesting and funny story about families, friendship and loyalty. Her writing style makes you want to keep turning the pages. However, I had a few editorial issues with story, like typos and inconsistencies. For example, the author overused the word "snaps." Grandma Jo is a bit rude and "snaps" at people when she talks. This is okay as it shows a legitimate character trait. However, the word "snaps" is used over and over again in the text to tell the reader how Grandma Jo talks. After about the tenth time of reading the same thing, I was getting annoyed with the repetition of the word.
 
Although I didn't particularly like the ending of the story, I understand why it had to end the way it did and respect Cherry's choices. Regardless, I really did enjoy reading the book as It was entertaining and thought-provoking.