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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 816.6
EAN num: 9780060875077
ISBN number: 0060875070
Label: Harper Perennial
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 352
Printing Date: October 01, 2006
Publishing house: Harper Perennial
Release Date: October 17, 2006
Sale Popularity Level: 272782
Studio: Harper Perennial
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
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 very 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.
Amazon.com 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
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Rated by buyers 
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Worth reading? Yes. The voice is beautifully controlled and Baby, the main character, heartbreaking and quite impossible to forget. Be prepared, however, for a grim, squalid read, albeit with moments of real humor. Child prostitution, drugs and despair in equal measure. I don't shock easily, and have been accused of writing some 'too-dark' tales myself, but this one's a corker.
Rated by buyers 
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Adolescent Baby lives in Montreal with her heroin addicted father. Without true guidance in her life, she becomes trapped in a life of prostitution. This is the most beautifully written book I have ever read. There are phrases that will just take your breath away. The reader is immersed into Baby's life all the sorrow and happiness in the life of a child stuck in the underbelly of society. Love, Love, LOVE this book.
Rated by buyers 
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I picked this up at the used bookstore yesterday and once I started the book--I couldn't put it down. The book is well-written and descriptive in a way that will make you think and cringe at times.
I didn't realize how depressing it was until I woke up realizing I had dreamt about the book. It is a fast read, but it is so depressing. Just when you think things can't get worse for the protagonist...they do.
Then, I finished the book and read all of the author matter at the end. O'Neil lived a sad life as well and used some of her own experiences to write this book. Her dad sounds like he was a real "winner." Sheesh. Hopefully her adult life and her daughter's life will be better.
O'Neil doesn't romanticize the poor and lonely. While I was reading this, I wondered if this was a James Frey moment if all of this was completely made up (not that this book was marketed as non-fiction). Then reading the author matter made my heart drop w/ all the things she shared about her sad childhood.
I look forward to reading more of her work. The audience for this is wide. Many will like this book.
Rated by buyers -
this book is not for everyone, but if you've ever felt lost, alone, or without direction you will love it. i've read it twice and each time couldn't put it down!
Baby has to fend for herself on the streets of Montreal and encounters some pretty bad situations, but she's stronger than she realizes. she is fierce, brave, and a survivor at heart.
i can't recommend it enough to the lost girls out there whose hearts are screaming for something real. read this book! both Baby and Heather O'Neill are my heroines.
Rated by buyers -
So, I am the first. Good. I was just up by theMontreal area, where this author, and story, is from and takes place. if the author O'Neill reads these reviews, PLEASE contact me! Anyway Thanks for keeping me awake ,upset over this book.. it brought back WAY too many harsh right-on memories.. I , too, wrote a semi-autobiographical account of my life as a punk rocker teen (in the 80's)and Cleveland Ohio was much the same honey! Much the same, man. but the crazy ragged people described in downtown Montreal of the book are, in some ways, even worse than what I saw in old Cleveburg. Yes, I loved the streets as a teen and pre-teen,, the whole pickpocket Oliver twist thing, at the same age that this girl in book was attracted to it. PARENTS: Pay attnetion to your kids! Tell them what is wrong or else they will consider the street 'right'. Stop affirming it. And I wrote my very first novel on this subject of my youth when i was only 19-21. This book is much like my writing style, O'Neill's chosen books like "Poor Cow' are also titlesI read at age 19-21, and considered them so obscure!! If its desperate, dirty and poor, I would read it.. an overweight body issue with the character? Even better! Only a very first novel could be this sharp and harsh.
This is required reading for anyone who is thinking of becoming a parent, wanting to be a parent, or anyoen who has forgotten what that terribel turning point of adolescence into adulthood was like..
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