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Cover of Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'NeillLullabies for Little Criminals
Modern · Fiction, Young Adult, History

Lullabies for Little Criminals

by Heather O'Neill
2006 · 330 pages · Fiction
Critics' pick
≈ 8 hours to read · about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

At thirteen, Baby still drags her dolls around in a vinyl suitcase, but knows more than she should about urban cruelties. Motherless, she lives with her father, Jules, who takes better care of his heroin habit than of her. Baby's gift for telling stories and finding beauty helps her survive.

Why it's worth reading

It was a finalist for the Women's Prize for Fiction. It's a heartbreaking, funny and tender debut.

You'll love it if you liked

Good to know

It deals with drugs, abuse and child prostitution.

By the numbers

66.9Must-Read Score
  • Readers65 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics25 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Bestseller5 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Shortlisted
Women's Prize for Fiction finalist (2008)

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Quick answers

Is Lullabies for Little Criminals worth reading?

Yes. It was a finalist for the Women's Prize for Fiction. It ranks #1,664 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.9 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Lullabies for Little Criminals about?

At thirteen, Baby still drags her dolls around in a vinyl suitcase, but knows more than she should about urban cruelties. Motherless, she lives with her father, Jules, who takes better care of his heroin habit than of her. Baby's gift for telling stories and finding beauty helps her survive.

How long does it take to read Lullabies for Little Criminals?

About 8 hours (330 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Lullabies for Little Criminals?

If you liked it, try The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky or Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison.