The Whiz Mob and the Grenadine Kid by Colin Meloy

The Whiz Mob and the Grenadine Kid is a whimsical novel by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis set in Paris, 1961. Twelve-year-old Charlie Fisher, a newcomer to the city, finds himself immersed in the world of the Whiz Mob of Paris, a secret society of child pickpockets. As Charlie learns the art of pickpocketing and experiences the thrill of their criminal exploits, he also grapples with the ethical implications of his actions. In this gripping tale of adventure and self-discovery, Charlie must navigate loyalty, friendship, and moral choices to find out what is really right for him.

Charlie first meets a member of the Whiz Mob, Amir, after he stole his pen. When the police caught Amir stealing Charlie’s pen, Charlie saved him and Amir almost immediately brought Charlie to a meeting with the Whiz Mob. After doing a couple of jobs with the mob, he starts to feel happy, he has friends, he has something to do, and everything’s going great. Until it’s not. Until he gets betrayed.

This novel is certainly not the best novel I’ve read all week, but I just love how much it pulls you into the story of Charlie and the Whiz Mob. However, a lot of the words in the book are mostly words that pickpockets use, like “whiskers” for police, or “scatter” for hangout. It turns out, there’s a glossary in the back that I didn’t even realize was there until I finished the book. *sigh* Besides that, it was a pretty good read.