} lullabies for little criminals ~ H E A T H E R O ’ N E I L L A GRITTY, HEART-WRENCHING NOVEL ABOUT THE BRUISED INNOCENCE ON THE CITY’S FERAL STREETS K E L S E A H I N T Z

- - - Baby is twelve years old. Her mother died not long after she was born and she lives in a string of seedy flats in Montreal's red light district with her father Jules, who takes better care of his heroin addiction than he does of his daughter. Jules is a constant source of chaos in Baby's life - the turmoil he brings with him and the wreckage he leaves in his wake. Baby finds herself constantly re-adjusting to new situations, new foster homes, new places, new people, all the while longing for stability and a 'normal' life. But Baby has a gift - the ability to find the good in people, a genius for spinning stories and for cherishing the small crumbs of happiness that fall into her lap. She is bright, smart, funny and observant about life on the dirty streets of a city and wise enough to realise salvation rests in her own hands

- - - I decided a teddy bear would be a good symbol for this book because it represents how baby wants to stay a child. She mentions, “I want to stay a girl forever, because once you grow up, you don’t get to feel younger.” Baby feels comfortable when she feels like a little girl. She doesn’t want to grow up, so a teddy bear represents the want to feel young, and comforted

- - - I decided on a star this time, to explain how Baby believes. She believes her Dad loves her, and things can get better. She believes her Dad will come back to her and pick her up from the foster home, exactly when he says. (Even though he is never on time.) She believes that he can stop using drugs and be a normal parent. Children believe that there wish will come true if they wish upon a star, therefore, a star clarifies this

- - - I pasted a chair here, because Baby cares about other people, more than she cares herself. She cares about her dad and what he does. The people she loves are like her company in her home. She wants to make them happy and comfortable. She wants people to feel okay

- - - Baby sees things how they are. True, raw and cruel. I used a eye tester because when sitting in the optometrist checks your eyes, and the lens is not in focus, you see everything differently. It’s like Baby is always behind the lens

- - - Baby is called dumb far too many times by her peers. She is a very smart girl if she tries, but her dad changes others perspective on her. When he shows up after school, they assume since her dad looks unwell, that she is dumb. I put a book, but it is a symbol for knowledge, which is something Baby has a lot of.- - -

- - - Alphonse somehow thinks he has class and style. He is gross, but thinks he is cool. Baby uses him, but he doesn’t get that. I put a hat and cane to represent class. When people wear a hat and cane, they do it to look “classy” He wants to be a pimp, but he isn’t. He dies too soon

- - - I am using a picture of a bull, because Baby’s dad, Jules, is as stubborn as a bull. He doesn’t want to leave rehab, he doesn’t want to do anything anyone says. He is as ‘stubborn as a bull’ - - -

- - - I used a ring here with a red line through it, because Baby teaches everyone, it’s not what you have it’s how you treat people and how much you love. ( since she was always willing to be friends with anyone. ) - - -

- - - I put a princess here, because Alphonse makes Baby feel good, even though all he does is use her. He acts like ‘prince charming’ but does not