Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig
Release Date: March 13, 2012
Age Group: Young Adult
Received From: Publisher
IBSN: 9780062066060
Blurb:
Willa’s secret plan seems all too simple: take from the rich kids at Valley Prep and give to the poor ones.
Yet Willa’s turn as Robin Hood at her ultra-exclusive high school is anything but. Bilking her “friends”-known to everyone as the Glitterati-without them suspecting a thing, is far from easy. Learning how to pick pockets and break into lockers is as difficult as she’d thought it’d be. Delivering care packages to the scholarship girls, who are ostracized just for being from the “wrong” side of town, is way more fun than she’d expected.
The complication Willa didn’t expect, though, is Aidan Murphy, Valley Prep’s most notorious (and gorgeous) ace-degenerate. His mere existence is distracting Willa from what matters most to her-evening the social playing field between the have and have-nots. There’s no time for crushes and flirting with boys, especially conceited and obnoxious trust-funders like Aidan.
But when the cops start investigating the string of burglaries at Valley Prep and the Glitterati begin to seek revenge, could he wind up being the person that Willa trusts most?
To be completely honest with you I was expecting Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig to be a fluffy story about a rich girl with a conscience. I was wrong. Pretty Crooked is many things, fun, thrilling, and unique, but it’s not the simple story I was expecting.
Pretty Crooked is a modern day take on Robin Hood. I’ve always been a huge fan of the Robin Hood story and I love seeing different takes on it. So I was really interested to see how that would work in an exclusive prep school. It was so much fun! I loved seeing how Willa came to the decision to start stealing from classmates. I especially loved seeing her pull it off.
Willa was a fabulous main character. She was thrust into this world of money and snobbery and she didn’t quite fit in. That made it very easy to relate to her. She just wanted to do the right thing, even if it meant doing…illegal things. Willa always had good intentions and even though what she was doing was wrong, I was still rooting for her.
I was pleasantly surprised with some of the issues Pretty Crooked covers. Cyber bullying, stereotypes, and social classes, just to name a few. These things are addressed in a way that doesn’t make the book heavy, but Willa’s reaction to them shines a lot of light on them. I really liked how that was all covered. I think those are topics that can’t be covered enough in YA and it was nice to see them in a fun book.
I really enjoyed Pretty Crooked. My one tiny complaint would probably be that the pacing was slow at some points, but that was mostly because I wanted Willa to steal more things! This is a start to a series, so I’m anxious to see what kind of antics Willa gets up to in the sequel.
Check out the super fun trailer!
For more info on the book and Elisa:
Goodreads/Amazon/Elisa’s Website/Elisa’s Twitter
Visit the rest of the tour stops!
Now for the giveaway!
Open to US and Canada
Must be 13 or older
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks so much Lit Logistics for putting together the blog tour!
Great review! I’m interested to read about the issues you mention – cyber bullying, stereotypes, class differences. I definitely haven’t come across a YA book like this before.
Thanks for sharing! And thanks for the giveaway!
Damn! I wish this giveaway was international because the book + your review made me really want to read it.
I love the whole idea of this book. I think it sounds fun, but also like it has great messages in it too. Great review!! I am glad that you enjoyed this one so much.
Amy @ Book Loving Mom recently posted..Review: Girl Unmoored by Jennifer Gooch Hummer
Nice review. That is one book that I will do everything to make sure that I read it. The issues addressed in it are very crucial. Thanks a lot for the giveaway.
Heidi recently posted..kimkardashiantapenews.com
I want to read this one so bad, so I’m totally jazzed that you really enjoyed it!
fakesteph recently posted..Top Ten (Tuesday) Characters That Remind Me Of Myself
This book sounds like a really good read! It especially sounds like one my daughter would enjoy.
Thanks for the chance to win!
Ok this has been on my to read list forever! I need to read it soon. Loved your review!
I loved reading about her actually doing the stealing, too – particularly when she was learning about it from her friend. I think the second book is going to have a lot of action, and I’m interested to see where she takes it!
Shanyn recently posted..Review: Miracle by Elizabeth Scott
I just saw this one at the library. I’ll have to pick it up next time! Neat idea to incorporate the story of Robin Hood with a prep school setting. Your comment about the slow pace and Willa just wanting to steal more things made me smile. Sounds like a great mix of fun along with some serious and relevant topics. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this one!
Lucy recently posted..Audiobook Week Discussion: So You Want to Review Audiobooks
I love the sound of this book-it looks like a great mix of fun and serious to please all tastes. I know I was interested in it because it sounded like Heist Society, which I love, but now i know it also is a little more serious, bringing in those important issues.
Bookworm1858 recently posted..Waiting on Wednesday 27JUN12
Us and Canada… *gives up*
Disincentive recently posted..[31] ORDAINED by Devon Ashley BLOG TOUR review
This was a fun book to read. I didn’t LOVE it but I still really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to the sequel. Eek! I am always more excited for the second book than the first! haha Is that even normal?
Cristina @ The Princess Of Storyland recently posted..Review: Secret Letters
Sooooo glad you loved this one!! I seriously adored it and canNOT wait for more Willa and the gang in the next book!! Didn’t you just love how it ended? OMigosh…best ending ever.
Great review!!
Sierra @ Yearning to Read recently posted..Review: What I Didn’t Say by Keary Taylor
Thanks for the giveaway! I have been really wanting to read this =D
Becky P. recently posted..Question of the Moment 84
Thanks for the giveaway. I really want to read this book. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
When I first heard the premise, I wasn’t sure I could root for Willa since she’s a thief, but it sounds like the book is all in fun. Everyone seems to enjoy it, so I guess I should try it next!
Bookish in a Box recently posted..Want to Read Wednesday: Etiquette & Espionage
I liked that it tied in so many things as well — especially the cyberbullying bits. Granted, I felt uncomfortable reading because I just knew it was a bad idea, but it held my attention the whole way through.
April Books & Wine recently posted..Pretty Crooked Elisa Ludwig Book Review