No Admissions (The Infamous Frankie Lorde #3)

What worked:

Frankie is the daughter of an international thief and she’s learned some skills as his assistant. Instead of dolls, she receives a grappling hook launcher for her fifth birthday! She uses her talents to help others as she recovers a stolen science project for a classmate. She has no desire to make more friends as her one companion Ollie is all she needs. She helps him make a big splash during lunch period with the hope his performance might impress the school’s drama supervisor. Frankie lives with her uncle, a police detective, and he’s fully aware that she’s inherited many of her father’s criminal abilities. This creates a unique dynamic between the two characters, although Frankie also has a bit to learn about friendship.

The story will force readers to wonder about ethics and morality. Frankie does things that must be considered wrong or illegal at school and during her schemes. She sets off the school’s sprinkler system and is guilty of breaking and entering but she does these things to help her friends. Does that make it okay? Parents are cheating the education system to enroll their kids at exclusive schools although some adults neglect to consider the feelings, thoughts, and dreams of their own children. Frankie sets out to punish the families but she’s forced to reconsider her motivations. She wonders why the parents resort to illegal tactics and the results of her investigation come as a surprise. Is it okay to break the law if it’s done for a “good” reason?

The book offers a variety of family issues for readers to consider. Frankie’s father being in prison is uncommon but her guardian’s desire to have a social life is not. Frankie has mixed emotions about the situation and must learn that not everything is about her. Her best friend Ollie comes from a large family and spends much of his time with Frankie and her uncle. He receives more attention there than with his own family and seems almost like Frankie’s brother. The four families involved in the admissions scandal present different family dynamics, although on the surface none of them should need to resort to illegal activities. The parents include a doctor, a famous actor, and another working in finances so money should not be a problem. They all have high expectations for their children that often conflict with the desires of the kids. Frankie learns secrets about their families and her classmates, and she begins to understand the school bully’s behavior. Frankie even feels some sympathy for the girl tormenting her classmates.

What didn’t work as well:

Frankie utilizes innovative technology that doesn’t fit the overall realistic fiction of the story. Most of her actions are relatively believable until she receives high-tech “gifts” from a new friend and she wears a ninja-like outfit that’s everything-proof. However, these impossible factors don’t detract from the overall story and actually enhance Frankie’s daring schemes.

The Final Verdict:

This book can be enjoyed independently of the first two books in the series. It’s nice to see justice come to people with attitudes that they’re above the rules and laws and the underdogs score a win. Frankie’s game plan is fun to follow although predictably something unplanned always pops up. The book should be enjoyable to all middle-grade readers and I highly recommend you give it a shot.