Crimes of the Sarahs

by Kristen Tracy

Sugar and spice and everything nice.

At sixteen, Sarah Trestle has a lot going for her. She's cute, funny, and a terrific alto. She's also great behind the wheel, which is why she drives the getaway car. But Sarah T doesn't complain; she loves being part of the best clique in The Sarahs.

Sarahs Aberdeen, Babbitt, Cody, and Trestle aren't out to hurt anyone -- they're simply honing their craft. They start off their summer the usual interspersing petty crimes with nature walks, crushes, and volunteer work. Of course, everyone knows that a band of criminals is only as strong as its weakest link. When Sarah T botches a shoplifting attempt, her fate in The Sarahs is seriously called into question. And she's willing to do just about anything to prove that she's worthy....

Genres: Young Adult, Teen, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Chick Lit

354 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2008

Reviews

[Cory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm mentioned in the acknowledgements of this one, so it automatically gets five stars! But, beyond that, it's a very good read from an author with a very quirky sense of humor. And I mean that in the best possible way.

[ZJLS · Rating 2 out of 5]

What to do when you're bored? If you ask the Sarahs, they'll tell you- follow a life of crime. 5 girls all named Sarah, live basically amazing lives. They're pretty, rich, and in an-exclusive clique. Of course, the main requirement - your name has to be Sarah (one of the girls even changed her name for it). The leader, Sarah A, comes up with all these elaborate crimes simply because the girls are bored. Sarah T messes up on a shoplifting expedition, and her loyalty the Sarahs is called into question. She's willing to do anything to stay in.
I don't think there's a word out there than can fully describe this book. Yes Kristen Tracy has a way with words. Yes, Crimes of the Sarahs is well written. But it sucks. Plain and simple. The plot is incredibly unrealistic, not original in the least, and stupid. I guess you can say I don't like this book.
I guess I'd recommend it to anyone who liked the "Pretty Little Liars" series.

[Brianna Fontes · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a good book to read but something was missing. Throughout the whole book I was annoyed with the Sarah T. who was a whiner and just wanted her to find new friends because the other Sarahs were very judgmental and because she felt like they did not want her, she did something she never should have done. The story drags on and I had to force myself some to turn the page. It really had nothing to do with the crimes(stealing from book stores) just of the clique of girls and how they would do anything to be in the clique. It was an alright book overall.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

In both of Kristen Tracy's books, (this one and Lost It) I've enjoyed her strong way with dialog. This book begins with 4 friends named Sarah who commit petty "victimless"crimes. It soon becomes a study of our Main character, Sarah T. and the "leader"Sarah A. Though it might meander and lose it's way a bit, I still found it a good quick read.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah T was such a unique narrator. This book was really bizarre. I loved it.

[Katelyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Omg! This book had No plot, what so ever. I almost gave up on it. It was a very boring book, and i would not recommened it.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Crimes of the Sarahs

Author: Kristen Tracy

Publisher: Simon Pulse (Simon and Schuster)

Kristen Tracy, I must applaud you for astounding me. After this quick succession of good books, I was seriously wondering if your book may be my first 3, 2, or *gasp* 1. Now that I have finished your second novel, The Crimes of the Sarahs, I can safely say that it is among my 5's, and for good reason.

The Crimes of the Sarahs has a simple enough premise; a group of four girls, all named Sarah, go around committing crimes and are generally considered the best of the best amongst their teenage population. Sarah A, the leader who is always on top of things, and orchestrates the thefts. Sarah B, the one always blowing bubble gum spheres and talking about baseball. Sarah C, the one who is smart and reflective. And finally, our narrator, Sarah T, the getaway driver and pushover.

I instantly found the book intriguing - normally I prefer dominate female roles in YA novels. The sassy and independent heroines I've come to enjoy always resonate with me just the way I want them to. But you leave us with a character who is the physical equivalent of a cottonball. Yet, you managed to make her in just the right way. From page one, we see her intelligence and shallow acceptance of her role. This girl is no idiot, she's just a teenager who has an urge to feel accepted.

The main plot kicks off with the Sarahs barely succeeding to rob a Barnes and Noble, because Sarah A wants a new self-help book. Sarah T gets nervous and, in the middle of her part of the heist, pees herself in public, effectively confusing the operation. This begins the insanity we see throughout the novel - Sarah T's near abandonment of the group of Sarahs, and her constant struggle to find herself, stay in the group, and realize what's really going on behind everyone's facade.

What strings along the plot is really the characters; dialogue is snappy and laughable in the subtlest (and sometimes not so) ways, the girls each have multiple layers to their personalities and reasons behind their actions, and every scene is filled with tension and interest, no matter how normal it may seem. This novel may appear to be of the average Bitch-Chick fair, but don't be fooled. It manages to be deeper than that. It deals with abandonment on multiple levels, the affects of one's family and peers on their lives, and so much more. Even the imagery is affective, such as a scene done early one. Sarah T examines herself in the mirror, a regular cliche beginning authors do to show their looks, but it fogs up and she examines her silhouette and thinks. Granted, it's not an obvious part to every reader, yet it said a lot about Tracy's writing ability.

There were some parts of it that could have been done better, though. The secondary characters fluxed between drawn out to decidedly non-existent. While the drawn out ones were amazingly well-crafted, the others seemed cardboard due to their lack of face time and general ignorance. Also, the use of Sarah A, Sarah B, Sarah C, and Sarah T will be off-putting to some readers. Personally, I was easily able to distinguish them early on, but others may not be so lucky. An editing mistake involving this also caught my eye, in a scene between Sarah A and Sarah T. Somewhere, Sarah A became Sarah C for a sentence. I understand the editing process is long and eventful, and overall the editing in this book is near perfect, but it seriously confused me for a good two or three pages before I reread the dialogue again.

Overall, while I cannot say this is a book that will appeal to everyone, it is certainly not something that you should set aside casually. Solid, witty writing is found within these pages, and I cannot wait to see what Tracy has in store next. Even her cover was great! It actually matched the characters! That never happens. She has written one other novel, Lost It, which I may just have to pick up.

Rating: 5 Stars

Copy: Borrowed from Library

Review originally posted on my blog, Dreaming in Books, April 28th, 2010.
URL - http://dreaminginbooks.blogspot.com

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I knew this book was going to be ludicrous when I bought it, but I didn’t think it would be this laughable. I picked it up thinking it would be a funny, stupid read but it ended up being sad and lame.

I thought it would be more like the movie/musical Heathers but it was not nearly as good as that. It had more of a Mean Girls twist than I expected but not like the original good one, the remake that was a mistake.

It was an easy read and I am glad I didn't waste too long reading it, cause it wasn't worth it. The ending sucked too. Sarah T is in a toxic friendship with Sarah A.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is quite different from what I’ve read for a while.

This difference can either be a good thing or bad, and as of this point, I’m not too sure what it is for me. Although, I would say this: it’s a bit refreshing. There’s no romance. No love story for the main character (Sarah T) to end up happily ever after with. Generally, the Young Adult crowd will not like that, but I find it oddly reassuring. It’s like this: just because in the books you’ve read before where the protagonist always ends up with a boyfriend/girlfriend, doesn’t mean that’s true in real life. In reality, you’re probably going to be single for quite some time. In reality, you’re probably going to solve your problems yourself and not because some wise guy helped you out. Yes, it’s quite a sad reality. But anyway—I like that Sarah T can solve her own problems without the guy, as is the case with all other books. This novel puts much more emphasis on family, friendship and the difference between right and wrong.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about crime. Thievery, actually. It’s not a coincidence. I picked up this book because of the title and blurb and I was wondering whether it might offer me any insight on this particular topic. It’s definitely an interesting topic. And while there hasn’t been much insight, it has made me re-think my life of crime. When I say that, I don’t really mean a lifetime of crime. Honestly, I’ve stolen a couple of times before (three times, actually) but I’m not proud of it. I hardly remember the “moment” or the consequences, but that’s because there weren’t any. I like that this book balances out the acts of crime and consequences because these two things just go together. When you commit the crime, you don’t think about the aftermath. You just do it. You think you’re invincible. I like to think that for most people, stealing is a phase you go through, like the Barbie/dolls phase. You take something once or twice, but eventually you realize that there’s really nothing to stealing. And it slowly just gets drowned out among other interesting things. At least, that’s the case for me. For those others who are kleptomaniacs or have some other psychological reasoning for stealing—well, I try not to think about them too much. I don’t understand why they do the things they do. But then again, I don’t understand a lot of things.

Basically, this has just been a book that takes me back to my younger days. It’s not terribly exciting, but I do love the distinct qualities of all the Sarahs. It gets especially clear in the dialogue, which is a strong point of this author’s. She has a clear voice, and she is trying to approach a serious topic.

[Doug Beatty · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the story of Sarah T, who, with Sarah A, Sarah C and Sarah B all form a group called the Sarah’s who take part in petty larceny and steal things from town. Unfortunately, during one of the heists, Sarah T gets flustered and urinates in public making her instantly unpopular with the Sarah’s and she feels like she is going to be voted out of the group. Sarah A, the leader, comes up with a plan that they each have to pull a stunt to make them prove their worth to the Sarah’s. Sarah T decides to steal a coin jar from a 7-11 that would take money away from an impaled horse. Unfortunately, she didn’t realize that the other Sarah’s placed the coin jar there and she becomes unpopular again. Sarah A has trouble with Vance, her brother who is off his meds and acting like a lunatic. As Sarah A was adopted she is asked to leave and move in with Sarah T for a while until Sarah T gets in trouble with the police because her car was seen when she stole the coin jar. Sarah A moves into a cabin and discovers that next door there is a woman who might have college essays they need and decides to steal them but by this time the other three Sarah’s decide they want no part of this. Sarah A doesn’t want to give up the crime run, but the other Sarah’s are her friend and are their for her.

Not a bad story if you can keep the Sarah’s apart. Personally, I kind of thought Sarah C and Sarah B were interchangeable, and I wasn’t sure about the part about Sarah T urinating in public. She was supposed to be in high school. I would have expected that from a much younger kid. The plot was interesting and fast moving and you were not sure whether you wanted Sarah T to be voted out of the Sarah’s for her own good or want her to belong. Vance was a little bit unsettling and the whole incident with the knife and the bedroom was a little bit over the top. I think teens might read it though, the paper back format is appealing.

[Rachael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meet Sarahs Aberdeen, Babbitt, Cody, and Trestle. They are the only members of the hottest clique in Kalamazoo: the Sarahs. Well, there used to be another, but she was kicked out because she just wasn’t good enough. The Sarahs are all best friends; they do everything with each other, from volunteering to gossip. All they need is each other; at least, that’s the way it should be. But the Sarahs have a unique hobby: petty thievery. With one shoplifting attempt gone wrong, the relationship among the Sarahs starts to deteriorate and spin out of control. Each of the Sarahs, especially Sarah T, is willing to do anything to stay a part of this club, but how far will they go?

Crimes of the Sarahs was not what I expected it to be, and that’s not necessarily a good thing. I expected this novel to be solely about the crimes of these four friends, but it turned out to be mostly about the individual journey of Sarah T as she comes to terms with how she and her friends have changed. It seemed to me that halfway through the book, the story changed entirely except for the setting. I didn’t really like this, and when I finished reading, I felt confused as to what the point of the story was. For soon-to-be-seniors in high school, the Sarahs acted quite immature at some times, and I felt that some of the family problems each Sarah had were just included at the last minute. Overall, I was disappointed with the story.

If you are looking for a fun book to read to entertainment, I would not recommend Crimes of the Sarahs. It did not live up to my expectations and was not as enjoyable and effective as it could’ve been in conveying its message.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best part of this book is the main character, Sarah T.
She and her clique, the "Sarahs" are all named Sarah and they shoplift for fun. Sarah T doesn't really feel comfortable about it but isn't sure what to do about it. Fitting in is something she craves, something that she absolutely must have. Sarah T doesn't want to stand up to Sarah A, the insecure know-it-all leader of the group because no one does. Sarah A torched Sarah B's hat because she said it made her more suspect. Sarah B didn't buy a new one even though she was a devoted Tigers fan. Sarah C's name was actually Lisa Sarah, but she had to legally change her name to Sarah Lisa.
Part of me just hates Sarah A because she is so hateable, so mean and catty--but part of me just hates the other three for submitting to Her Majesty, the self-centered queen of the Universe. But in the end, Sarah T must choose to go her own way or keep her friends...which is a much more difficult choice to make when you're in the situation rather than when you're reading about it.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommended for gr. 9-12. Some language, but not excessive. Sarah A is the leader of this group, Sarah B loves baseball, Sarah C is a wealth of trivia, and Sarah T has been a Sarah longer than the others. They all work to keep Sarah A happy, and currently they are on a crime spree. Mostly shoplifting crimes "that don't hurt anyone", in their opinion. Sarah T, from whose point of view the story is told, is teetering on the brink of being excluded from the Sarahs because of her general incompetence and a bladder issue that manifests during anxiety. She is however good-humored and unfailingly optimistic (some might say unrealistic) about the situation. Stolen pets, Sarah A's psychotic brother, Sarah T's thoughtful brother, caring and uncaring parents and other characters populate this novel. I went into this book expecting not to like it, but Sarah T's humor kept me entertained, even while Sarah A's lack of conscience was disturbing.

[Tan B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally reviewed - 8/9/08

Ah, Crimes of the Sarahs. Loved the book. It reminded me of that movie Sugar and Spice (which was what the appeal of this novel was to me). Anyway, moving on, Loved the book hated the protagonist Sarah T (as in Trestle) and of course the antagonist Sarah A. and that hatred was what made me love this book. I've never (and I mean never) read someone so flawed as Sarah Trestle. Her blind loyalty to an obvious tyrannic and verbally abusive friend was baffling to me. I found myself getting angry every time she'd let Sarah A put her down or treat her like a doormat. You would've thought I hated this book the way I talk about it but...I don't. I cannot explain it but something about this book made me love it. Maybe it was because it was something very different from I've read in the past...or maybe it's something else. But after reading this book I realized that I absolutely loved it.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars rounded up

"Sarah Trestle has always wanted to be part of something bigger than herself, and she found that through being in The Sarahs. The Sarahs, Sarah A, Sarah B, Sarah C, and herself, are the clique everyone wants to be in with their good looks and great singing voices. What no one realizes is that the Sarahs are actually criminals who steal things all the time. Sarah T is typically the driver, but when a shoplifting incident goes bad because of her, the other Sarahs start to question her place in their group. Sarah T will have to discover how far she is willing to go to stay in the only group that's made her feel like she belongs." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id...

[Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as I thought it would be. Not much action like the name suggests. I thought it sounded like a typical story about teen girls being common thieves. I can't say it was horrible...just very disappointing. I guess there was some growth with the girls since by the end of the book it seemed as if they were going to move on to being individuals rather than a group as a whole. There was a message to be taken away from reading this book for teen girls who aren't sure of who they are and want to find themselves by being persuaded by others. Just be yourself and do what you want not what your peers want you to do.

[Viviana · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a first time for me. I never thought that a day would come where I didnt like a book I read. If you are considering reading this book please dont. I cant believe I bought this book when i could have used that money for another book. Why didnt I like this book? It has no real story line. I was 1/2 done and I was still wondering when the story was going to start. The ending was a bust. Argh! it was just horrible.

[Lauren Deal · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked the idea of this book. The actual book, not so much. There were several times that I had to put the book down and ask, "Have any human beings EVER acted like this? EVER?" It was just too implausible and disjointed for me at times. There were events that I thought must surely have some kind of significance later that actually had no point at all. The concept of this book is good, but the execution of the concept was really disappointing.

[Shivani · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow, that book sucked. I read it because I got it for free. The description on the back makes the book sound 10x better than it actually is. That's 368 pages of reading I'll never get back. It's just so bland and boring. I described it to my friend that if it were food on the scale of blandness, it'd be American food level. Worst book I've read in a loooonnnngggg time. I'm usually pretty nice on these reviews, but I hated this book. Not to mention that the characters are horrible.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

my name is Sarah and i hav a friend named Sarah so i love what this is about. but seriuosly this isnt a very good book. the only reason why i kinda liked it was because it had my name otherwise i probably wouldve thrown it away. if your name is Sarah and you are a very nice person this book will be hillariuos but otherwise dont even try to read it.

[Sarah Tilatitsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so crazy and a little hilarious. Read it, but there is a little bit of something, so I suggest for people about 11 and younger to not read this. But, the book does touch a few things in life, about belonging somewhere, or fitting in, so that you're not a "dork" or a "weirdo" or something-or-other. And no, I did not pick this book because of my name, Sarah.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Relatively unsatisfying compared to the books I gave up reading in order to finish this one for Book Club. The best part of this book was that it took place in Kalamazoo and had many fun Michigan references. Towards the middle, I started to get into the plot and feel some empathy for the characters; however, the end was not stellar. Sort-of a let-down really.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just started reading this book and I can bet money that its going to have a big twist on it and I can't wait to great further into the book. Um I was told this wasn't the greatest book but I think I am going to like plus I read lots of books like this. Finshed this book months ago...

[JustWorkAlready · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is um... well, it's a good read and i think this book talks about what it means to stick together and having eachothers backs, also friendship and what it really means... and what it means to have a blader problem... [lol!]

[Elena A. D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book and the premise, but the ending wasn't satisfying. It wasn't an interesting, thought-provoking cliffhanger, it just felt incomplete. I really wanted to know what happened to "The Guy Phase".

[Leila Giles · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I have known so many Sarahs in my life that I thought it had to be relevant to me. Instead, Crimes of the Sarahs turned out to be the golden standard of lazy characterization, unbelievably dim teenagers, and convenient plots.

Don't bother with the Sarahs.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

i like this one a lot; i could relate to one of the sarah's in a lot of ways; other then the stealing bit. i felt like i could truly understand what she was feeling; it was a really good book

[Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird!!!

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not that great -__-

[Lesley · Rating 2 out of 5]

kalamazooooo