Lullabies for Little Criminals

Explain the significance of Baby’s name. How does the meaning change from the beginning of the novel until the end? How does it connect with the primary theme of lost innocence?

Explore the idea of criminality in the novel, taking into account this quote: “When I thought of my old friend Linus Lucas and Theo, I realized they were not really criminals either. They were like me. We were just acting out the strangest, tragic little roles, pretending to be criminals in order to get by” (266). What is the difference between pretending to be a criminal versus actually becoming one?

Explore the relationship between Baby and Jules. How does it change from the beginning of the novel until the end? Or does it?

Baby continually struggles between desiring the innocence of childhood and wanting to grow up. How does Baby define maturity? In what ways is she still a child?

Although Baby desires adult attention, she also seeks the companionship of children her own age. What is she hoping to get from these connections? Does she even achieve it? Use specific examples from the text to support your ideas.

Consider the quote: “You could not make a child with bad memories into a kid with good memories” (191). Taking this idea into account, does the novel end on a hopeful note? Why or why not? Use specific examples from the text to support your ideas.

In what ways are criminality and poverty cyclical in the novel? Is there evidence that these cycles can be broken? Use specific examples from the text to support your ideas.

Baby continually longs for the love of a mother. In what ways does she attempt to fulfill this longing?