Books About Con Artists

The Best Con Artists Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about con artists? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

The Shortlist

Our 8 Favorite Books About Con Artists

Faker
Sale price
$1697
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2024

Faker

By Gordon Korman

A son trapped in a cycle of cons seeks a way to end his family's deceitful legacy.

224 pages· 54,288 words· Est. 7.5 hour read
4.1 Goodreads · 3,820 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Trey is caught in his father's web of deceit, moving from school to school, making friends only to help his dad's schemes. As they con wealthy parents, Trey questions the morality of their actions. Tired of the endless cycle of lies and running, he yearns for stability and truth. But how can he change his family's ways when their survival depends on deception? Trey's journey is a gripping tale of loyalty, morality, and the quest for a life built on honesty.
Here Lies Daniel Tate
Sale price
$1697
Chapter Book · Ages 14–17 · 2017

Here Lies Daniel Tate

By Cristin Terrill

A runaway poses as a missing boy, then realizes the family is hiding something.

400 pages
4.0 Goodreads · 6,123 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Six years after ten-year-old Daniel Tate vanished from an elite California enclave, a teenage boy turns up in Vancouver claiming to be him. The family welcomes him home, but he is really a street-savvy runaway who has conned his way into their lives. As he settles in, he starts to suspect the Tates know more about Daniel's disappearance than they are saying, and that his lie may have put him in danger.
Full of Beans
Sale price
$858
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2016

Full of Beans

By Jennifer L. Holm · Book #2 in the Turtle in Paradise series

In 1934 Key West, a savvy boy's big plans during the Great Depression lead to unexpected consequences.

Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction (2017)
224 pages· 27,290 words· Est. 4 hour read
4.0 Goodreads · 3,632 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: In Depression-era Key West, Beans, a clever local boy, navigates a world of grown-up lies and scarce opportunities. With no jobs and little money, Beans devises a daring plan to change his fortunes. But as he and his gang of barefoot conchs embark on this adventure, the outcomes might surprise even him. Will Beans's schemes bring the success he dreams of, or will they lead to unforeseen challenges? Dive into this vibrant tale of resilience and discovery, where the stakes are high and the lessons are as rich as the Florida sun.
Heist Society
Sale price
$1049
Chapter Book · Ages 12–15 · 2010

Heist Society

By Ally Carter · Book #1 in the Heist Society series

A young thief must reclaim stolen art to save her father from a deadly enemy.

304 pages· 59,221 words· Est. 5.5 hour read
3.9 Goodreads · 95,733 ratings
$10.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Katarina Bishop wants a normal life, but when her father's accused of stealing a mobster's art, she's pulled back into the world of thievery. With Interpol closing in and a dangerous adversary looming, Kat has two weeks to assemble a teenage crew and execute the biggest heist of her life. Can she outsmart everyone and save her father, or will the stakes prove too high? Dive into a world of international intrigue, suspense, and unexpected romance as Kat navigates a perilous path to reclaim her life and her family's honor.
Such Charming Liars
Sale price
$1398
Chapter Book · Ages 14–+ · 2024

Such Charming Liars

By Karen M. McManus

A heist turns deadly, and two estranged step-siblings must trust each other to survive.

400 pages· 95,233 words· Est. 9 hour read
3.7 Goodreads · 25,936 ratings
$14.99Save 7%
Paperback
Summary: Kat and her mother, Jamie, are grifters on their final heist at a billionaire's party. Unexpectedly, Kat's estranged stepbrother, Liam, and his con-artist father appear, complicating the plan. When a murder occurs, Kat and Liam find themselves as potential targets. Can they trust each other to escape the killer's sights, or will their past betrayals catch up with them?
Just Do This One Thing for Me
Sale price
$1899
Chapter Book · Ages 14–+ · 2023

Just Do This One Thing for Me

By Laura Zimmermann

When her scheming mother vanishes, a teen must hold her siblings together.

320 pages
3.6 Goodreads · 887 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Seventeen-year-old Drew has always done the "one thing" her con-artist mother asks, which means raising her younger sister and brother. When their mother disappears on the way to a New Year's Eve concert in Mexico and her schemes start to unravel, Drew must choose between walking away from the mess and keeping the family together through a Wisconsin winter. Funny, heartbreaking and suspenseful.
Granny & the Flim Flam Brothers
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$3251
Chapter Book · Ages 6–13 · 2014

Granny & the Flim Flam Brothers

By Christina Rice, Tony Fleecs (Illustrator), Heather Breckel (Illustrator), Neil Uyetake (Illustrator) · My Little Pony Friends Forever series

A fierce family feud needs Granny Smith's wisdom to find peace.

24 pages· 1,806 words· Est. 21 min read
4.0 Goodreads · 58 ratings
$34.22Save 5%
Library Binding
Summary: Granny Smith faces a daunting challenge as she steps into a bitter feud between the cunning Flim Flam brothers. Can her wisdom and patience mend the rift, or will the brothers' rivalry spiral out of control? As tensions rise, Granny must navigate deceit and discord to restore harmony. Will her efforts bring peace, or is the conflict too deep-rooted to resolve? Dive into a tale of family, conflict, and the power of understanding.
Ghost Versus Ghost
Sale price
$379
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 1996

Ghost Versus Ghost

By Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain · The Berenstain Bear Scouts series

Bear Scouts face eerie surprises in a haunted forest.

97 pages· 10,027 words· Est. 1.5 hour read
3.7 Goodreads · 82 ratings
$3.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: The Bear Scouts venture into the Great Grizzly Forest, undeterred by ghostly rumors, to earn their Wilderness Survival badges. As night falls, unexpected frights challenge their courage and skills. What mysteries lurk in the shadows?
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