Books About Swindlers And Swindling

The Best Swindlers And Swindling Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about swindlers and swindling? 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 10 Favorite Books About Swindlers And Swindling

Swindle
Sale price
$1597
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2008

Swindle

By Gordon Korman · Book #1 in the Swindle series

A kid plans a daring heist to reclaim a stolen treasure.

256 pages· 34,722 words· Est. 5 hour read
7.0/7 Bookroo·4.0/5 Goodreads · 19,873 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Griffin Bing, an 11-year-old mastermind, assembles a quirky team to retrieve his stolen baseball card from a cunning collector. Facing a fierce guard dog, advanced security, and their own inexperience, can they outsmart the odds and reclaim what's theirs? Join this thrilling caper where every twist brings laughter and suspense. Will Griffin's plan succeed, or will the obstacles prove too great?
Unplugged
Sale price
$1597
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2021

Unplugged

By Gordon Korman

Kids at a wellness camp uncover strange secrets while forced to unplug.

324 pages· 62,033 words· Est. 7 hour read
7.0/7 Bookroo·4.0/5 Goodreads · 8,753 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Jett Baranov, son of a tech billionaire, is sent to the Oasis, a wellness camp in the Arkansas wilderness. Stripped of his gadgets, he reluctantly joins other kids in wholesome activities. As they bond over a pet lizard, Jett notices the adults' odd behavior. Are the meditation sessions hiding something sinister? Jett must unravel the mystery and prove he's more than a spoiled troublemaker.
Children of the Fox
Sale price
$958
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2021

Children of the Fox

By Kevin Sands · Thieves of Shadow series

Five young talents face a deadly heist against a powerful sorcerer. Success or betrayal awaits.

432 pages· 91,014 words· Est. 12.5 hour read
6.0/7 Bookroo·4.3/5 Goodreads · 1,694 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Five young criminals, each with unique skills, are hired to steal a treasure from the city's most powerful sorcerer. Callan, Meriel, Gareth, Lachlan, and Foxtail must trust each other to succeed. But magic is unpredictable, and failure could be deadly. Can they outsmart the sorcerer, or will their plan unravel?
The Great Brain Is Back
Sale price
$858
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1995

The Great Brain Is Back

By John D. Fitzgerald · Book #8 in the The Great Brain series

A clever trickster's schemes lead to chaos and adventure.

144 pages
5.5/7 Bookroo·4.2/5 Goodreads · 2,289 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Thirteen-year-old Tom D. Fitzgerald, known as The Great Brain, is back with his final escapades. Despite being smitten by Polly Reagan, Tom's knack for swindling his brother J.D. and the kids of Adenville remains unchanged. With his sharp wit and money-making schemes, Tom stirs up trouble and excitement. Will his clever tricks finally catch up with him, or will he outsmart everyone once more? Dive into a world where mischief and adventure go hand in hand, and discover if The Great Brain's antics will lead to his greatest triumph or downfall.
High Score
Sale price
$1697
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2022

High Score

By Destiny Howell

A middle schooler must pull off an arcade heist to save his friend from a bully's demands.

304 pages
4.1 Goodreads · 286 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: DJ, once a problem-solving whiz at his old school, just wants to fit in at Ella Fitzgerald Middle. But when his best friend Conor lands in trouble, owing 100,000 arcade tickets to a school bully, DJ must step up. With only two weeks to pull off the impossible, DJ plans a daring heist in the arcade. Can he outsmart the bully and save his friend without getting caught? Dive into this thrilling adventure where friendship and quick thinking are the keys to survival.
Unleashed
Sale price
$1634
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2015

Unleashed

By Gordon Korman · Book #7 in the Swindle series

A former attack dog and a fierce rivalry lead to chaos and mystery.

208 pages· 39,882 words· Est. 4.5 hour read
4.2 Goodreads · 1,212 ratings
$17.20Save 5%
Library Binding
Summary: Savannah's new pet, Luthor, a former attack dog, can't resist chaos when a certain truck passes by. Meanwhile, Griffin Bing faces off against his nemesis, Darren Vader, in a high-stakes invention contest. As tensions rise, strange inventions, a mysterious neighbor, and a stolen treasure weave a tangled web of intrigue. Can Savannah and Griffin unravel the mystery before it's too late?
Space Shuttle Scam
Sale price
$759
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2020

Space Shuttle Scam

By Ron Roy, John Steven Gurney (Illustrator) · Book #12 in the A to Z Mysteries Super Edition series

A space museum visit turns mysterious as someone targets Alice's property.

144 pages· 14,895 words· Est. 3 hour read
4.3 Goodreads · 271 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: In Florida, young sleuths Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose visit a space museum, only to find themselves entangled in a mystery. Someone is sneaking around Alice's house, aiming to claim her property. What secrets lie within the space gear, and why is Alice's home the target? As the trio delves deeper, they must unravel this cosmic-sized puzzle before it's too late. Can they solve the mystery and protect Alice's legacy?
Uncommon Criminals
Sale price
$1597
Chapter Book · Ages 12–15 · 2011

Uncommon Criminals

By Ally Carter · Book #2 in the Heist Society series

A young thief must steal a cursed emerald from a secure auction house.

299 pages· 61,988 words· Est. 6 hour read
4.1 Goodreads · 44,518 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Paperback
Summary: Katarina Bishop, a master thief, faces her toughest challenge yet: stealing the cursed Cleopatra Emerald from the world's most secure auction house. With her loyal crew and best friend Hale by her side, Kat must navigate a world where history repeats itself and old tricks fail. As they chase the elusive gem across the globe, Kat must invent new rules to outsmart the curse and return the emerald to its rightful owners. Will her daring heist succeed, or will the curse claim another victim?
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 · 3,727 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.
Puss in Boots
Sale price
$1398
Picture Book · Ages 1–5 · 1697

Puss in Boots

By Charles Perrault, Gwen Keraval (Illustrator)

A clever cat transforms a poor man's fate with cunning tricks.

Caldecott Honor (1991)
24 pages
4.1 Goodreads · 9,368 ratings
$14.95Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: A young man inherits only a cat from his father, but this is no ordinary feline. With a pair of boots and a sharp mind, the cat devises a plan to elevate his master's status from pauper to prince. As the cat's clever schemes unfold, the young man's life takes an unexpected turn. Will the cat's tricks be enough to fool a king and change their fortunes forever? Discover the whimsical journey of wit and transformation in this enchanting tale.
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Swindlers And Swindling Picture Books

Illustrated read-alouds about swindlers and swindling for preschool and elementary-age readers.

Spider in the Well
Sale price
$1999

Spider in the Well

Ages 4–8 · 2024

A broken well, a town in chaos, and a newsboy on a mission for truth.

Tricky Vic
Sale price
$1799

Tricky Vic

Ages 7–9 · 2015

A con artist attempts to sell the Eiffel Tower—twice. Can he get away with it?

The Magic Dreidels
Sale price
$1695

The Magic Dreidels

Ages 4–8 · 1996

A boy must reclaim his stolen magic dreidels before Hanukkah ends.

Zootopia: The Big Case
Sale price
$599

Zootopia: The Big Case

Ages 4–6 · 2016

A bunny cop and a sly fox tackle a mysterious case in a bustling animal city.

Super Animals!
Sale price
$599

Super Animals!

Ages 4–6 · 2016

A bunny cop and a sly fox team up to solve a mystery in Zootopia's diverse cityscape.

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Browse by age

Swindlers And Swindling Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Longer stories about swindlers and swindling for developing and independent readers.

The Whispering Statue
Series
Sale price
$1099

The Whispering Statue

Ages 8–12 · 1937

A young detective tackles art theft and deception, risking danger at every turn.

Heist Society
#1 in Series
Sale price
$1099

Heist Society

Ages 12–15 · 2010

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

The Triple Hoax
Series
Sale price
$799

The Triple Hoax

Ages 8–14 · 1979

A sleight-of-hand show leads to a whirlwind chase for stolen money.

Drift & Dagger
#2 in Series
Sale price
$1800

Drift & Dagger

Ages 12–17 · 2015

A con artist seeks a legendary dagger to exact revenge in a world where magic is everything.

Such Charming Liars
Sale price
$1499

Such Charming Liars

Ages 14–+ · 2024

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

Camp Shady Crook
Sale price
$1799

Camp Shady Crook

Ages 8–12 · 2019

Two kids compete in a con game at a mysterious summer camp.

View all swindlers and swindling chapter books