
Pick the Lock
A.S. King(Author)
Bantam Books (Publisher)
Published on 30. September 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
400 pages
978-0-593-35398-1 (ISBN)
Description
From the award-winning author of Dig comes a weird and insightful novel about a girl intent on picking the lock of her toxic family's secrets.
“A roller coaster of a book, Pick the Lock is one thrill after another.”—NPR
“Updated and recast for a new generation, this is a much-needed, thought-provoking tale of survival and triumph.”—BCCB, starred review
Jane Vandermaker-Cook would like her mother back. As Jane’s mother tours the world to support the family, Jane lives and goes to school in a Victorian mansion with her younger brother and their mendacious father, who confines Jane’s mother to a system of pneumatic tubes whenever she’s at home. And then there’s weirdly ever-present Aunt Finch, Milorad the gardener, and his rat, Brutus. For Jane, this all seems normal until she gains access to the files for a lifetime of security camera videos—her lifetime.
Pick the Lock is a punk opera, a primal scream, and a portrait of a family buried in lies.
“A roller coaster of a book, Pick the Lock is one thrill after another.”—NPR
“Updated and recast for a new generation, this is a much-needed, thought-provoking tale of survival and triumph.”—BCCB, starred review
Jane Vandermaker-Cook would like her mother back. As Jane’s mother tours the world to support the family, Jane lives and goes to school in a Victorian mansion with her younger brother and their mendacious father, who confines Jane’s mother to a system of pneumatic tubes whenever she’s at home. And then there’s weirdly ever-present Aunt Finch, Milorad the gardener, and his rat, Brutus. For Jane, this all seems normal until she gains access to the files for a lifetime of security camera videos—her lifetime.
Pick the Lock is a punk opera, a primal scream, and a portrait of a family buried in lies.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Random House USA Inc
Target group
Young adult
US School Grade: Ninth Grade and over, Interest Age: From 14 years
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 210 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
451 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-593-35398-1 (9780593353981)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Person
A.S. King