Heist Jr. High:
The Waywards
By Matt Jordan-Pummell
At Horizon Junior High, a secret school for young criminals, twelve-year-old Oliver Winters is completely out of his depth. He has no criminal background, no street smarts, and no social life. To survive the school’s brutal evaluations, Oliver must unite a crew of chaotic outcasts and prove he has what it takes to lead them.
Releasing: Oct 1st, 2026
If you pre-order Heist Jr. High and email a picture of your receipt and your mailing address to thedesklands@gmail.com, I’ll mail you a signed thank-you card.
Note: A print pre-order will be added soon. Patience is an underrated heist skill.
The Synopsis
At Horizon Junior High, skipping class isn't the biggest rule you can break. Getting caught is.
Twelve-year-old Oliver Winters has a major problem. Horizon isn't the dreary prep school his parents had said it would be, it’s a high-stakes training ground for future master criminals. And while his classmates are prodigy hackers, safe-crackers, and getaway drivers, Oliver doesn't have a single special skill of his own.
At least he thinks he doesn't.
Surrounded by young offenders and facing brutal school evaluations, survival means finding a team. To avoid getting kicked out, Oliver must partner with the school's most chaotic outcasts to form a crew known as "The Waywards." But can a completely normal kid step up to lead a band of crooks, or will he be the reason they all fail?
Middle school is a crime. Survival is an art.