Catch Me If You Can

Catch Me If You Can is a retelling of true events that happened to Frank Abagnale Jr., one of the world's greatest con artists. Since it is based on true stories and not a fictional tale, the individuals in the novel aren't necessarily characters. However, it is not a one-to-one recount, meaning that it has storytelling elements added in to make it flow better in novel form. One of the best side effects of this is that the main "character", Frank Abagnale, is portrayed as a hero of some sorts that you really root for. His crimes include check forgery, counterfeiting, and being an imposter of figures like pilots and federal agents. His young age, of around 17-20, really helped relate to him whenever his inner feelings were portrayed, making him an even more likable character. Even though the crimes he committed were morally wrong, you find yourself  hoping he doesn't get caught and wanting him to succeed.

He doesn't receive the character development that normal novel characters receive, but instead takes the reader through his thought processes when thinking out his crimes. The precision of his plans and the extreme risks that he takes make for a compelling story that remains focused on Frank for the entirety of it. When looking at Frank's childhood background of being from a broken home, it is no wonder that he spent a good part of his younger years running from city to city, state to state, never feeling like he belonged. Although he is not a character in the traditional sense, Frank's motivations and charisma make for a real, down to Earth guy who got in over his head.