Dear Mrs. Billingsley

Frank Abagnale, a master con man, with a devilish, yet impeccable skill for forging checks, writes his story in his autobiography, Catch me if You Can, with the help of Stan Redding. Abagnale tells his story of how he left home at the age of 16, assuming multiple jobs for many years. For all those years he was relentlessly chased by the police, even being arrested and escaping, before being caught at his last string. Abagnale served time and jail, and was gifted with the golden opportunity to redeem himself. Abagnale was taken out of prison to help decipher real checks from fake ones. He traded a life in prison for a job in the FBI. Catch me if You Can has a major theme of broken homes, as Abagnale had an unstable childhood. Abagnale also gives off the message that no matter how bad your past is, you can always redeem yourself, by sharing his redemption story.

Frank Abganale’s “Mom and Dad separated when (he) was twelve” (10). His mom moved out and his Dad “pleaded with her to come back home” (10). His parents officially divorced when Frank was 14 and he chose to go live with his dad, while his two brothers lived with his mom. Frank was the “closest” to his dad and didn’t want him to be alone. He called himself “a product of a broken home” (10). Due to the destruction of his family life, Abagnale begins to commit small crimes to cope with his problems at home. These tendencies of small crimes eventually lead Frank to forge checks: “After two months of cranking out worthless checks, however, “I faced myself with some unpleasant truths. I was a crook. Nothing more, nothing less” (13). Frank continued his work, eventually becoming a con man living a life of fake identities and professions. His fate was set in stone due to his broken childhood. A broken home can lead one to live a negative life, although redemption is possible, and was in Abagnale’s case.

Abagnale was living a life of crime and was eventually caught and sentenced to jail time because of his time as a con artist. He didn’t want to spend the rest of his time in jail. Fred reached out to his parole officer for a second chance: “I think I have as much knowledge as any man alive concerning the mechanics of forgery, check swindling, counterfeiting and similar crimes... “I have often felt since I was released from prison that if I directed this knowledge into the right channels, I think I could help certain people a great deal”(64). Abagnale was granted a chance for redemption. He was able to “redirect the talents (he’s) always possessed” (65). He now works as an American Security Consultant helping recognize the writing of fake checks, the exact crime he committed as a young adult. Frank was able to redeem himself despite his negative past.

Frank Abganale’s story should be shared with everyone. Growing up, he lived in a broken home that played a large role in his future of con. Abagnale was a master criminal chased for numerous years. After being arrested, he was able to use his talents of forgey to good use. He helped recognize forged checks and redeemed himself through hard work. His story is very inspiring and I highly recommend Catch me if You Can.