Liar & Spy60second Book Review

In When You Reach Me, Rebecca Stead showed
she was a master at weaving together a tapestry of mystery. In her new book, Liar & Spy, she
treats us to more of the same, with a new cast of quirky, memorable characters. Middle schooler Georges has a new home: not
even in a new city, just in a new building. But the transition is rougher than you might
think.

Thats because bubbling beneath the surface of this small tragedyhis family
is forced to move after his father loses his jobare several other tragedies. Theres
something going on with Georges former friends at school. And all is not right with
his parents, either. Georges, however, has other mysteries on his
mindespecially a mystery brought to his attention by his new neighbor, Safer.

The
enigmatic Mr. X may be up to no good. And Safer wants Georges help in sniffing out
the crime. I didnt like Liar & Spy as much as I liked
When You Reach Memainly because I had a hard time buying into the ultra-quirkiness
of Safers family.

What I did like about this book, however, was the characteristic
sweetness of the relationships, especially Georges relationship with his dad. Ill leave you to unravel the mysteries
that Rebecca Stead has woven with such care. Youll find their solutions to be equal
parts surprising and certainand completely satisfying..