Liar & Spy

Liar & Spy

 

 

 

 

Author – Rebecca Stead

Publication date - August 7, 2012

Publisher - Wendy Lamb Books, Random House Children's Books

Genre – Middle grade, family drama

Is this book part of a series? – No

Number of pages – 192

Purchase via – Amazon US, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble

Formats available – ebook, hardcover, library binding, audio CD

Target age of reader - 9 and older, grade 4 and up

Reading level -  Lexile Measurement = 670L

Description - When seventh grader Georges (the S is silent) moves into a Brooklyn apartment building, he meets Safer, a twelve-year-old coffee-drinking loner and self-appointed spy. Georges becomes Safer's first spy recruit. His assignment? Tracking the mysterious Mr. X, who lives in the apartment upstairs. But as Safer becomes more demanding, Georges starts to wonder: how far is too far to go for your only friend?

Themes of the book – friendship, family issues, moving, bullying, differences, family dynamics, school, middle school

Overall rating of this book – G

~ Content ~

** Spoiler alert **

Language, profanity, cussing – almost none

- One ‘damn’

Sexual references or actions – none

Violence – almost none

- Some scenes of bullying but they are mild. Mostly light name calling. One boy has another boy step on his stomach.

Drugs, alcohol, etc – none

Religious themes? No

Mythical creatures? None

Heads up for sensitive readers:

- The ending is sad and touching. Nothing too over the top. Quite mild.
- Bullying, name calling – mild in this department.

** end spoiler alert**

Is this a good title for book reports?

Yes – there will be lots to talk about or report on: friendships, family dynamics, dealing with change, how to deal with bullying, what makes us unique, mother son relationships, dealing with family change, etc.

Author bio - Rebecca Stead lives in New York City, where she was born and raised. She's written three novels for children, teenagers, and open-minded adults: First Light, When You Reach Me (A New York Times Bestseller, and winner of the 2010 Newbery Medal and of the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for Fiction), and the forthcoming Liar & Spy (August, 2012).

Photo from author's page on Amazon

Author webpage - http://www.rebeccasteadbooks.com/

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You can read my Amazon review of this story by clicking here - Liar and Spy