Skip to main content

Tween Tuesday: Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead

Tween Tuesday is a meme that highlights great reads for tweens! Join the fun and add your link below.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Genre: Contemporary/Mystery

Release Date: 8/7/2012

Add to Goodreads

About the Book: Georges (the S is silent) and his family have had to downsize to an apartment. The day they move in, Georges and his father notice a sign that advertises a spy club meeting and Georges's father encourages Georges to join. Georges meets Safer and his younger sister Candy who live in the building and are spying on a mysterious occupant, Mr. X.

GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I wasn't a big fan of Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me, so I was a bit nervous about reading this book-I was really hoping I would like it. Happily I discovered a novel that I enjoyed.

Liar & Spy has a mystery element to it, but it's also about friendship, family, bullying, and fear. Georges is picked on at school, his family is having some trouble, and he's had to move out of a house he loved. Safer has secrets of his own and Georges isn't sure how to react and handle them once he finds out. I think what I liked most about Liar & Spy was the fact that the author covered a lot of issues without the book feeling heavy handed and issue-driven. The messages about lying, fear, and standing up to bullies are all woven in in a subtle way that doesn't hit the reader over the head. This is a book that features a bullying element, not book about bullying. For me, that was one of the strengths of the story-everything felt like a natural reaction from the characters.

I loved the family aspect of the book-Georges's family and Safer's. Both stood out and it was great to see supportive families. As an adult, I liked the adults in this book, which might not matter to many tweens, but I appreciated it.

I think tweens who are avid readers and who enjoy a softer mystery element to their stories would appreciate Liar & Spy. There are several surprises along the way for readers. I would love to use this book in a book club or classroom read aloud and see if readers can predict the story. Liar & Spy is a great book to share with tweens and read together.

Full Disclosure: Reviewed from ARC recieved at ALA

Comments

  1. It is so nice to hear someone else who doesn't love When You Reach Me! We are in the minority. This one sounds good though. My tween tuesday post is 33 Minutes by Tod Hasak-Lowry.

    ReplyDelete
  2. My daughter and I LOVED When You Reach Me so she really looked forward to this book a month ago. And, she liked it (she is 12).

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I love hearing from other readers! Share your thoughts and chime in!

Popular posts from this blog

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Rating: 5/5 Stars Genre: Realistic Fiction Release Date: 2/26/2013 Add to Goodreads About the Book: Eleanor and Park are both misfits. When new girl Eleanor sits next to Park on the bus, they don't want anything to do with each other. But over the course of the school year, things change. It starts with comic books and becomes a friendship and a romance that the two will never forget. You never forget your first love. GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Have you ever had a book sit on your shelf that you've heard so much hype about? And you think that books sounds like it would be right up your alley, but you're in a reading slump and you're afraid to give it a try unless it fails? I knew Eleanor and Park sounded like my perfect book, but I was in such an after committee slump that I even though I knew this book would help, I just didn't want to be disappointed. I should have known better because Eleanor and Park was perfect and everything that I had hoped it wou

Contact Me

  I love to hear from fellow readers and librarians! Send me an email to say hello! You can reach me at greenbeanteenqueen (at) gmail (dot) com

About Me

Hello! My name is Sarah and I am a Youth Services Manager who works with kids, tweens and teens. I love being asked about great books to read! I started my blog in 2008 as a way to keep track of what I've been reading and to use a reference tool for reader's advisory and it's grown into much more than I could have ever anticipated. In addition to book reviews, I also enjoy posting audiobook reviews, booklists and my adventures in being a librarian. 2017 Library Journal Mover and Shaker Committees: 2021 Newbery Committee 2018 Odyssey Committee 2016 Caldecott Award 2013 Michael L. Printz Committee- Fabulous Films Committee I have also served on the Cybils, Missouri State Library Association Readers Selection Lists, and as an Audies judge. Presentations :  I have offered various presentations at local, state and national libraries and conferences. Topics have included:  What's New in Children's & Teen Literature Engaging Teens in Reader's Advisory Gee