Liar and Spy

I was initially very excited to read this book because it was written by the author of one of my favorite books, Rebecca Stead, who wrote the best seller When You Reach Me. The books centers around Georges, simply pronounced as George, a middle-schooler in Brooklyn. When his father was laid of from work, Georges and his family were forced to sell their house and move to an apartment. This, paired with his best and only friend abandoning him to sit with people of a much higher social standing, pushes Georges into a pit of emotional despair. Georges's world turns for the better when he meets Safer, a self-appointed spy living upstairs from him. Together they spy on the elusive Mr X, a mysterious figure engaging in shady activities. Their friendship strengthens, though it is almost entirely based on a lie.

I thought that this was a really interesting book—it has a very unique plot, involving a variety of strong characters.  I ended up feeling very empathetic towards Gorges. He was feeling lonely, and just when he thinks he's found a friend in Safer he finds out that he's been lied to. The reader only has a limited view into what is happening, as Georges narrates, so I was very surprised at many points in the book. I thought that it was very well structured, designed to keep the reader on the edge of their seat, and I was completely shocked at the end. I recommend this book to everyone—it maintained an amazing balance between being numerous and emotionally deep.