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undervmountain's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
This was really sweet, and I loved that both boys could fit in the descriptions of Liar & Spy. Set mostly in and around an apartment building that Georges has just moved into, he meets the various residents of the building, particularly the unusual Safer, and they quickly become friends.
Both boys have their own secrets that they're hiding, which start to unravel as the story progresses and Safer becomes more and more obsessed with spying on their upstairs neighbour. I loved that this story had a lot of emotional depth, and I was pretty sad when I realised my copy was a good 20 pages shorter than I thought, due to another book's preview at the end.
Both boys have their own secrets that they're hiding, which start to unravel as the story progresses and Safer becomes more and more obsessed with spying on their upstairs neighbour. I loved that this story had a lot of emotional depth, and I was pretty sad when I realised my copy was a good 20 pages shorter than I thought, due to another book's preview at the end.
bookgirl4ever's review against another edition
4.0
Georges has a lot to worry about. He's bullied at school, his dad loses his job which means they lose the house, the family moves to a new apartment and his mom is never home. Then Georges meets two of his new neighbors through the Spy Club. Georges gets caught up in spying on Mr. X who lives in the apartment, always wears black, and may or may not be transporting cut up bodies in big suitcases. But things aren't always how they appear and Georges has to face what he fears most.
Short chapters, real characters, a good read for reluctant readers who face a lot of the unknown. Liked more than When You Reach Me.
Middles school.
Short chapters, real characters, a good read for reluctant readers who face a lot of the unknown. Liked more than When You Reach Me.
Middles school.
rdyourbookcase's review against another edition
4.0
I really wanted to read this one when it first came out, but I ended up reading When You Reach Me first. I think that Liar & Spy was my favorite of the two. It reminded me of Harriet the Spy, one of my favorites. The setting, but not the story, of When You Reach Me also reminded me of Harriet the Spy’s New York, so I wonder if the author was influenced by that book. I liked the lighter tone and the quirky characters of Liar & Spy. This one had a twist, but it was a more realistic twist than her first book. I loved it. Even if you didn’t like When You Reach Me very much, try this one.
cstoeger's review against another edition
4.0
When Georges' dad loses his job, he and his family move into a new apartment building. In this new apartment building Georges (the S is silent) meets Safer who wants to spy on the mysterious Mr. X.
The novel starts fairly predictably and follows that predicable path until 3/4 through the novel. Georges is getting bullied at school; so he decides to band together with all of the other outcasts to stand up against the cool kids. Safer is not a spy. He is scared of everything outside of his apartment building, so he never leaves. Georges' mom is not working doubles at the hospital; she has an infection and has been in the hospital for two weeks. Overall, I would recommend this book to kids who like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I think the bullying issue is also center-stage these days, so this book would be great to illustrate the variety of bullying that can happen.
The novel starts fairly predictably and follows that predicable path until 3/4 through the novel. Georges is getting bullied at school; so he decides to band together with all of the other outcasts to stand up against the cool kids. Safer is not a spy. He is scared of everything outside of his apartment building, so he never leaves. Georges' mom is not working doubles at the hospital; she has an infection and has been in the hospital for two weeks. Overall, I would recommend this book to kids who like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I think the bullying issue is also center-stage these days, so this book would be great to illustrate the variety of bullying that can happen.
alicejihyo's review against another edition
4.0
i used to borrow ‘liar and spy’ from my elementary school’s library literally every week.
truth be told, i never read it more than thrice, but the story was so special that i wanted to be in possession of the physical copy at all times
truth be told, i never read it more than thrice, but the story was so special that i wanted to be in possession of the physical copy at all times
courtthelionberryanne's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
I read (most) of this book to a group of fifth graders and I really hope they enjoyed it. I hope they realized that everyone is different and needs a friend or two to spend time with.
I read (most) of this book to a group of fifth graders and I really hope they enjoyed it. I hope they realized that everyone is different and needs a friend or two to spend time with.
alsreader's review against another edition
4.0
Read this book with my 10 year old daughter.
LOVED it! This book had so much heart it pulled you in from the beginning!
LOVED it! This book had so much heart it pulled you in from the beginning!
barbarianlibarian's review against another edition
3.0
cute, a little slow, but i especially liked the ending
megancrusante's review against another edition
3.0
I was surprised by the ending of this. A smart and thoughtful book- I recommend it for those who like YA stuff.
nssutton's review against another edition
5.0
When Georges' (with a silent s, named for Seurat) father loses his job, his family is forced to sell their beloved home and move to an apartment in Brooklyn. There, he meets Safer, a boy his age who believes he is a spy. Together, they begin to track the movements of a mysterious neighbor. But as Safer's demands become increasingly complex, Georges is forced to decide just how far he is willing to go for his new friend.
Oh, Rebecca. You got me again.
Each thread of this book is beautiful. There is Georges, struggling to make sense of the changes in his friendships and his family. And Safer, with his binoculars and plans. And Ms. Warner with her high fives, Candy with her bunny slippers and Pigeon with his life-long love of birds. This book made me want to leave love notes with Scrabble tiles and live in an apartment building forever and draw a blue dot on my palm.
I adore the way Stead writes of the city-dwelling middle-schooler, working their way through the world, of their loving families and their steadfast friends. I love the way she throws out breadcrumbs of clues, but when the book comes to it's conclusion, you are still taken by surprise.
Signed ARC received at BEA.
Oh, Rebecca. You got me again.
Each thread of this book is beautiful. There is Georges, struggling to make sense of the changes in his friendships and his family. And Safer, with his binoculars and plans. And Ms. Warner with her high fives, Candy with her bunny slippers and Pigeon with his life-long love of birds. This book made me want to leave love notes with Scrabble tiles and live in an apartment building forever and draw a blue dot on my palm.
I adore the way Stead writes of the city-dwelling middle-schooler, working their way through the world, of their loving families and their steadfast friends. I love the way she throws out breadcrumbs of clues, but when the book comes to it's conclusion, you are still taken by surprise.
Signed ARC received at BEA.