Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead

Spare and sensitive, Liar & Spy is a warm-hearted middle-grades story about two lonely boys who form a deep, abiding friendship.

Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead. Yearling, 2013 (reprint; originally 2021), 203 pages.

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12

Recommended for: ages 8-12

Georges (the “s” is silent) and his dad are moving to a new apartment. His mom is at the hospital (she’s been picking up double shifts lately), so it’s just the two of them arranging furniture, unpacking, and settling in. When they haul packing debris to the garbage cans in the basement, Georges’s dad notices an old “Spy Club” sign on a door. To Georges’s chagrin, his dad writes “When?” on the piece of paper. Later that day: someone has responded. 1:30. Should Georges go? Spoiler alert: he goes. And his new friend Safer asks him to lie to his dad about his whereabouts. Georges has never lied to his parents before. What should he do? Suddenly, Georges’s home life is more interesting, a helpful counterpoint to his bullied experiences at school.

Ms. Stead knows how to craft a story. All the little dots are intricately connected (and, if you’ve read the book, you’ll recognize that reference to dots!). A little bit of mystery adds suspense and intrigue. Mom and Dad aren’t available all the time for Georges to turn to for help; he has to start figuring things out on his own. Bullying, when it’s time to break the “rules,” lying (should you lie to/for a friend?), friendship, the cool crowd at school, parents who are working hard and not always available, fears—all packed into this short book! Liar & Spy is not a “book-with-a-message;” rather it hits many key middle school issues without being preachy. The ending wraps up nicely, with both Safer and Georges showing maturity and a friendship that has developed into a truly beneficial part of their lives.

Considerations:

• Of possible interest: Safer is homeschooled, but that’s not presented as a mainstream solution; his family is a little, um, odd.
• Language: One “G–.” One “d—.”
• Spoiler alert: Safer struggles with significant fears and paranoia. Readers don’t find this out until near the end of the book. Georges and Safer’s friendship offers a great model for how to love our friends/neighbors in a way that not only encourages them, but actively helps them mature and grow.
• Bigger spoiler alert: Georges’s mom is a nurse who has worked double shifts, but she’s currently in the hospital for an infection. Helpful to know if one of your young readers has an ill parent.

Overall Rating: 4.25

• Worldview/moral value: 4.25
• Artistic/literary value: 4.25

Read more about our ratings here.                 

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• A Review: I liked Stead’s Goodbye, Stranger a lot (for teens; note considerations).
• A Review: Looking for True by Tricia Springstubb is another middle grades book about another lonely boy finding a friend.
• Resource: “Five Favorites: Old and New” — a round-up of some more worthwhile middle-grade reads.

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