Faker by Gordon Korman

In Faker, a boy faces critical ethical questions involving his own immediate family.

Faker by Gordon Korman. Scholastic, 2024, 214 pages.

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12

Recommended for: ages 10-15

Trey is used to the transitory life: of settling in a different town, starting at a new school, making friends, and learning how to negotiate the local culture. Then, usually just a few months, his dad pulls up stakes and takes Trey and his younger sister Arianna on a long vacation. Military kids and showbiz kids know something about this routine, but Dad is neither soldier nor performer. Or rather, a performer of a different kind. Junior Kirkwood, alias Whitfield, alias Ridgeway, etc., is a conman.

His latest scheme is selling shares of a prizewinning Great Dane, sure to rake in big rewards at the Westminster Dog Show. As full partner, Trey helps locate likely marks at his exclusive boarding school. But one too many marks blows the operation wide open, and the family must skedaddle in a hurry—their usual mode of exit. After a “vacation” in the Caribbean (to cool their trail) the family adopts a new name and settles in a prosperous neighborhood in Nashville while Dad maps out his next big con. Which may be the most elaborate yet.  

By now, Trey is experiencing pangs that feel like a conscience, and the ethics class he’s taking this school year exacerbates the discomfort. Besides, he’s beginning to form close friendships—maybe even special girl friendships—and the grab-and-run lifestyle is not as fun as it used to be. Arianna, meanwhile, is too eager to join the family business, and he can see some ugly traits developing in her that he was blind to in himself. Maybe Dad’s not as cool as he thought. Maybe the people they rip off aren’t so rich it won’t hurt.  

A number of details in this story don’t make sense, one big plot twist is scarcely believable, and it wraps it up too neatly—not that we want to see Trey end up in juvie. But it’s worth talking about some of the issues raised in his ethics class. Also, why do we admire smooth-talking conmen, from The Music Man to The Sting? What about the Robin-Hood model of stealing from the rich to give to the poor? Or redistribution of wealth via socialism? Discussion-fodder or not, Faker is a quick, interesting read, so long as your 12-year-old smooth-talker doesn’t get any ideas.

Bottom Line: An absorbing story, particularly good for reluctant readers, that raises interesting ethical questions.

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Reviews: More novels by the very prolific Gordon Korman include Linked, Restart, The Fort, and the Masterminds series.
• Reviews: What about Robin Hood? Here’s one beautiful volume of Robin-Hood tales. Also Will in Scarlet, Also Sherwood and Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinnley.

We are participants in the Amazon LLC affiliate program; purchases you make through affiliate links like the one below may earn us a commission. Read more here.

Order Faker from Amazon.