Liar and Spy

by Rebecca Stead

When Georges moves into a new apartment block he meets Safer, a twelve-year-old self-appointed spy. Soon Georges has become his spy recruit. His first assignment? To track the mysterious Mr X, who lives in the flat upstairs. But as Safer becomes more demanding, Georges starts to wonder: what is a game and what is a lie? How far is too far to go for your only friend?

Winner of the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.

'A joy to read' Independent

'Rebecca Stead makes writing this well look easy' Philip Ardagh, Guardian

'Exactly what I would have wanted to read in my early teens. It feels sophisticated and clever and knowing without being too grown-up and dark' Viv Groskop, Observer

When You Reach Me was a New York Times bestseller, won the Newbery Medal and was shortlisted for the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize.

• ISBN10: 184939542X
• ISBN13: 9781849395427
• Publish Date: 8 August 2013 (first published 1 January 2012)
• Publish Status: Cancelled
• Out of Print: 11 August 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Andersen Press Ltd
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 240
• Language: English

Reviews

[wyvernfriend]

This was a sweet story, occasionally I felt a little old for it but as the story unfolded it just caught me. I have no idea how I put it onto my wishlist or who recommended it to me, but I'm glad I found it.

The story unfolds as Georges (the S is silent as he's named after his parent's favourite Artist Georges Seurat) moves into an appartment in his neighbourhood after his father loses his job and they're dependent on his mother, a nurse, for their income. His mother is largely absent due to her hours and they leave notes in scrabble tiles for each other (which is hugely sweet).

He meets Safer, another boy in the appartment block after his dad answers a note about a spy club meeting. Safer is spying on a mysterious Mr X, at the same time Georges is dealing with bullies in school and school itself and the changes of moving from his house to an appartment.

As the story unfolds the lies aren't what you think and the twist in the tale at the end caught my breath.

It's an interesting lovely story and I would recommend it.