Introvert Frankie Neumann hates his life, and understandably so. He's got a weird, tutu-wearing sister, Lou, and even weirder parents, Bridget and Brett-Frank Sinatra and Dr Frank-N-Furter impersonators, respectively. And, he's just the guy who makes pizza at Pizza Vendetta. Though he has secret artistic aspirations of his own, his over- the-top family makes him want to stay in the background. But Frankie's life is about to change-becoming way more interesting, even a little dangerous, but definitely cool. After his shift at the pizzeria one night, Frankie meets David and Rory, cousins and errand runners for the mysterious Uncle Epic, a legendary anonymous street artist and Frankie's absolute idol. Little could Frankie dream that his new adventures with Uncle Epic would lead to the perfect opportunity to strike back at his insufferable sister for a lifetime of torture. But things go haywire quicker than you can say "street art kicks righteous ass," and the lines are suddenly blurred between art and Frankie's real life.
Initial thoughts: Without the illustrations, I would've rated Original Fake 3.5 stars. Taken as a whole though, I think this book does deserve 4 stars. It was hilarious and despite the straightforward plot, still managed to surprise me. I loved that besides art, family dynamics were constantly at the forefront. Frankie and his sister didn't get along well at all but beneath that rivalry, you could tell they still cared for each other as siblings. The presence of their parents was a welcome inclusion, given the prolific absence of involved parental figures in YA fiction.
