Monday, April 8, 2013

Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead: Giveaway



Liar & Spy is the first Rebecca Stead (Newbery Medal Winner for When You Reach Me) book I’ve read. The title caught my eye, but the romp-in-the-park, spot-on middle grade voice kept me turning page after page to see what would become of the narrator Georges (the S is silent), and these other characters with cool names: Safer, Bob English Who Draws, Pigeon, Candy and Mr. X.

Speaking of voice, here’s the opening paragraph: There’s this totally false map of the human tongue. It’s supposed to show where we taste different things, like salty on the side of the tongue, sweet on the front, bitter in the back. Some guy drew it a hundred years ago, and people have been forcing kids to memorize it ever since.

Here’s some abbreviated cover copy without any spoilers: Seventh grader Georges moves into a Brooklyn apartment building and meets Safer, a twelve-year-old self-appointed spy. Georges becomes Safer's first spy recruit. His assignment? Tracking the mysterious Mr. X, who lives in the apartment upstairs. But as Safer becomes more demanding, Georges starts to wonder: what is a lie, and what is a game? How far is too far to go for your only friend?

I read the first few pages of Liar & Spy to my fifth grade class when we were studying the five senses. They loved it! If I could work it in I’d read them the whole book because it has that captivating read aloud quality that some books have.

I’m giving away one hardcover copy of Liar and Spy. Just leave a comment anytime between now and midnight Thursday Eastern Time to be considered.

Thanks for stopping by.


10 comments:

  1. Wouldn't be fair for me to enter to win, but this sounds fabulous. I'll add it to my list.

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  2. My boys are at a very particular age when it comes to agreed read alouds. This is something we read in the fall, and both guys took it to their rooms to finish before I did! Stead is a marvel and a great author to study for craft.

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  3. This is a great book! Good luck to all those who are eligible to enter!!

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  4. I have four sons so I should win this book. :)

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  5. I adored this story because it kept me guessing. And I already have a copy, so let someone else win.

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  6. Hi, I'm a YA writer with a fourth grade reluctant reader. We read together, and he considers a spy and their adventures second only to Star Wars and Indiana Jones. I hereby place my hat in the ring for my son, Derek, a compassionate hero. May the force be with him!

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  7. Ahh, this book sounds amazing :) I would love to win a copy of it. <3 I just adore middle grade books, and this one sounds so good. Think I would love it :) Thank you for the chance. <3

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  8. I loved When You Reach Me and I've had the pleasure of attending a talk or two by Rebecca Stead. Looking forward to reading this next book.

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  9. I've already read LIAR & SPY, but I borrowed a copy from the library, so I'd love to have one of my own! It wasn't quite as good as WHEN YOU REACH ME (at least in my opinion), but that's like saying cookie dough ice cream isn't quite as good as triple chocolate brownie:)

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  10. Thanks for offering this giveaway. So nice to own a new book. I've read "When You Reach Me " by Rebecca Stead and enjoyed. I've heard good thing about this one also. Was going to waitlist at my library but I'm already at the maximum allowed books to waitlist :)
    Good luck to all participants.

    Jill
    andrewsjill3@gmail.com

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Thanks for adding to the mayhem!