Stead, R. (2013). Liar and spy. Yearling. Georges is a seventh grader who's parents sold their house and moved into an apartment where he meets Safer and his family. Georges' mother is sick in the hospital, but he pretends she is working double shifts as a nurse. Pretending she is sick is better than facing the truth that she is really sick. Georges meets Safer and his sister when Georges responds to a note in the basement about attending a spy meeting. Although the note was posted five years ago by Pigeon, Safer's brother, Safer went along with it. In the end Georges finally accepts the fact his mother is sick and decides to visit her in the hospital. Georges finds out that Safer doesn't have a spy club. It's all a lie and Safer in reality is afraid of everything. A strength I found in the book was how Georges was able to help Safer. Little by little Safer was able to do things he would not have thought of doing if it wasn't for Georges. Things like going to eat pizza at DeMarco's instead of picking it up and eating it at home. Other books by Rebecca Stead that I would recommend to my students are Good Bye Stranger, When You Reach Me, and A Little Bit of Spectacular to name a few. After reading this book I learned that facing the truth instead of pretending is so much better than living in a lie. Georges felt so much better when he accepted the fact that his mother was sick and Safer was able to slowly face his fears with the help of Georges. I think they help each other out.