Stead,
R. (2012). Liar & Spy. New York, NY: Wendy
Land books.
Georges is a 7th grader his family sold their home in Brooklyn because of financial issues and just moved into an apartment complex. His mom is a nurse in the intensive care unit who sometimes works double shifts for extra money. His dad got fired from his previous job and has now started his own business making new homes look old.
He met Safer, a 12-year-old who has a sister named Candy, drinks coffee out of a flask throughout the day, and thinks he’s a spy. Georges joins Safer’s spy club and helps him spy and break into Mr. X’s apartment because Safer made up a lie about him being a bad man.
Turns out that Georges’ mom isn’t actually working late, but sick in the hospital. George lies about his mother because he doesn’t know how to deal with it.
The theme of the story is that talking about our feelings can help us understand certain situations and reasons for lying are not always that bad. Georges doesn’t want to think of his mom being sick, so he doesn’t want to go see her and avoids talking about her. He knows what to do about being bullied after talking to his dad.
When Safer finally talks to Georges about being afraid of going outside his apartment building, Georges starts helping him with his phobias.
Georges thinks the GYM teacher absolutely hates her job, but as he talks to her one day, he learns that it’s actually her dream job.
Haveghurst developmental stage, learning to get along with peers, and Maslow’s self-actualization needs are evident when after talking to his dad about being bullied, Georges makes a pact with most of his classmates about lying on the taste test to keep Dallas from bullying him further. I love this part! (“if misfits fit together, then they will not be misfits”). He had self-respect and his esteem needs were met, as classmates wanted their blue dot retouched for a sense of belonging to a team.
This book reminds me of Baby Bo-Peep, where they find some inner peace when they finally talk about their problems to someone they trust. Georges realizes that everyone has fears and learns how to deal with his by talking about them.
This is a
quick book summary and analysis by Minute Book Reports:
He met Safer, a 12-year-old who has a sister named Candy, drinks coffee out of a flask throughout the day, and thinks he’s a spy. Georges joins Safer’s spy club and helps him spy and break into Mr. X’s apartment because Safer made up a lie about him being a bad man.
Turns out that Georges’ mom isn’t actually working late, but sick in the hospital. George lies about his mother because he doesn’t know how to deal with it.
The theme of the story is that talking about our feelings can help us understand certain situations and reasons for lying are not always that bad. Georges doesn’t want to think of his mom being sick, so he doesn’t want to go see her and avoids talking about her. He knows what to do about being bullied after talking to his dad.
Georges thinks the GYM teacher absolutely hates her job, but as he talks to her one day, he learns that it’s actually her dream job.
Haveghurst developmental stage, learning to get along with peers, and Maslow’s self-actualization needs are evident when after talking to his dad about being bullied, Georges makes a pact with most of his classmates about lying on the taste test to keep Dallas from bullying him further. I love this part! (“if misfits fit together, then they will not be misfits”). He had self-respect and his esteem needs were met, as classmates wanted their blue dot retouched for a sense of belonging to a team.
This is a quick book summary and analysis by Minute Book Reports:
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