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August



Liar & Spy was released last week. At times, I wasn't sure this one would make it. There have been some stuff-of-dreams reviews, the kind that make me wonder how I got lucky enough to have just the right kind of reader assigned to write the review (because no book is for everyone). And I just got the pretty amazing news that it's on the New York Times bestseller list (chapter books for children). Does this feel good? It feels terrific. In fact, I want to run around thanking every human being who bought it. If you are a human being, and you bought it, or asked for it at a library, thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

P.S. I love this startlingly sincere advice from Amy Poehler about dealing with an acutely embarrassing moment. I wish she'd been there when I farted in front of everyone at gymnastics camp. It has nothing to do with books, though.

Comments

Steven Cain said…
Just picked it up... can't wait to read it!
August 19, 2012 at 9:17 PM
Kathryn Fitzmaurice said…
Hi Rebecca, I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed Liar and Spy. My favorite line is this one: (on page 171) "She said she felt full of whatever it was that was about to happen to her."

It's really amazingly brilliant.

Congratulations!

August 22, 2012 at 5:29 PM
Rebecca Stead said…
Thank you so much, Steven and Kathryn. Steven, really hping you like it. And Kathryn, that's one of my favorites too (along with a couple that might not resonate so much with normal people).
August 23, 2012 at 11:21 AM
Steven Cain said…
Rebecca... It is wonderful... brilliant. Your choice of words... perfect... not one too many... not one too few. I loved all the tidbits of trivia... like Ben Franklin and the letters... I had to Google just to see for myself. And since we are throwing out favorite lines...Candy's take on love and marriage, was just delightful. Congratulations again.
September 3, 2012 at 7:44 PM
Mark Holtzen said…
I am a teacher and writer. I have appreciated a well-written, well-paced middle grade reader since I could read them. "Walk Two Moons" by Sharon Creech is one of my top ever books. You are creeping so close to those top books. I really love what you did in this one. Lovely handling of bullying, lovely pacing, great voice/characters, and just a great, great story. Thanks for all the work and putting it out there. I really loved it and am now re-reading it for a little more analysis.
Mark

September 6, 2012 at 5:44 PM
Mark Holtzen said…
Oops, I didn't leave the correct tag to my own blog. Here it is below. Since I'm here again, my favorite scenes were the interactions between Georges and his (literal) antagonists. The nuances of bullying are so well rendered. Spending time in an elementary middle school and having been on the receiving end of bullying (from "good" friends even) I would have been pulled out at the slightest hint of inauthenticity. I was fully engaged throughout.
September 6, 2012 at 6:41 PM
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