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jenmangler's review against another edition
4.0
Another good read courtesy of Rebecca Stead.
The Georges Seurat painting “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte” is important in this story. The main character, Georges, who is named for the artist, says of the painting, “...the picture is painted entirely with dots. Tiny little dots. Close up, they look just like blobs of paint. But if you stand back, you see that they make up this whole nice park scene.” Georges tries very hard to see his life as a Suerat painting, like his Mom does: the bad feelings you have are just “one dot in the giant Seurat painting of our lives.” This is his way of dealing with the bullying he faces from the cool kids every day at school. He tries to ignore it, knowing that it won’t always be like this. Towards the end of the book, though, he realizes that all those tiny dots - all the nows that he lives - matter, too. And when he realizes that he starts to take action to deal with the things in his life that are making him unhappy.
One of my favorite parts of the book happens because of one momentous gym class, a class which Georges tends to dread. He tries to fly under the radar at school, especially in gym class. But on one fateful day the PE teacher chooses him to be team captain. He’s horrified. But then he decides to pick the kids first that always get picked last. They’re the Blue Team. And it turns out that they work really well together and have a good time. This is the start of something beautiful.
When Georges finally tells his father the truth about what he’s enduring at school, his father makes a plan to deal with it immediately. As it turns out, he doesn’t have to. Because Georges has an idea: “What if you decided to make your own rules?” This is the moment when Georges realizes that the Blue Team can work together outside of gym class. “We’re like Seurat’s orange dots hidden in the bright green grass, the ones you don’t see unless you know to look for them,” Georges thinks. Even if they’re not all sitting together or working together, even if they’re not fast friends, they have each other’s backs. It doesn’t mean that their lives are magically golden all of a sudden. The cool kids are still the cool kids, and they act the way all cool kids do. But the members of the Blue Team keep the blue dots on their hands because they know “It means you’re not alone. No matter what.” And that’s beautiful.
This is just one part of Georges’ story explored in the book, but it is by far my favorite part.
The Georges Seurat painting “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte” is important in this story. The main character, Georges, who is named for the artist, says of the painting, “...the picture is painted entirely with dots. Tiny little dots. Close up, they look just like blobs of paint. But if you stand back, you see that they make up this whole nice park scene.” Georges tries very hard to see his life as a Suerat painting, like his Mom does: the bad feelings you have are just “one dot in the giant Seurat painting of our lives.” This is his way of dealing with the bullying he faces from the cool kids every day at school. He tries to ignore it, knowing that it won’t always be like this. Towards the end of the book, though, he realizes that all those tiny dots - all the nows that he lives - matter, too. And when he realizes that he starts to take action to deal with the things in his life that are making him unhappy.
One of my favorite parts of the book happens because of one momentous gym class, a class which Georges tends to dread. He tries to fly under the radar at school, especially in gym class. But on one fateful day the PE teacher chooses him to be team captain. He’s horrified. But then he decides to pick the kids first that always get picked last. They’re the Blue Team. And it turns out that they work really well together and have a good time. This is the start of something beautiful.
When Georges finally tells his father the truth about what he’s enduring at school, his father makes a plan to deal with it immediately. As it turns out, he doesn’t have to. Because Georges has an idea: “What if you decided to make your own rules?” This is the moment when Georges realizes that the Blue Team can work together outside of gym class. “We’re like Seurat’s orange dots hidden in the bright green grass, the ones you don’t see unless you know to look for them,” Georges thinks. Even if they’re not all sitting together or working together, even if they’re not fast friends, they have each other’s backs. It doesn’t mean that their lives are magically golden all of a sudden. The cool kids are still the cool kids, and they act the way all cool kids do. But the members of the Blue Team keep the blue dots on their hands because they know “It means you’re not alone. No matter what.” And that’s beautiful.
This is just one part of Georges’ story explored in the book, but it is by far my favorite part.
mariahistryingtoread's review against another edition
3.0
I'll have to think on this one for a bit. Slow, steady and solid for the most part until the big 'twist', the fallout of which left me furious for Georges.
Safer also deserved better. I'm sick to death of 'quirky' parents whose faults are ignored just because they're not authoritarian or abusive. I just finished up Million Dollar Race and that has the same exact problem.
Considered dropping to 2 stars to make a point (still might actually once I write a more comprehensive breakdown), but ultimately felt the ending was decent enough to bump up.
Safer also deserved better. I'm sick to death of 'quirky' parents whose faults are ignored just because they're not authoritarian or abusive. I just finished up Million Dollar Race and that has the same exact problem.
Considered dropping to 2 stars to make a point (still might actually once I write a more comprehensive breakdown), but ultimately felt the ending was decent enough to bump up.
mehsi's review against another edition
4.0
Dit was echt een super leuk boek om te lezen. :)
Georges (de s spreek je niet uit) verhuist naar een nieuw huis, daar ontmoet hij Kitser en zijn familie. En zo begint het avontuur.
Georges was een heel erg leuk personage om te lezen. Hij was grappig en slim, maar ik vond hem ook zielig. Zijn moeder die bijna nooit thuis is en uiteindelijk. Ik was blij dat hij een vriend vond, en ook op school ging hij gewoon tegen de pestkoppen in, wat leidde tot veel spannende dingen.
Kitser, Kitser, ik moet zeggen dat ik hem iets teveel vond. Te irritant, te bossy, te alleswetend. Natuurlijk had Georges ook wat kunnen zeggen, maar ik kan me voorstellen als je geen vrienden hebt, je heel blij bent met wat je hebt.
Maar het boek was leuk, en ik zou het zeker aanraden voor iedereen. Of je nu kind of volwassene bent.
Georges (de s spreek je niet uit) verhuist naar een nieuw huis, daar ontmoet hij Kitser en zijn familie. En zo begint het avontuur.
Georges was een heel erg leuk personage om te lezen. Hij was grappig en slim, maar ik vond hem ook zielig. Zijn moeder die bijna nooit thuis is en uiteindelijk
Spoiler
in het ziekenhuis belandt door een infectieKitser, Kitser, ik moet zeggen dat ik hem iets teveel vond. Te irritant, te bossy, te alleswetend. Natuurlijk had Georges ook wat kunnen zeggen, maar ik kan me voorstellen als je geen vrienden hebt, je heel blij bent met wat je hebt.
Maar het boek was leuk, en ik zou het zeker aanraden voor iedereen. Of je nu kind of volwassene bent.
shannonharty's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sam_hartwig's review against another edition
5.0
What a delightful story! I heard about this book at a presentation night and I have finally got round to reading it. Now I want to get my hands on everything by Rebecca Stead.
Georges and Safer are kids that I'd love to meet. They are witty, caring and totally lovable. I loved getting to know them, and follow them on their spy adventure as they tried to figure out what Mr X was doing with all those suitcases.
There were so many heart warming moments and one of them was when we heard the story of how Safer and his siblings got their interesting names. It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows though, there were other issues going on at home with both Safer and Georges, which we slowly start to realise what is going on behind the scenes.
This is a story about friendship, families, growing up and discovering yourself. I know this is a middle grade book but adults will enjoy reading this too, share it with your children.
Georges and Safer are kids that I'd love to meet. They are witty, caring and totally lovable. I loved getting to know them, and follow them on their spy adventure as they tried to figure out what Mr X was doing with all those suitcases.
There were so many heart warming moments and one of them was when we heard the story of how Safer and his siblings got their interesting names. It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows though, there were other issues going on at home with both Safer and Georges, which we slowly start to realise what is going on behind the scenes.
This is a story about friendship, families, growing up and discovering yourself. I know this is a middle grade book but adults will enjoy reading this too, share it with your children.
foxykitty's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
A really good end-of-primary book. Would have lapped this up aged 10-12.
Loved the understated feel of the bullying plot, the scrabble messages between mother and son, the storyline with Safer who isn't all he seems.
Preferred When You Reach Me as a mature and beautiful piece of fiction. But this is a thoughtful and non-patronising entry for younger readers.
Loved the understated feel of the bullying plot, the scrabble messages between mother and son, the storyline with Safer who isn't all he seems.
Preferred When You Reach Me as a mature and beautiful piece of fiction. But this is a thoughtful and non-patronising entry for younger readers.
edshara's review against another edition
4.0
Liar & Spy was so very good. I'm a big fan of quirky characters and Georges, some of his classmates and Safer fit the description. Georges had a very interesting and open view of the world. I liked seeing how easy he moved through it, even though he was supposed to be the "different" one.
Safer was a bit of a struggle to like at first. He initially seemed like a bit of a jerk and too pushy. However, I liked his imagination and how easily he and Georges became friends. In the end, I felt like the explanation made sense.
The story is well crafted and the author keeps you on your toes. Even though I was able to partially figure out one aspect of the story, their were still other aspects that I completely missed and didn't see coming. While it was nice to see things get resolved, it also felt like an abrupt rush to the finish. I will say, this is definitely worth a read.
Safer was a bit of a struggle to like at first. He initially seemed like a bit of a jerk and too pushy. However, I liked his imagination and how easily he and Georges became friends. In the end, I felt like the explanation made sense.
The story is well crafted and the author keeps you on your toes. Even though I was able to partially figure out one aspect of the story, their were still other aspects that I completely missed and didn't see coming. While it was nice to see things get resolved, it also felt like an abrupt rush to the finish. I will say, this is definitely worth a read.
frenchleigh's review against another edition
3.0
cute but it went nowhere. It’s a slice of life marketed as something much more dramatic.