Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead

A book that I have recently finished is Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead. Georges has recently moved into an apartment building and his first friend is Safer. Safer is a spying, dog loving and coffee drinking kid. One thing you need to know about Safer is he is afraid to go outside. During the course of the story Georges and Safer spy on Mr. X a mysterious man who wears all black and keeps bring suitcases in out of the building. Safer and Georges over come they fears and learn to be honest. Safer over comes his fear of going outside with the help of Georges.

‘“To high school.’

‘School!’ I laugh. ‘How is that his fault?’

Safer looks at me. ‘What do you mean, how is it his fault? It’s completely his fault. He’s the one who asked to go.’

‘Wait-don’t you go to school?’

‘Of course not…”’ (p. 64) Here we see Georges start to understand that Safer really doesn’t leave the house. Georges doesn’t know yet that Safer is afraid to go outside but is starting to realize that if Safer doesn’t go to school when does he go outside other than to walk the dogs in the courtyard.

‘’’So the first part is that when I was a kid, I worried a lot.’

‘About what?’

‘About a lot of things.’

‘Like what?’

‘Bugs,’ Safer says. ‘Lighting. Elevators. Strangers. Airplanes. Green food. Buses. Germs. Blood. Losing teeth.’ …

‘I was afraid of the dark…’” (p. 161) Safer tells Georges about his fears. This explains some of his weird habits like always taking the stairs and why he never leaves his house. He stays inside because the whole word terrifies him.  

            “ Safer is considering school himself. He says that Candy is his scout, that if she reports that school is okay and confirms where all the exits are, he might start eighth grade with me and Bob in September.

            Or maybe ninth grade, he says, next September.” (p. 179) Georges is helping Safer get over his fears by taking it a step farther everyday. Safer is even considering starting school. Which is something he never would have though of before Georges.

            Even though we might not have ever left our homes we can learns from Safer that you need to trust your friends because they can help you get over you fears. I highly recommend this book to ages 10 and up.