books

Fakie (2008)

At first glance, Alex Miller seems like a typical teen
— typical hair, typical clothes, typical hobbies.
Look closer, and you'll see that his life is anything
but typical — for Alex, fitting in has become a
matter of life and death. The unfortunate witness
to a murder, Alex can't forget the things he has
seen, and neither can the man he helped put in jail.
The Witness Relocation Program has changed the
identities of Alex and his mother repeatedly, and
they need to keep running to stay one step ahead
of his enemies. His latest identity as a
skateboarder in Virginia Beach is no easy ride —
nosegrabs, ollies, and kickflips are all new to him.
Alex has to catch on quickly to blend in — but the
biggest trick he'll have to master is staying alive.

Reviews

Fakie: "An excellent novel for male teen readers. It is
short, action packed, and full of activities that they can
relate to. It would also make a good read-aloud for
the classroom, because of the suspense
and drama involved."-- Library Media Connection,
October 2008

Fakie :“... urgent pacing and suspenseful plot ...
readers will happily power through to the wild-action
finish. Perfect for reluctant readers, this enticingly thin
book is sure to be a hit.” -- Booklist, April 2008

4 Stars!
"Fakie will interest teenage boys with its
skateboarding, paintball and intrigue ... Varrato creates
a believable character in an extraordinary situation and
draws the reader in with expert storytelling. With its
fast pace and short chapters, Fakie is a book that will
be picked up and read to its end by reluctant readers.
Highly Recommended.” – CM: Canadian Review of
Materials, April 2008

4 Stars!
"Outrage captures adolescent interest. Varrato has
created a story that, from its opening line, hooks its
readers as they are drawn into Connor’s life. The
character of Connor is also believable as the “Why
me?” guy who seems to find trouble, no matter what."
--CM: Canadian Review of Materials, March 2008.