[Jade]

Gord, I'm kind of speechless. I don't know what to say. I was not expecting the book to go that way and I was not expecting that ending.

I was already so excited about this book when I read the description. To be honest, I was expecting a lot more action/adventure--he's a con man!--but this was maybe even better. Hope you don't mind me making a series about some serious con-artist stuff, though. I had that idea a couple years back too.

This book really inspired me to get back into reading and writing realistic fiction. I haven't read a book in a while but this made me really happy. I feel awfully connected to Trey. So to start out, the book was hilarious. I was laughing out loud almost as much as I did in RESTART and SLUGFEST. Not even kidding. The beginning was so unhinged. I was not expecting Rudy to obliterate his bits! He reminded me of Eli's best friend in MASTERMINDS. Actually, the entire book reminded me of MASTERMINDS and frankly, it was way too short. 

The length was one of the first things I noticed. I was like, why is it only 210+ pages? They're usually 240-260+! But it's okay. I guess, it will be okay.

Your books always bring a bit of my childhood, that childlike adventure back. As I get older (I'm not a 7th grader anymore) I want it back more and more. Gord, you really are an inspiration. And I change my mind. Not just "anybody" can become an author. And not just anybody can do this.

The quality of this book reminded me that you are NOT the same person who wrote NO MORE DEAD DOGS. You've grown. A lot. Like, a lot a lot. You've gone from good to great to excellent and even more. That's how I would describe this book. Excellent, if not more. It reminded me of the quality of SUPERGIFTED which I very much so think is one of your best-written of all time.

So, the characters. I like how we didn't focus on too many here. I really liked Trey, Junior, and Arianna. Logan made me sad, and I really understand him. The part where he was a "class-clown" to keep up the ruse but was really suffering inside hurt. I'm a sucker for class-clowns with a dark past. If I read this book at twelve, I'd be all over him.

This book was so creative! It's like imagination bled through you into these pages, no joke. The name changes? Always Junior? Always Trey? Always "aer-ree-oh-na", since her name constantly changed in spelling? She was a little annoying for how reckless she was but she was so cool and so clever. 

The sibling dynamics in the story made me wish I had a close relationship with my own siblings. Alas, that's not for me. But I can have friendships. Friendships like Trey with Rudy and Logan. With all of those people. With the people in my writing groups. With the people on the Forum. Arianna was so reckless and she thought of their lifestyle as a game which terrified me, but she was so, so well written. I would not have captured a 5th grader that well. She acted like virtually me in the 5th grade. Wow.

(Would Nathan happen to know of a Nitro Nate?)

(The bit on the old librarian with super strength who was "courting" was hilarious.)

This book made me a lot more grateful for my own life. I oftentimes get tired of living in the suburbs, of being a virtual only child, having nothing much to do but hang out with my friends and go to the stores and stuff. But Trey? His description on page 36 made me like my life a lot a bit more. 

I'm really impressed by this story. The ending kind of shook me. I was not expecting the philosophy unit in their social studies, the ethics, the anything. I was not expecting their dad to go with them. That was probably the most heartwarming moment in the entire book.

To anyone, Junior would be a "bad" person. He kind of still "is", in many ways. But for a man who chases money, he would become a poor man to watch his children flourish. And for that he can only be one of the best people in my book. I want to love my (future) kids as much as he loves his own, though I don't want to become a con-artist to show it.

Also, the Ottumawa brothers? Twins? Whatever their last name was, I want to be like their mom. Being a writer making lots of money. That was also quite inspiring, Gord.

One part that made me sad (and did hit) was Logan having to leave. Especially because of our Logan here on the Forum. He didn't get his happy ending like his best friend did. He still has to be the son of con artists, of Fakers. Man. Not everybody can get their happy ending. It reminded me of how Jason's parents stayed divorced in THE FORT and how Coral Reef didn't get his memories of his mom back. How Coopervega lost his best friend in Roddy. But hey. Logan... you sure do use that name, huh? Ernie in the beginning reminded me of the Doberman in SWINDLE, and this Logan reminds me a lot of SWINDLE's Logan. But anyways.

Gord, this book was really good. I'm gonna go rate it on Amazon and Goodreads now because I can. But this was definitely a 5/5 stars. Especially for you (I rate your books harsher). This book made me think. It made my heart ache. It made me excited. But it made me cackle, too. Here's another funny moment.

“Adults eat [brochures] up like candy. Once, a couple of moms nearly got into a fistfight over one in the 7-Eleven parking lot.”

Here's a deep moment.

“That might be why our mother took off—because she wanted to live one real life, not a series of fake ones.”

 

Thank you, Gord. I mean it. I hope and pray that one day I can write like you.

 

Be blessed,

Jade

 

Hi, and thank you!

You won't write like me. You'll write like Jade, and that will be very special. You'll see.

Thanks for all those kind words about FAKER. I'm really glad you liked it. My own favorite scene? Getting the cat out of the tree. Or, rather, waiting until she was good and ready and came down on her own.

Really, your reaction -- and Raymond's, and all the other guys' -- means every bit as much to me as the Bestseller list. You've all become almost my sounding board. Your tastes and enthusiasms do a lot to guide what I do. I'm very grateful to have such a group reading what I put out.

Again, thanks for your very special letter.                                                                                    ---G---