My Brother Is a Big, Fat Liar

Gr 5–8—Middle-school fiction's most unreliable narrator, Rafe Khatchadorian, better watch his back because his sister, Georgia, has a thing or three to say about his version of life in their household. While she may be as unreliable as her brother, she's equally entertaining. Georgia is about to start middle school and is nervously looking forward to it. She likes school and is a great student. Not that she's bragging, but she actually skipped a grade. If she's a bit miffed about all the chores she does, like regularly making dinner, or about all the attention Rafe gets from their overworked single mother, she doesn't show it. Much. If she thought she could enter middle school and make her own mark, she soon finds out how wrong she is when teacher after teacher screeches, "Rafe Khatchadorian's sister???" She also learns that Rafe's nemesis has a little brother and he's gunning for Georgia, as are the three princesses led by Missy. The packaging and formula of this entry in the wildly popular series are what readers have come to expect: a first-person narrative containing many moments of mayhem, misbehavior, and irreverence, heavily and humorously illustrated. Oh, and don't forget the revelation of a big secret near the end. Fans will be pleased, and new readers will easily pick up the vibe. This installment will not sit long on the shelf.—Brenda Kahn, Tenakill Middle School, Closter, NJ