Is Robin Hood a thief or a hero? Is stealing okay if you only steal from the rich? Twelve-year old Trey starts to question his father's con-man lifestyle in the diverting and dynamic middle-grade novel Faker by Gordon Korman (Linked; Restart).
Trey's father is "a con man, a swindler, a flimflam artist." That's why every few months, the two of them and Trey's younger sister, Arianna, obtain new identities and move homes. Trey knows the routine: new town, befriend the rich kids, Dad swindles their parents, leave town to start the cycle over. But this time, in Boxelder, Tenn., Trey develops a circle of friends and builds a community that he doesn't want to leave. Trey's dad believes his newest investment scam could be "The Big Kahuna"--"an operation so successful, a score so large, that we can retire from the business and live off the profits forever"--but is it worth it if it means leaving Boxelder?
Faker considers questions of wealth, status, income inequality, and family loyalty. In doing so, Korman deftly tackles complex ethical dilemmas with humor. Korman's attention to detail provides logical and consistent answers for potential plot holes, ensuring a completely plausible story of a single dad supporting his kids through cons. As Trey begins to question his father's choices, Korman doesn't villainize the father, but rather focuses on Trey's inner conflict and the decisions he must make about his own future. Faker is a story that's part ethical drama, part pre-teen romp, and all heart. --Kyla Paterno, freelance reviewer