Lions & Liars

Holes meets The Goonies in the highly anticipated second middle-grade novel from the author of Gertie's Leap to Greatness!

Frederick Frederickson has a food-chain theory about life. There are lions, like the school bully. Gazelles, like the bullied kids. There are meerkats, and the fleas that live on the butts of meerkats. Frederick's a flea.

Fifth grade is off to a terrible start when Frederick is sent to a disciplinary camp for troublesome boys. His fellow troop mates—Nosebleed, Specs, The Professor, and little-yet-lethal Ant Bite—are terrifying. But in between trust-building exercises and midnight escape attempts, a tenuous friendship grows between them. Which is lucky, because a Category 5 hurricane is coming and everyone will have to work together—lions and fleas alike—to survive!

Kate Beasley outdoes herself in this hilarious, whip-smart tale of brotherhood, survival, and what it really means to be a friend.

Praise for Lions & Liars:

"Beasley follows her acclaimed debut, Gertie’s Leap to Greatness (2016), with a winning story that matches earnestness with humor. . .transformative read." —Booklist, starred review

"Beasley's sophomore novel. . .is chock full of zany, nicknamed characters (Frederick shares a cabin with Nosebleed, Ant Bite, Specs, and the Professor) coming together in a story of friendship among boys. . .A fun coming-of-age romp." —Kirkus Reviews

"Beasley (Gertie’s Leap to Greatness) writes with ease, engaging readers quickly with hapless but hopeful Frederick’s sincerity. His struggles with popularity and self-confidence make him a relatable, realistic protagonist readers would want for a friend. . .straightforward message about self-acceptance and true friendship will leave readers smiling. —School Library Journal

"Ms. Beasley does something admirable with her food-chain metaphor: A bit like Chekhov’s gun, the metaphorical lion from the first act turns into a real one at the end, adding a moment of unexpected bite. Otherwise tender at heart and laugh-out-loud entertaining, the tale of Frederick’s misadventures and Dan Santat’s exuberant illustrations will charm readers ages 8-12." —The Wall Street Journal