Faker

by Gordon Korman

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

When Gordon Korman puts out a new book, we read it. The author of Mixed Up and Restart takes us on the run with a reluctant boy and his family of con artists.

From the #1 bestselling author of Restart, the story of a family of liars... and the son who wants to break the family tradition.

Trey knows the drill: His dad gets him into a school full of kids with rich parents. Trey makes friends, and his dad makes connections. Soon, there's the con, where Trey's dad suckers the other parents into investing in one of his schemes. Once the money's in the bank, Trey, his sister, and their dad are on the run... until they set up somewhere else and start again.

Trey believes his father when he says no one's getting hurt. After all, these parents have money to spare.

But Trey's starting to get tired of running... and lying... and never having a friend for longer than a few months. But how do you get your family to stop lying when your lives depend on it?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338826777
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	05/05/2026
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 7.63(h) x (d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Gordon Korman is the beloved author of over one hundred novels for young readers, including hilarious middle-grade classics such as the Macdonald Hall series, I Want to Go Home, and Slacker. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Gordon grew up in Thornhill, Ontario, and now lives in New York with his family. Visit him online at www.gordonkorman.com.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Faker:

"In this lively adventure by Korman, characters navigate complex ethical issues surrounding right and wrong, responsibility, and actions and repercussions. Trey's riveting struggle to justify his family's actions while seeking a more grounded life is levied by Korman's signature humor." -- Publishers Weekly

Praise for War Stories:

* "This weave of perceptive, well-told tales wears its agenda with unusual grace." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Praise for Restart:

* "A fresh approach to the familiar topic of bullying, kept credible by believable characters and events, with typical Korman humor and just the right touch of mystery." -- School Library Journal, starred review

Praise for Slacker:

"Upbeat, inspiring, and full of Korman's signature sense of humor." -- Publishers Weekly

"Korman makes comedy look deceptively easy." -- Booklist

Praise for Swindle:

"Scary, funny, and hysterical adventures!" -- Chicago Tribune

"Pure fun from top to bottom." -- School Library Journal

Praise for The Hypnotists:

"Fast-paced... an entertaining mix of intense action and goofy fun." -- Publishers Weekly

Praise for Ungifted:

"A gem for readers looking for a book where the underdog comes out on top." -- Voice of Youth Advocates

"Funny and insightful." -- Publishers Weekly

Praise for Schooled:

* "This rewarding novel features an engaging main character and some memorable moments of comedy, tenderness, and reflection." -- Booklist, starred review

From the Publisher

2024-04-05
A con man’s son yearns for a different way of life.

Having helped his single dad fleece wealthy marks since kindergarten, Trey is adept at spotting their rich offspring in each new school he attends and cultivating them until the time comes for a quick getaway. Now that he’s 12, though, the urge to make real friends and put down some roots has become insistent—particularly since he’s drawn to Kaylee, a new classmate in his latest middle school. How can he convince his dad, who’s in the midst of luring local investors into a fantastically lucrative scheme involving a fictive electric car, that it’s time to bag the family profession and settle down? Korman goes more for ironic humor than the physical or stand-up sort in this book, as shown by Trey’s enrollment in an ethics class that forces him into some decidedly hypocritical stances. Much like Trey himself, instant new bestie Logan and his parents turn out to be not at all who they seem. And though there are no bullies or real baddies in the cast on the way to the story’s rosy but implausible resolution, Trey’s malign, high-strung, and wildly reckless huckster of a little sister from hell definitely adds both conflict and suspense to this provocative outing. Main characters read white.

Glitzy glimpses of life on the make, lightened by a focus on alternatives rather than consequences. (Fiction. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews