Selected for the 2009 YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers list, this novel has action, intrigue, and relatable teen characters.
At first glance, Alex Miller seems like a typical kid – typical hair, typical clothes, typical hobbies. But Alex's life is anything but typical – and fitting in has become a matter of life and death. The unfortunate witness to a crime, Alex can't forget the things he has seen, and neither can the man he helped put in jail. The Witness Relocation Program has changed the identities of Alex and his mother repeatedly, but they still need to keep running to stay one step ahead of his enemies. His latest identity as a skateboarder in Virginia Beach is no easy ride – nosegrabs, ollies, and kickflips are all new to him. Alex has to catch on quickly to blend in – but the biggest trick he'll have to master is staying alive.
Extras:
Curriculum Links for Fakie
Accelerated Reader Quiz from Renaissance Learning
Read an interview with author, Tony Varrato
Additional Formats:
"... urgent pacing and suspenseful plot ... readers will happily power through to the wild-action finish. Perfect for reluctant readers, this enticingly thin book is sure to be a hit.” –
Booklist, April 2008
“This is an excellent novel for male teen
readers ...” – Library Media Connection, Oct. 2008
“Varrato knows his target audience and what they find interesting. His short novel
Fakie will interest teenage boys with its skateboarding, paintball and intrigue ... Varrato creates a believable character in an extraordinary situation and draws the reader in with expert storytelling. With its fast pace and short chapters,
Fakie is a book that will be picked up and read to its end by reluctant readers. Highly Recommended.” –
CM: Canadian Review of Materials, April 2008
"... Varrato never loses the reader’s attention or his focus on the storyline. Littered with terminology appropriate to each character ... Vivid descriptions demonstrate the depth of background research done for this work. This much-needed work fills a gap for the male teenage reader who wants to hear about friendships without the romance or other aspects often found in such books. This is a “chick” book written for the male population. The skateboarder, the spy, and the mystery lover will all appreciate it." –
Children's Literature, 2008
“... a well-paced short novel for teens, incorporating action, adventure, and intrigue, but also portraying victims who have been robbed of their sense of home.” –
Montreal Review of Books, Spring 2008
“The school and skateboard scenes, which could take place anywhere in North America, will appeal to the audience ... The final escape scene ... will have boys, especially, on the edge of their seats. The dialogue is realistic and the pace is relentless ... Readers who want fast action, tension and the triumph of the good guys will love this small books, which will encourage reluctant readers to keep reading.” –
Resource Links, April 2008
“Varrato knows high school students. He knows what they like and what they don’t. His book,
Fakie, is bound to be a hit with the reluctant reader population. Also bound to be a hit with boys, especially ones who are into skateboarding.
Fakie, with its fast pace, pulls you into the story and holds your attention to the very end.” –
teensreadtoo.com, May 2008
“If you have a reluctant reader in the house, namely a male one, this is a book to definitely put in their hands ... It was very enjoyable and one for the library shelves.” –
A Patchwork of Books
- Shortlisted, Garden
State Teen Book Award – New Jersey Teen Readers' Choice (2011)
- Shortlisted,
Nebraska's Children's Choice Literary Award, the Golden Sower (2010
– 2011)
- Selected, YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers list (2009)
- Selected, Nova Scotia Department of Education Literacy Success 10 Infusion: Fiction Collection
- Featured on "Good Morning Connecticut" (January 2010)
- Featured by The News Journal (Delaware), Sussex Countian (DE), Delmarva Now (DE), and WDEL Radio 1150 AM (DE)
- Selected, Approved List of Learning Resources: Nova Scotia
- Additional Blog reviews: 3 Evil Cousins; Turner Teens; The Merry Bibliothecary; My Reluctant Reader
