Blurb: The McNeil family has always been professional hoaxers—tricking bystanders into believing they’re seeing legendary creatures like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster.
Unlike the rest of his family, twelve-year-old Grayson hates hoaxing and wants nothing to do with the business—even when the McNeils land a huge job and must pull off four sea monster hoaxes in a week.
But when things go disastrously wrong and Dad and Gramps go missing, Grayson and his brother, Curtis, are the only people who can finish the job and save their family.
My review: Grayson McNeil wants nothing to do with his family's cryptid hoaxing business and dreams of a normal life. His father lost himself to work after his mother died, and his big brother Curtis is totally ready to dive into the hoaxing. Yet when their dad gets caught and leaves a job unfinished, Grayson and Curtis must finish it themselves. Can they pull off the biggest sea monster hoax they've ever done to save their family's business all the while their competition is hunting them down?
My 11-year-old son picked this MG book up from his school library. I was very excited to read it with him as I love books about legends and lore. We both enjoyed it. It was a bit slow to begin, but soon things started to snowball, and wow! Lots of secrets, twists and turns, and hoaxers hoaxing hoaxers. Grayson was a believable middle schooler who only wanted his family to be around, and I felt for him a lot. I really enjoyed Gramps and wished he would have been in it more than he was. Maybe we'll get a sequel? Or prequel? I'd love to read another book about the McNeils.
Check out Laura Martin at her website and find Hoax for Hire here!
I'm always on the hunt for good books written for this age group. I have avid young readers in my family and want to keep encouraging them to pick up books. Thanks, Christine.
That's great you read the book with your son.