Gerber, Alyson. The Liars Society. Scholastic Press, 2024. 978-1-338-85921-8. 304 p. $14.99. Grades 3-7.
Seventh-grader Weatherby Walker has been taught everything about sailing from her neighbor, Skip, and it pays off. After winning a high-stakes regatta (albeit with unapproved sails), Weatherby is invited to attend the elite Boston School, a prestigious private school in New England, where she will join the sailing team on a scholarship. Weatherby is the child of a single mother. All she knows about her father is his name, Peter Graff, and that he left their family for Switzerland before his untimely death. As Weatherby begins her time at Boston School, she meets an intriguing cast of characters including new best friend Teddie and the ultra-rich legacy, Jack Hunt. There are soon whispers about the Last Heir, a secret elite society recruiting from within the halls of the prestigious Boston School. Things get very real for Weatherby when she receives an unfamiliar voicemail letting her know she has been “tapped” to play a gambit that will gain her entrance into this powerful circle. She now has to play the game with her new crew…or else.
THOUGHTS: I knew I was in for a puzzle-packed treat when I heard the author herself reference The Liars Society as the middle grade version of Knives Out and The Inheritance Games. I was not disappointed. While the story begins with sailing scenes, families, and friendships rather than riddles, Gerber fuels the plot by including coded voicemails and letters filled with anagrams. Soon, I found myself immersed in the mystery unfolding between Hunt family members and their private wooded island, Hart Isle. This story will keep students reading to the end—and quite quickly, I might add. The conclusion, while satisfying, also opens the door for subsequent books in this series. Some diversity among minor characters; main characters cue as white. Highly recommended for all upper elementary and middle school students who love mysteries like The Westing Game and Ali Cross. There’s even a little hint of Carl Hiaasen in here, but I won’t spoil the surprise for you.
Mystery