Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead

Georges (pronounced as if the “s” is silent at the end of his name) has had to move with his mom and dad from a house to an apartment in Brooklyn.  His dad has lost his job and decided to start his own company.  Georges’ mom is a nurse.

At the apartment building he meets a rather strange family.  Candy (aged 10), Safer (Georges’ age) and Pigeon--an older boy and their much laid back “bohemian” parents who have home schooled the kids.

Safer befriends Georges.  He has a “spy club.”  He teaches Georges about making observations of people, the tracking of people’s daily habits, etc. to scope out potential problem people in their building. Georges stops playing along with Safer’s ideas when he suggests breaking into and entering the mysterious Mr. X’s apartment when he is away.

Georges has problems at school. Two relentless bullies, Dallas and Carter,  are making his life at school miserable. His standard response to them is to not respond; he just takes it. This is not the best way to deal with bullies.

Will Georges’ new friend Safer succeed in finding out about the mysterious Mr. X?  Will Georges’ parents have to intervene to end the incessant bullying at school?

Read Liar and Spy to find out.