The Great Pretender
"An excellent historical novel for younger readers" by Barb Nielsen
I loved this book. It's a coming of age novel that encompasses several adult themes like fighting, racism and dealing with betrayal. The story is set in Little Rock, Arkansas during that city's racial crisis in 1957 and the dramatic story adds to the reader's understanding of the South in the 1950s.
The main character is 12-year old Archie Lane, a basketball whiz with an overactive imagination and a budding crush on his 13 year old neighbor, Sandra. When Archie thinks he sees the man next door murder his own son, Archie and Sandra are plunged into a series of adventures with lots of exciting twists and turns.
The historical setting is accurate and the author avoids stereotypes and instead relies on well rounded, interesting characters. The dialogue is full of humor and Archie is a particularly memorable character. A good read. Highly recommended.
*****
Archie has uncovered that terrible secret, but no one will believe him.
Book Description:
Twelve-year old Archie Lane’s next door neighbor is a killer. Archie has uncovered that terrible secret, but no one will believe him. If he doesn’t find a way to convince his parents he witnessed a real murder, the results could be fatal for Archie.
Set in the fall of 1957 in Little Rock, Arkansas, a city torn apart by one of the nation’s first civil rights crises, Archie’s suspense-filled story recounts his transition from an idyllic world to the incomprehensible world of adults.
Throughout his story, the reader watches Archie struggle to come to terms with the subtleties of right and wrong.
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