Hoax for Hire - by Laura Martin (Hardcover)

About the Book

Twelve-year-old Grayson McNeil struggles to choose between his dreams and his professional hoaxer family when his father and grandfather go missing in the wake of a job gone wrong.

Book Synopsis

Goonies meets the humor and heart of Gordon Korman in this new adventure full of nonstop action and spot-on humor from the critically acclaimed author of Float.

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.

Review Quotes

"The author piles hoaxes atop hoaxes on the way to a climactic end. The McNeil motto, 'Keep the Legends Alive, ' takes on new meaning for Grayson, as it will for readers." -- ALA Booklist

"Martin's cryptid caper holds its own." -- Kirkus Reviews

"The family dynamics at play are convincing. The novel ends satisfyingly." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

PRAISE FOR FLOAT: "A fun, funny, and fast-paced summer camp romp full of pranks, plot-twists and goofy superpowers. Emerson's adventures teach us that the greatest power of all comes from the friends who push us to overcome our perceived limitations and make the most of every moment." -- John David Anderson, author of Ms. Bixby's Last Day

"Simply superb. Martin's novel feels exactly like summer camp should; the antics of the boys and the friendships they develop will make readers wish they were roasting marshmallows in the woods with their best friends." -- Booklist

"With lots of action, great dialogue, and plenty of humor, Martin's style and tone are reminiscent of Gordon Korman and Dan Gutman." -- School Library Journal

"Martin conjures a sense of wonder and whimsy." -- Publishers Weekly

PRAISE FOR THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION SERIES: "From one adrenaline-charged scene to another, the kids use their ingenuity to escape from or work with the prehistoric creatures. Will keep readers on the edge of their seats." -- Booklist (Code Name Flood)

"Martin continues to delight both dinosaur lovers and techno geeks with her effectively conceived and well-written tales. In this fun and fast-moving sequel to The Ark Plan, the adventure starts with a bang and never stops. An exciting thriller." -- School Library Journal (Code Name Flood)

"In this clever take on Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park, the tale is reimagined on a worldwide scale. Nonstop action, marauding dinosaurs, and kids on the run: What's not to like? This is a great buy for the sci-fi adventure-loving crowd." -- School Library Journal (The Ark Plan)