by Johan Rundberg
At the start of Biggest Fake in the Universe by Johan Rundberg, Mo is a chess nerd with a love for his guinea pig and astronomy. Then he discovers a new love, a skater girl, and decides to transform himself into a skater guy to win her heart. Trouble is, he’s a chess nerd for a reason, Mo has pretty much the same level of athleticism as his guinea pig and he’s not going to impress anyone with his skills, until he does.
I am a big fan of juggling sticks, and I’m not great at them, but I can do some things. When I was teaching someone how to use them, I explained that anything you did that ended up with you in control and the sticks in the air was a trick, not an accident. That’s what happens to our buddy, Mo. He manages to survive something that should have been disastrous and makes it look intentional. When it goes viral, he’s suddenly the star of his town, Sweden, and the internet. Now Mo’s got rep, but no game to back it up.
Mo is a wonderful kid and I thoroughly enjoyed watching him struggle with first love, identity, and integrity. His parents are loving but clueless and his charming neighbor lady is absolutely squishable. Every character in this book was believable and realistic, no matter how quirky. I couldn’t find a single thing to complain about, and you know me, that’s rare.
If you’re a fan of Gordon Korman, you’ll enjoy this book. If you’re not a Gordon Korman fan and if you haven’t read No More Dogs or The Unteachables, or Ungifted, you need to go read those immediately. Yes, I know they’re for kids. They’re also hilarious, relatable, and better than you’re expecting.
Sorry, Mo, I got distracted. If you’re into light-hearted, charming stories with characters who mean well, this one’s a good bet. Not only was the story delightful, it was interesting seeing Sweden from the inside out.
5 Guinea-Pig-Tricks Stars
