From the Back of My Shelf (2): Fakie by Tony Varrato
From the Back of My Shelf is a bi-monthly event, that happens on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month where you pull a book from the back of your shelf (with a 2009 release or prior) and review it. It’s a way to read some of those books that have been gathering dust while new books came out. Feel free to join in and participate, and link your reviews up in the Mr Linky below. Check out more in my intro post here here.
FakieRelease Date: April 15, 2008
Pages: 144
Rating: 5 stars
At first glance, Alex Miller seems like a typical teen – typical hair, typical clothes, typical hobbies. Look closer, and you’ll see that his life is anything but typical – for Alex, fitting in has become a matter of life and death. The unfortunate witness to a murder, Alex can’t forget the things he has seen, and neither can the man he helped put in jail. The Witness Relocation Program has changed the identities of Alex and his mother repeatedly, and they need to keep running to stay one step ahead of his enemies. His latest identity as a skateboarder in Virginia Beach is no easy ride – nosegrabs, ollies, and kickflips are all new to him. Alex has to catch on quickly to blend in – but the biggest trick he’ll have to master is staying alive.
Fakie was an absolutely brilliant read. I had heard about it, was excited, then saw how short it was and got a bit nervous. I don’t know why I ever worried, I was captivated with every page.
The story was just so interesting. It is told in alternating perspectives between Alex and the killer. It is super fast paced, with page 1 Varrato has readers diving in head first and it doesn’t slow down at all. For as short of a book as Fakie was, it definitely had a lot of punch and one heck of a story.
The characters were also really well written. I had a really easy time connecting with them. I thought that Tim was a super great character. Alex was a really strong character.
Fakie is a book I would recommend 100%. It was one of those hidden gems – an overlooked book that I hadn’t heard much about. I will be very anxious to see what Tony Varrato will come up with next.
Cover Rating: B – This is a cover that is alright, I don’t real have strong feelings for or against it.
This is so gonna be on my list! I just love contemporary and you rating it 5 star makes me want to try it ;) I swear I want to put my link up there but my blog is currently under construction lol and I don't really have any book from the past 2009 release.
I haven't heard of this before but it sounds amazing. Definitely going to be adding it to my wishlist. Great review!
I like how this novel is fast paced. The shifting perspective of the Alex and his killer is worth reading. I have so many books that I have to read now! This storyline is different from the usual genre that I read so this will be a nice change.
I have never heard of this book, but is sounds good. Sometimes I'm thrown off by short novels too, but I'm glad to hear this one was amazing despite the length of it.
I haven't hear about this book, but the story sound great a different from what I have read, thanks for the review.
i sometimes look at the cover of a book before buying them and this one is a so so, if this one is worth reading then i might have this one.
I have Leaving Paradise on queue for review, I might add this on the linkie if ever i posted it since its a 2007 release :)