Description

The second book in the Greystone Secrets series from the master of plot twists, Margaret Peterson Haddix—perfect for fans of A Wrinkle in Time and The City of Ember!

Until their mother vanished, the Greystone kids—Chess, Emma, and Finn—knew nothing about the other world.

Everything is different there. It’s a mirror image, except things are wrong. Evil. Their mother tried to fix it, but she and an ally got trapped there along with Ms. Morales, their friend Natalie’s mom.

Now the four kids—brave Chess, smart Emma, kind Finn, and savvy Natalie—are determined to rescue everyone.

To do so, they have to go back: into the other world, where even telling the truth can be illegal.

But in such a terrifying place, Chess doubts he can ever be brave enough. Despite all her brains, Emma can’t seem to break the code. With everything spiraling out of control, Finn has to pretend he’s okay.

And for Natalie, the lies of the other world include some she wishes were actually true. What if she’s gotten so used to lying she no longer knows what to believe?

The second book in the Greystone Secrets series, The Deceivers, by bestselling author Margaret Peterson Haddix, continues the twisty and suspenseful story of the Greystone kids and examines the power of the truth—or a lie—to alter lives, society, and even an entire reality.

Praise for Greystone Secrets #1: The Strangers

*Winter 2018-2019 Kids' Indie Next List Pick*

“A secret-stacked, thrilling series opener.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“An engrossing mystery with a cliff-hanger ending to raise the stakes and delight fans new and old.” —Booklist

“Maintains suspense from the beginning to the cliffhanger ending. A high-stakes adventure full of teamwork with a multifaceted mystery and complex themes.” —Kirkus Reviews


  • An Alternate Dimension: The Greystone kids must return to a dangerous mirror world where everything they know is twisted and evil, and their enemies could be anywhere.
  • A Daring Rescue Mission: With their mothers' lives on the line, Chess, Emma, Finn, and Natalie must work together to pull off an impossible rescue from a place designed to keep them out.
  • Unbreakable Sibling Bonds: Brave Chess, brilliant Emma, and kind Finn must rely on each other like never before as they face their deepest fears in a world that challenges their every strength.
  • A World of Secrets and Lies: To survive in a reality where truth is a crime, the kids must decode cryptic messages and confront deceptions that could tear their team—and their families—apart.

About the author(s)

Margaret Peterson Haddix grew up on a farm in Ohio. She worked as a newspaper reporter and copy editor in Indiana before her first book, Running Out of Time, was published. She has since written more than fifty books for kids and teens, including the Greystone Secrets series, the Shadow Children series, the Missing series, the Mysteries of Trash and Treasure series, and many stand-alones. Her books have been honored with New York Times bestseller status, an Edgar Allan Poe award, and numerous state readers choice awards. Margaret and her husband, Doug, now live in Columbus, Ohio, where they raised their two kids. You can learn more about her at haddixbooks.com.

Reviews

“A highly suspenseful, delightfully clever thriller with a tinge of creepiness. Give yourself a few hours to calm down after you finish this gem!” - Lisa McMann, author of the Unwanteds Quests series

“Haddix returns with another mystery/adventure/science-fiction hybrid filled with twists, turns, and political undertones in the nefarious intentions of the alternate world. This first installment ends expectedly with a cliffhanger that is sure to leave readers wanting more.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Bestselling Haddix launches a new middle-grade series that blends adventure and sf elements into an engrossing mystery. The kidnapping alone could have made a compelling mystery, but Haddix throws in secret rooms, alternate realities, and a cliff-hanger ending to raise the stakes and delight fans new and old.” - Booklist

“Masterfully plotted and filled with so many jaw-dropping twists and turns, you’ll be racing toward the end—and begging for the next book. Put simply: this is Margaret Peterson Haddix at her absolute best.” - Shannon Messenger, author of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series

“With more twists than a spiral staircase, The Strangers kept me up way past my bedtime! This thrilling, page-turning adventure will keep you reading, and keep you guessing. Full of codes and clues, love and logic, this book will make you a part of the Greystone family.” - Amie Kaufman, author of the Elementals series

“A hair-raising, mind-twisting adventure full of intrigue, humor, and charm. The spunky, quirky Greystones are easy to cheer for and relate to, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.” - John David Anderson, author of Posted and Ms. Bixby’s Last Day

“Readers will come for the mystery, stay for the suspense, and linger in the Greystone kids’ world long after the final page. The Strangrs will take readers on an amazing ride they will not soon forget.” - Jennifer Nielsen, author of The Traitor’s Game and The Ascendance Trilogy

"Readers will have a ball scurrying through the secret passageways as the tense caper unfolds, but Haddix also gives plenty of page time to the kids’ inner musings. Thus readers are ensured a rich mystery-adventure that will activate their brains and sense of empathy." - Booklist

"This sequel never slows in pace, thrusting the characters into new, treacherous mysteries. In this sequel, Haddix explores themes of honesty and love as the children compare their experiences to those in the alternate universe. A perilous, high-action plot—with a cliffhanger." - Kirkus Reviews

"This mystery and science fiction adventure features sleuthing reminiscent of Lemony Snicket’s 'A Series of Unfortunate Events.' Haddix weaves a dystopian tale about government control, prison reform, fair trials, scapegoats, and the importance of believing people are innocent before proven guilty. " - School Library Journal

PRAISE FOR BOOK 1, THE STRANGERS: “A satisfying third-person narrative that portrays the complex anxieties and internal lives of close, caring family members grappling with a single set of extraordinary circumstances—separately and together. A secret-stacked, thrilling series opener about perception, personal memories, and the idiosyncrasies that form individual identities.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Maintains suspense from the beginning to the cliffhanger ending. A high-stakes adventure full of teamwork with a multifaceted mystery and complex themes.” - Kirkus Reviews

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