Will post on my blog on 9 October 2017.

E ARC from Netgalley

New York City kid Nicki has been in foster care since the death of her grandmother, who taught her how to be a pickpocket. It's been hard to find a permanent place with her background and attitude, so she's a bit surprised when she is approached by the marshalls of the Witness Protection Program to join a family. Her father has been released from jail but has never come back to claim her, which helps her make her decision. Not only would she join the Sicurezzas, but they would be unable to send her back to the Center, and all her previous records would be destroyed. Why? Elena Sicurezza worked with her brother, a big shot in the Cercatore family syndicate, but crossed him. In order to better hide the family, their name is being changed, they are moving to the south, and the federal agents feel that adding another child to the family will make them harder to trace. Nicki changes her name to Charlotte and moves into a new house with "Harriet Trevor", "Jonathan", and their son, "Jackson". It's an adjestment, especially since "Charlotte" can't commit any crimes, has to keep a B- average, can't be photographed or use social media, and has to generally lay pretty low. Luckily, new neighbor Britney is friendly, and the two gets along even though Britney warns Charlotte that she isn't popular. Slowly but surely, Charlotte learns to live with the Trevors, get along in school, and come to terms with her own past, which might just be the most dangerous part of the entire relocation.
Strengths: Most middle schoolers secretly wish that they could leave their own families and be someone else, at least part of the time. Following Nicki's story is one way for them to do this. She's a flawed but sympathetic character, and her issues are an intriguing lens through which to view ordinary middle school problems.
Weaknesses: Pretty sure that neither foster care nor real witness protection programs work in real life the way they do in the book. There's some suspension of disbelief necessary to buy into this premise.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, since it was an entertaining, well-written story. This is a fun way to get readers who like realistic fiction interested in spy type books, I think, and might encourage them to go on and read things like Carter's Gallagher Girls books.

Let me tell you a little story. While researching who was going to be doing book signings at BookExpo 2017, I noticed this book. It sounded interesting, so I wrote it into my initial schedule. As I was trying to thin it out, I realized this book was available on NetGalley. So I decided to request it and read it before BookExpo, to decide if I should meet the author or not.

Well, I started to read it during lunch and unofficially extended my lunch, read during the red lights on my drive home and when I got home, I needed to shower, eat and see my family. I decided I didn't care if I smelled, starved and never saw my family again, I HAD to finish this book!

And I did and it was GLORIOUS.

I told my boss at the book store about it. She requested it, received it and read it. I received threatening texts from her. "If this ends the way it looks like it is, I WILL KILL YOU WHEN I NEXT SEE YOU!" Followed by, "You get to live. Are you coming in on Sunday?"

So yes, I saw the author, and told EVERYone I met about how AMAZING this book is. I got a copy for my niece, so she will love me forever. And I got an unsigned copy for me. My boss....well, how was I to know she wanted a copy? Let's just say I'm no longer the favorite employee. :( At least she let me live! :D

I don't want to ruin this for anyone, but let's just say, I teared up, laughed out loud and am praying with everything I have that there is a sequel that is JUST as awesome as this one. My boss is too. So it's not just me who is all starry goo-goo eyed over this book.

So what am I saying? Read the blurb, get this book and fall in love. I would say this is good for middle grade on up. Some violence, no love interest (THANK YOU!), some bullying, but it is handled well. The author is both a parent and a teacher, so the kids come across as real and there are literary references sprinkled throughout which I LOVE. Also, the parents and other adults aren't MIA. Well, the ones you are introduced to aren't.

ALL the stars (since none of the review sites go higher than five, I have to make due with five. Pout.) Recommended for EVERYone.

My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

I absolutely flipping loved this book! She had me when Nicki made all the book character references. Thoroughly enjoyed all the characters and the story! Will be carrying this title in my store, I know a lot of people who will love it!

Humor, danger, adventure... This book has it all. The main character is a likable teen who has been rejected many times and finds out that her father has rejected her again. Yet she still maintains the ability to search for acceptance in her own life. The family that she joins plays along for safety at first. I loved the plot and the characters. I wanted to keep reading--even after the story was done to see what happened to their family next! It was a wonderful tale that just like real life included pain and laughter!

This had its ups and downs. There were parts that were super engrossing, and then there were parts that were just implausible. This is one of those books where I know I'm not the target audience and I'm having a hard time putting myself in that mindset. I would recommend it for the MG readers that are actually that age.