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Greetings from Witness Protection!
Nicki Demere is an orphan and a pickpocket. She also happens to be the U.S. Marshals' best bet to keep a family alive. . . .
The marshals are looking for the perfect girl to join a mother, father, and son on the run from the nation's most notorious criminals. After all, the bad guys are searching for a family with one kid, not two, and adding a streetwise girl who knows a little something about hiding things may be just what the marshals need.
Nicki swears she can keep the Trevor family safe, but to do so she'll have to dodge hitmen, cyberbullies, and the specter of standardized testing, all while maintaining her marshal-mandated B-minus average. As she barely balances the responsibilities of her new identity, Nicki learns that the biggest threats to her family's security might not lurk on the road from New York to North Carolina, but rather in her own past.
The marshals are looking for the perfect girl to join a mother, father, and son on the run from the nation's most notorious criminals. After all, the bad guys are searching for a family with one kid, not two, and adding a streetwise girl who knows a little something about hiding things may be just what the marshals need.
Nicki swears she can keep the Trevor family safe, but to do so she'll have to dodge hitmen, cyberbullies, and the specter of standardized testing, all while maintaining her marshal-mandated B-minus average. As she barely balances the responsibilities of her new identity, Nicki learns that the biggest threats to her family's security might not lurk on the road from New York to North Carolina, but rather in her own past.
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 3, 2017
334 people are currently reading
4061 people want to read
About the author
Jake Burt
6 books235 followersJake Burt is an author of middle grade fiction and a 5th grade teacher. He lives in Connecticut, plays the banjo, and enjoys ultimate frisbee. He has yet to meet a rabbit hole he won't go down.
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February 15, 2020
" . . . we're looking for a strong girl, one with your kind of grit, smarts, and skills. We're looking for a girl who has dealt with all that stuff and come through still spitting fire and throwing jabs. Nicki, kid - we're looking for you." -- deputy U.S. marshal Eddie Harkness, page 22
Nicolette 'Nicki' Demere is not your average thirteen year-old. She never knew her birth mother, and her father has spent the last seven years in prison. For a time she was raised by a grandmother who taught her the finer points of pickpocketing / shoplifting. Combined with some psychological issues caused by her family, Nicki developed kleptomania. She has lived for years in the foster care system.
However, the American government comes unexpectedly calling on Nicki for assistance. A family of three - mother, father, and twelve year-old son - are being placed into Witness Security (a.k.a WITSEC) after the mother turned federal evidence on her organized crime-related relatives. To help hide these folks in plain sight - in addition to the usual new identities and a relocation to a different state - the marshal's service deputies decide to add a 'daughter' into the family dynamic as a bit of camouflage. It doesn't hurt that Nicki coincidentally (and it's strictly a mere coincidence, not a plot twist) resembles her new mom. With that, the 'Trevor family' is moved to Durham, North Carolina.
Nicki - re-christened as Charlotte - now gets to experience lots of routine things for the very first time, including having a younger sibling (naturally, they don't get along at all at first). She attends junior high, makes friends, and participates in extracurricular activities. However, she still has to be very careful and maintain a low profile, as well. Easier said than done, especially with social media!
Author Jake Burt - who has now blessed us with three well-written middle grade / YA books in just three years (!) - knows how to craft a story that doesn't talk down to the intended kid-set audience, and is actually appropriate for nearly all ages. Along with the drama and humor mix there's also a palpable sense of real danger or suspense here, as hints are dropped that the bad guys are actively searching for the family to permanently silence them. No silly sugar-coating, it all plays out in a climax that is sort of believably but not gratuitously violent. Then there's that perfect final page . . .
*Much thanks once again to GR friend Jen for introducing me to this author via her reviews.
Nicolette 'Nicki' Demere is not your average thirteen year-old. She never knew her birth mother, and her father has spent the last seven years in prison. For a time she was raised by a grandmother who taught her the finer points of pickpocketing / shoplifting. Combined with some psychological issues caused by her family, Nicki developed kleptomania. She has lived for years in the foster care system.
However, the American government comes unexpectedly calling on Nicki for assistance. A family of three - mother, father, and twelve year-old son - are being placed into Witness Security (a.k.a WITSEC) after the mother turned federal evidence on her organized crime-related relatives. To help hide these folks in plain sight - in addition to the usual new identities and a relocation to a different state - the marshal's service deputies decide to add a 'daughter' into the family dynamic as a bit of camouflage. It doesn't hurt that Nicki coincidentally (and it's strictly a mere coincidence, not a plot twist) resembles her new mom. With that, the 'Trevor family' is moved to Durham, North Carolina.
Nicki - re-christened as Charlotte - now gets to experience lots of routine things for the very first time, including having a younger sibling (naturally, they don't get along at all at first). She attends junior high, makes friends, and participates in extracurricular activities. However, she still has to be very careful and maintain a low profile, as well. Easier said than done, especially with social media!
Author Jake Burt - who has now blessed us with three well-written middle grade / YA books in just three years (!) - knows how to craft a story that doesn't talk down to the intended kid-set audience, and is actually appropriate for nearly all ages. Along with the drama and humor mix there's also a palpable sense of real danger or suspense here, as hints are dropped that the bad guys are actively searching for the family to permanently silence them. No silly sugar-coating, it all plays out in a climax that is sort of believably but not gratuitously violent. Then there's that perfect final page . . .
*Much thanks once again to GR friend Jen for introducing me to this author via her reviews.
January 4, 2020
Re-read 1/4/20
I wanted this to be the first book I read in 2020. 5, the stars are shiny cuz they shine not cuz I have tears in my eyes, stars. Not crying, not crying from how beautiful this book is at all. Nope, not me.
End re-read portion of review.
Bump.
Bumpbumpbumpbumpbumpbumpbump!!!
It's out THIS MONTH!!!! Buy it, read it, love it, give it to all of your friends and family!!!
AND the MOST exciting part?!?!
(Whispers so the Universe won't take it away.) The author is coming to my store for a signing in December!!!!1!!!'wncdyvfhjb!!!!!
#diesfangirling
Original review below this point. :)
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 we 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 wanted this to be the first book I read in 2020. 5, the stars are shiny cuz they shine not cuz I have tears in my eyes, stars. Not crying, not crying from how beautiful this book is at all. Nope, not me.
End re-read portion of review.
Bump.
Bumpbumpbumpbumpbumpbumpbump!!!
It's out THIS MONTH!!!! Buy it, read it, love it, give it to all of your friends and family!!!
AND the MOST exciting part?!?!
(Whispers so the Universe won't take it away.) The author is coming to my store for a signing in December!!!!1!!!'wncdyvfhjb!!!!!
#diesfangirling
Original review below this point. :)
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 we 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.
December 19, 2017
The audio production was fabulous.
December 11, 2017
I loved this book. Charlotte, that is not her real name......, is one of my favorite characters of 2017. Readers are going to fall in love with this family!
April 17, 2017
With this type of book, so much of it hangs on whether you buy the voice or not. I didn't. Nicki/Charlotte didn't seem like a real person to me -- certainly not a product of a traumatic childhood and dozens of foster homes, and not like a 13-year-old girl, either. The other teenagers didn't seem like teenagers and the mobsters resembled only the most cartoonish of mobsters.
A passage that stuck out to me: Charlotte and her friend are at the mall, and three Mean Girls emerge from a Delia*s to torment them. "I'm totally blogging about this later!" crows the Lead Mean Girl about the encounter.
Okay. The last physical Delia*s retail store closed in 2015 (and the brand stopped being cool around 1999 if I am being GENEROUS). Also, Modern Teens do not talk about "blogging." That's a total anachronism; she would probably snapchat that shit. The irony is that Burt has an earlier passage making fun of another adult character's attempt at teen lingo -- and then there's this.
This is not in any way an ill-intentioned or mean-spirited book, but I did not buy the world or the characters for one minute, and frankly I was bored.
A passage that stuck out to me: Charlotte and her friend are at the mall, and three Mean Girls emerge from a Delia*s to torment them. "I'm totally blogging about this later!" crows the Lead Mean Girl about the encounter.
Okay. The last physical Delia*s retail store closed in 2015 (and the brand stopped being cool around 1999 if I am being GENEROUS). Also, Modern Teens do not talk about "blogging." That's a total anachronism; she would probably snapchat that shit. The irony is that Burt has an earlier passage making fun of another adult character's attempt at teen lingo -- and then there's this.
This is not in any way an ill-intentioned or mean-spirited book, but I did not buy the world or the characters for one minute, and frankly I was bored.
March 7, 2017
What do you get when you take a thirteen year old girl with kleptomania out of foster care, give her a Taser and a new name, and put her in witness protection with a family that the mob is after? Heartfelt wonderfulness! Hilarity! Suspense! Much Tasering!
I've been looking forward to GREETINGS FROM WITNESS PROTECTION! for a long time, and it did not disappoint. It had everything I wanted it to--heart, much humour, a female best friend who's a pro gamer--and more.
For me, the very best part of this fab book was how the main character's kleptomania was handled. Kleptomania is often treated in media as something hilarious, but this book treated it as the anxiety-based compulsive disorder it is. As someone who has a (different) anxiety-based compulsive disorder, I found Nicki/Charlotte’s kleptomania to be compelling and real. She doesn't steal out of greed or malice or a desire for profit. She steals when she's anxious, because she gets compulsions she can’t control. And her kleptomania isn’t “something she needs to overcome,” but just something she’s learning to cope with on a long-term, daily basis. Although my own disorder is different from Nicki/Charlotte’s in so many ways, this book made me feel understood.
Oh, and it also made me laugh constantly and cry regularly. And want to get a Taser. Anyone know where I can get a Taser?
I've been looking forward to GREETINGS FROM WITNESS PROTECTION! for a long time, and it did not disappoint. It had everything I wanted it to--heart, much humour, a female best friend who's a pro gamer--and more.
For me, the very best part of this fab book was how the main character's kleptomania was handled. Kleptomania is often treated in media as something hilarious, but this book treated it as the anxiety-based compulsive disorder it is. As someone who has a (different) anxiety-based compulsive disorder, I found Nicki/Charlotte’s kleptomania to be compelling and real. She doesn't steal out of greed or malice or a desire for profit. She steals when she's anxious, because she gets compulsions she can’t control. And her kleptomania isn’t “something she needs to overcome,” but just something she’s learning to cope with on a long-term, daily basis. Although my own disorder is different from Nicki/Charlotte’s in so many ways, this book made me feel understood.
Oh, and it also made me laugh constantly and cry regularly. And want to get a Taser. Anyone know where I can get a Taser?
April 13, 2017
I'd been looking forward to this book since I first least about it in fall 2016, and it did not disappoint. Nicki Demere, a group home occupying orphan with legitimate (and super well-drawn, if you ask me) kleptomania that manifests as pickpocketing, life is forever changed when she finds out she's been chosen for a special program that will pair her with a family in witness protection as an extra child, which will supposedly make said family more difficult to find... but the family Nicki's placed with, as it turns out, is linked to one of the most notorious crime families in the nation. Hijinks ensue.
What I loved most about this book... well there were a couple of things. First was Nicki/Charlotte's (or as affectionately refer to her: Nicklotte) almost-indomitable spirit. I say "almost" because she WAS breakable and she DID have points of vulnerability, and when they showed, boy did they show. She was so delightfully human and thirteen and mature-by-way-of-life-circumstances, but also sometimes immature in her handling of stressful situations. She totally leapt off the page.
I also really loved the interplay between Nicklotte and her *brother* Jackson (whose previous name was Lucas)'s former lives with their witness protection lives. Not even sure it was intentional, but by setting the experiences of these two characters side by side, I personally got a glimpse into the the way these two kids had been shaped/molded by their upbringings and just how deeply they (WE!) are affected by things like family dynamics.
Overall, it was a great read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I know my 13 year old self definitely would have too!
What I loved most about this book... well there were a couple of things. First was Nicki/Charlotte's (or as affectionately refer to her: Nicklotte) almost-indomitable spirit. I say "almost" because she WAS breakable and she DID have points of vulnerability, and when they showed, boy did they show. She was so delightfully human and thirteen and mature-by-way-of-life-circumstances, but also sometimes immature in her handling of stressful situations. She totally leapt off the page.
I also really loved the interplay between Nicklotte and her *brother* Jackson (whose previous name was Lucas)'s former lives with their witness protection lives. Not even sure it was intentional, but by setting the experiences of these two characters side by side, I personally got a glimpse into the the way these two kids had been shaped/molded by their upbringings and just how deeply they (WE!) are affected by things like family dynamics.
Overall, it was a great read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I know my 13 year old self definitely would have too!
February 4, 2021
*This book was read as part of Middle Grade Madness’s 2021 TBR Challenge*
Written with heart and humour, this was an absolute delight to read! With fantastic characters and character dynamics I was kept entertained and amused almost all of the time. I liked that there was an emotional level to this and it wasn’t just an action-based high stakes kind of adventure. It was that emotion that helped ground this in reality whilst still portraying a completely unbelievable story. And that’s where this book really excelled.
I liked the surprises and twists thrown into the mix, they helped to keep the story exciting. But even during the purely domestic moments of everyday life this book managed to make it interesting. The protagonist was fantastic and I really appreciated her constant book references – there’s nothing a reader loves more!
So, all in all, a solid read. Fun, sweet, and just the right length!
Written with heart and humour, this was an absolute delight to read! With fantastic characters and character dynamics I was kept entertained and amused almost all of the time. I liked that there was an emotional level to this and it wasn’t just an action-based high stakes kind of adventure. It was that emotion that helped ground this in reality whilst still portraying a completely unbelievable story. And that’s where this book really excelled.
I liked the surprises and twists thrown into the mix, they helped to keep the story exciting. But even during the purely domestic moments of everyday life this book managed to make it interesting. The protagonist was fantastic and I really appreciated her constant book references – there’s nothing a reader loves more!
So, all in all, a solid read. Fun, sweet, and just the right length!
March 14, 2023
The premise told me I should really enjoy this book; however, I had no idea what a delightful read it would be.
Charlotte is such a wonderful character that I don't know where to begin. Maybe it's that Jake Burt managed to create a realistic mixture of strength and weakness in her. Any girl who has gone through all she has WOULD be strong in some way or another. But she's a kid and a broken one at that. He showed that as well.
She made the right decisions... and the wrong ones. She endeared people to her in ways she never had before, and mostly because she (like all kids) finally had purpose! Kids need to be useful in some way. Yes, Charlotte was given more responsibility than a kid should have, but this is fiction. Middle-grade. And kids want to cheer for themselves.
And that brings me to another brilliant thing. THANK YOU, Jake Burt, for not making all adults idiots. I'm so sick of that trope. Seriously, the last thing kids need is to feel like the adults around them are incompetent to BE the adults in their lives.
Note to parents: there are a couple of words that are generally considered inappropriate for kids (or adults) to use.
Charlotte is such a wonderful character that I don't know where to begin. Maybe it's that Jake Burt managed to create a realistic mixture of strength and weakness in her. Any girl who has gone through all she has WOULD be strong in some way or another. But she's a kid and a broken one at that. He showed that as well.
She made the right decisions... and the wrong ones. She endeared people to her in ways she never had before, and mostly because she (like all kids) finally had purpose! Kids need to be useful in some way. Yes, Charlotte was given more responsibility than a kid should have, but this is fiction. Middle-grade. And kids want to cheer for themselves.
And that brings me to another brilliant thing. THANK YOU, Jake Burt, for not making all adults idiots. I'm so sick of that trope. Seriously, the last thing kids need is to feel like the adults around them are incompetent to BE the adults in their lives.
Note to parents: there are a couple of words that are generally considered inappropriate for kids (or adults) to use.
June 12, 2017
Cute, quick read for tweens on up. You won't want to put this book down as you read about a family in witness protection. To help keep the family safe, a streetwise girl is added to the family as their daughter. A few weepy parts, funny parts and an end with a twist. Deserves all five stars and maybe a little extra.
Read
March 23, 2018DNF. There were simply too many details for me to grasp. This doesn't mean it's a badly-written story, at all; just, you know me . . . my brain doesn't Do Details.
If you like middle-grade adventure stories, and crime fiction, you might really enjoy this. (My mom liked it :) )
If you like middle-grade adventure stories, and crime fiction, you might really enjoy this. (My mom liked it :) )
April 25, 2017
So great. Suspenseful, poignant, and so heartfelt.
October 1, 2017
A completely unique and heartwarming middle school adventure story, GREETINGS FROM WITNESS PROTECTION will keep readers on the edge of their seats as they laugh and (almost) cry with Nicki...I mean, Charlotte.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy of this title - all opinions are my own
Jake Burt has taken the witness protection storyline that we have seen pretty regularly in adult fiction and television/movies and added a perfect twist for the early teen market. Take a child in the foster care system, add in organized crime, a new family, a new school, new friends, a taser gun, a superstar gamer best friend and a case of kleptomania and you have a story that is truly impossible not to fall in love with. Nicki...I mean, Charlotte, has a hardened view of the world due to her upbringing but presents herself as the 13-year-old we all wish we could have been. Above the ridiculous nature of middle school drama and able to see a bigger picture, she struggles with much deeper demons, but still can give her heart to her new family.
I read this story in less than a day as I raced to find out whether the Trevor family would be able to evade the criminals trying to find them, and was left with a deep sense of satisfaction but also a desire for a sequel so we can continue following the family's journey.
Highly recommended for middle school libraries and classrooms, especially grades 7-9. It is appropriate for lower grades, but perhaps not as relatable. I pre-ordered a copy for my middle school library and am eager to share it with students.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy of this title - all opinions are my own
Jake Burt has taken the witness protection storyline that we have seen pretty regularly in adult fiction and television/movies and added a perfect twist for the early teen market. Take a child in the foster care system, add in organized crime, a new family, a new school, new friends, a taser gun, a superstar gamer best friend and a case of kleptomania and you have a story that is truly impossible not to fall in love with. Nicki...I mean, Charlotte, has a hardened view of the world due to her upbringing but presents herself as the 13-year-old we all wish we could have been. Above the ridiculous nature of middle school drama and able to see a bigger picture, she struggles with much deeper demons, but still can give her heart to her new family.
I read this story in less than a day as I raced to find out whether the Trevor family would be able to evade the criminals trying to find them, and was left with a deep sense of satisfaction but also a desire for a sequel so we can continue following the family's journey.
Highly recommended for middle school libraries and classrooms, especially grades 7-9. It is appropriate for lower grades, but perhaps not as relatable. I pre-ordered a copy for my middle school library and am eager to share it with students.
March 21, 2019
Nicki's had a hard life. Her father went to prison when she was little, and she was placed into foster care after the death of her grandmother. She's used to a transient lifestyle, and deals with anxiety by pick-pocketing. So she might sound like an unlikely candidate for what the US Marshals call 'Project Family.' Or maybe she's exactly what they're looking for!
The Trevor family is in the Witness Protection after testifying against a powerful crime syndicate. Nicki's job is to blend in as part of their family, and help them survive as new people with new names and altered pasts, and life in a strange new Southern town. The biggest challenge is that everyone - Nicki included - now must aim to be unremarkably "mediocre."
Nicki really hits out of the ballpark as a plucky orphan. She throws herself into the Trevor's lives, and it's heartwarming to read how much her pluckiness (I know, I keep using that word) changes their circumstances for the better. There is a lot of resentment on the part of her new brother, but I felt that it played out well as sibling rivalry. I loved her relationship with her new parents, who step into their roles with grace and empathy. Equally as charming is Nicki's burgeoning friendship with the girl next door, who had long resigned herself the role of outcast.
Overall, I thought this was a really fun read, with adequate attention paid to the more serious issues of kleptomania and the big bads trying to track the Trevor family down.
The Trevor family is in the Witness Protection after testifying against a powerful crime syndicate. Nicki's job is to blend in as part of their family, and help them survive as new people with new names and altered pasts, and life in a strange new Southern town. The biggest challenge is that everyone - Nicki included - now must aim to be unremarkably "mediocre."
Nicki really hits out of the ballpark as a plucky orphan. She throws herself into the Trevor's lives, and it's heartwarming to read how much her pluckiness (I know, I keep using that word) changes their circumstances for the better. There is a lot of resentment on the part of her new brother, but I felt that it played out well as sibling rivalry. I loved her relationship with her new parents, who step into their roles with grace and empathy. Equally as charming is Nicki's burgeoning friendship with the girl next door, who had long resigned herself the role of outcast.
Overall, I thought this was a really fun read, with adequate attention paid to the more serious issues of kleptomania and the big bads trying to track the Trevor family down.
October 13, 2017
Jake Burt hits it out of the ball park with this one. It's rated for middle schoolers, but I have grandchildren and I savored every page.
Although the plot is a little farfetched, it has that plausibility that makes us believe that the feds could really initiate such a program (after all, they've done dumber things, right?). And Nicki's character is dead on, yearning for a real family and protecting herself with a sarcastic shell.
This is one to buy for your kids, your grandkids, or as a gift for your public library. It's that good. With any luck, we'll see a sequel.
*ARC via netgalley*
Although the plot is a little farfetched, it has that plausibility that makes us believe that the feds could really initiate such a program (after all, they've done dumber things, right?). And Nicki's character is dead on, yearning for a real family and protecting herself with a sarcastic shell.
This is one to buy for your kids, your grandkids, or as a gift for your public library. It's that good. With any luck, we'll see a sequel.
*ARC via netgalley*
February 9, 2018
Middle grade fiction at its best. Burt's novel combines incredible characters with an underlying tension that's carried throughout the novel. (Can't help but love a book set in NC too!) I can see this book shared constantly in a classroom. Maybe I've found my next read loud?
August 16, 2016
I loved it! The main character is feisty but still appealing, and the Relationship with the new family is believable - especially the Relationship with the "younger brother". Highly recommended!
May 16, 2017
Thank you, School Library Journal, for sending an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to read Greetings from Witness Protection! ever since I saw it featured in a webinar about upcoming middle grade titles and was thrilled when a box arrived at my library from School Library Journal with this book inside. I'm pleased to say the book did not disappoint.
I loved Nicki (or Charlotte) as a character, and I loved her story. Not only does she have a big role in keeping her adopted family safe, but she must navigate the ups and downs of middle school and all that comes with it, including friendship, mean girls, standardized tests, and a little brother. Her voice was funny and sarcastic, with a lot of heart hidden underneath. The main tension in the book comes from the question of whether or not the bad guys will find them, with just enough hints that their enemies are closing in to keep the stakes high and the story moving forward--but the best part of the book was the focus on Nicki's relationship with her new parents and brother, her absent father, and Nicki herself as she struggles to find where she belongs and who she really is beneath the lies and her circumstances. I would recommend this to all ages but I think it would especially appeal to younger readers, though the end scene is somewhat violent and the reality of Nicki and her family hiding from killers is serious. If you're looking for a fun middle grade book with humor and high stakes for yourself or your children/students, this is the book for you.
I wanted to read Greetings from Witness Protection! ever since I saw it featured in a webinar about upcoming middle grade titles and was thrilled when a box arrived at my library from School Library Journal with this book inside. I'm pleased to say the book did not disappoint.
I loved Nicki (or Charlotte) as a character, and I loved her story. Not only does she have a big role in keeping her adopted family safe, but she must navigate the ups and downs of middle school and all that comes with it, including friendship, mean girls, standardized tests, and a little brother. Her voice was funny and sarcastic, with a lot of heart hidden underneath. The main tension in the book comes from the question of whether or not the bad guys will find them, with just enough hints that their enemies are closing in to keep the stakes high and the story moving forward--but the best part of the book was the focus on Nicki's relationship with her new parents and brother, her absent father, and Nicki herself as she struggles to find where she belongs and who she really is beneath the lies and her circumstances. I would recommend this to all ages but I think it would especially appeal to younger readers, though the end scene is somewhat violent and the reality of Nicki and her family hiding from killers is serious. If you're looking for a fun middle grade book with humor and high stakes for yourself or your children/students, this is the book for you.
February 11, 2019
*I received a free copy from a Goodreads giveaway.
The author, Jake Burt, could not have penned a better debut book than this one. I mean this was a really, really great book to read. It was suspenseful, it was touching, it portrayed serious subject matter in a light way for kids to grasp, it was humorous, it was amazing. This book is a great addition to the MG (Middle-Grade) genre. I hope the book, and author, gets their due.
The book is about a young girl who was taught that her hands are her treasure. They're invaluable. Honed to be silent and quick, her hands can pick, swipe, move, and catch as good as the best of them. They also have a mind of their own sometimes, when she's stressed or nervous, and even though they're her greatest asset she wishes she could control them a little better. Especially since being in the foster system comes with a lot of stress and nervousness. She just wants a family she can stick with.
The U.S.Marshalls want to do just that. Picked from thousands of children they believe she has the skill and adaptability to help them hide a family from great danger. This family of three has a big target on their backs, which is why they want her to make number four. The bad guys aren't going to be looking for a family of four with a daughter. It's a tough choice, but she accepts. She's had plenty of new families, in new schools, in new lives, this time she just has to change her name, too. It'll be ok.
Except it's a lot harder than she thought. And she's not sure she can protect them.
The author, Jake Burt, could not have penned a better debut book than this one. I mean this was a really, really great book to read. It was suspenseful, it was touching, it portrayed serious subject matter in a light way for kids to grasp, it was humorous, it was amazing. This book is a great addition to the MG (Middle-Grade) genre. I hope the book, and author, gets their due.
The book is about a young girl who was taught that her hands are her treasure. They're invaluable. Honed to be silent and quick, her hands can pick, swipe, move, and catch as good as the best of them. They also have a mind of their own sometimes, when she's stressed or nervous, and even though they're her greatest asset she wishes she could control them a little better. Especially since being in the foster system comes with a lot of stress and nervousness. She just wants a family she can stick with.
The U.S.Marshalls want to do just that. Picked from thousands of children they believe she has the skill and adaptability to help them hide a family from great danger. This family of three has a big target on their backs, which is why they want her to make number four. The bad guys aren't going to be looking for a family of four with a daughter. It's a tough choice, but she accepts. She's had plenty of new families, in new schools, in new lives, this time she just has to change her name, too. It'll be ok.
Except it's a lot harder than she thought. And she's not sure she can protect them.
August 24, 2017
This book was amazing! For YA, it has everything: a broad spectrum of emotions, family and friend dynamics, mystery, physical and cyber violence and an inside look at Witness Protection. When published, I'm sure to tell many about this awesome fiction debut title!
November 18, 2017
3.5
This was fun! I do really enjoy books about the witness protection program, and this one did not disappoint. Some of the dialogue was really cringey and I had to suspend my belief a little bit but overall this book was a good time.
This was fun! I do really enjoy books about the witness protection program, and this one did not disappoint. Some of the dialogue was really cringey and I had to suspend my belief a little bit but overall this book was a good time.
December 30, 2017
OMG it was an amazing book. It was an absolutely addicting and I loved it. It had me on the edge of my seat.
January 28, 2019
*still deciding if it's a 4 or 5 star read*
September 10, 2021
I loved it!! Such a great book!!!
September 17, 2024
this book was actually really good
October 15, 2017
Many thanks to @kidlitexchange network for sharing this book for review. All opinions are my own.
Nikki (Charlotte) has never known her mother, her dad’s in prison and her grammy has died so she’s in “the system”. So far she has bounced from foster home to foster home with five stops along the way. She also has another problem. When she is nervous she picks the pocket of anyone within arm’s length. She just can’t help herself! But suddenly she is given an unexpected choice - remain at the children’s home for her next foster placement or become the daughter of a family entering witness protection. After she is given ten minutes to decide, she says yes! Nikki immediately leaves “Nikki of New York City” behind and becomes “Charlotte Trevor who is moving from Ohio to Durham, North Carolina”. For the first time in her life, she has a mother, a father, a brother AND her own turret shaped room in a historical house on a tree lined street. She is actually part of a family and her only job is to do her part to keep them safe; a job she takes very seriously.
This book is full of adventure, middle school issues, and lots of love. I really admired Charlotte’s strength as she did her very best to follow all of the rules issued by the U.S. Marshalls and there were a LOT of rules. She proves herself to be a loyal friend, a great problem solver and a caring daughter as she grows more accustomed to her new life. Her calm demeanor, her sense of humor and her vigilance helps her entire family face their very frightening situation.
I would highly recommend this for grades 5 - 8. There is so much adventure, as well as so much heart in this story, that it will appeal to everyone. In fact, I couldn't put it down!
Nikki (Charlotte) has never known her mother, her dad’s in prison and her grammy has died so she’s in “the system”. So far she has bounced from foster home to foster home with five stops along the way. She also has another problem. When she is nervous she picks the pocket of anyone within arm’s length. She just can’t help herself! But suddenly she is given an unexpected choice - remain at the children’s home for her next foster placement or become the daughter of a family entering witness protection. After she is given ten minutes to decide, she says yes! Nikki immediately leaves “Nikki of New York City” behind and becomes “Charlotte Trevor who is moving from Ohio to Durham, North Carolina”. For the first time in her life, she has a mother, a father, a brother AND her own turret shaped room in a historical house on a tree lined street. She is actually part of a family and her only job is to do her part to keep them safe; a job she takes very seriously.
This book is full of adventure, middle school issues, and lots of love. I really admired Charlotte’s strength as she did her very best to follow all of the rules issued by the U.S. Marshalls and there were a LOT of rules. She proves herself to be a loyal friend, a great problem solver and a caring daughter as she grows more accustomed to her new life. Her calm demeanor, her sense of humor and her vigilance helps her entire family face their very frightening situation.
I would highly recommend this for grades 5 - 8. There is so much adventure, as well as so much heart in this story, that it will appeal to everyone. In fact, I couldn't put it down!
December 8, 2017
If you are looking for a FANTASTIC middle grade read to end your year with, this is a great choice! It’s a heartwarming adventure story that involves kleptomania, witness protection, nerdy gamer friends, a deadbeat dad, and all the trappings that truly make family family.
Nicki Demere is an orphan with quick fingers she knows how to use. But when she gets pegged to help save a family in witness protection by joining them in hiding, her life gets turned upside down. She may just be getting a real family after all, but is it worth having to keep so many secrets?
I liked the focus on fitting in vs. standing out. What middle school student doesn’t struggle with finding that perfect balance? Of course, most teens aren’t facing the task of keeping an entire family off the radar so that they can live to see another day. Yeah, not many kids have that problem on their hands, making blending in crucial.
This was such a poignant tale of friendship and family, and it’s wrapped up in an exciting adventure story that is sure to entertain readers of all ages.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Nicki Demere is an orphan with quick fingers she knows how to use. But when she gets pegged to help save a family in witness protection by joining them in hiding, her life gets turned upside down. She may just be getting a real family after all, but is it worth having to keep so many secrets?
I liked the focus on fitting in vs. standing out. What middle school student doesn’t struggle with finding that perfect balance? Of course, most teens aren’t facing the task of keeping an entire family off the radar so that they can live to see another day. Yeah, not many kids have that problem on their hands, making blending in crucial.
This was such a poignant tale of friendship and family, and it’s wrapped up in an exciting adventure story that is sure to entertain readers of all ages.
Rating: 5/5 stars
November 6, 2017
Thirteen-year-old Nicki Demere continues to live in a group home because she can't seem to "stick" with foster families where she's been placed, possibly due to the shoplifting she learned from her dead grandma.
The U.S. marshals enter the scene and ask Nickie to consider being the girl in a family that is in the Witness Protection Program. The family of three is hiding from the mother's Mob like family, and having an additional child may thwart the criminals. Nicki accepts the challenge, especially since her own father has not shown up to claim her. Thefamily is debriefed on their new identities and Nicki, aka Charlotte, learns she has to stay under the radar by keeping a B-minus average in the new high achieving school, even though she's read almost all the books in the group home and has memorized everything the marshals have required.
Nickie does other things she's supposed to do to blend in: befriend the neighbor girl, be average at basketball, fight with her younger brother, and even defends him when their family's lives depend on it.
Loved the premise, the humor, and the heart-tugging moments! Looking forward to more books by Jake Burt
The U.S. marshals enter the scene and ask Nickie to consider being the girl in a family that is in the Witness Protection Program. The family of three is hiding from the mother's Mob like family, and having an additional child may thwart the criminals. Nicki accepts the challenge, especially since her own father has not shown up to claim her. Thefamily is debriefed on their new identities and Nicki, aka Charlotte, learns she has to stay under the radar by keeping a B-minus average in the new high achieving school, even though she's read almost all the books in the group home and has memorized everything the marshals have required.
Nickie does other things she's supposed to do to blend in: befriend the neighbor girl, be average at basketball, fight with her younger brother, and even defends him when their family's lives depend on it.
Loved the premise, the humor, and the heart-tugging moments! Looking forward to more books by Jake Burt
February 24, 2018
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for Greetings from Witness Protection by #jakeburt, which I finished in less than a day.
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Nicki has spent much of her childhood in foster care, but her newest family is unconventional—she’s being asked to go undercover with a family in witness protection! Nicki, now Charlotte, must protect her new family at all costs, but secrets from her past may come back to haunt her...
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This book is addictive! I just love Nicki/Charlotte, flaws and all. She’s incredibly relatable, as are secondary characters like her gamer-friend, Brit (Britney Aguilera Guthrie. Poor kid! 🤣), her “brother” Lucas/Jackson and her mom-figure, Elena/Harriet. I dare a student to try reading this one and give up on it. It’s just sooooo good. And it’s a debut! I can’t wait to see what #jakeburt comes up with next!
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#bookstagram #book #reading #bibliophile #bookworm #bookaholic #booknerd #bookgram #librarian #librariansfollowlibrarians #librariansofinstagram #booklove #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookish #bookaddict #booknerdigans #booknerd #ilovereading #instabook #futurereadylibs #ISTElibs #TLChat
_*_*_*_*_*
Nicki has spent much of her childhood in foster care, but her newest family is unconventional—she’s being asked to go undercover with a family in witness protection! Nicki, now Charlotte, must protect her new family at all costs, but secrets from her past may come back to haunt her...
_*_*_*_*_*
This book is addictive! I just love Nicki/Charlotte, flaws and all. She’s incredibly relatable, as are secondary characters like her gamer-friend, Brit (Britney Aguilera Guthrie. Poor kid! 🤣), her “brother” Lucas/Jackson and her mom-figure, Elena/Harriet. I dare a student to try reading this one and give up on it. It’s just sooooo good. And it’s a debut! I can’t wait to see what #jakeburt comes up with next!
_*_*_*_*_*
#bookstagram #book #reading #bibliophile #bookworm #bookaholic #booknerd #bookgram #librarian #librariansfollowlibrarians #librariansofinstagram #booklove #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookish #bookaddict #booknerdigans #booknerd #ilovereading #instabook #futurereadylibs #ISTElibs #TLChat
July 11, 2018
I want to get a copy of this book for every new student that comes in the middle of the year and just slide it onto their desks! This was so fun with just a touch of drama and OH MY GOSH!
Nicki, or Charlotte for most of the book, is in the foster system because her mom took off, her dad is in jail, and her grandma died. She's been in and out of good and not-so-good homes due to a little problem with her stealing. We meet her when she has just returned to the group home.
She's quickly taken away again by two federal marshals to serve in a new program for people in the Witness Protection Program. They put foster kids in with families to make the family less searchable. This particular family has a mother who has testified against her crime family, a father, and a younger "brother" in 6th grade. They need to add another kid to their family so that the people searching for them are thrown off. That's Charlotte's job - to throw off the bad guys, blend in as much as possible, and report anything suspicious. Doing all this while surviving being the new girl in a middle school proves to be a huge challenge.
Nicki, or Charlotte for most of the book, is in the foster system because her mom took off, her dad is in jail, and her grandma died. She's been in and out of good and not-so-good homes due to a little problem with her stealing. We meet her when she has just returned to the group home.
She's quickly taken away again by two federal marshals to serve in a new program for people in the Witness Protection Program. They put foster kids in with families to make the family less searchable. This particular family has a mother who has testified against her crime family, a father, and a younger "brother" in 6th grade. They need to add another kid to their family so that the people searching for them are thrown off. That's Charlotte's job - to throw off the bad guys, blend in as much as possible, and report anything suspicious. Doing all this while surviving being the new girl in a middle school proves to be a huge challenge.
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