Hoax for Hire

by Laura Martin

The McNeil family has always been professional hoaxers—tricking bystanders into believing they’re seeing legendary creatures like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster.

Unlike the rest of his family, twelve-year-old Grayson hates hoaxing and wants nothing to do with the business—even when the McNeils land a huge job and must pull off four sea monster hoaxes in a week.

But when things go disastrously wrong and Dad and Gramps go missing, Grayson and his brother, Curtis, are the only people who can finish the job and save their family.

Genres: Middle Grade, Adventure, Contemporary, Family, Action, Childrens, Fiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published August 27, 2019

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this one. That all the mysterious creatures stories could be attributed to one (sometimes two) family hoaxing over a couple of centuries. Great idea. There are way more creepy creature stories over the world than I had ever heard of or expected!
I wanted to like it more than I did. Sometimes it was a little off in tone and that just really bugged me. It was a little more crass than I expected a middle grade novel to be so that I was a little on guard. I was editing out the occasional word or situation as I read it to my kids. Overall I was disappointed.
It reminded me quite a bit of Heist Society by Ally Carter in the beginning in that the main character doesn't want to be involved with their family's questionable family business. But while the Carter novel is super cool and manages to walk the tightrope on staying on the good guys side, this one fell off a bit in that the main characters are committing some minor, but still criminal acts by the end of the novel (car jacking, physical altercations, etc) so that was not great.

[Darcy Roar · Rating 4 out of 5]

3-3.5 for me but I think it'll really appeal to the target audience so it all rounds up.

I really like the premise of this book (a family of cryptid hunters turned cryptid hoaxers has to pull off a huge job with the odds against them) & I greatly enjoyed the crime shenanigans of the two teen protagonists, buuuuuuuut I hated the way the characters & the story itself treated the feelings of it's protagonist. See the emotional drama of the story is that the Youngest McNeil, Grayson, doesn't want to join the family business, he wants to be a photographer instead. He completely tuned out of hoaxing when he tried to merge his passion & his family's livelihood with a class report/photos on the Loch Ness monster (My memories are a bit fuzzy here, but I'm fairly sure he didn't have any pictures of the actual dummy his family uses for fake Nessie sightings) & his Dad torched the whole project with little explanation (Like I get their all dealing with some trauma, but when you're kid is Stoked about something you can't just burn it to the ground & expect there to be no emotional consequences). Almost every person in this book is a general butt about Grayson's feelings & while there is a change of heart towards the end (fine, its a middle grades book, I get it) there is NEVER a reckoning with dad about it. Grayson is the one that has to change for the story to go forward & while that is not unreasonable, it is upsetting to see it when no one tries to understand his side of things really. Blergh! Basically it boils down to what most Mg adventures do for me, I want to gather up all these little abused adventure hooligans, give them a hug, let them feel their feelings, & smack their adults/'caretakers'.

All that said, the premise is fun & interesting (cryptids & crime), the story reads fairly well (a bit slow at the beginning but there's a lot to set up), & the characters are relatable enough (& boys! Why are there so few good boy protag Mg books these days?). I think it'll be a big hit when we get to booktalk at schools again & I mostly enjoyed reading it (despite my desire to strangle most everyone).

[Christine Rains · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grayson McNeil wants nothing to do with his family's cryptid hoaxing business and dreams of a normal life. His father lost himself to work after his mother died, and his big brother Curtis is totally ready to dive into the hoaxing. Yet when their dad gets caught and leaves a job unfinished, Grayson and Curtis must finish it themselves. Can they pull off the biggest sea monster hoax they've ever done to save their family's business all the while their competition is hunting them down?

My 11-year-old son picked this MG book up from his school library. I was very excited to read it with him as I love books about legends and lore. We both enjoyed it. It was a bit slow to begin, but soon things started to snowball, and wow! Lots of secrets, twists and turns, and hoaxers hoaxing hoaxers. Grayson was a believable middle schooler who only wanted his family to be around, and I felt for him a lot. I really enjoyed Gramps and wished he would have been in it more than he was. Maybe we'll get a sequel? Or prequel? I'd love to read another book about the McNeils.

[Theresa Grissom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Edelweiss for an ARC of this book.

Hoax for Hire was a fun, unique and fast paced middle grade book that I think the students will love. I'm excited to share this book with them.

[Shirley Freeman]

Twelve-year-old Grayson MacNeil desperately wants out of the family hoaxing business. What's the point of risking life and limb to set up elaborate hoaxes (think Big Foot and Loch Ness Monster) when you can't photograph it or talk about it ever. One weekend Dad and Gramps are both out of the country setting up hoaxes requiring Grayson and his older brother to step up to the plate in a big way. Enter one adventure/disaster after another. Underlying the adventure is a story about family and sacrifice and love.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

The McNeil family has a long history in the hoaxing and cryptid hunting business. Business is not great of late for the modern McNeils. They are barely making ends meet, and Grayson is ready to leave the family business and run off to boarding school where maybe he can have a normal life. But when someone hires the family for a Grand Slam sea monster hoax, and Dad gets arrested in Scotland and Gramps gets waylaid on his way to Vermont, it is up to Grayson (who is only in middle school) and his older teen brother Curtis to pull off the final hoax by themselves or lose the money to their age-old rivals, the Gerhards.

It took me quite a while to get into this, and even at the end I wasn't sure if I was happy with the ending or if I still was rooting for Grayson to get out of the family business and have a chance at a normal life. I really love all of Laura Martin's other books, but this was just so-so for me personally. I think she definitely has gotten better as she's written more. I can see some kids really getting into this though, and getting totally caught up in the what if of just 2 families being responsible for most of the cryptid sightings in the world and keeping the mystery alive. The ending ads just a touch of fantasy and magic to the story, and redemption for Curtis and Grayson's dad who is a rather negligent parent (I'm actually shocked they haven't had a visit from a social services person what with all of Grayson's absences.) Anyway, hand this to kids who like stories of kids in unusual family businesses and cryptid stories.

Notes on content: No language issues. At one point Grayson describes waiting for his brother to finish kissing his girlfriend and he phrases it like sticking his tongue down another girls throat. There are some underwater skirmishes that are a bit perilous, but a mildly mangled hand is the worst injury.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The real action and conflict in this book doesn't start until about halfway in, which is the bad part. The first half is very slow and repetitive with what feels like a lot of unearned, unnecessary angst. But the second half is a rollicking adventure with some genuinely funny dialogue and a lot of heart. If you can get past the slow bits (and if you are incredibly fascinated by cryptids), this is well worth a read. Kids who aspire to be cryptid hunters (or hoaxers) themselves will eat this up!

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little too slow/too much description in beginning. Not sure my elementary readers will stick with story. Picks up in middle and has exciting ending.

[Pristine · Rating 3 out of 5]

yes i reread it but i’ll bump up my rating to 3.5 bc i picked out a couple more redeeming points this time around.

{full review to come}

[Mark Buxton · Rating 3 out of 5]

My name is Grayson, and I don't want to be part of the family hoaxing business anymore. I'd love to attend a private academy to learn photography, but I need to complete a project to possibly get a scholarship. However, I know we may lose our home if we can't finish an impossible hoaxing job by next Tuesday. Four huge hoaxes in four locations around the world. I'm not sure what my brother and I are going to do now, since our dad and grandpa have gone missing. A rival hoaxing family is behind it, and I'm not sure how we can possibly finish the last hoax and save our dad and grandpa. I can't miss another day of school, and my project is due on Wednesday. I want to pursue photography, but I'm slowly understanding the importance of continuing our hoaxes. What am I going to do?

I never knew there was a career in tricking people to believe in the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot and other creatures from folklore. Like Grayson, I wasn't crazy about a family business based on breaking the law, so that may be the reason I had a hard time getting into the story. The brothers made an interesting team. Grayson was the one taking the biggest risks even though his heart wasn't into it. His brother loved the business and kept telling Grayson about how important it was to the family. Grayson had a big internal conflict, as he struggled to separate himself from the family's hoaxing business that had existed for generations. The tension amped up when the competing hoaxers entered the story. Their efforts created life and death situations, and it was unclear what two brothers could do about it. Grayson's school life was a subplot, but a classmate created an unexpected twist later in the story. Overall, I enjoyed how the book was resolved, and the premise of the plot was novel (pun intended). Give it a shot.

[Aja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in love with this book. While I thought some of the flashbacks were kind of long, I understood that it was necessary to get a firm grasp of the character's backstories and lives before diving deep into the adventure at hand. One of the few things I wish was included in the book was a glossary in the back with brief descriptions of the wide assortment of cryptids that are mentioned throughout the story. I myself am a cryptid fanatic and loved pulling out my phone to figure out what all the different creatures were but a glossary would be helpful for those who don't have the technology at hand. Otherwise, the story itself was phenomenal and full of thrilling adventure, danger, and mysteries around every corner. I really hope this becomes a series because I would want to collect every book!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story about choosing family or your dreams - but do you have to make a choice?
Grayson's family is in the hoax field - but he wants out. He wants to become a photojournalist. He is pretty much a loner at school because he can't tell anyone about what his family does. When he meets Clare, he thinks he has finally made a real friend - but is she. And when things go wrong, he and his brother have to save the family reputation - can he step up and do this one last thing before he calls it quits?

Adventure, humor - will appeal to many students.
DRC from Edelweiss and Harper Children's

[Carli · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Greyson’s family is in the hoaxing business. They travel the world setting up sightings of legends for eyewitnesses; the only problem is, Greyson wants out. He wants a regular family with regular jobs, which is why he is applying to a prep school for a photography scholarship. When a job goes wrong and his family needs him, Greyson has to decide between his chance at the scholarship and pulling off the hoax of a lifetime. Fans of Carl Hiassen and Gordon Korman will enjoy this one. Recommended for grades 5-7.

[Mariposa Aristeo · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a dinosaur enthusiast, I LOVED Laura Martin’s Edge of Extinction books, but still, Hoax for Hire trumps it hands down. I felt like the prose was more immersive and less focused on technology details like in Edge of Extinction. The whole plot was unique and kept me turning pages more than near-death dino attacks.

My only qualms with the book was that there was some (minor) language. I didn’t mind for myself, but it might be something to keep in mind for young readers. :)

But all in all, Hoax for Hire is awesome and I wanna sequel. :D

[Crystal Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book caught me by surprise. I loved every minute I spent reading this book. A family that for generations has pulled off some of the most famous hoaxes in the world. Brilliant!!!! Please read this book cover to cover.
Loved this in the authors notes:
As for me? I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I do believe that the world is chock-full of mystery if we just open ourselves up to the possibility that there are still discoveries to be made and creatures to be found.
Still a skeptic? That's okay. Bigfoot doesn't believe in you either.
BRAVO!!!! 😁😁😁

[Ramona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grayson and his older brother, Curtis, are part of a family of professional hoaxers. This a humorous and sometimes dangerous story about, just maybe, who is behind Nessie, Big Foot, and many other legendary, mythical creatures that people have been trying to find for decades! Grayson just wants a normal life, be a photographer and go to college. When a rival family shows up and tries to ruin them, the brothers have to work together to save the creatures, their dad, grandfather, themselves and the Family Business! This was a fun read with a little bit of history and traveling thrown in

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot has Hatfields and McCoys vibe but set in current times. The feud, in this case, is between two rival families who are professional hoaxers, carrying on the family traditions of staging and prompting EWs (eye witnesses) to record cryptid sightings (Big Foot, Loch Ness Monster, etc).

There were long descriptions at the beginning of the book that might not hook readers right away. The finish was strong.
Recommended for middle grade students who are avid readers.

[Ann-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I truly love Laura Martin's books. This one was fun, well written, and as faced paced as ever. I just didn't love the topic as much. The premise is that all the cryptic sightings out there (like Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster) are created and performed by two competing families. They are hired by towns who want to drum up tourism, etc. I also didn't love the laissez-faire approach to education taken by most of the family members. It's a good book, just not my favorite of hers.

[Jeremy Mccool]

Great read

If you believe there are still unsolved mysteries out there, this book may slightly temper that belief. If you don't believe, this book won't let you remain an armchair skeptic. Read it to your kids, talk about the possibilities, revel in the unknown. And if you somehow persist in your unbelief to the end, remember that bigfoot doesn't believe in you either.

[c · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review copy courtesy of Edelweiss.

Definitely buying a copy for my library! Perfect for readers of Rick Riordan, this middle grade adventure book is about a family who simultaneously hunts for legendary monsters while setting up elaborate hoax versions for others to see. It was funny and original!

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was okay. Granted, I'm not the target demographic, but this was pretty lackluster, honestly. About the only character I actually liked was the grandfather, and he was only there for like 8 pages. I was hoping for a new favorite MG book, but it sadly won't be this one.

[Izzy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe not quite as grabbing as Float, but it still was interesting! At first it all seemed a bit of a drag, and I wondered whether it was gonna live up to Float and Glitch's standards- which it kinda did. A great idea though. where does she get all her amazing ideas from??!! 4.5

[Susan Eberhardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun to read book about two brothers who assist their dad and grandpa in their lives as Cryptid hunters, and hoaxers! This was a fun read with enough suspense and action to keep the reader interested!

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an okay read. I liked Glitch by this same author far better. This was fun enough- if you enjoy stories about hoaxes or mythical creatures this could be a fun one for you. Definitely a fast read, which we wanted at the time.

[Namrata]

this book sounds pretty interesting. can't wait to get a copy!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute book for middle grades.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really loved the message at the end, the lesson Greyson learned about mystery. Also, so valued the author’s note at story’s end. Her personal story was a great addition to the book.

[Pam Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly original tale of a family's tradition of keeping legends alive by performing cryptid hoaxes around the world.

[Lindsay Rankin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a lot of fun! I really liked it, and I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author.

[Marita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started a little bit slow but really picked up! I love that the author lives in Indianapolis and was a 7th grade ELA teacher.