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The Greystone Secrets #2
The Deceivers
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?
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?
464 pages, Paperback
First published April 7, 2020
322 people are currently reading
5494 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Peterson Haddix
129 books6,337 followersMargaret Peterson Haddix grew up on a farm near Washington Court House, Ohio. She graduated from Miami University (of Ohio) with degrees in English/journalism, English/creative writing and history. Before her first book was published, she worked as a newspaper copy editor in Fort Wayne, Indiana; a newspaper reporter in Indianapolis; and a community college instructor and freelance writer in Danville, Illinois.
She has since written more than 25 books for kids and teens, including Running Out of Time; Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey; Leaving Fishers; Just Ella; Turnabout; Takeoffs and Landings; The Girl with 500 Middle Names; Because of Anya; Escape from Memory; Say What?; The House on the Gulf; Double Identity; Dexter the Tough; Uprising; Palace of Mirrors; Claim to Fame; the Shadow Children series; and the Missing series. She also wrote Into the Gauntlet, the tenth book in the 39 Clues series. Her books have been honored with New York Times bestseller status, the International Reading Association’s Children’s Book Award; American Library Association Best Book and Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers notations; and more than a dozen state reader’s choice awards.
Haddix and her husband, Doug, now live in Columbus, Ohio, with their two children.
She has since written more than 25 books for kids and teens, including Running Out of Time; Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey; Leaving Fishers; Just Ella; Turnabout; Takeoffs and Landings; The Girl with 500 Middle Names; Because of Anya; Escape from Memory; Say What?; The House on the Gulf; Double Identity; Dexter the Tough; Uprising; Palace of Mirrors; Claim to Fame; the Shadow Children series; and the Missing series. She also wrote Into the Gauntlet, the tenth book in the 39 Clues series. Her books have been honored with New York Times bestseller status, the International Reading Association’s Children’s Book Award; American Library Association Best Book and Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers notations; and more than a dozen state reader’s choice awards.
Haddix and her husband, Doug, now live in Columbus, Ohio, with their two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews
March 25, 2021
3 stars
You know how most sequels never are as good as the first book? How the second book in a trilogy is typically the “meh” book?
I didn’t feel this way at all with “The Deceivers”. I actually preferred this sequel to the first book. Which is more on the rare side of things than you would think. The first book I found to be confusing with the alternative universe plot being introduced, but I was able to perfectly follow along in this sequel because the world had already been set up for the reader. It was an exciting and suspenseful read. I hope the third book finishes this series off well.
I don’t think I would recommend it for young middle grade readers, though, personally, because of some content, the suspenseful plot, as well as all the lies and deceptions from the kids and adults. Most times the kids (typically Natalie) are trying to protect themselves or get away from a prying adult, while the adults in the Other-World are lying because they have hidden (and possibly evil) motives.
Content:
Spiritual:
A couple mentions of a Shrine-looking place; A couple mentions of a talisman; A mention of King Solomon from the Bible; A mention of a nun.
Negative:
Minor cussing including: "blah, blah, blah", "oh my gosh", "stupid", Some eye rolling & sarcasm; Natalie lies & has taught the Greystone kids on the "fine art of lying: Only make up what you have to. Otherwise, tell as much truth as you can. That means you have fewer lies to keep tract of, and you're not as likely to trip yourself up." (Chess says it kind of bothers him that Natalie knew so much about lying); Someone is shot & there is blood (up to semi-detailed); Causing someone (an evil someone) to have an allergic reaction (semi-detailed, Chess didn't mean to and feels bad, but they needed to get away from the person);
Many mentions of evil people (including Nazis and KKK members); Mentions of a gunshot, someone being shot, & blood (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of illegal actions & prisons; Mentions of kidnappings & poison; Mentions of divorces; A few mentions of throwing up; A couple mentions of rumors; A couple mentions of plastic surgery; A mention of Natalie's mother helping women get away from abusive situations; A mention of saying bad words when you're upset; A mention of Nike shoes.
Sexual:
Chess has a crush on Natalie and stars at her often (he comments on her pretty eyelashes, but nothing further).
You know how most sequels never are as good as the first book? How the second book in a trilogy is typically the “meh” book?
I didn’t feel this way at all with “The Deceivers”. I actually preferred this sequel to the first book. Which is more on the rare side of things than you would think. The first book I found to be confusing with the alternative universe plot being introduced, but I was able to perfectly follow along in this sequel because the world had already been set up for the reader. It was an exciting and suspenseful read. I hope the third book finishes this series off well.
I don’t think I would recommend it for young middle grade readers, though, personally, because of some content, the suspenseful plot, as well as all the lies and deceptions from the kids and adults. Most times the kids (typically Natalie) are trying to protect themselves or get away from a prying adult, while the adults in the Other-World are lying because they have hidden (and possibly evil) motives.
Content:
Spiritual:
A couple mentions of a Shrine-looking place; A couple mentions of a talisman; A mention of King Solomon from the Bible; A mention of a nun.
Negative:
Minor cussing including: "blah, blah, blah", "oh my gosh", "stupid", Some eye rolling & sarcasm; Natalie lies & has taught the Greystone kids on the "fine art of lying: Only make up what you have to. Otherwise, tell as much truth as you can. That means you have fewer lies to keep tract of, and you're not as likely to trip yourself up." (Chess says it kind of bothers him that Natalie knew so much about lying); Someone is shot & there is blood (up to semi-detailed); Causing someone (an evil someone) to have an allergic reaction (semi-detailed, Chess didn't mean to and feels bad, but they needed to get away from the person);
Many mentions of evil people (including Nazis and KKK members); Mentions of a gunshot, someone being shot, & blood (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of illegal actions & prisons; Mentions of kidnappings & poison; Mentions of divorces; A few mentions of throwing up; A couple mentions of rumors; A couple mentions of plastic surgery; A mention of Natalie's mother helping women get away from abusive situations; A mention of saying bad words when you're upset; A mention of Nike shoes.
Sexual:
Chess has a crush on Natalie and stars at her often (he comments on her pretty eyelashes, but nothing further).
March 25, 2020
"Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." This second book in the Greystone Secrets series is well summed up by its title. The Greystone kids (Emma, Chess, and Finn) are desperate to crack their mom's code and save her from the other world where blue and orange symbolize the evil group think that emits its own odor of evil. They have made enough progress in their research to figure out how to use the levers to travel between worlds. Their friend Natalie joins them to help get her mother back as well. How will they know who to trust? Will Emma be able to read her mom's message in time? With alternating chapters from all four kids (including Natalie), we get follow them into the evil world as they work together to reunite with their mothers and save Joe, their helper from Book 1, at the same time. It will take teamwork, courage, and flexibility as their environment changes and time grows shorter. A solid addition to the series with promise for more to come.
Thank you to Katherine Tegen Books and Edelweiss for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Katherine Tegen Books and Edelweiss for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 20, 2020
DISCLAIMER: I received a digital review copy of THE DECEIVERS via Edelweiss Above the Treeline in exchange for an honest review
WOWOWOWOWOW
Listen, I loved the first GREYSTONE SECRETS book, so naturally, I was very, very excited for this one.
Let me tell you, it did not disappoint.
I loved the Greystone kids in this one just as much as I did in the other one (Finn’s adorableness, Emma’s brains, and Chess’s awkwardness are just a few of their notable qualities) and I absolutely loved getting Natalie’s perspective on things as well. Like the first, the plot twists were surprising and kept me engaged — which is important for a book that’s almost 500 pages.
Overall, I think I enjoyed this one more than the first one and I can’t wait for book 3.
Perfect for fans of Nickelodeon’s HUNTER STREET, Netflix’s STRANGER THINGS, and Jennifer Chambliss Bertman’s BOOK SCAVENGER series.
Will I be purchasing this in April?
Absolutely.
WOWOWOWOWOW
Listen, I loved the first GREYSTONE SECRETS book, so naturally, I was very, very excited for this one.
Let me tell you, it did not disappoint.
I loved the Greystone kids in this one just as much as I did in the other one (Finn’s adorableness, Emma’s brains, and Chess’s awkwardness are just a few of their notable qualities) and I absolutely loved getting Natalie’s perspective on things as well. Like the first, the plot twists were surprising and kept me engaged — which is important for a book that’s almost 500 pages.
Overall, I think I enjoyed this one more than the first one and I can’t wait for book 3.
Perfect for fans of Nickelodeon’s HUNTER STREET, Netflix’s STRANGER THINGS, and Jennifer Chambliss Bertman’s BOOK SCAVENGER series.
Will I be purchasing this in April?
Absolutely.
September 1, 2019
This second installment of Greystone’s Secrets ended strong and with a clear segue into the next book, but did not hold my attention throughout like its predecessor did. The four adolescent main characters remain strong and their voices distinct as their desperate attempt to rescue the missing moms are reported from the perspectives of all of them, but the heaviness of constantly thwarted plans made the middle section drag more than I expected. Many readers in the target audience of grades 5-8 may find themselves a bit confused about who is who and which world some belong in. This uncertainty may be a part of Haddix’s plan to surprise readers and keep them guessing, but I fear that some of my library patrons may put this one down before they get to the exciting climax and a resolution that ties up some of the loose strings. Nevertheless, I will absolutely be purchasing The Deceivers for my 4th and 5th grade libraries and will actively promote it among my fans of Haddix, Kehret, Riordan and other writers of action/adventure and sci-fi. Like her other middle grades works, Haddix steers clear of all profanity, overly descriptive violence, and sexual content of any kind. Thanks for the early look, Edelweiss!
July 11, 2022
Actual rating: 2.5
Unfortunately, this was a HUGE step down from the first book for me. The plot felt redundant and there was no real thrill or intrigue unlike the first. I'm definitely continuing the series at some point, but not anytime soon.
Unfortunately, this was a HUGE step down from the first book for me. The plot felt redundant and there was no real thrill or intrigue unlike the first. I'm definitely continuing the series at some point, but not anytime soon.
September 5, 2019
An outstanding follow-up to The Strangers in The Greystone series.
I enjoyed the first book, but still felt like I needed something more from it. And this book (the second in the series), really delivered.
The clever premise that sets the stage for this series continued to evolve in this book, and the story becomes more complex and more satisfying.
The bulk of this book takes place in the Other world, and that helped the plot tremendously. There’s plenty of action and some riddle/puzzle elements that can be enjoyed by any age group of readers.
Lots of clever twists and turns, smart enough for adults but gentle enough for middle readers, and a complex enough plot to keep this series (hopefully!) going for a long time.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I enjoyed the first book, but still felt like I needed something more from it. And this book (the second in the series), really delivered.
The clever premise that sets the stage for this series continued to evolve in this book, and the story becomes more complex and more satisfying.
The bulk of this book takes place in the Other world, and that helped the plot tremendously. There’s plenty of action and some riddle/puzzle elements that can be enjoyed by any age group of readers.
Lots of clever twists and turns, smart enough for adults but gentle enough for middle readers, and a complex enough plot to keep this series (hopefully!) going for a long time.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
January 14, 2025
I enjoyed going on this adventure with the three main kids and their friend to rescue their mothers. It’s also gratifying to see the kids solve a difficult code to help them on their mission. However, most of the middle of the book felt kind of slow where I wanted it to end quicker. Another downside is that most of the book was spent inside a person’s house. I liked how in the first book the kids went to more places in this mysterious other world. I do like how we got to see more into the other world and learn it is definitely a totalitarian world; party rule. Overall, I enjoyed the mission to retrieve the lost moms, but I preferred the first book more. I look forward to reading the last book in the series.
April 27, 2020
Cute read.
I didn't like this quite as much as the first one, I think because the first had more mystery and now we know about the other world. I still love the kids, especially Finn who is too adorable for his own good, and I enjoyed seeing them solve puzzles to figure out how to save the moms. Chess is a good leader and his crush on Natalie is sweet. Emma is so smart and I was proud of her when she figured out things.
We didn't experience much of the other world, just stayed inside other Natalie's house which made the story feel a bit slower. I did like meeting some of the other people and the rescue of the moms was fun.
I'm looking forward to the third book to see what happens with the other world!
I didn't like this quite as much as the first one, I think because the first had more mystery and now we know about the other world. I still love the kids, especially Finn who is too adorable for his own good, and I enjoyed seeing them solve puzzles to figure out how to save the moms. Chess is a good leader and his crush on Natalie is sweet. Emma is so smart and I was proud of her when she figured out things.
We didn't experience much of the other world, just stayed inside other Natalie's house which made the story feel a bit slower. I did like meeting some of the other people and the rescue of the moms was fun.
I'm looking forward to the third book to see what happens with the other world!
May 20, 2023
Took me a little longer to get through than the first book in the series; but still a very captivating mystery! 4⭐️
March 4, 2024
4.5 stars
Loved this sequel though after noticing Finn sounded more like a 6 year old than an 8 year old in the first book, it started to annoy me a bit in this sequel. Luckily after the story picked up the pace, my attention was drawn away from it.
Characters 9
Atmosphere 10
Writing Style 9
Premise 10
Execution/Plot 9
Execution/Pace 9
Execution/Setup 9
Enjoyment/Engrossment 9
Narration 9
Loved this sequel though after noticing Finn sounded more like a 6 year old than an 8 year old in the first book, it started to annoy me a bit in this sequel. Luckily after the story picked up the pace, my attention was drawn away from it.
Characters 9
Atmosphere 10
Writing Style 9
Premise 10
Execution/Plot 9
Execution/Pace 9
Execution/Setup 9
Enjoyment/Engrossment 9
Narration 9
April 21, 2020
Summary:
After saving the good world's versions of themselves, the Greystone kids and Natalie are forced to leave their mothers behind when they flee the bad world. They soon return in hope's of rescuing their mothers only to get trapped in the bad world with no way back. Unsure who to trust, they meet new allies and learn some dark secrets about the bad world along the way.
Will they be able to save their parents and leave the bad world behind forever? Or will they only get themselves more entangled so they have to return yet again?
Personal opinion:
Despite being a middle grade book, I loved The Deceivers just as much as The Strangers!
It is filled with puzzle like secrets and codes that leave you guessing what will happen until the very end. Not to mention the stakes and tension are much higher than the first book. The ending was wrapped up nicely while paving the way for a third book that I am already excited to get my hands on.
After saving the good world's versions of themselves, the Greystone kids and Natalie are forced to leave their mothers behind when they flee the bad world. They soon return in hope's of rescuing their mothers only to get trapped in the bad world with no way back. Unsure who to trust, they meet new allies and learn some dark secrets about the bad world along the way.
Will they be able to save their parents and leave the bad world behind forever? Or will they only get themselves more entangled so they have to return yet again?
Personal opinion:
Despite being a middle grade book, I loved The Deceivers just as much as The Strangers!
It is filled with puzzle like secrets and codes that leave you guessing what will happen until the very end. Not to mention the stakes and tension are much higher than the first book. The ending was wrapped up nicely while paving the way for a third book that I am already excited to get my hands on.
December 29, 2020
4.5 stars, rounded up.
Wow! This was a tremendous follow-up to the original. It was action-packed and exciting and fast-paced despite it's length. It was nice to see a little more development of each of the kids, especially Natalie who was a little flat in the first book. My only real critique is that it was slightly challenging for me (a proficient reader) to keep up with who was talking or doing the action (e.g. Natalie vs. other Natalie) and that might be very confusing for my students. Other than that, it was wonderful and I can't wait to find out what happens in the next installment.
*Thank you to Edelweiss+ and Katherine Tegen Books for the digital copy. All opinions are my own.*
Wow! This was a tremendous follow-up to the original. It was action-packed and exciting and fast-paced despite it's length. It was nice to see a little more development of each of the kids, especially Natalie who was a little flat in the first book. My only real critique is that it was slightly challenging for me (a proficient reader) to keep up with who was talking or doing the action (e.g. Natalie vs. other Natalie) and that might be very confusing for my students. Other than that, it was wonderful and I can't wait to find out what happens in the next installment.
*Thank you to Edelweiss+ and Katherine Tegen Books for the digital copy. All opinions are my own.*
May 4, 2020
Things have gone from bad to worse. Before it was only Mrs. Greystone who was missing. Now Ms. Morales is also stuck in the bad, parallel world. Both Moms are in danger and the Greystone kids and Natalie Morales are the only people who know and care enough to try to save them. But what can four kids do against an evil government and brainwashed world?
One thing the kids know for sure. They're not going to let their age keep them from trying. But when they return to the alternative world, everything they try to do seems to spiral out of control and make everything worse. Will they succeed in rescuing Mom? Or will Mrs. Greystone die and the kids stay stuck in the bad world forever?
With the exception of book one in this series, it's been quite a while since I read a middle-grade book. It was so refreshing! From Fin's determined optimism to Chess's desperate efforts to be the grown-up for his younger siblings, the characters face each challenge with innocence and courage.
Haddix has the ability to weave a story with characters that feel true to their age and a plot that remains interesting to readers of all ages.
One thing the kids know for sure. They're not going to let their age keep them from trying. But when they return to the alternative world, everything they try to do seems to spiral out of control and make everything worse. Will they succeed in rescuing Mom? Or will Mrs. Greystone die and the kids stay stuck in the bad world forever?
With the exception of book one in this series, it's been quite a while since I read a middle-grade book. It was so refreshing! From Fin's determined optimism to Chess's desperate efforts to be the grown-up for his younger siblings, the characters face each challenge with innocence and courage.
Haddix has the ability to weave a story with characters that feel true to their age and a plot that remains interesting to readers of all ages.
August 1, 2022
Loved this so much and
After finishing I definitely feel like I need to read it again to see if I pick up on anything now that I know the ending.
After finishing I definitely feel like I need to read it again to see if I pick up on anything now that I know the ending.
May 15, 2024
This book was decent
November 20, 2024
What a great adventure. I just love this series as well as the kids.
February 28, 2022
Great, creative story, big adventure... Missing mothers..rescue from a alter universe.
January 3, 2022
This is one of the well written middle grade mystery books that I like to continue reading, listening to.
I like we get to hear each child's story (the 3 greystone kids) and their plan to rescue their mother from the other world.
A bit into the book, it was a surprising change to be gifted the perspective of Natalie's POV.
The story had me on edge from the kids plan to escape to the other world under Natalie's father's nose (he was so sweet to take in the greystone kids) and when they finally made their transition into the other world.
I am always intrigued with doppelganger's and love the idea of the two unexpectedly bumping into each other and the way they will react. With only a
The kids try their best even with the backstabbing, secrets and not knowing who they can trust (the siblings were still trying to decode the message their mother left behind for them).
I was overall pleased with this and am surprised there is yet Another book after this one!! Why not go back into the scary alternative world?!🤣
I like we get to hear each child's story (the 3 greystone kids) and their plan to rescue their mother from the other world.
A bit into the book, it was a surprising change to be gifted the perspective of Natalie's POV.
The story had me on edge from the kids plan to escape to the other world under Natalie's father's nose (he was so sweet to take in the greystone kids) and when they finally made their transition into the other world.
I am always intrigued with doppelganger's and love the idea of the two unexpectedly bumping into each other and the way they will react. With only a
The kids try their best even with the backstabbing, secrets and not knowing who they can trust (the siblings were still trying to decode the message their mother left behind for them).
I was overall pleased with this and am surprised there is yet Another book after this one!! Why not go back into the scary alternative world?!🤣
April 22, 2020
A very strange story, and to make matters worse for me, the second in the series. The book is well written with very good characters, an unusual world scheme, a plot somewhat difficult to follow, and I just could not get excited about reading. I am by no means saying this is a bad book, just not interesting for me.
July 7, 2020
I loved the first book in this series and was not as taken with book #2. I grew weary of the story and the pacing felt off. I do think children will enjoy it though.
April 10, 2022
Just meh. None of the characters were particularly endearing, and nothing much happened. I don't think I'll be continuing with this series.
August 3, 2021
Rating: 5 / 5
Wowwee! Considering that alternate worlds are an idea that I don't much like (usually), Haddix has managed to capture, uphold, surpass, and expand on my expectations! Just....WOW.
The Deceivers is everything that a great sequel should be, and more. The best way to describe it is that whereas The Strangers focused a lot on character and relationship development and was therefore more slow-paced, The Deceivers is extremely fast-paced, with a whole lotta action and a whole lotta close calls, all wrapped up with higher stakes and a super satisfying conclusion!
We pick up the story a week from where we left off, when Chess, Emma, Finn, and Natalie all made it back okay from the other world into their own "better world", except that both of their moms got left behind and now the kids want nothing more than to save them. They do this by forming plans and trying continuously to decode that selfsame letter from Book 1, and more or less one secret leads to another until every chapter has you on the edge of your seat and flipping rapidly to see what happens next.
So many of the chapters in this book contain cliffhangers, which are made even more compelling by switching to another character's p.o.v. in the next chapter "a few minutes earlier", so that everyone's caught up. It's both frustrating and yet at the same time just works so well that you can't stop reading. It is no exaggeration on my part to say that I had literal goosebumps in some parts of this book!
That being said, I can now understand why the first book spent so much time on the characters and why it's absolutely necessary to read the first book before this one. Event-wise, to be honest you can probably understand everything in this book without reading the first one, as it starts off more or less on a new adventure, but character-wise, you'll really be missing out on a lot if you don't already know the characters from Book 1, because now that the character development has been done, you don't really get as much or really any of that in this book. Instead, it's maybe 85% action and only 15% character development, and most of that is done through Natalie who, I am happy to report, gets her own p.o.v. chapters in this book from when she's separated from the Greystones. I really enjoyed those chapters, by the way, as well as all of the actions, but...
...yeah, it would be incomplete to skip ahead to this book without reading the first one. Because then, it would be hard to understand how Finn can still be so childish and yet clever at the same time; or how Emma can just lose it when she's frustrated; or how Chess seems to be the most scared out of all of them, the most cautious. You need the first book to put all of their reactions into context.
One other thing I'd like to mention is just how lucky the Greystones are with some of their discoveries--most of them a la Finn, I should add. Now, if this were a book with teenagers or adults as the main characters, then I'd scoff and say, "Yeah, that's a bit unrealistic for you to do that again and again, don't you think?" Except that this book is about kids going up against what is essentially a totalitarian government, so...yeah, they need those bursts of lucky coincidences to make it, and so it's fine to have them in. Let Finn accidentally open the right tab on a computer or find a hidden button or passageway--otherwise, how would our poor kids stand a chance of getting anything done? (And it doesn't take away from the story in the least, by the way, I just thought that it'd be interesting to mention.)
On that note, I'd like to end off by saying that now I have really high expectations for the third book which, surprise surprise, I happen to have on-hand to read right away.
Will be super looking forward to it! (Psst, don't let me down!)
Wowwee! Considering that alternate worlds are an idea that I don't much like (usually), Haddix has managed to capture, uphold, surpass, and expand on my expectations! Just....WOW.
The Deceivers is everything that a great sequel should be, and more. The best way to describe it is that whereas The Strangers focused a lot on character and relationship development and was therefore more slow-paced, The Deceivers is extremely fast-paced, with a whole lotta action and a whole lotta close calls, all wrapped up with higher stakes and a super satisfying conclusion!
We pick up the story a week from where we left off, when Chess, Emma, Finn, and Natalie all made it back okay from the other world into their own "better world", except that both of their moms got left behind and now the kids want nothing more than to save them. They do this by forming plans and trying continuously to decode that selfsame letter from Book 1, and more or less one secret leads to another until every chapter has you on the edge of your seat and flipping rapidly to see what happens next.
So many of the chapters in this book contain cliffhangers, which are made even more compelling by switching to another character's p.o.v. in the next chapter "a few minutes earlier", so that everyone's caught up. It's both frustrating and yet at the same time just works so well that you can't stop reading. It is no exaggeration on my part to say that I had literal goosebumps in some parts of this book!
That being said, I can now understand why the first book spent so much time on the characters and why it's absolutely necessary to read the first book before this one. Event-wise, to be honest you can probably understand everything in this book without reading the first one, as it starts off more or less on a new adventure, but character-wise, you'll really be missing out on a lot if you don't already know the characters from Book 1, because now that the character development has been done, you don't really get as much or really any of that in this book. Instead, it's maybe 85% action and only 15% character development, and most of that is done through Natalie who, I am happy to report, gets her own p.o.v. chapters in this book from when she's separated from the Greystones. I really enjoyed those chapters, by the way, as well as all of the actions, but...
...yeah, it would be incomplete to skip ahead to this book without reading the first one. Because then, it would be hard to understand how Finn can still be so childish and yet clever at the same time; or how Emma can just lose it when she's frustrated; or how Chess seems to be the most scared out of all of them, the most cautious. You need the first book to put all of their reactions into context.
One other thing I'd like to mention is just how lucky the Greystones are with some of their discoveries--most of them a la Finn, I should add. Now, if this were a book with teenagers or adults as the main characters, then I'd scoff and say, "Yeah, that's a bit unrealistic for you to do that again and again, don't you think?" Except that this book is about kids going up against what is essentially a totalitarian government, so...yeah, they need those bursts of lucky coincidences to make it, and so it's fine to have them in. Let Finn accidentally open the right tab on a computer or find a hidden button or passageway--otherwise, how would our poor kids stand a chance of getting anything done? (And it doesn't take away from the story in the least, by the way, I just thought that it'd be interesting to mention.)
On that note, I'd like to end off by saying that now I have really high expectations for the third book which, surprise surprise, I happen to have on-hand to read right away.
Will be super looking forward to it! (Psst, don't let me down!)
May 26, 2021
[brief spoilers for the first book--proceed with caution]
haddix's interpretation of the belief in alternate worlds is one of the best things i could've ever read and i honestly can't believe how perfect the timing is since i've been becoming interested in the multiverse theory for some time now.
with these alternate worlds, however, what haddix does so brilliantly is not only does she explore the wonder and adventure that there must be to have the ability to tunnel through different worlds but she also gravely depicts the dangers and manipulation that seeps itself between both worlds. we get an extra new perspective in this middle-grade mystery, and it adds even more depth to how we as the reader come to perceive the gravity of this extraordinary situation that the greystone kids and natalie are thrusted into. all of these characters are grieving in different ways, leaving it up to themselves to find a way to save their mothers because in any other reality, an "alternate world" is only a pipe dream that no official would take seriously. as empowering as it is watching finn, chess, emma, and natalie utilize their different skill sets to achieve their goals, none of it glossed over the fact that there's so much fear they all have because they never asked for this. they just want their moms back.
taking that into account, what made this second book in this series is even greater is how much haddix goes to explore those from the alternate world that these kids end up in again. what was a brief scene in the first book became the main setting in this second installment as we witness these characters navigate a world with so much deception and manipulation creeping its way throughout. despite such a sullen place, we meet new characters who are just as real as these kids we've followed from the beginning, who have just as much fear that's pushing them to desperation. by the greystone kids and natalie, they're referred to as "other", "almost", "ace two", and "the judge" (which...rightfully so since we do have to be able to differentiate between these doppelgangers,), and it's likely that in reverse that we would see the same thing. to get to see these characters interact with their own alternate realities and also reflect on how similar and how different they appear--it added so much more to the complexity of this alternate worlds theory as mentioned earlier.
one of the most significant connections made in this story was between the natalie we know through the greystone kids, and then the natalie who comes from this other world. i love how far you could tell the author was willing to push through in order to depict the complexity that comes with facing someone with your face, and having to understand whether or not they're someone to be trusted. and besides this distrust, what can you come to learn about how your other self has lived while you've lost what they still have, and vice versa? with all this distrust and deceit, there was some light that filtered itself through the smog of this other world. again, the relationship between both natalies was written amazingly, but i also absolutely adored the relationship between finn and chess. i already noticed how protective chess was of his younger brother in the first book, but it seemed to have flared even brighter as we moved on to this book. seeing how much chess wanted for his brother to be safe, but also make sure that he wasn't left out at all throughout this story and was validated for his own contributions to the kids' plan to save their moms--all of that was just incredible. chess does so much for finn, and as young as finn is himself, he sees all of that and it makes him trust his older brother even more. middle-grades centering around families are one of my most favorite things in fiction, because sometimes you have to wonder how relationships like this could be depicted if these characters were older. there's no way for me to know for sure if finn and chess would still be as close, but what matters most is that right now at this time and during this entire journey, they constantly have each other's backs, and will fight together.
emma played such an interesting part in this narrative because she has always been known as the "smart" one, meaning she expects herself to figure out the best way to save her mom and also keep her and her siblings safe. we saw her break some codes in the first book, but the delicate way that the author handled emma's scrutiny and attention to detail in this book was so interesting. the thing that i always worry about is that right now i could say i love solving puzzles and riddles, but how good would i be when the hypothetical actually becomes reality? what good use would i be? these are the fears that emma wrestles over with herself, and it was difficult to have to watch her put all this weight on her own shoulders, but that only fueled the pride that came after when emma connects an idea that she hadn't thought before, and notably with the help of others.
seeing the way all of the greystone kids were portrayed with so much love and care, it made their journey even more impactful because you know that with all this bravado and intelligence, they just wanted to get their mom back. that was both an incredible but also sad realization to come to as we all witnessed a lot of adrenaline-inducing scenes, all of them packed with a sense of adventure but ultimately there was just misery. again, we do meet new characters though, and they all bring something new to the table and add even more to the surface as we uncover how deep this connection between two worlds goes. we saw only the smallest glimpse with the greystone kids facing their own doubles, the gustanos, but it comes to unravel even further with each page.
speaking of the gustanos, one thing i do want to note is how much i felt just a little disappointed that we couldn't see more of them. in the first book, we barely get to meet them before everything crashes down by the final page, and then in the beginning of this book, it's confirmed they're back to their "normal" lives and so safe and sound. one part of me wonders if this connects to what is the overall arc of this entire series, where yes there's all this adventure and intrigue but ultimately, these characters just want their families to be whole, they want to feel a sense of security without having to worry about it being stripped away. we didn't see the gustanos much in action, and most important of all we didn't see what they must have had to go through as they were held captive in this strange place without their parents, completely left to rely on each other. there's a whole cloud of fear that circled them then and i can say with certainty that even if it seems like their roles have been fulfilled in this series, there's so much they'll have to wrestle with, even if it means we can't see it. that's the most sensible part of me, but it's actually also pretty brilliant the more i think about it. i guess you can say all that i expected was to see what possibly could happen if they did play a bigger role on page.
but that's a whole other world to explore.
content warnings//: brief description of blood and injury, assassination attempt, loss of a loved one (mentioned), vomiting, explorations of grief, mention of parental death, minor depictions of violence, brief description of gun violence, political abuse of power, hospitalization, needles, poisoning (mentioned), and divorce (mentioned)
haddix's interpretation of the belief in alternate worlds is one of the best things i could've ever read and i honestly can't believe how perfect the timing is since i've been becoming interested in the multiverse theory for some time now.
with these alternate worlds, however, what haddix does so brilliantly is not only does she explore the wonder and adventure that there must be to have the ability to tunnel through different worlds but she also gravely depicts the dangers and manipulation that seeps itself between both worlds. we get an extra new perspective in this middle-grade mystery, and it adds even more depth to how we as the reader come to perceive the gravity of this extraordinary situation that the greystone kids and natalie are thrusted into. all of these characters are grieving in different ways, leaving it up to themselves to find a way to save their mothers because in any other reality, an "alternate world" is only a pipe dream that no official would take seriously. as empowering as it is watching finn, chess, emma, and natalie utilize their different skill sets to achieve their goals, none of it glossed over the fact that there's so much fear they all have because they never asked for this. they just want their moms back.
taking that into account, what made this second book in this series is even greater is how much haddix goes to explore those from the alternate world that these kids end up in again. what was a brief scene in the first book became the main setting in this second installment as we witness these characters navigate a world with so much deception and manipulation creeping its way throughout. despite such a sullen place, we meet new characters who are just as real as these kids we've followed from the beginning, who have just as much fear that's pushing them to desperation. by the greystone kids and natalie, they're referred to as "other", "almost", "ace two", and "the judge" (which...rightfully so since we do have to be able to differentiate between these doppelgangers,), and it's likely that in reverse that we would see the same thing. to get to see these characters interact with their own alternate realities and also reflect on how similar and how different they appear--it added so much more to the complexity of this alternate worlds theory as mentioned earlier.
one of the most significant connections made in this story was between the natalie we know through the greystone kids, and then the natalie who comes from this other world. i love how far you could tell the author was willing to push through in order to depict the complexity that comes with facing someone with your face, and having to understand whether or not they're someone to be trusted. and besides this distrust, what can you come to learn about how your other self has lived while you've lost what they still have, and vice versa? with all this distrust and deceit, there was some light that filtered itself through the smog of this other world. again, the relationship between both natalies was written amazingly, but i also absolutely adored the relationship between finn and chess. i already noticed how protective chess was of his younger brother in the first book, but it seemed to have flared even brighter as we moved on to this book. seeing how much chess wanted for his brother to be safe, but also make sure that he wasn't left out at all throughout this story and was validated for his own contributions to the kids' plan to save their moms--all of that was just incredible. chess does so much for finn, and as young as finn is himself, he sees all of that and it makes him trust his older brother even more. middle-grades centering around families are one of my most favorite things in fiction, because sometimes you have to wonder how relationships like this could be depicted if these characters were older. there's no way for me to know for sure if finn and chess would still be as close, but what matters most is that right now at this time and during this entire journey, they constantly have each other's backs, and will fight together.
emma played such an interesting part in this narrative because she has always been known as the "smart" one, meaning she expects herself to figure out the best way to save her mom and also keep her and her siblings safe. we saw her break some codes in the first book, but the delicate way that the author handled emma's scrutiny and attention to detail in this book was so interesting. the thing that i always worry about is that right now i could say i love solving puzzles and riddles, but how good would i be when the hypothetical actually becomes reality? what good use would i be? these are the fears that emma wrestles over with herself, and it was difficult to have to watch her put all this weight on her own shoulders, but that only fueled the pride that came after when emma connects an idea that she hadn't thought before, and notably with the help of others.
seeing the way all of the greystone kids were portrayed with so much love and care, it made their journey even more impactful because you know that with all this bravado and intelligence, they just wanted to get their mom back. that was both an incredible but also sad realization to come to as we all witnessed a lot of adrenaline-inducing scenes, all of them packed with a sense of adventure but ultimately there was just misery. again, we do meet new characters though, and they all bring something new to the table and add even more to the surface as we uncover how deep this connection between two worlds goes. we saw only the smallest glimpse with the greystone kids facing their own doubles, the gustanos, but it comes to unravel even further with each page.
speaking of the gustanos, one thing i do want to note is how much i felt just a little disappointed that we couldn't see more of them. in the first book, we barely get to meet them before everything crashes down by the final page, and then in the beginning of this book, it's confirmed they're back to their "normal" lives and so safe and sound. one part of me wonders if this connects to what is the overall arc of this entire series, where yes there's all this adventure and intrigue but ultimately, these characters just want their families to be whole, they want to feel a sense of security without having to worry about it being stripped away. we didn't see the gustanos much in action, and most important of all we didn't see what they must have had to go through as they were held captive in this strange place without their parents, completely left to rely on each other. there's a whole cloud of fear that circled them then and i can say with certainty that even if it seems like their roles have been fulfilled in this series, there's so much they'll have to wrestle with, even if it means we can't see it. that's the most sensible part of me, but it's actually also pretty brilliant the more i think about it. i guess you can say all that i expected was to see what possibly could happen if they did play a bigger role on page.
but that's a whole other world to explore.
content warnings//: brief description of blood and injury, assassination attempt, loss of a loved one (mentioned), vomiting, explorations of grief, mention of parental death, minor depictions of violence, brief description of gun violence, political abuse of power, hospitalization, needles, poisoning (mentioned), and divorce (mentioned)
July 1, 2023
Rate: 5/5
This book was really good, better than the first one. I really wanted to see what was going on next which ultimately led me to finish the book in 2 days. There were many plot twists that I did not expect at all. For example, in the end, the judge was actually helping Kate and others escape the alternate world into the original/normal world! I didn't have a favorite character; I liked them all equally. But the grandma pissed me off because she burned down the secret codes that helped them fight out about the alternate reality in the first place. Like bro she just destroyed their entire plans. She did go on to do more stuff though. There is a cliffhanger at the end which is disappointing but makes me want to read the next book really badly. Overall, amazing.
This book was really good, better than the first one. I really wanted to see what was going on next which ultimately led me to finish the book in 2 days. There were many plot twists that I did not expect at all. For example, in the end, the judge was actually helping Kate and others escape the alternate world into the original/normal world! I didn't have a favorite character; I liked them all equally. But the grandma pissed me off because she burned down the secret codes that helped them fight out about the alternate reality in the first place. Like bro she just destroyed their entire plans. She did go on to do more stuff though. There is a cliffhanger at the end which is disappointing but makes me want to read the next book really badly. Overall, amazing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2021
~less than a month after reading book 1, we have now finished the sequel~
It would be hard to give a synopsis for this without giving away any spoilers from book 1 🤫, but we continue to follow Chess, Emma, and Finn as they’ve just had their whole world rocked when their mom went on a strange business trip and never came back…
I continue to love this series! I’m currently in a tiny bit of a reading slump, and I’m not sure if this affected my enjoyment of this one, but I think I found it a *solid* continuation, but not quite as good as the first one. Remains to be seen if book 3 answers all of my burning questions!
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
It would be hard to give a synopsis for this without giving away any spoilers from book 1 🤫, but we continue to follow Chess, Emma, and Finn as they’ve just had their whole world rocked when their mom went on a strange business trip and never came back…
I continue to love this series! I’m currently in a tiny bit of a reading slump, and I’m not sure if this affected my enjoyment of this one, but I think I found it a *solid* continuation, but not quite as good as the first one. Remains to be seen if book 3 answers all of my burning questions!
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
May 18, 2020
We read The Strangers back in September for my 5th/6th Grade book club that meets during lunch.
This book created quite a buzz amongst my students. In fact, in the history of my book club, this book series by far as generated the most student enthusiasm. And we have read some really great books together. My students can't get enough of this series!! They are already anticipating the sequel in 4/2021!! MPH is the queen of cliff-hanging chapters. That's what makes the series so difficult to put down. And they finished the book long before I did!
This book created quite a buzz amongst my students. In fact, in the history of my book club, this book series by far as generated the most student enthusiasm. And we have read some really great books together. My students can't get enough of this series!! They are already anticipating the sequel in 4/2021!! MPH is the queen of cliff-hanging chapters. That's what makes the series so difficult to put down. And they finished the book long before I did!
May 24, 2021
So fun! I’ve really enjoyed the first two books on audio. I enjoyed the sibling relationships, the kids questioning who they could trust and all the things they discovered about codes, the levers, etc. I have to wait a few weeks for book 3, unfortunately. I kind of feel like they could’ve ended after the ending of this book, so I’m wondering if I’ll find book 3 superfluous.
October 3, 2019
Engrossing and even faster paced than the first. There were several times I caught myself holding my breath as the intensity ramped up. Looking forward to the next installment!
Thank you, Edelweiss, for the ARC.
Thank you, Edelweiss, for the ARC.
September 4, 2021
I read this one with my 8 year old. We had a fun time reading it together. It addressed some difficult topics - divorce, death, deception - but was also a fun adventure. Looking forward to reading #3.
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