Customer Reviews

Zach's Lie

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For nine years I taught fourth grade and used literature circles for a portion of my reading program. Two years ago, when Scholastic offered this book as a literature circle set, I ordered one. My nine and ten year old students needed a little help understanding the flashback that takes place, but overall they just LOVED the book. This year I moved to seventh grade and decided to use it as a whole group read to start the year. While it is an easy read for 12 - 14 year olds, it was a book with which I could easily create a reading unit that would teach both my reading/writing frameworks and character education, and one that intrigued my students. Roland Smith does an excellent job at creating a plot that keeps children interested and wanting to read more. They are begging to read the sequel, "Jack's Run." I recommend this book for any upper elementary/middle school teacher to use to draw students in and hopefully gain an appreciation and love of reading. Thank you Roland Smith for such a GREAT READ!!!

Due to the fact that his dad is in jail, Zach had to change everything of himself. His name, his hometown, and even his hair color--he drew the line at dying his hair blonde. Who used to be Jack Osborne is now Zach Granger, with his sister (Joanne who is now Wanda) and mother (Patricia who is now Mrs. Granger), relocated and living what he thinks is safely in Elko, Nevada. They used to live in a huge house all the way in whoknowswhere, but now they live in a tiny house (at least 5 times smaller) where there are three E's to the town. Everyone knows Everything about Everybody. Maybe evena fourth--Eventually. Soon, Zach and his family's life is at stake with the three E's because of a journal that he writes in frequently. Omigosh, is he going to die? What's going to happen to his father? Find out, it's a really good book. I suggest it.

ZACH'S LIE
What would you do if somebody broke into your house and threatened to kill you? This is an investigation book that tells all about a kid's life that gets turned around when people break into his house for his dad.

This book title is Zach's Lie. The author is Rolan Smith. The genre: this book has action, adventure, and it also has investigation in it.


This extraordinary book takes place in Portland, Oregon the main characters are Zach, the janitor, his mom and dad and his best friend.


The plot is when Zach is trying to figure everything out why the bad guys are trying to kidnap him so he doesn't figure out what is going on.


What I liked about how the author wrote about the story is that she made it sound like something was bad every second which was cool and how she made it adventurous.


I think somebody that would like this book would be 9 year old and up I am "ten years old" and I loved this book.


I thought this book was great, awesome and just so amazing. I would love to read it again! I think it is better than a lot of books.

"If you take the V out of lives what do you get?" Jack Osborne and his family never expected anything like this to happen. One night while sitting at home, three people wearing all black and ski masks came busting into their home. Since then, Jack and his family have been relocated with the witness protection program, and their lives have NEVER been the same! They don't even have the same names anymore. Zach Granger, the son, and main character in the story, is Jack's new life. In a new town, thousands of miles away from everything they have ever known, Zach will lead a life of mystery, secrets, love, and anger. But what happens when some "out-of-towners" start creeping about? Will Zach's lie be discovered?

Zach's Lie grabs you and doesn't let go until the very last word. While reading this book, I got in to the characters' lives, almost like I was part of the story. It's FILLED with anticipation and curiosity. I recommend this book to teenagers and adults alike. Zach's Lie is his life!

Peter N.
Des Plaines Illinois

I highly recommend the book _Zach's Lie_ by Roland Smith. I enjoyed it very much. I enjoy suspenseful adventure books that have a sense of reality. This book shares the story or a young boy and his family's life, when their world is turned upside down. The author always keeps a surprise right around the corner, and the reader never knows if Zach's going to make it or ruin everything. The author also does a good job of making the reader feel for Zach. As I watched him try to start his life over, make new friends, and have a crush on a girl in his class; I could not help but feel as if I knew exactly what he was feeling.
If you enjoy suspenseful, realistic stories, this is a book for you. If you don't mind a sad book, you will enjoy the adventure Zach and his family encounter. After a life threatening encounter and a life changing realization, Zach, his mother, and his sister leave their father and their lives to start over. You follow Zach on his new adventures in his new life as he tries to cope with his situation. The book ends as if it was just beginning and leaves you wanting to read more.

Jack Osborne is a 12 year old boy in the 7th grade with an imaginary friend named commander IF (Imaginary Friend). Three men broke into their house in the middle of the night; Agent Pelton said it had something to do with their dad. Agent Pelton said he found their dad down in Texas and said they locked him up down town because he was transferring drugs throughout North and South America. Agent Pelton said his dad worked for a man named Alonzo. Alonzo has warehouses throughout America. Jacks Dad wants to put his family in the Whiteness Security Program. The Osborne's changed their names and hair color. Their new names are the Grangers and they moved to Elko, Nevada. Will Alonzo ever find the Grangers in Elko, Nevada?

I Believe this is a great book and I recommend it for kids and adults that read fluently. I like this book because it keeps you thinking and they travel all around trying to become people that their not and trying to fit in.

I give Zach's Lie 5 stars because it is a very interesting book. If you like mysteries this is the book for you.
One night Jack, Joanne, and his mom are ransacked by three drug smuggling men and were threatened to be killed. Police! The men shouted and left the house. The DEA {Drug Enforcement Agency} came and arrested the family and took them to headquarters and had them move to a different town, change their names, and no more contact with friends, [like no more letters, telephones calls, and e-mail.]
In the new town Elko, Nevada he meets a girl named Catalin and the janitor, Sam. Catalin took Zach up where her grandpa had a sheep farm. That's where the bad guys found him.
Do not put this book down until your done. Find out what happens to Zach when you read Zach's Lie.

Lies
This book is about a boy named Jack Osborne whose father buys a small airline business. But the business doesn't go to well and they become desperate for money. So Jacks dad meets a guy named Alonzo, and Alonzo traffics drugs and says the money is good. So they become good friends and Zach's dad starts smuggling drugs using his airline company. But the D.E.A finds out and arrests Zach's dad. Alonzo then comes to America trying to kill the Osborne's so they won't tell who else is working with him. So the D.E.A put the Osborne's in the witness protection program were they will all change their names and move to a different town. But Alonzo is still hunting them with the DEA hot on his trail but will it be too late for the Osborne's read and find out.
I really liked this book but there were still some dislikes. Like the beginning of the book started out kind of boring and I was abut ready to stop reading it but it then got allot better. It also had some suspense so that made it enjoyable.
I would recommend this book to somebody who likes books with suspense and a little bit of adventure. And if you are a new kid at your school it would be a good book to read because you can relate to Jack and how he has to adjust to new things.

Zach's Lie is a fictional novel by Roland Smith. Zach's Dad is a drug dealer, and is sent to jail by his evil partner Alonzo. Alonzo and his crew are out to kill Zach's Family, and he has to become part of the Witness Security Program! Other books by this author are, Jack's Run (sequel to Zach's Lie), Elephant Run, the Last Lobo, Jaguar, Cryptid Hunters, and Sasquatch.
Roland Smith writes action, suspense, and Realistic Fiction. The main characters are: Zach, Zach's parents, Alonzo, Alonzo's crew, Catalan, her family, and Sam Sebesta.
Zach moves and has to go to a new school, a new house, and deals with new problems. He knows Alonzo is after him, but now so is the school bully! Read the book to see the ending.
I recommend this book to readers who like action, suspense, and mystery. You simply can't put this book down!

Jack Osborne is a 12 year old boy in the 7th grade with an imaginary friend named commander IF (Imaginary Friend). Three men broke into their house in the middle of the night; Agent Pelton said it had something to do with their dad. Agent Pelton said he found their dad down in Texas and said they locked him up down town because he was transferring drugs throughout North and South America. Agent Pelton said his dad worked for a man named Alonzo. Alonzo has warehouses throughout America. Jacks Dad wants to put his family in the Whiteness Security Program. The Osborne's changed their names and hair color. Their new names are the Grangers and they moved to Elko, Nevada. Will Alonzo ever find the Grangers in Elko, Nevada?

I believe this is a great book and I recommend it for kids and adults that read fluently. I like this book because it keeps you thinking and they travel all around trying to become people that their not and trying to fit in.