Sneaks
by Amy Tern (Goodreads Author)

1 out of 5 stars

Valory has a reputation as a thief and liar. She is rude to all the adults in her life, especially her mother’s boyfriend. She gives adults rude nicknames that she calls them behind their backs. She is well-known at her school for elaborate pranks and for stealing from the teachers. She disobeys her mother on various occasions, saying she knows she will get in trouble, but she doesn’t care.

In contrast, Rook is a responsible young man who diligently practices the piano for an upcoming music competition, but his agoraphobia gets worse and worse until he can’t leave the house without his parents close by.
When Valory comes along, she ropes him into her wild ways, encouraging him to disobey his parents and lie to them. Valory sneers at Rook’s good behavior, and he is eager to prove that he is not a “good kid”. Together, they investigate a strange woman in the next building, who is hiding a child in her apartment. They think the child might have been kidnapped, but they need proof.

This book is so horrible in so many ways. The moral philosophy is just as bad as it could be. It glorifies Valory’s escapades and rude behavior. She says that she loves the “thrill” of stealing and it makes her feel “free” and alive. Both Valory and Rook seem perfectly okay with lying to their parents since they have a “good reason”. They have no shame and no repentance for their misconduct.

Valory has a tiny bit of redemption at the end when she apologizes to her mother’s boyfriend for her bad behavior toward him. But she doesn’t apologize to her mother. She doesn’t apologize to her teachers. She doesn’t make things right her mom’s boss. She doesn’t seem to repent or really change her ways. After an entire book of her bad behavior, one feeble “I’m sorry” was just too little, too late for a redemption arc. Same thing with Rook. He never apologizes to his mother for lying to her and disobeying her. All their relationships are so broken, and the story gives no healing or restoration.

The mystery itself was okay as they spy on the neighbor and try to figure out if the child in the apartment has been kidnapped. The writing style is good. I just hated Valory and Rook so much for their terrible lack of morals, and the way this book glorified their bad behavior.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review.

This book has been screened on the Screen It First website for lying, stealing, and some poor language. https://screenitfirst.com/book/sneaks-2595479