Awards

• Short-listed for New Brunswick Book Awards — Books for Young Readers Award 2025 (Canada)
• Winner of New Brunswick Book Awards — Books for Young Readers Award 2025 (Canada)

Overview

Winner, New Brunswick Book Awards — Books for Young Readers Award 2025 To catch a liar, he must become a liar. Ethan Granger has no idea what his father does for work, just that it’s lucrative enough to make his family rich, and it often requires him to go out of town. But when Ethan catches his dad in a lie, it raises unsettling questions he can’t ignore. Before long, Ethan’s investigation into this seemingly small fib uncovers a whole clandestine — and potentially criminal — operation. Hiring a private eye, sneaking into his dad’s office, tailing him on his “business trips” — Ethan uses every deceitful trick his father taught him against those closest to him, but just how far will he go to expose the lies? And what if the truth throws his whole world off balance?

Full Product Details

9781770867642

Table of Contents

Reviews

“[The] first-person narration will ensnare readers immediately, sustaining their interest as this compact, strongly paced story navigates red herrings and subplots. … A fast-paced page-turner that explores moral gray areas.” * Kirkus Reviews * “The novel hooks you early on and you’re not likely to put it down. You really care where it’s leading and how Ethan is going to handle the dilemma. And by the time you’re past the halfway mark, the emotionally-wrought scenes are true heart-stabbers, very skillfully written. … It’s simply a great read, with the moral angst of Ethan’s situation a strong pull throughout.” -- Pam Withers * YA Dude Books * “Sherrard's An Unbalanced Force is a fast moving, action-packed, suspense-filled thriller, with enough twists and turns that will engage a reader from the first page and perhaps have them question their own integrity and moral fibre alongside Ethan Granger! FIVE STARS!” -- Karen Upper * Goodreads * “Sherrard keeps her readers on the edge of their seats ... Highly Recommended.” -- Ann Ketcheson * CM Reviews *

“[The] first-person narration will ensnare readers immediately, sustaining their interest as this compact, strongly paced story navigates red herrings and subplots. … A fast-paced page-turner that explores moral gray areas.” * Kirkus Reviews *

Author Information

Valerie Sherrard is the author of more than 30 books for children and teens, including the multi-award-nominated Birdspell and the novel-in-verse Standing on Neptune. Her work has won or been shortlisted for the TD, GG, Geoffrey Bilson, Ann Connor Brimer, and CLA Awards, and numerous readers’ choice programs including the Forest of Reading, MYRCA, Red Cedar, RMBA, Willows, and Hackmatack Awards. Born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, she now lives in Miramichi, New Brunswick.

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