Greetings From Witness Protection by Jake Burt

"You will also maintain regular friendships: do not withdraw or become a loner, deadhead, goth, vamp, emo, punk, or skater." page 61

• Age Range: 10 - 14 years
• Grade Level: 4 - 9
• Reading Level:  5.1
• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (October 3, 2017)
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Summary:
Thirteen-year-old Nikki Demere is an orphan and a kleptomaniac, making her the perfect girl to portray the Trevors' daughter in witness protection, but she soon learns that the biggest threat to her new family's security comes from her own past.

This is a fun read. I like reading about witness protection situations. They always involve some suspense and the unbelievable and almost impossible situation of starting over as someone else.  It is never easy. Nikki has never had an normal life and despite her less than desirable upbringing, she is a decent person who has good intentions. Her foster families don't "stick" for various reasons and so when the U.S. Marshals come looking for a potential candidate for their new "family" program, she is selected.  Her job is to become part of a family in order to make it more difficult to find them because of an extra child in the mix. Nikki takes responsibility for this new role and adds her own "skills" of crime she learned at her grandmother's knee to help her family unit. However, things go awry and Nikki ends up becoming noteworthy instead of blending in. 

I recommend this book to grades fourth grade and up. I think it is a great adventure and growing up story that will appeal to both boys and girls. I rate it a 4 out of 4.  

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