Holes meets The Goonies in the highly anticipated second middle-grade novel from the author of Gertie’s Leap to Greatness!

Frederick Frederickson has a food-chain theory about life. There are lions, like the school bully. Gazelles, like the bullied kids. There are meerkats, and the fleas that live on the butts of meerkats. Frederick’s a flea.

Fifth grade is off to a terrible start when Frederick is sent to a disciplinary camp for troublesome boys. His fellow troop mates–Nosebleed, Specs, The Professor, and little-yet-lethal Ant Bite–are terrifying. But in between trust-building exercises and midnight escape attempts, a tenuous friendship grows between them. Which is lucky, because a Category 5 hurricane is coming and everyone will have to work together–lions and fleas alike–to survive!

Kate Beasley outdoes herself in this hilarious, whip-smart tale of brotherhood, survival, and what it really means to be a friend.

Praise for Lions & Liars:

Beasley follows her acclaimed debut, Gertie’s Leap to Greatness (2016), with a winning story that matches earnestness with humor…transformative read. –Booklist, starred review

Beasley’s sophomore novel…is chock full of zany, nicknamed characters (Frederick shares a cabin with Nosebleed, Ant Bite, Specs, and the Professor) coming together in a story of friendship among boys…A fun coming-of-age romp. –Kirkus Reviews