2016 Edgar YA nominee
Nicknamed “Panda” at school because of her mixed-race heritage, Lauren Daniels has yet another identity. On her anonymous photo-blog, Gray Scales, Panda exacts a mixture of revenge and justice on teachers and students who earn her wrath, taking incriminating photos and uploading them for all to see. After someone catches her in the act, Panda is left on the wrong side of a terrible game of blackmail and photographic one-upmanship, one with real consequences for herself, those she has exposed, and those she cares about. Giles (Fake ID) crafts an unpredictable psychological thriller filled with murky choices and colorful characters. It’s not hard to connect this story to social justice movements online or the crusading aspect of Anonymous, making it a timely and unsettling story. While the levels of misery get quite high, Giles also keeps redemption and help within reach for most of the characters. The novel’s strength rests in its underlying moral complexity and in its resourceful heroine, who bounces back from some well-meaning mistakes. Ages 14–up.
Another YA book involving blackmail! I really enjoyed this, although I don't know if it's really appropriate for middle school as there is the F word and suggestions of sex.
