BIGGEST FAKE IN THE UNIVERSE

“How did I get here?”

Those words echo through the mind of 13-year-old Movits Lind (Mo for short) as he stands atop the tallest skateboard ramp in Sweden, with his parents, his crush, and a TV crew below waiting for him to dazzle them with amazing tricks. The problem? Mo has no clue what he’s doing. Following this breathlessly immersive opening, Rundberg rewinds, taking readers on a highly satisfying journey as he reveals the events leading up to this moment. We learn that Mo and BFF Ruben are unathletic kids—video games and chess are where they soar—but while at a local park watching Ruben’s brother skate, they meet a hip skater girl named Bea. Mo falls hard for her, and after he tries out some skating moves to impress her and her friends—and by chance performs well—a video of his performance goes viral. Now Mo has an entirely unearned reputation as a talented skater, and though he’s uneasy—especially when a television company contacts him—he’s reluctant to come clean to Bea. Though the skating plotline drives this narrative, originally published in Sweden, the humor and attraction lie in the quiet moments of Mo’s daily life, from arguments with family members to cringe-inducing (and sweetly swoonworthy) interactions with Bea. Educators will find this an excellent read-aloud option, although the occasional Swedish word may require a little practice. Most characters present white.

Delightfully told and sure to please.