When his father was arrested for drug trafficking, thirteen-year-old Jack Osborne, his older sister Joanne, and their mother were forced to take on new identities through the Witness Security Program. They settled in Elko, Nevada, and Jack Osborne became "Zach Granger." But the Grangers were soon discovered. Drug lord Alonzo Alznar tracked them down and, if it hadn't been for Sam&mdasha custodian at Jack's school with a secret past of his own&mdashthe Grangers wouldn't have made it out of Elko alive. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Gr 6 Up-In Zach's Lie (Hyperion, 2001), Jack Osborne's father agreed to testify against drug czar Alonzo Aznar. Although the family joined the Witness Security Program, Aznar eventually found them and notified his minions, and Jack narrowly escaped death at their hands. In this thrilling sequel, Smith provides enough background to understand Jack's past and the pressures that he now faces. His older sister, Joanne, has moved to L.A., where she plans to attend college and pursue a musical career. His father, under close watch by the U.S. Marshal Service, is scheduled to testify at the trial. For his own safety, Jack is sent to live with Joanne. When he arrives, he discovers that she has been selected for an American Idol-type show, and that her image has been splashed all over the news media. Aznar's men find and kidnap the siblings and move them to a vineyard in South America. From that point, the author tells the story from dual perspectives: that of Jack and Joanne as they try to escape and that of their parents and their struggle to find their children. The two story lines collide when the Osbornes arrive at the vineyard, posing as dealers. The action is nonstop and the characters are compelling. The fast pace will keep even reluctant readers interested. A highly entertaining read.-Emily Garrett, Naaman Forest High School, Garland, TX Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information