Original Fake - Kristen Cronn-Mills and E. Eero Jonson

Title: Original Fake
Author: Kristen Cronn-Mills and E. Eero Jonson
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 4 Stars

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In this Banksy-inspired illustrated novel, an escalating sibling rivalry train wrecks and vengeance is a street-art act of war
Introvert Frankie Neumann hates his life, and understandably so. He’s got a weird, tutu-wearing sister, Lou, and even weirder parents, Bridget and Brett—Frank Sinatra and Dr. Frank-N-Furter impersonators, respectively. And, he’s just the guy who makes pizza at Pizza Vendetta. Though he has secret artistic aspirations of his own, his over-the-top family makes him want to stay in the background. But Frankie's life is about to change—becoming way more interesting, even a little dangerous, but definitely cool.

After his shift at the pizzeria one night, Frankie meets David and Rory, cousins and errand runners for the mysterious Uncle Epic, a legendary anonymous street artist and Frankie’s absolute idol. Little could Frankie dream that his new adventures with Uncle Epic would lead to the perfect opportunity to strike back at his insufferable sister for a lifetime of torture. But things go haywire quicker than you can say “street art kicks righteous ass,” and the lines are suddenly blurred between art and Frankie’s real life.

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Frankie, a young teen living in some unnamed suburb of Minneapolis with his parents and younger sister Lou (short for Tallulah.)  Frankie is supposedly a reserved, introverted guy who, because of that, hasn't really had any friends throughout his life.  Then he meets Rory and David and they start having all these adventures, including one where they set up a bunch of sheep and TVs in Loring Park for an art project for Rory and David's Uncle Epic.

Things I really Loved about This Book:

* Frankie.  His character is just awesome.  I love his pizza artistry at Pizza Vendetta, I love the fact that he is so creative and has such a great time making his art (in the form of punked out mannequins.)  I love that he is so nice to David - when he find out that David has a crush on him, he doesn't freak out, he just explains to David that he's straight, but that he wants to be friends with David.

* The street art aspect.  I love that these kids are already at a point in their lives where they are aware about social and political issues, and are standing up for it in a way that they can - and standing up for Uncle Epics art as well.  It is, in a word:

* I like that the parents are actually around in this book - even if Frankie does think they care about Lou more than him.  A lot of YA books that I've read have absent parents - and it drives me crazy.

*I like that the characters seem to have a good grasp on who they are.  They are all well-defined and they all seem to be confident in who they are.

What I didn't like:
* So, Lou and her theatre friends do flash robs, and when her parents find out - she barely gets in trouble.  She robs a bunch of stores and she doesn't even get charged for it.  I mean seriously.  I don't care if she's only 15 - she helped rob a bunch of stores AND SHE'S NOT EVEN GETTING CHARGED WITH IT!

Other than the no punishment for Lou part, I liked this book. The story was very well-developed, and I liked the art panels were thrown in throughout the book.  I also loved that this book take place in my home state - Minnesota. 


Go ahead and read this book - you'll love it!