This is exactly the kind of book you want in your middle schooler's backpack. Gordon Korman delivers a genuinely engaging thriller that hooks kids who'd rather be on their phones, while sneaking in some meaty questions about identity and autonomy.

The premise is wild enough to grab attention—you're a clone of a historical criminal mastermind living in a fake utopian town—but grounded enough in real kid emotions (friendship, betrayal, figuring out who you are) to resonate. It's not trying to be literary fiction, and that's fine. It's trying to keep 11-year-olds reading past bedtime, and it succeeds.

The parental deception angle might sting for some kids, but it's handled within the bounds of middle-grade appropriateness. This is thriller tension, not trauma. If your kid loved Percy Jackson or is ready to graduate from Wimpy Kid, this is a solid next step.