Catch You Later, Traitor

by Avi

Brooklyn, New York, 1951.

Twelve-year-old Pete Collison is a regular kid who loves Sam Spade detective books and radio crime dramas, but when an FBI agent shows up at Pete’s doorstep accusing his father of being a Communist, Pete finds himself caught in a real-life mystery. Could there really be Commies in Pete’s family? At the same time, Pete’s class turns against him, thanks to similar rumors spread by his own teacher; even Kat, Pete’s best friend, feels the pressure to ditch him. As Pete follows the quickly accumulating clues, he begins to wonder if the truth could put his family’s livelihood--and even their freedom--at risk.

In the tradition of his Newbery Honor book Nothing But the Truth, Avi’s newest novel tells a funny, insightful story packed with realistic period detail of a boy in mid-twentieth-century America. Its unique look at what it felt like to be an average family caught in the wide net of the Red Scare has powerful relevance to contemporary questions of democracy and individual freedoms.
 

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Middle Grade, Historical, Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Avi is a pen name for Edward Irving Wortis, but he says, "The fact is, Avi is the only name I use." Born in 1937, Avi has created many fictional favorites such as The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Nothing but the Truth, and the Crispin series. His work is popular among readers young and old.

Reviews

[Lillian Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really don't know how Avi does it. I mean, make each protagonist in his historical fiction sound so unique, and believable and compelling. I don't have time to leave a full review, but let me just say, I loved the twists and turns in this book, the character growth, and that ending! (I know why Pete did what he did, but a part of me wanted him to reveal the true traitor... but that's all I'll say!)

This book definitely left me hanging on the edge of my seat, eager to know what happens.

[Esil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for an opportunity to read an advance copy of Catch You Later, Traitor. This book is aimed at teenage readers. I am not usually a reader of teen fiction, but I have a particular interest in certain aspects of 20th century history, including McCarthyism. And so when I saw the description of Avi's book, I was intrigued and thought I would give it a try. And I am really glad I did. Catch You Later, Traitor tells the story of Pete and his family who live in Brooklyn in the 1950s. The story starts with Pete's 7th grade teacher telling the class that they shouldn't hang out with Pete because his father is a "Commie". Pete's father is not in fact a communist, but this leads Pete to discover his complicated family history, including some surprising and disturbing secrets. And unfortunately, those secrets are of great interest to the FBI in the age of McCarthyism. I found the story itself really engaging and Avi does a fantastic job of depicting the absurd paranoia of that time in American history and the nasty effects it had on individuals, families and communities. As part of the story, Pete befriends an old blind man who becomes a confidant who warns Pete that there is a fine line between healthy suspicion and paranoia. And that is the theme of the book. I really enjoyed reading Catch You Later, Traitor and I expect it will be a great vehicle for teens to learn about that part of American history. I am definitely glad I took a risk on this "teen" book and highly recommend it for adults and teens alike.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Catch You Later, Traitor" which I won through Goodreads/First Reads is an absorbing fast-paced, historically-based mystery that begins in Brooklyn, New York in 1951 at PS 10 when twelve-year-old Pete Collison's teacher Ricky Donavan starts mistreating him in class after spreading a rumor that his parents are Communists. As Pete is ostracized by his classmates, ignored by his best friend, and begins receiving bad grades, he wonders if there is any truth to his teacher's allegations especially when he's followed by an FBI agent. Loving Sam Spade detective novels and listening to radio crime dramas, Pete uses his sleuthing skills to investigate his father's past, hoping to uncover the identity of the informer who reported his family.

The author sets the stage for this fascinating plot in the paranoia of 1950's America where the McCarran Act gave the government license to hunt down those listed as subversives. Not only do those unjustly indicted face prison sentences if they don't provide names of other Communists, but in a national emergency could be incarcerated in prison camps. In this atmosphere of mistrust Pete's father is being investigated by the FBI and the repercussions of that scrutiny has spilled over into the lives of his sons.

Slowly as events unfold the author builds emotional intensity and suspense as Pete begins his own search for clues to the mystery of his father's past which he hopes will uncover the identity of the informer he suspects could be a family member. As Pete gets closer to the truth his fear mounts as the FBI's intimidation grows. In a plot that vibrates with mysterious clues - a missing grandfather, an undisclosed uncle and unknown names on the back of a picture - there are splashes of humour like Pete's defiance as a Giants fan, and in his clandestine meetings with his best friend Kat. I even loved the insertions in italics, bits of the story that read like excerpts from a detective novel.

In a plot that sparks with drama, excitement and emotional power, the characters are well-developed, realistic and unforgettable as the Collison family grapples with a nightmare that could put their security and freedom at risk. Pete Collison like his hero Sam Spade is calm, watchful and wary as he collects the facts, although his mounting paranoia is making him question the loyalty and trustworthiness of friends and family members. Yet for all his bravado and toughness in dealing with his troubles at school, he feels isolated and alone; sensitive to guilt by association. His brother Bobbie a smart high school student is intense and self-absorbed, willing to barter information to get what he wants. Their father Dennis Collison a history professor is a mild-mannered man of integrity who refuses to undermine his values while their mother is supportive and protective, loyal to her husband. Katherine Bayer Pete's best friend is steadfast and devoted, even as she's plagued by the impact of a broken home.

Of the antagonists who add a chill to this unique look at the Communist Scare; Special Agent Tom Ewing is spineless and weak in his intimidation of a child to get the information he wants; Pete's teacher Ricky Donavan, a narrow-minded bully and Chris Collison a weak, manipulative and abusive uncle.

" Catch You Later, Traitor" is a powerful look at the rights and freedoms of individuals in a period marred by fear and uncertainty. I highly recommend it and intend to read other books by this gifted author.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The year is 1951 and there’s a war going on across the country and baseball is the talk of the town. For twelve-year old Pete, his life consists of school, reading detective novels, hanging out with his best friend Kat, and talking Dodger baseball. His life is interrupted when communism, Reds and socialism enters his life. Words and individuals that Pete had heard about in passing from his parent’s conversations and newspapers now become significant and critical. His family is being watched by the FBI and when Pete questions his father, Pete walks away with more uncertainty and wonders if his father is holding something back. To solve this escalating mystery, Pete becomes Sam Spade, his favorite detective in the novels that he reads. In doing so, he creates these wonderful detailed instants in the book, “her face was almost chalk white, with net-like wrinkle lines and a mouth as tight as a vice.” I really enjoyed these moments when Pete creates these little snapshots of what he sees before him as he writes with such detail and imagery. His words made me smile as I saw the image unfold in front of me, these small descriptions giving me another glimpse into the mind of a twelve-year detective. Pete is scrambling to find out why his family is now under investigation and what exactly all these terms and people are which seem to be part of his vocabulary now. The text provides great explanation as Pete’s life gets chaotic. It’s a great mystery that keep the pages turning as Pete digs deeper and deeper into this mystery. The new Sam Spade is digging for the truth but things just aren’t adding up, too many mysteries keep popping up and they all seem to point at his father.
I won a copy of this book from Avi - thanks!

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderfully, sneaky way to teach history! 'Catch You Later, Traitor' by Avi follows young Pete Collison whose father has been accused of being a Communist during the McCarthy era. The book is geared towards young readers and early teens. Avi has adeptly captured life during the early 1950's and helps to bring the era alive to the reader. Pete and his friend Kat enjoy sending secret messages to each other using cereal decoder rings, the Collison family comes together to enjoy radio programs, and Sam Spade rules the airwaves!
Avi manages to incorporate historical aspects of the McCarthy era so that young (and older) readers learn some of what went on during the 1950's in the United States. Reading how the paranoia of Communism disrupted Pete and his family's life brings history to life.
'Catch You Later, Traitor' is well written and engaging. The book is sure to capture any young readers interest, not to mention some adult readers as well!

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1951 Brooklyn, New York, "Catch You Later, Traitor" by Avi, focuses on a time in history that most late elementary and early middle schoolers, for whom the book is intended, will have little knowledge. Most of them don't cover this topic until high school American History. Though the "Red Scare" and "McCarthyism" are important topics, the complexities of Communism and Socialism, as well as the world's relationship with Russia will be difficult concepts for this age to consume without some guidance. Therefore, the book would be best read as a class text with teacher input. However, as a noir mystery, "Catch You Later, Traitor," has lots of appeal.

Twelve year old, and seventh grader, Pete Collison begins by telling us that April 12, 1951, was the day his world was turned upside down. It begins with a comment from his teacher, Mr. Donaldson, who accuses Pete's history professor father of being a Communist in front of all of Pete's classmates. This accusation leads to bullying and shaming both by the teacher and Pete's classmates. It also leads Pete to question everything he thought he knew about the people he cares for: his father, mother, brother (Bobby), the blind man he works for (Mr.Ordson), and best friend (Kat). We follow Pete as he is followed and questioned by the FBI, badgered by his uncle, completely disregarded by his peers, and dumped by his best friend. Following the tactics of detective Sam Spade and the detective magazine heroes of the time, he tries to solve the mystery surrounding his father, his father's family, and their political leanings. Avi does a good job of clearly laying out the red herrings for the reader - and, in the process, making everyone is Pete's world a suspect. Generally a good read. However, some plot elements stretch credulity a bit, and the ending is a bit anti-climactic.

Along the way, Pete learns many lessons about trust, friendship, education, politics, family, brotherhood, and more:

p. 56 - "Okay. Fine. If I was going to be treated as an outsider, I'd be an outsider. From now on, I'd be a Giants fan." This was an interesting sub-plot. Pete never wavers from his support of the Giants once he commits. And, as history tells us, a miracle occurred in 1951 - the Giants on the National League pennant!

p. 70 - "'There's nothing wrong with being different from your family.'"

p. 81 - "You can look at something your whole life and not notice it."

p.90 - "'Grown-ups hide stuff they don't like talking about.'"

p.98 - "They were afraid. Knowing your parents are afraid is like being in the middle of the ocean and discovering your boat has a big hole in the bottom."

p. 101 - "I had to admit, suspicion is catching. People get suspicious about you, you get suspicious about other people."

p. 148 - "'When a young man talks to an old man, it is always a gift.'"

p. 149 - "'Man has unraveled the complexities of the atom and how to release its force...Yet nothing is more complex or explosive than families.'"

p. 150 - "'Somewhere I recall reading that a parent's secret is the child's burden. But generally speaking, I believe it's always better to learn the truth.'"

p. 158 - "'Sometimes when parents aren't happily married, kids pay a price.'"

p. 161 - "'...there's an old saying: A brother who is a friend is the best of friends while a brother who is an enemy is the worst of enemies. Cain and Abel, alas.'"

p. 198 - "'...we live in a time of great mistrust. This is not always a bad thing. People should question things. However, in my experience, too much suspicion undermines reason...There's a bog difference...between suspicion and paranoia.'"

p. 224 - "'Pal, the thing about detectives is that like historians, they need to be suspicious. Of people. Of what people say. What they don't say. Of clues. Both try to get the truth, not what they want the truth to be, but what is true. And guess what? Sometimes it's hard to know the difference. I think that's a mistake you made here, Pete.'"

p. 237 - "'Thomas Jefferson, the man who wrote that-about liberty-owned slaves. Owned people. Pete, nothing is simple. Know that and you know half the world's wisdom.'"

p. 253 - "'In an age of suspicion the last people we suspect is ourselves.'"

p. 259 - "Dad lost his brother for a second time. I'd lost an uncle I never had."

p.260 - "'Let me tell you, Pal, grown-ups lose their freedom a lot. And they don't have to be in prison.'"

p. 260 - "'Hey, Pal, families are like ghosts. You may not believe in them but they haunt you anyway.'"

Overall, a good read. I enjoyed it and will be curious to see how kids respond.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's 1951 and for 12 year-old Pete Collison life is all about the Brooklyn Dodgers, Sam Spade mystery stories, and his best friend Kat A/K/A Katherine Boyer. He could completely live without his older brother Bobby, who thinks only about rockest and getting into an elite science camp run by am aeronautical government agency, and the NY Giants because what self-respecting Brooklynite would root for any other team than the Dodgers? Yes, life was pretty ordinary for Peter Collison.

Until one Thursday morning in April, when everything changed. Suddenly, Pete's teacher Mr. Donovan started picking on him, his friends started to avoid him and even things with Kat felt different. To top it all off, when Pete got home from school that day, there was a mysterious phone call from a stranger telling him he has to help, but help who? and why?

Pete figures out that Mr. Donovan has said something to the class about his parents, but no one, not even Kat, will tell him what. The next day, a Friday, Pete's seat in class is changed to last seat, last row -the public school equivalent of no man's land. And by the end of the day, Pete realizes that his teacher thinks his father is a Communist and had spoken to the class about it on Wednesday when he was out of the room.

At home that day, there is another mysterious phone call asking if Pete would help. Suddenly, Pete has a lot to think about. Could his father, a professor of American History at City College, really be a commie? And even if he did have some affiliation with the Communist Party, who told the FBI about it? What, Pete asked himself, would Sam Spade do? His answer - poke around, look for clues, watch, listen and wait, keep everything to himself until he figured things out.

Things seem to just go downhill for Pete. He's constantly followed by the FBI, who want him to spy on his father, Kat is sent away to boarding school because of him, and the only friend he seems to have left is the blind neighbor he reads to once a week. To top it all off, after putting his best Sam Spade detecting methods to work, Pete discovers some incriminating family history from the Great Depression that could land his dad in jail. And now his dad is being called before the Subversive Activities Control Board. Can all of Pete's clues and information help his dad now? Or will it only hurt his case?

Catch You Later, Traitor is told in the first person by Pete, who at times tells his story in the language and style of a Sam Spade novel. This gives the story lots of period flavor and also serves to introduce information which would otherwise be awkward or distracting to include, but necessary to the story. But that is part of Avi's strength as a writer.

And Avi always manages to produce clever page-turning historical fiction. Infused with the big story, here McCarthyism and the Red Scare of the early 1950s are real details about living in Brooklyn at that time. His stylized narration reminded me so much of his two earlier books, Don't You Know There's a War On? and Who was that Masked Man, Anyway? All three books are written in the protagonists favorite form of entertainment - detective novels, snappy slang and radio shows. I like to think of these as Avi's Brooklyn trilogy.

If Avi is good at capturing the micro-flavor of a time and place, he is also able to realistically represent more complicated macro-events of a period. McCarthyism was a movement that bred so much fear and ignorance, and that impacted so many lives, including Sam Spade author Dashiell Hammett. The McCarran Act gave the government license to hunt down anyone they thought might be a subversive and as we see with Pete's dad, if a person couldn't or was unwilling to give names of other Communist party members or sympathizers, they could be imprisoned. FBI intimidation/bullying tactics are also realistically portrayed.

I think Catch You Later, Traitor is a good introductory novel to this complicated era, and nicely explores themes of loyalty, friendship, the meaning of family as well as the rights and freedoms granted Americans under the Bill of Rights.

If you like Avi, this is a book for you; if you are new to Avi's novels, jump in, you are in for a treat.

This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book is an EARC received from NetGalley

This review was originally posted at Randomly Reading

[Josiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

"When a young man talks to an old man, it is always a gift."

—Mr. Ordson, Catch You Later, Traitor, P. 148

It's 1951 in America again, and McCarthyism is alive and well in the streets and legislative bodies. Senator Joe McCarthy, fervent guardian of the American way and enemy of all things Communist, has turned his penetrating stare to the American homeland, beginning the era of fear and oppression commonly known as the Red Scare. Enter twelve-year-old Pete Collison, one of so many indirect victims of McCarthy's overzealous persecution tactics, inciting every American worth his or her salt to turn spy for a little while and start checking out their neighbors to uncover any subversive activity that may be happening. The Iron Curtain of the Soviet Union might be guarding secrets deep and dark, but radical commies will never make inroads in the U.S. if all good citizens are vigilant and alert, quick to shine a spotlight on anyone with a questionable past or tendency to express viewpoints not well-grounded in standard American ideology. This is the nightmare that many honest, innocent Americans were suddenly immersed in when the Red Scare came stalking in 1951. People with peripheral connection—or no actual connection at all—to Communism abroad or domestically could find themselves ordered before committees and hearings aimed at exposing a traitorous streak that didn't exist in them at all. Just for drawing the suspicion of a neighbor, friend, or even an enemy, a perfectly peaceable U.S. citizen could lose their livelihood, be ostracized by their community, and have the opportunity for a hopeful future in the land of freedom and opportunity stolen from them. The Salem Witch Trials were back, albeit in less lethal form, as the good intentions of justice, moral living, and allegiance to one's country rose to preeminence even above responsibility to truth...and when has that ever turned out well?

"I felt like I was looking through a kaleidoscope. Every turn I made, things changed: shape, color, and the connections between them. It's a strange world when you can't put names to the colors you're seeing."

—Catch You Later, Traitor, P. 140

It was only a few casual remarks from Mr. Collison about curriculum, which set off Pete's teacher, Mr. Donovan, to privately denounce Pete in front of the class. Without as much as a chance to speak up on his own behalf, Donovan is relegated to status as an unconfessed insurrectionist against U.S. policies and creed, shunted by classmates and ignored by the man in authority over the classroom. It takes only a suggestion or two by Pete's father about what he thinks the students should be learning—and Mr. Collison speaks from a position of expertise, being a college professor—for Pete to be unofficially excommunicated from his own class. Mr. Donovan won't call on Pete when he has his hand up to answer a question, encourages disrespectful behavior toward Pete, gives him poor grades regardless of how much effort he puts into his projects, and openly derides him as a closet traitor to his country. Pete's life has been slashed to ribbons, all without a single word or action of his own to condemn him. His best friend, Kat, a girl offbeat and off-center, geeky and fun and there for Pete whenever he needed her before, is the only one who doesn't immediately turn tail on him, though her father is exerting strong pressure to make her back away from the kid publicly denounced a commie.

"(N)othing is simple. Know that and you know half the world's wisdom."

—Pete's father, Catch You Later, Traitor, P. 237

But if having his friendship with Kat jeopardized isn't the hardest part of the ordeal, that part definitely arrives with Agent Thomas Ewing, reconnaissance man for the FBI. Ewing swoops in on Pete at his most vulnerable, just as the steady stream of taunts and jeers from his classmates increases from a babbling brook to a soaking torrent, when Pete is starting to question the patriotism of his own father. Why would Mr. Donovan so blatantly state his case against Mr. Collison if he weren't sure of its validity, if Pete's father hadn't expressed views that proved his allegiances were with the commies? Agent Ewing's presence only serves to increase Pete's doubts; an FBI man on his father's trail is nothing to take lightly. Probing for a better understanding of Mr. Collison's past, expressing certainty that he would disclose his secrets to Pete before he would come clean to Pete's older brother, Bobby, Ewing drops Pete his card and urges him to stay in contact if he loves his country. And what could Pete use now more than ever, if not a way to prove he repudiates the Communist manifesto and wishes to do everything in his power to support the United States?

Ever a listener of the era's classic radio detective programs, and enthusiastic student of crackerjack private eyes such as Sam Spade, Pete wants to do a little investigating of his own into his father's past to discover if Donovan's and Ewing's claims could be true, but he doesn't want to sever trust with his father. Directly questioning him about the past gains few answers, however, beyond the rudimentary facts of Pete's father's brief long-ago flirtation with the Communist Party in America before deciding it wasn't for him and moving on to the next thing. There are more sensitive secrets in Pete's father's past than harmless curiosity about a foreign political system, and judging from his father's angry reaction when Pete pushes the investigation further, those secrets could land their family in a world of trouble if the wrong people became privy; people like Thomas Ewing, for one, who has the power to turn Pete's father over to committees green-lighted to interrogate him on his most personal beliefs and demand he inform on others who had involvement with the Communist agenda, under possible penalty of imprisonment if he refuses to cooperate. Pete's detective fantasies aren't a game and he knows it, but is it better to cover up what he's unearthed about his father's unsettling past and hope a special agent with the resources available to Ewing can't dig them up again? Or is Pete's best shot at keeping his father out of jail to finish what he started, pulling the curtain back on one final secret of his father's life that will change the complexion of Pete's family, no longer letting anyone ride the fence when it comes to choosing their ultimate loyalty? It has grown increasingly obvious that someone in the know is tipping off the FBI about Pete's father's past beliefs and political affiliation, but is the secret informer too close to home for Pete to reveal his or her identity without destroying his own father? Can Mr. Collison retain his position as a university professor, and Bobby his tenuous scholarship to summer aeronautics camp? Is there any way for Pete to piece his broken life back together again once every secret is laid bare to the unyielding light of day?

Avi has a strong reputation for numerous types of kids' literature, but historical fiction may be his forte, a vehicle he maneuvers within to do much of lasting importance in disseminating ideas and understanding to his young readers. The breadth and seriousness of 1951's Red Scare is broached with good factual detail in Catch You Later, Traitor, but what brings home the oppressiveness of it to kids is the way Pete's class turns the cold shoulder to him so quickly and completely, not caring to hear his side of the story or consider that Mr. Donovan's accusation may not be right, that Pete might be not be a Communist sympathizer ready to hand his country over to an army of ruthless Reds. Pete's father, though he isn't always helpful in leading Pete's investigation where it needs to go, understands his son's fear and hurt well, since he is enduring it, too, unnerved by what he sees of the state of affairs in the political arena under the helmsmanship of Joe McCarthy. "Look, Pete, I'm a historian", Mr. Collison says at one point in the story. "I study the past. But these days your past can mean a bad future." Stolid patriot though he may be, Joe McCarthy's brand of witch hunt histrionics is endangering the foundation of the nation he loves, eroding precious freedoms from the thought police, freedoms every American must have if this country is to work properly, even those who are antagonistic toward the common ideal. If all men's beliefs that go against the grain are held against them, then many great, earnest contributors to society would be unable to do good for the land they love, and we would have no way to benefit from their investment.

"Pal, if you ever look up the word right in a dictionary, you'll find it's one of the oldest words in the English language. Even so, people have never stopped arguing about what it means. I suspect they always will."

—Pete's father, P. 220

The past can be a painful, haunting place, a storage area for emotional baggage that would stoop our backs or trip us up if we tried to lug with us containers of such unmanageable size. "Do you know what memories are?", Pete's grandmother rhetorically asks him. "Dead-end streets. You can't go anywhere with them even if you want to. Not worth trying." It's hard to blame her for her less than optimistic view of a yesterday which held such heartache and disappointment for her family. The Collisons have a dim, tormented past, and know how it feels to be hectored for espousing certain political views. It isn't easy being an intellectual or behavioral outlier when the overwhelming tide of society roars back in the opposite direction, threatening to drown you if you don't do an about-face and move with the current. This conundrum is dealt with tastefully and thoughtfully at every turn of Catch You Later, Traitor, but I think it's Pete's father whose remarks are most insightful on the topic of staying true to oneself in spite of stout opposition. What was the hardest part of the experience for one man who was confined for years in a place of fear and aloneness? "Knowing who he was and finding ways to be true to himself somewhere, inside. Even if you're not in prison, staying true to your own thoughts is hard." And then: "Let me tell you, Pal, grown-ups lose their freedom a lot. And they don't have to be in prison." If there's anyone with the opportunity, will, and belief to transform corruption borne of patriotism but highjacked for purposes that turn out as bad or worse than the evil being combated, it's kids like Pete, who can take the pain of their own experiences with peer persecution and use that motivation to leverage positive change. Consciences seared by teachers like Mr. Donovan—disturbingly willing to sic his students on one defenseless kid like a pack of wild dogs on a choice cutlet—or senators like Joe McCarthy—blinded to the fact that he had morphed into the enemy by turning the U.S. government into a paranoid propaganda house—may never be healed entirely, but there's a future to be salvaged if enough of us are willing to stand against the side of wrong, holding up a mirror to reflect the reality of what they have become back to them. It's the only way to show our peers that it isn't right to blindly follow the word of a careless authority like Mr. Donovan. It's the only way we can regain the life we once had.

Catch You Later, Traitor is a fine novel, one of Avi's best works of historical fiction and worthy of any top prize in children's literature. It's as good or better than most Newbery books, in my opinion. The story's resonance comes from so many places: characters, ideas, and feelings simmering to perfection in a pot stirred whenever needed by an author with great experience writing to and for kids. In addition to the sociopolitical wars waged so astutely within its covers, this book has much to say about the power of paranoia to swallow us if we let it get us inside its hungry maw. Paranoia can eat us alive, resulting in wild suspicions about everyone around us, thinking maybe they're all bent on bringing us down. It can twist our perception of the most innocuous coincidences into something dark and sinister, causing us to hesitate before counting anyone a true ally, even those we know and love. This description fits the McCarthyism that Pete Collison's family resists, of course, but applies equally well to Pete, who loses himself for a time within the labyrinth that is rampant paranoia. It's a crucial reminder that out-of-control suspicion can go both ways, and letting it grow unchecked in one's life is a bad idea. Catch You Later, Traitor's deepest strength, however, may be the friendship of Pete and Kat, a girl who accepts him how he is without question, someone to whom he can relay his fears about his father's past without worrying that she'll think he's too much trouble to keep as a friend. Losing Kat is really the last straw in Pete's life, the one loss that could tip the balance of the whole horrible Mr. Donovan situation from miserable to unbearable. It's one thing to survive shunning by classmates when you still have your best friend, but if you lose her, too, there's nowhere for you to go, no one to wrap their arms around you when all you can do is dissolve into tears and sob out the heartbreak tearing you apart. It's the imminent peril of Kat being taken from Pete that most keeps us on edge in Catch You Later, Traitor, dreading that Pete might lose his last line of defense against a world that professes hatred of him. Kat is his security blanket and ours in a world where casual perception far too often is given the weight of indisputable truth, and even the reputation of a kid, not concerned with politics at all, can be permanently damaged by the irresponsible accusations of one who doesn't know what they're talking about. Like Pete, we all need a Kat in our lives.

As I see it, this book is easily deserving of three stars, and a big part of me wants to give it three and a half. Catch You Later, Traitor is an important story that brings the past into connection with the present so seamlessly, it hardly feels as if the two are separate. What troubled us yesterday will be our scourge again today and tomorrow, without a doubt, but take heart: what saved us then can do the same now, counteracting dangerous wrongheadedness to clear the way for the sweet relief of freedom reestablished. Catch You Later, Traitor is a superb courier of that message, and I enthusiastically recommend it. As can so often be said, Avi has done it again.

[Pedro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute read. I love the main character. Elements of this book remind me of the buried book. But alas.

The ending was great. A well crafted ending.

Aviv is a great writer and this story had some slow moments, but the pick up in the middle was a series of interesting mysteries. The red scare is not something I thought I’d ever read about, but how cool the way this story was put together. I support this.

Give it a gander. Definitely 4 stars.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll be honest--if I choose to read historical fiction, the Cold War era is not real high up on my list. I think that made this story a little less enjoyable than it could have been--that and the fact that adults speak HORRIBLY to kids (particularly Pete). Whenever I find myself angry on early in a book, it's hard for me to enjoy the rest of it. I need to be eased in to anger, I guess. I think students will like the mystery elements, but I think a lot of the Communism talk may go over their heads.

[Elin S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has an interesting mystery and is set in a time right after the Great Depression when communism is a huge threat to America. The main character is awesome, but you don't get to connect that well because of the style of writing, which doesn't fit most of what is happening. I do happen to think that that is the only drawback of the book, though.

[Karen Arendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspicion, secrets, paranoia, and family. Love them or hate them, you also can’t escape from them. Catch You Later Traitor by Avi has it all! Pete is a seventh grader as PS 10 in Brooklyn. One day everything is fine at school, the next he is being treated differently by both the students and his teacher. He discovers that his teacher, Mr. Donovan, told the class that his father is a communist sympathizer because of comments his father made about the treatment of Negroes and the working class. There is no evidence of illegal activity, and Pete was not in school to defend himself when the teacher made these statements. Mr. Donovan continues to treat Pete unjustly throughout the story.

Pete admires Sam Spade, the famous radio detective and fancies himself a junior detective. He writes his own descriptions of scenes in the same style as the radio show. He sets out to find out what his father is hiding, because his father is clearly hiding something. The FBI begins to follow Pete, ask him questions and ultimately, harass him into sharing information about his father. His best friend, Kat, with whom he shares his suspicions, is no longer allowed to be his friend because her father refuses to allow her to associate with a “Commie”. As he pursues his investigation, Pete begins to suspect people close to him and eventually is not sure whom to trust. “I had to admit, suspicion is catching. People get suspicious about you, you get suspicious about other people.” Pete makes a few wrong turns in his investigation that lead to further complications for his family but as his father said, “if you don’t take some wrong turns, you aren’t going anywhere.”

Avi does an amazing job of describing 1951 from shaking the milk bottle to mix the cream back in to the rivalry for the pennant between the Giants and the Dodgers. He also builds the emotional tone of the novel from suspicion to paranoia and from disgust to hatred. This book will have young readers shocked at the suspicious era, the plot twists, and the family skeletons in the closet.

[Liz Friend · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story: When his teacher says that Pete's dad is a Communist, Pete hardly even knows what that means. But as his friends drop him like a hot potato, Pete decides to figure out if it's true--and if it is, how did the FBI find out about it? And can they really come around and bug you until you rat out your own father? Pete knows he didn't do it, but he also knows someone close to them did...now he has to find out who, even as he's finding out the truth about his family's past, and how it just might mess up his very own present.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG (chain smoking); Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (political blackballing, McCarthyism) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Pete's favorite books are mysteries, and part of the fun here is when he turns a Sam-Spade-like hand to his descriptions. Avi does a good job of describing the weirdness of the time, the exuberance of baseball in New York, and Pete's determination to find out the truth. The only drawback is the truly terrible cover--Pete looks like an alien. Change it out for the new PB cover if you can!

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Man has unraveled the complexities of the atom and how to release its force ... Yet nothing is more complex or explosive than families."

This quote is just one reason why a book that appears to be a fun and slightly hokey homage to noir detective stories is so much more.

Despite an opening marked by somewhat too enthusiastic mimicking of the metaphor-heavy style of bygone pulp writers, Avi had me interested right away in 7th-grader Pete Collison, a kid who loves baseball and detective stories and lives in 1950s Brooklyn. His life suddenly gets a LOT more serious when his dad is accused of being a Communist, and Pete has to figure out what the hell is going on.

Although underpinned by some sharp social commentary, a suspenseful plot, and plenty of political intrigue, this is really a story about relationships with friends and family--what it means to trust someone, to lose someone you care about, to look out for the people you love. How does an 11-year-old navigate such a strange and scary world?

Like Sam Spade, of course :)

[Jae Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from Goodreads First Reads, thank you very much!
I read this book to my two sons, and it really held their interest well. They really seemed to enjoy learning about the 1950s time period, and loved the parts that were written in the Sam Spade style. And I was actually very interested in seeing what was going to happen next too.
The adventures of Pete as he tries to be a gumshoe style detective were really engaging, and his trials and tribulations at school were poignant and realistic. As he finds more clues and hints about his family, you can't help but wonder just who the traitor actually is and where the grandfather really disappeared to.
As the story comes to a close, and the identity of who his father is visiting on Wednesdays is revealed,Pete seems to learn some very important lessons about loyalty and family. A good book to read to the kids or have them read, in my opinion.

[Sandy Sopko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story -- historical fiction (Red Scare era) for young readers by the wonderful Avi. Seventh grader Pete Collison loves detective novels (to the degree that the story is punctuated with italicized text in which Pete imagines describing the scene a la his favorite novelists) and radio programs. Life gets complicated when an FBI agent shadows and bullies Pete, trying to get information on Pete's father, a college professor. When his teacher finds out about the investigation and publicly rejects Pete in class, Pete becomes an outcast among his friends, even best friend Kat, whose father won't let her hang out with any commies. Pete has to find out if there is any truth to the agent's suspicions and who the informer really is in the family's circle of friends and relatives. Another great book by Avi!

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hope young readers give this book a chance. Although, the fear of Communism isn't as rampant today, an analogy can be made to way some Muslims were treated after the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Pete's character battles huge internal and external conflicts. The teacher's verbal attacks and being shunned by kids who were his best buddies the day before present challenges. Pete is confused by things his father said, and he's not sure what to do about an FBI agent. Kat is challenged by the whole situation too, because she doesn't want to abandon her best friend. Pete treats the whole situation like it's a mystery, and he's the detective who will solve it. Sections of the book are written in italics to mimic the tone of old, old mystery novels and movies.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book free from the publisher through the Goodreads giveaway program. This book is for young adults and I am in my 60s. It takes place in 1951, when I was too young to worry about politics or sports. A young boy, Pete Collision,about 12,and in the seventh grade, is labeled a Communist by his teacher, because his teacher believes that Pete's dad is a secret Communist. Pete is a fan of Sam Spade and detective stories and resolves to find out the truth. I identified with some of the things Pete is interested in--the secret decoder. I had one of those.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars and will pass it on to my granddaughter.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sparked an interest in listening to Sam Spade old radio show and Humphrey Bogart starring in The Maltese Falcon

[Ellen Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book that explains the McCarthy witch trails of the cold war era to children. However, it is a little slow moving, and may not hold the interest of many children.

[Nazifa Sultana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book stayed on my shelf for a while, mostly because I had started reading it and never finished it. It was after my mom forced me to reread it after about a year gathering dust on a shelf that I really understood it.

Catch You Later, Traitor is the story of 12-year-old Pete, who is drawn into his family’s complex secrets after he and his father are accused of being Communists. Because of this, his teacher and classmates at his school begin to shun and alienate him, his father is no longer trusted, and Pete loses his best friend. He gets so desperate to learn why that he ends up becoming paranoid of the world around him, wondering when the FBI will come to search him and his family. While searching for the reason behind the accusations, Pete learns some of his father’s secrets and begins to wonder- can he really trust anyone?

This coming-of-age book is great for kids aged 11-13. Any younger, and kids might not understand the background behind it. The topic itself is interesting since kids can learn more about the Cold War and the events following it from a perspective different than the ones they read in textbooks.

The thing I liked most about this book was the main character, Pete. Pete changed throughout the book while learning the many secrets that surprised him. At the beginning, he believed that the mystery he was delving into was like something out of one of his mystery books. However, by the end, as the secrets got even harder for him to comprehend, his father convinced him that what he had gotten into was nothing like what he thought it was. His idea of the world changed from a straightforward place where everyone and everything is either good or evil to a place where sometimes, people can have both good and bad aspects.

Overall, I rate this book a 5 out of 5 for Avi’s thrilling suspense, in-depth characters, and beautifully written plot.

[Isaac Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of a young boy and his family in a time of war with the Communist party. This book is known as Catch You Later Traitor by Avi. The book is set in the 1950’s with the Main character as Pete and Kat, his friend that is a girl from school. I found this book by talking to my older brother about books that suit my interests.

The story starts with what seems to be a normal family situated in the heart of America, New York. You are soon to find out that Pete and his family are told to be affiliated with the communist party at school and is a sin against America. This is the story's main conflict and expresses how the family gets through the tough time by speaking softly and maintaining a great appearance. The narrator brings you the reader in and submerges you into the story, relating yourself with the characters.

Withing come to the close of the book you the reader come home with a circulatory ending that everyone loves. The book teaches you the characteristics of keeping your head strong in the wind and pursuing until you get what you deserve. My favorite part of the book had to be the time where Pete strengths the courage to confront his teacher for all the unpleasant words he had to endure and his reputation lost. I myself could feel the way Pete did and his overpowering confidence made me believe.

All in all this book was one of the best books for the pre modern war and US life in the 1950’s. The age group I would say enjoy this book would have to be ages 13-17 years of age. I would read this book again and plan on acquiring a new way of thinking about the characters. Other books like this would be Prisoner B-3087, Boy in Striped Pajamas and Unbroken.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Catch You Later, Traitor, by Avi is the story of a twelve-year-old boy, Pete Collison who is caught up in a mystery after his father is accused of being a communist. Set in 1951, the story describes how the entire family is caught up in the craziness of America’s Red Scare. The teacher and other parents in the story are written right out of the playbook of the infamous and dangerous John Birch Society. The reader might think that the author went a bit overboard with the teacher and some of the parents in how they reacted, but I think it was ‘spot on’. This was a crazy and divisive time for America. The book is written for teenagers. But I don’t believe it would be very interesting for them. I liked it okay. The characters seemed real, and the story evolved in a way that kept the reader interested. Not a great book, but not bad either.

[Adam Geisler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over the years, Avi has established himself as quite the time traveler. His vast collection of historical fiction novels span a variety of eras. For this tale, he hopped on the Red Scare train to 1950's America. It is told from the point of view of a boy whose father has been accused of being a Communist. Pete admires the fictional detective Sam Spade, and throws on the proverbial trench coat as he attempts to uncover the truth of his father's background. For the young reader, the author successfully portrays the paranoia that was reputedly a big part of the McCarthyism of that time. Sometimes it feels a little too hyperbolic, but my students were able to draw some parallels to the current paradigm of distrust that has reentered our social consciousness lately.

[Sarah Eagle · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the twists were interesting, and the character interactions genuinely intriguing, this book was over 130 pages too long, and started very slow. I skipped a huge chunk of the book in the middle and missed...practically nothing. Because I'm older than the book's demographic, I know that a lot of the turns are going to be far more predictable for me than the average reader, but I felt like it dragged. The nuance was this book's best strength. Avi is really good at showing you how things aren't always black and white, that absolutes are rare, and what's "right" and what's "true" don't always fall in the same place. I thought this was a really good view of what the Red Scare was probably like, even though the family is fictitious.

[Amogh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Catch You Later, Traitor by Avi is a historical-fiction book that is set in the 1950's. The book is about a young boy who is in seventh grade, Pete Collison. His dad is being accused of being a "red"(Communist), and everyone that he knows, including his friends, are not interacting with him. As Pete investigates more throughout the book, he finds out a lot more about his family's past and about his parents lives 20-30 years before. The book is very well set as in no part of the book does the reader feel bored or lost. The author makes sure to add a good amount of suspension, but still gives a good amount of humor. This book is a fantastic read for all ages.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a real page turner, and more politically relevant today than when it was written. It was published in 2015. "Catch You Later, Traitor" takes place in Brooklyn, 1951. Pete Collison's life changes one day when his teacher claims his dad is a "Commie" or Red Sympathizer and everyone in his class stops talking to him. Then an FBI agent shows up at his front door just when his parents are out, asking questions about his father and grand-father. What is true, what is lie? Who should he talk to and who should he not?

[Mrs. Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great discussion book for teens or tweens. I know that bullying is talked about a great deal, but this book brings a different perspective on the word bully. To be pegged a traitor and then ostracized by everyone, Pete has to face different hardships everyday. When his best friend, Kat seems to ignore him also, he doesn’t give up. Pete stands his ground and rises above the suspicion. What would you do if you were in Pete’s shoes? What if you were Kat? Teen or tween book club book-yes!

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starts the month I was born!
7th grade boy is outcast by his class upon false report that his father is a communist. Best friend is sent away to a boarding school because of their friendship. Sad.
About the people affected by these "hunts" during this time....

Sam Spade detective stories were big and some of the script reads like one of these.

Really good book!! Would an elementary child get it?
Intend to try it on Caleb...

[Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was very good. When Pete thought he figured it out, he didn't he just had another mystery to solve. When he finds out about his family history from his dad, it is very interesting. Then when Bobby kind of admits to working with the FBI, I think we all were in shock. This was a very good book. I have read books by Avi before, and all of them were great. :)