Book Brief - What I Saw And How I Lied

What I Saw And How I Lied
Judy Blundell
Scholastic Press (November 1, 2008)

This is a tragic read, and review, on many levels. The book alone is one thing, more on that shortly. That it won a major award is another thing. What does it say about our standards for children, and for literature, that this book wins the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature? This book is not for young people. This is adult fiction. One could argue, I suppose, that it is for those on the cusp of adulthood, but that line keeps skewing younger. On another level it stirs thoughts of how fast we have lost the innocence of our youth. They are dealing with issues that could not have been imagined even twenty years ago, and this book doesn’t help them. Tragic.

Evie’s stepfather Joe, recently home from fighting WWII in Europe, decides it is time for a family vacation in Florida. While there, coincidentally, they meet someone Joe knew in the war. As this coming-of-age novel unfolds, complications arise as Evie learns things about herself, her relationships and her family that destroy her innocence.

This novel has a rich sense of place and time. As I’ve mentioned before, this is one of my favorite time periods, and this novel brings that era to life. Reminiscent of a film-noir movie, the characterizations are colorful and strong, and the mystery is convincing. Like film-noir, the immorality and questionable ethics are an integral part of the story – but for adults only. How can a book marketed to teenagers, in all good conscience, include discussions and explicit physical descriptions of a “romance” between an adult and a child?

Along with the completely inappropriate relationship between an adult and minor is a graphic account of attempted sex between two minors. With the titular lying, ubiquitous cheating, and getting away with murder this novel hits all the low points. As I said, tragic on many levels.

Rating: Avoid