The Secret to Lying

Gr 9 Up—James Turner is invisible—or at least that's what he believes since no one in his high school seems to know he is there. When he's given the opportunity to attend the American Science and Mathematics Academy (ASMA), a public boarding school, James decides it is time to reinvent himself. He tells a few white lies to make himself sound interesting and soon becomes known as a rebel who steals cars and participates in street fights. He acts the part by dying his hair purple, playing pranks across campus, and hooking up with an older girl. Although not everyone is fooled by his new image, James enjoys his new life—until he begins to have realistic nightmares where he is haunted by demons. When these dreams start to encroach on reality, leading James to participate in dangerous activities, he learns his tendency to stretch the truth does, indeed, have consequences. Nick Podehl's masterful narration of Todd Mitchell's novel (Candlewick, 2010) makes James, as well as the entire boarding school community, come alive. This story may appeal to fans of John Green's Looking for Alaska (Dutton, 2005).—Amanda Rollins, Northwest Village School, Plainville, CT