I’ve been off my YA reading game lately.
Over the last few years, I’ve become a big fan of young adult books. Maybe because I’m a teacher. Or, more likely, because most of the books I’ve gotten my hands on are full of nostalgia and the kind of drama you can really only appreciate from the perspective of a teenager.
Another plus is it’s always gratifying to finish a book and know exactly which student I’m going to recommend it to with the assurance that they will love it just as much as I did.
Either way, I’ve been missing out on some fantastic new releases and I have finally remedied the situation!
Last year, I sponsored the 8th grade book club at my school and one of the first selections my students chose was One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus. Maaaaan, was it a hit! For any kids that were on the fence about participating in our group every month, this was the book that grabbed their interest and sparked an awesome discussion.
I’ve also read McManus’s stand-alone book, Two Can Keep A Secret and like many other fans, I’m hoping there will be a follow up to that story as well.
Synopsis:
At Bayview High School, things are falling back into a monotonous flow. The Bayview Four have graduated: Addy’s helping her sister plan her wedding and working at a local cafe, Bronwyn is attending Yale University, Cooper is playing baseball for Cal State Fullerton, and Nate is taking classes while working for a construction company. The hysteria over Simon’s death has slowly begun to ebb away and life is settling down…
Until a Truth or Dare game from an anonymous messenger begins and the next batch of Bayview students find themselves as the reluctant participants. How to play? Easy. Those selected receive a text from an unknown number, telling them they have 24 hours to give their selection of truth or dare. No response? Then a truth is the default answer. But the truth is undoubtedly the riskiest choice, because the truths to be revealed are best left in the dark…
Mauve, Bronwyn’s younger sister, once again finds herself in the position of needing to stop this blackmailer before they do something as devastating as Simon did. With her tech savviness and the help of Knox, Phoebe, and Luis, Mauve is on the hunt to uncover the identity of “Darkestmind,” the person behind the game.
One by one, a truth about each of them is threatened to be uncovered. The results are just as awful as expected; friendships unravel, family’s are fractured, and the fragile peace found at Bayview is crushed. Worst of all, someone else is going to die…
Review:
My husband commented, “Geez, you’re really devouring that book!” Which is 100% true; I absolutely could not put it down. McManus does a great job of leaving cliff hangers at the end of every chapter, so the reader can’t help but want to know what happens next. And because the book switches perspectives between Mauve, Phoebe, and Knox, the reader has to continue reading to find out what happens with each character.
I loved all of the characters, but Knox was probably my favorite. Geeky, awkward, and full of funny and self-deprecating humor. Luis and Nate might be the studs of this story, but Knox is the one most readers will develop a fictional crush for.
The ending was EVERYTHING. I thought I’d figured out who the culprit was by the last chapter, but I was wrong. And I absolutely loved the twist and how the truth was uncovered.
This is one of those books I’m having a hard time not giving too much away about because it was so fantastic to read. I’ll be recommending this to anyone who enjoys YA, or thrillers in general.
I have heard from other educators that this is a book that might be less appropriate for middle school aged students. Honestly, I think it would be fine for 8th graders. There’s some cursing, “making out,” and slut shaming, but it’s nothing most 13-year-olds couldn’t handle.
Get your copy here!
And if you haven’t read the first in the duology…
You’re going to love it! Promise 🙂
Happy & healthy reading!
Lexi
