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The Secret to Lying

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The Secret to Lying

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Overview

A teenage boy’s self-reinvention gets out of control in a sharp, funny, poignant, and compulsively readable novel that gives a familiar theme a surprising twist.

James was the guy no one noticed — just another fifteen-year-old in a small town. So when he gets into an academy for gifted students, he decides to leave his boring past behind. In a boarding school full of nerds and geeks, being cool is easy. All it takes is a few harmless pranks to invent a new James: fighter, rebel, punk. Everyone’s impressed, except for the beautiful "Ice Queen" Ellie Frost and the mysterious ghost44, an IM presence who sees through his new identity. But James is riding high, playing pranks and hooking up with luscious Jessica Keen. There’s just one thing awry: he’s starting to have vivid dreams of being a demon-hunting warrior, a thrill that is spilling over into dangerous and self-destructive acts while he’s awake. As he’s drawn deeper into his real-life lies and his dream-world conquests, James begins to wonder: What’s the price for being the coolest guy around?

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About the Author

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763640842
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	06/08/2010
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.20(d)
Lexile:	HL730L (what's this?)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

Todd Mitchell is the author of the middle grade novel The Traitor King. The Secret to Lying is his debut novel for YA readers. He lives in Fort Collins, Colorado.

From the B&N Reads Blog

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7 of Our Favorite Liars in YA

It’s a tricky thing, picking out your favorite liars in YA. By definition, most of the time, the best liars are not the good guys (or gals). But what these 7 liars have in common is brilliant writing that makes them all characters you root for, even if they’re not aways “likable.” The authors of […]

In Mitchell's (The Traitor King) engrossing and entertaining novel, the trick to the titular secret, according to 15-yearold James, is to "believe yourself and others will believe you, too." And in his first year at an elite public boarding school, he reinvents himself by doing just that. A punk haircut and a few casual lies about getting into fights and stealing cars convinces his fellow students that he's a tough rebel instead of the milquetoast he'd actually been. James enjoys all that comes with his new life--from makeout sessions with sexy, punk Jessica to the pranks he pulls with his outsider friends ("I figured my place in the trio would be to play the quiet, brooding rebel"). James also engages in late-night IM conversations with someone named ghost44, who seems to know too much about him, and deals with a series of disturbing dreams in which he's forced to confront his internal demons. Mitchell paints a vivid picture of teenage social and mental health issues, neither overdramatizing nor understating their impact, and the result is a great read. Ages 14-up. (June)

Publishers Weekly

Gr 9–11—In his old high school James, 15, was unremarkable, "the guy no one noticed." When he's offered a scholarship to a public boarding school for intellectually gifted students, he accepts. He is done being a dull, boring nobody and sees ASMA (American Science and Mathematics Academy) as a chance to reinvent himself. How hard could it be to impress a bunch of overachieving nerds and geeks? With purple spiked hair, grunge clothes, and a few little lies, James has most of them convinced he's from the wild side, a street-fighting punk with pyromaniac tendencies. His scars help propagate the tough-guy image, though they are real, and self-inflicted. James's character is compelling as he straddles the line between fantasy and reality, builds friendships, pulls off outrageous pranks, and deals with the angst of first love. He and his friends are real teens—funny, intelligent, and still a bit vulnerable. Sensitive readers will make an emotional connection with James and root for him to overcome his demons, both real and imagined. Teens will also relate to the poignant IMs between him and the enigmatic persona of ghost44, who tells James, "I can't be myself in person." This coming-of-age novel is imbued with wry humor and offers a thoughtful take on the importance of learning to live in your own skin.—Patricia N. McClune, Conestoga Valley High School, Lancaster, PA

School Library Journal

For James, a freshman loser with virtually no friends, reinvention comes in the shape of the American Science and Mathematics Academy, an exclusive public boarding school made up of nerds and geeks. He dyes his hair purple. He makes up wild street-fighting stories that awe his new friends. Pranks, stunts and dangerous trysts with bad girls ensue. Despite his new guise, James realizes he must confront the demons that give him nightmares and induce him to cut himself. When he meets Ellie, a beautiful, standoffish loner, he understands that the task is going to be much harder than expected. Mitchell tells a straightforward, from-the-gut story that mostly feels real, despite some hard-to-swallow moments at the end. His characterizations ring true, especially James's hilariously goofy dorm mates. Comparisons to John Green's Looking for Alaska can't help but be drawn, however, especially since the two share so many similar elements. Despite the fact that Green's work is miles ahead of Mitchell's, the latter's voice is definitely one to watch. (Fiction. YA)

Kirkus Reviews

James Turner sees high school as an opportunity to reinvent his drab existence, but he begins to cut himself as a way to cope. In his dreams, James battles demons. In his waking hours an online friend questions his cool façade. Nick Podehl gives listeners a clear picture of James’s slow journey to self-awareness. Podehl vividly depicts boarding school pranks and dorm humor. Mitchell’s book is challenging to narrate. The opposition between James’s wry humor and his bouts of depression makes it difficult for Podehl to strike an appropriate tone. Further, the dream sequences interrupt the action and are underacted by Podehl. And stronger adult characterizations by both the author and narrator would better anchor James’s school community. With respect to production, volume levels are noticeably inconsistent, and the listener can hear breathing. Despite these challenges, Podehl does a credible job with an unusual novel of teen issues. C.A. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

APRIL 2012 - AudioFile

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