I read Todd's most recent book, "Backwards" first, so maybe I am doing this right... as this book came before. I don't have a whole lot to say except...You know that feeling you get when you have found a new author that seems to get inside your head? They write exactly what you want to read and you are absolutely thrilled about it and can't wait to get your hands on more? This is that kind of book for me. SO insightful. A YA book that is hip enough for teens and also possesses the deep insight that adults, as well as teenagers, crave. The sifting through the sludge of life to get to the heart of the matter. I LOVE books such as these. Also, I met Todd at a recent library function, READCON, and I thanked him for being "real". I had to laugh out loud when I came across a part that addresses that in his book. Maybe it was my imagination, but he seemed to give me a strange look when I said that. Perhaps he was thinking of that part? Read the book! Catherine's Response: Beginning this book, I expected a fairly shallow look at how a boy goes from zero to popular kid with a few minor hiccups and well-played pranks along the way. I got so much more than that. Instead I found myself immersed in a story about the struggles of dealing with isolation, loneliness, and control. Todd Mitchell examines some of the most difficult and controversial parts of being a teenager, such as having sex for the first time, self-image issues that can lead to eating disorders, and feelings of isolation that can lead to cutting, without ever making the book feel too heavy. I loved the cast of characters he has created. The quirky band of geeks had a great dynamic and added just the right amount of humor to balance out the heavier themes. While James is not always completely likeable, I could certainly sympathize with his inner struggles, loneliness, and need for acceptance. I found myself rooting for him to get the girl and overcome his demons. I appreciated the metaphors in the dream sequences but at times they felt a little too blatant and forced. Mitchell does a good job of taking a realistic look at teens’ emotions and needs. I appreciated that he didn’t neatly make all of James’s problems disappear in the end. I also liked that he showed the healing process begin and James’s realization that there are adults who care about him, especially his father and school counselor. While it was not without flaws, this was a very good, thought-provoking novel.A Quick Pitch: Have you ever felt like a complete and total outsider at school? And that if you could just move to a new place, things would be different? Meet James. Written in a combination of dream sequences, Instant Messages, and prose, James tells his story. He’s always been a nobody, a zero, the kid that everyone forgets. When he gets the chance to attend an elite public boarding school for the ultra-smart (somewhat ironically named ASMA), he decides it’s time to change his image. It starts as just a few lies about his old life but soon he has a reputation as a street-fighting, car-stealing rebel. The best part is everyone seems to believe him, …well, except for the beautiful Ellie Frost and the mysterious ghost 44 (an anonymous IM presence), but it doesn’t really matter. James finally has friends and he’s hooking up with Jess, a hot rebel girl at school! Life should be perfect but James still feels isolated. Ghost44 seems to be the only one who wants to know the real James. He starts cutting himself just to feel something. Then the crazy dreams start. In his dreams, he’s a demon-fighting hero. But the lines of dreaming and reality are beginning to blur. If James can’t get things under control, he might find himself trapped in his own web of lies.
What do You think about Secret To Lying, The (2011)?
It took a little while to get into, but once it grabbed me it never let go.
—Kaz52
Its interesting, but oriented more towards boys, not strongly recommended.
—Gadkiy
