Age Group:
Young Adult

Genre:
Realistic Fiction, Coming-of-age, Bildungsroman, Mystery, Romance, American History, Award Winners

Awards:
National Book Award for Young People’s Literature (2008), British Fantasy Award (2009)

Summing it up:
What I Saw and How I Lied chronicles one fateful summer in the life of 15-year old Evie Spooner. When Evie’s step-father Joe returns home after fighting in World War II, Evie and her mother Bev look forward to life returning to the way it was. But when Joe spontaneously decides to take the family on a trip to Florida, Evie begins to notice the cracks in her parent’s relationship. When handsome Peter Coleridge, a young ex-GI, arrives at their hotel, Evie finds herself falling hopelessly in love with him. Blinded by her infatuation, Evie fails to see the lies that are threatening to tear her family apart. When the truth is revealed, Evie must decide between the man she loves and her loyalty to her parents.

My Thoughts:
What I Saw and How I Lied was hard to put down, from start to finish. Innocent Evie is a completely believable protagonist whose experiences will resonate with anyone who has felt the growing pains of young love. Evie struggles as she tries to transition from obedient young daughter to mature and graceful young woman. Blundell really knows how to keep the pages turning. A must read for young adults.

Borrow What I Saw and How I Lied from your local VPL library today!

Looking for more coming-of-age stories? Try The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han or What’s Eating Gilbert Grape by Peter Hedges.   

Have you read any of these novels? Let us know what you thought!