fiction

Take a moment to imagine a world where only 500 words were allowed.  This list could be easily memorized and summed up the total words you could use EVER.   Anyone using more words could find themself in jail.  Take a moment and think about that.  What would that mean to you?  The Last Lie takes this idea and continues the exploration started in the first book The List.   Come walk with me through this intriguing work. 

What I am Reviewing

Patricia Forde is the author of The Last Lie.  A fictional middle school read published by Sourcebooks.  Life in a dystopian society, with intrigue, unexpected twists, mystery and bravery.  288 pages, 34 chapters.   I received an ARC copy to review from Raincoast Books. 

The city of Ark is no longer safe. Before the rebellion, everyone could only speak List, a language of just 500 words. But when Letta became the Wordsmith, the keeper of all the words that have ever existed, she learned that being able to express yourself is what makes us human.
And now, the new ruler has wicked plans to eliminate language once and for all: If babies never hear a single word, they will never learn to speak.
Letta and the other rebels must find a way to defeat the evil for good before they lose the very thing that will set them free.

The Details on The Last Lie

When I read the back of the book (copied above) I was immediately intrigued.  What would it be like to live in a word with only 500 words?  As I got into reading I noticed a neat thing with the chapter headings.   They were all words with definitions.  

There was a section of the book that just captured me.  Letta and company had stumbled onto a cabin with newspapers plastering the walls.  Letta, the wordsmith, was captivated.  She just wanted to stay there and write down the words.  It made me think of another book I just reviewed,  The Keeper of Wild Words where discovering new unique words was a joy.  This joy, that wonderful abandonment in words, that Letta had is so profound. 

Should you Get it?

I’m trying to think if there is anything objectionable for a middle school student. The thing with the babies is horrible, but nothing directly in your face.  There are some nasty threats made that might alarm sensitive minded youngsters. Some romantic interests are expressed, but nothing happens. The bad guys are predictably fairly bad (but aren’t they almost always?).

Overall The Last Lie is a well-written story, with good characters that don’t seem too far-fetched.  The story-line fit well with the overarching theme. And in the end, it worked out, though differently then what was planned. 

If you are a fan of Patricia Forde, or enjoyed The List, or have a fondness for dystopican literature, The Last Lie is well-worth reading. 

Abuse is a hard topic to deal with, but in A Game of Fox & Squirrels, Jenn Reese does an excellent job of conveying the thoughts and emotions of one young girl.  11 year old Samatha is the protagonist of this story, and through her eyes, we are introduced to a child’s confusion, and a journey to healing. 

What I am Reviewing

A Game of Fox & Squirrels is written by Jenn Reese and published by Henry Holt & Company.  Geared for middle school readers it runs at 228 pages.  I received an ARC version, it sells as a hardcover.   This book is being reviewed on behalf of Raincoast Books.   Family Abuse and dealing with dysfunctional relationships are the themes of this compelling chapter book for middle school.  21 chapters round out the pages.

A short synopsis: After an incident shatters their family, eleven-year old Samantha and her older sister Caitlin are sent to live in rural Oregon with an aunt they’ve never met. Sam wants nothing more than to go back to the way things were. . . before she spoke up about their father’s anger.
When Aunt Vicky gives Sam a mysterious card game called “A Game of Fox & Squirrels,” Sam falls in love with the animal characters, especially the charming trickster fox, Ashander. Then one day Ashander shows up in Sam’s room and offers her an adventure and a promise: find the Golden Acorn, and Sam can have anything she desires.

The Details on A Game of Fox & Squirrel

The author’s sensitivity to this topic is found from the get-go.  Her dedication reads: “For everyone  lost in the woods: I promise you, there is a way out.” 

Samantha, 11 years old, in such a hard position.  Having to tell secrets she’d learned to keep quiet about.  Feeling trapped and in a new place.  Her pain and confusion so very evident.

But there’s the “and yet”.  She has an Aunt who knows and cares even if she’s a stranger.  Samantha needs to learn who to trust. Is is possible?

Perhaps a game will help her learn.

Each of the 21 chapters opens with a new list of the rules about the Game Fox & Squirrels.  In each chapter more of Ashander’s personality emerges.  With each chapter Samantha learns more about her options.  

The fox is not to be trusted, the fox is a difficult opponent, but with help… perhaps that fox can be defeated!

As one might expect in a game of Fox and Squirrels, riddles abound.  Can they be solved?  Can the fox be outsmarted?  What reward awaits at the end of the game?

My Thoughts

So tastefully and well-done.  A Game of Fox & Squirrels kept me intrigued throughout, rooting for Samantha to come through in the end.  Samantha and her sister walked a hard road, sisters watching out for each other.  They needed to be caring for each other when others did not. 

With a burden lifted, how does a child survive?  Samantha needed to learn this.  How to do so wasn’t easy.

There is so much I loved about this story.  Being a person with a fine imagination I can totally see a lost 11 year old getting caught up in a game.  The magic inherent in a good imagination can help heal a heart when the love of the real world is apparent. 

The only caution I add, because it matters, the Aunt is married in a same-gender relationship.