Module 6: What I Saw and How I Lied

Book Summary

Fifteen-year-old Evie and her mother have just welcomed Joe, Evie’s stepfather, home from World War II. When an old army buddy starts calling Joe, he seems agitated. Overnight he whisks the family to West Palm Beach, Florida for a vacation though it is out-of-season and everything is closed. There, they meet a wealthy couple with whom they become friends. But the old army buddy, Peter, turns up and joins their group for social engagements. Peter is devastatingly handsome, and both mother and daughter fall for him. He courts both and eventually tells Evie why he’s there: He and Joe stole valuables from a Nazi warehouse filled with belongings taken from Jewish families sent to concentration camps. Now Joe doesn’t want to give him his share of the money. When Peter turns up dead, Joe is put on trial for murder. During the trial, everything that anyone has been hiding comes out. Joe is acquitted.

APA Reference of Book

Blundell, J.  (2008). What I saw and how I lied. New York, NY: Scholastic.

Impressions

This fast-paced historical fiction selection is filled with details of life in late 1940s America just after the war with touches of anti-Semitism. The characters are written with surprising multidimensionality as the truth about each is slowly revealed. The language is easy and intricately weaves mystery with romance. However, the plot of this book, a believably told coming-of-age story, has some very adult themes, including statutory rape. 

Professional Review

Blundell navigates this multidimensional plotline with unique, well-developed characters and insightful dialogue. Yet it is Evie and her rapidly maturing perception of herself and those around her that carry the story. In many ways, she becomes the adult in the group, motivated by truth and justice rather than greed or superficial appearances.

Lloyd, S. (2008, December). What I saw and how I lied. . [Review of the book What I saw    

       and how I lied, by S. Lloyd.] School Library Journal,54(12), 119. Retrieved from 

       www.slj.com

Library Uses

This book will illicit strong reactions from high school-aged students, and students would benefit through dialogue after reading. The librarian could arrange literature circles around this book and other similarly themed books, or create a blog where students could share their thoughts.