Lying Out Loud

March 1, 2015
Keplinger breathes new life into what it means to LOL.Seventeen-year-old broke-ass Sonny (nee Sonya) can't bring herself to tell the truth, especially when it means playing a sort of twisted Cyrano via her BFF, Amy, to nab the hot, new hipster boy at her school, Ryder. She finds herself up all hours of the night chatting and instant messaging with him under the guise of Amy, at whose house she's crashing since her mom has kicked her out of her own house. At first it's all fun and games (neither girl really wants to go out with him), but when she finds that she truly does have feelings for Ryder, the truth begins to come out, and the cost is high. As in her smash debut (and basis for the movie of the same name), The DUFF (2010), Keplinger creates vivid, believable characters that are full of spunk and joie de vivre. She plunges them into an utterly realistic work that feels familiar and contemporary. The plot moves like lightning, and Keplinger's keen ear for teenspeak will keep readers laughing (and sometimes crying) up to the very end. Just like the recipients of Sonny's fibs, readers will find themselves duped by her creativity, unabashed courage, and hilarious snark. Until it all blows up. Fierce, fresh, total fun. (Fiction. 14-18)

April 1, 2015

Gr 9 Up-Set at Hamilton High like Keplinger's previous works, this novel features Sonny Ardmore, a habitual liar who makes up outrageous stories to cover for her dismal family situation. Her father is in prison, and her mother is never around. Sonny and Amy Rush-younger sister of Wes from The Duff (Little, Brown, 2010)-are close friends, and Sonny even moves unofficially into Amy's house. When arrogant prep-school new boy Ryder gets a crush on Amy and emails her asking for a date, Sonny inadvertently strings him along online, typing outrageous responses while pretending to be Amy. Eventually Sonny begins to talk about serious concerns with Ryder and realizes that she actually likes him. The protagonist, who is accustomed to lying her way out of everything, concocts a ridiculous plot in which sweet-natured Amy pretends to be completely irrational, thereby smoothing the way for Ryder to fall for Sonny instead. Unsurprisingly, the teen's deceptions catch up with her. Sonny is a realistic and very human character, and even though she is a liar, her motivations are all too believable. One of the strong points of the book is the emphasis on female friendship; Sonny's relationship with Amy is just as, if not more, important than her budding romance with Ryder. This will appeal to readers who enjoyed Sarah Dessen's Lock and Key (Viking, 2008) and are on the lookout for titles with a feminist bent. VERDICT A must-purchase for libraries where Keplinger's other titles have been popular.-Kathleen E. Gruver, Burlington County Library, Westampton, NJ

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