The Truth App

December 2, 2019
In this lightweight techno-thriller, a young man is thrust into the public spotlight and marked for death after he develops an app that monitors conversations and detects truths and falsehoods. Even before high schooler Jarli Durras’s app goes viral, someone tries to kill him and his father—first in a car crash, then more directly at the hospital they’re taken to after the accident. Now the app is garnering him the wrong sort of attention from the media and the public—and even from his classmates, who see it as an unwelcome infringement upon their privacy. With his best friend, Bess, who uses crutches, and Russian transfer student Anya, Jarli must discover who’s trying to murder him, and how his father—who works for a data security company—is involved. Heath (The Silver Thief) starts this adventure off with a bang and maintains a high level of tension throughout this fast-paced installment, but a thin backstory and skimpy character development result in a tale that never slows enough to build out its world, its inhabitants, or its core premise’s implications. There’s a clear sense of setup for future installments in this series starter, which may have particular appeal for reluctant readers interested in a fast-paced adventure. Ages 12–up.

January 17, 2020

Gr 8 Up-Computer whiz Jarli uploads a beta version of an app that can tell if someone is lying, and unleashes secrets, deception, and violence. Jarli's father lands in the hospital when a strange old man rams into his car. Recently arrived Russian student Anya is first on the scene of the accident. Tough, smart, and confident Anya believes Jarli's version of events, but the local police seem unconcerned. As millions of people download the app, its ethical repercussions begin to haunt Jarli and all those around him. Shunned by fellow students whose parents confiscated their phones for even the smallest lie, Jarli comes to realize that everyone has secrets to protect and that sometimes you have to lie to stay alive. A fiery conclusion will leave readers breathless for the next installment. Anya gives readers insight into why people emigrate from areas where violence and intolerance force young people to grow up fast. Jarli's family dynamics and a spot-on take on parent/teacher conferences are utterly realistic. VERDICT This timely thriller shines a light on how quickly a viral online presence can overwhelm and even endanger people. This new, fast-paced series will be welcome in middle and high school libraries.-Lee De Groft, Jamestown High School, Williamsburg, VA

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2020
Grades 6-9 Jarli Durras is an introverted geek who created the Truth app, a passion project of his that he never imagined would take off. When internet trolls and the media reveal his app's intention?to serve as a lie detector?it becomes clear that people close to Jarli and his family wish to abuse the app's potential, and he goes from being invisible at school to being sought after and bullied. Heath weaves an action-packed mystery that wows in terms of storyline and side characters but falls short in its protagonist and plot resolution, with loose threads leaving readers hungry for a sequel. There are also many unexpected triggering elements, from abduction to violence to stalking, and sensitive readers should be warned that there are several jump scares in these pages. An episodic format, intercut by embedded texts, facilitates a quick pace. Jarli's cautionary tale reminds us of the dangers of modern technology, the power of trust in loved ones, and the possible repercussions that arise when playing god.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)