Lie to Me

November 1, 2019

Gr 9 Up-Amelia has almost no memory of the fall that nearly killed her. What started as plans to meet with her best friend Skylar at her favorite spot along the river ended with her waking up in the hospital-bruised, concussed, and with a broken wrist. She only has a vague recollection of laughter, the feeling of being pushed, and the loss of her favorite necklace. Two other girls from the community have also gone missing and were found dead. It's not clear whether Amelia's accident is related, but she's sure whoever did it also meant to kill her. Amelia takes it upon herself to track down the murderer, starting with crafting a list of questions and suspicious people. Liam, her brother's soccer teammate and sworn enemy, shows interest in her and her quest, and wants to help. Is the killer her creepy neighbor, new boyfriend, or best friend? Ward's newest novel contains many themes that may appeal to a variety of readers-equal parts mystery and suspense, an exploration of sexuality, and dark romance. The plotline, while intriguing at times, is full of stilted dialogue. All loose ends are wrapped up too quickly in the final chapter. VERDICT This might do well in a larger collection where similar titles are popular.-Alicia Kalan, The Northwest School, Seattle

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October 15, 2019
Amelia tries to go back to being a normal teenager after nearly dying from a fall, but when other local girls start turning up dead, she thinks what happened to her was no accident. But who would want to hurt her? Her creepy neighbor? A jealous girl from school? Her best friend, who's harboring a secret? Her new boyfriend is willing to help her figure it out. Her relationship with Liam started after her fall, and it's intense--not only because of how she feels when she's with him, but also because of the yearslong feud between Liam and Amelia's brother, Hunter. Adding to the confusion is Amelia's blooming attraction for her friend Grace, which doesn't dissipate even after Amelia starts dating Liam. In a novel that struggles to maintain the tension, Ward (Where She Fell, 2018, etc.) explores what it's like to suspect the people closest to you of wanting to cause you harm. This is a worthy premise, but the plot feels obvious and predictable while the dialogue often feels trite and forced, causing the book to lag in energy and suspense. Most characters are white; Grace has brown skin and is a lesbian. A mystery romance that works too hard on both fronts. (Suspense. 12-15)

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