Lexie's Little Lie

March 1, 2019

Gr 4-6-Is telling a lie the better choice when that lie spares someone's feelings? Is it alright to lie to avoid getting someone into trouble? Lexie is confounded by these questions that neither she nor the adults in her life seem able to consistently answer. When her family's matriarch dies before passing along an heirloom necklace, Lexie is forced to choose between telling a truth that will undo generations of tradition or telling a lie that may save her mother incredible grief. Set in a Greek neighborhood in present day London, Lexie and her best friend/cousin Eleni enjoy large family gatherings and huge traditional meals of fasolia, makaronia tou forno, avgolemono, and meatballs-but their happy childhood bubble begins to unravel when a new girl moves to town and a family dispute tests their bonds. This realistic offering from Shevah (Dream on Amber and Dara Palmer's Major Drama) depicts the delicate balance involved in both middle grade friendships and in families. At times humorous, the title also depicts moments of sadness and painful tension, especially while Lexie grapples with the terrible fallout of the well-intentioned lie she's told. Though the ending is a bit unrealistic and tends towards a Hollywood fix, the story is full of heart and will resonate with Raina Telgemeier fans. VERDICT Strongly recommended for middle grade collections where female protagonists grappling with friendship and family issues are in demand.-Pilar Okeson, Severn School, Arnold, MD

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2019
Firmly in her preteen years, Lexie is having a hard time knowing whether it's sometimes OK to lie. When she tells the truth about new girl Anastasia's throwing car keys into the sea during a Greek-community picnic, Lexie's suddenly unpopular with her peers. Even her cousin/almost-twin, Eleni, seems upset. Lexie begins to realize that people lie all the time. Lexie's narration is characterized by spunk, indignant annoyance, and endearing bewilderment, and readers will understand her predicament. Things only get worse when Lexie lies, denying that her recently deceased grandmother had previously told Eleni and her that she intended to bequeath an heirloom necklace to Eleni. Yiayia had explained that she had vowed to do so if Eleni, born with a heart problem, survived infancy even though tradition would have dictated that Lexie's mom receive it. Lexie knows her mother has an emotional attachment to the necklace and doesn't want her feelings to be hurt. But now, everyone's upset. If Lexie's portrayal of her extended Greek-immigrant family is a bit stereotypical, it also makes clear that they are warm and loving. Lexie's realization that Yiayia's legacy is how she taught them to be kind, honest, and good prepares both Lexie and readers for the next crisis. Lexi and her family are Greek Cypriot immigrants living in Britain.Enhanced with black-and-white doodles in the margins, this heartfelt tale demonstrates how families overcome upheavals with wisdom and hope. (Fiction. 8-12)

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March 15, 2019
Grades 3-5 Since birth, Lexie and her cousin Eleni have been so inseparably close they can speak without words by using their hearts, like whale song. But when Lexie finds herself telling a seemingly small lie that involves them both, their families are unexpectedly wrenched apart as a result. How can one little lie do such irreparable damage? More important, can Lexie ever fix her mistake? This quiet and leisurely paced book deals with some seriously tough young-person issues, from exploring earnest religious questions to enduring the pain of losing a friend to watching one's family fall apart and being powerless to fix it. Secondary to its emotional honesty, the book also celebrates Greek traditions, culture, food, and the quirks of Greek family life with sincere humor and clear affection. As with Dream On, Amber (2015) and Dara Palmer's Major Drama (2016), Shevah's latest is embellished by innocent, doodled artwork framing every page and some clever, story-enhancing font work.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)