What I Saw and How I Lied
by Judy Blundell
Bibliography
Blundell, J. (2008). What I saw and how I lied. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 13: 978-0-439-90346-2.
Summary
The year is 1947 and Joe Spooner has recently returned home to his family from Austria after serving in World War II. Just as Evie and her mother think life is about to return to normal, Joe announces they are leaving for a Florida vacation. His decision is suspicious because school is beginning and tourists are leaving that part of Florida for the season. Soon after their arrival we are introduced to Peter. He is a handsome ex-GI who ends up sharing a separate secret with each family member. Evie begins to realize where the little girl inside her leaves off and the woman begins as she experiences her first romance and discovers deceit by those she loves.
My Impression
This story has something for everyone. It is a historical fiction crime novel full of drama! There is passion, a little mystery and a great deal of deception. Every character in this story has an ulterior motive for their actions. It is a good reminder of how easily one lie leads to another and exposes how human self-centeredness destroys all it touches. Overall I thought this book was well written but the lack of closure left me disapointed.
Reviews
From School Library Journal
In 1947, 15-year-old Evie, her mother, Bev, and her stepfather, Joe, leave Brooklyn for a vacation in Palm Beach, FL, during the off season. There they meet Arlene and Tom Grayson, who lavish attention on the family and convince Joe to go into the hotel business with them. When Peter, an army acquaintance of Joe's, appears, Evie is smitten by his charm and attention…Evie enjoys her outings with Peter and interprets her mother's insinuating presence as protective, when in reality Bev is having an affair with the younger man. Joe's jealous distrust of his wife, established while he was at war in Europe, does not obviate the intimacy between Bev and Peter…When Joe insists on one last boat trip, Peter dies during a storm and Joe is accused of murder. It is during the ensuing hearing that Evie learns that adults, even those closest to her, are not always what they seem.—Sue Lloyd
From Booklist (Grades 8-12)
In this sophisticated thriller, 15-year-old Evie grows up quickly when she discovers her adored parents are not the people she thought they were. While on vacation in Palm Beach in 1947, Evie’s parents, Joe and Bev, get involved in a shady business deal with the Graysons, another couple on holiday. Meanwhile, Evie begins a flirtation with Peter, a handsome ex-GI who served with Joe and just happens to be staying at their hotel. Evie soon learns that Peter’s presence is no coincidence and that he threatens to uncover a terrible secret that Joe has kept since the war. Then Bev, Joe, and Peter go boating, but only two of them return. Evie must sort through secrets, lies, and her own grief to find the truth. --Jennifer Hubert
Suggested Activities
Discuss the exposed negative character traits (Lying, stealing, deceiving, infidelity) and choices made when confronted with decisions. Explore how having shown positive character traits would have changed the story. Debate if these character flaws add to the value of the book and why.
