Seventeen-year-old Skylar Thompson is being questioned by the police. Her boyfriend, Jimmy, stands accused of brutally assaulting two young El Salvadoran immigrants from a neighboring town, and she’s the prime witness. Skylar is keeping quiet about what she’s seen, but how long can she keep it up?
But Jimmy was her savior. . . .
When her mother died, he was the only person who made her feel safe, protected from the world. But when she begins to appreciate the enormity of what has happened, especially when Carlos Cortez, one of the victims, steps up to demand justice, she starts to have second thoughts about protecting Jimmy. Jimmy’s accomplice, Sean, is facing his own moral quandary. He’s out on bail and has been offered a plea in exchange for testifying against Jimmy.
The truth must be told. . . .
Sean must decide whether or not to turn on his friend in order to save himself. But most important, both he and Skylar need to figure out why they would follow someone like Jimmy in the first place.
Book Details:
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pub. Date: August 30, 2011
Format: Paperback
Pages: 224
My Review:
What can I say about Lie by Caroline Bock other than the fact this is a heartbreaking novel? Lie certainly takes readers on a ride to the truth. This book had me feeling a wide range of not so good emotions. Really this book is not a happy book. While not much happens in this book so much does happen within the characters of Lie. Weird, right? Lie is told from multiple point of views and each character has their own inner turmoil.
Lie is about the vicious attack against two Hispanic brothers. The main character, Skylar Thompson, must accept the fact that her beloved Jimmy participated in this hate crime. No one is talking to the police and Skylar is one of the only witnesses who can bring justice to the victims' family. Will Skylar stay loyal to her boyfriend and friend, Lisa Marie, and stay silent about what happened that night her boyfriend and his friend Sean decided to beat two brothers? Or will she be true to herself and tell the truth to give justice to the Cortez family?
I have so much to say about Lie, and yet I just don't know how to say what I want to say about it. Lie definitely deals with some controversial and difficult topics like hate crimes and immigration. I just don't understand how someone could hate someone that basically has done nothing bad to the other person and gets beaten or worse just because they are different. Lie truly does takes readers into how Jimmy is manipulative. Readers also find out how he believes so strongly in his beliefs that he is actually doing the right thing by beating those that are either not his race or here in the U.S. illegally. But his logic is totally not the right way of thinking. He basically justifies his actions by saying that it is to protect Skylar and making where they live safer. I don't care what race someone is or if they are legally or illegally in the U.S. no one deserves to be beaten or murdered because they are different from others.
While Lie can be slow and somewhat repetitive, because a lot of thoughts are continuously said throughout the novel, it truly is a good read. Lie goes in depth as to how a crime affects the whole community. The word lie also takes on many meanings too in this story. Whatever one does take caution that this book will break your heart and it will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.
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