Published: 2022
Series: A Secrets & Lies
Author: Daphne Benedis-Grab
Genres: Mystery, Crime, Realistic Fiction, Sports, Mystery Thriller, Friendship
Audience (Grade Levels): 3-7; Middle School, Young Adult
Number of Stars: 3 Stars
Goodreads Link: I Know You’re Lying
Triggers: Theft, bullying, blackmail/extortion, school break-in
Review By: Molly Clark
Publisher’s Summary:
This twisty middle school thriller is One of Us is Lying meets Pretty Little Liars for young readers.
There’s been a theft at the middle school!
Sasha’s bag has been stolen from her locker. The security cams on the school’s front entrance have captured four students entering the building early. Present at the time of the crime, Maddie, Jack, Nora, and Henry become top suspects. Each of them has a reason to dislike Sasha. Each has something to hide. But which of them is responsible for the break-in? And can they figure out who the thief is before Sasha gets her revenge… on all of them.
Set during a single day of school, this is a gripping, twisty read about what happens when bullying goes too far, written by Daphne Benedis-Grab, author of I Know Your Secret.
Review:
This reader did not find this to be gripping at all. It has taken months to finish and I only finished because I committed to it. Now, I am glad I finished, but the number of characters was hard to follow and the plot was nowhere near as nefarious as the cover implied. I think that is probably my biggest problem with the book. I expected something darker. Sasha has deeply personal dirt on each of the four suspects which she threatens to reveal if her bag isn’t returned by the end of the day. The four suspects, who previously had little in common, bond together to figure out who really stole the bag, more importantly, why. Through their investigation they discover that Sasha has her own secrets and has been a victim of the same type of bullying she is currently practicing. Will they use that information to hurt Sasha?
As I said, the first half of the book was a slog for me. Too many characters to keep track of and a mystery I wasn’t really invested in. But the lessons learned at the end and the potential for a lively class discussion make me think this might be a successful read-aloud. I would be interested in a multi actor audio edition of this book. Hearing the different voices might make it easier to keep everyone straight.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Bullying Dynamics: The book provides an excellent case study on the cyclical nature of bullying. Through their investigation, the suspects discover that the antagonist, Sasha, has been a victim of the exact same type of bullying she is now practicing. This presents opportunities to discuss empathy, restorative justice, and how hurt individuals can project their pain onto others.
- English Language Arts (Character Tracking & Multiple Perspectives): Because the first half of the narrative relies on tracking a large cast of characters across a single school day, it can be utilized to teach character mapping and perspective-taking. Educators can guide students in analyzing how different points of view contribute to the unfolding mystery.
Extension Activity / Library Application:
- Interactive Whole-Class Read-Aloud: Capitalizing on the reviewer’s suggestion that this title could succeed as a read-aloud, teachers can map out a collaborative reading plan. Assigning different students to read the lines of the distinct suspects (Maddie, Jack, Nora, and Henry) can serve as a makeshift multi-actor experience to help keep the large cast straight.
- “Break the Cycle” Discussion Circle: Following the conclusion of the book, host a guided classroom or library book club discussion exploring the moral dilemma faced by the suspects: Will they use the dirty secrets they uncovered to hurt Sasha, or will they break the cycle of bullying? Students can write alternative endings based on the choices the characters make.
Readalikes:
- I Know Your Secret by Daphne Benedis-Grab
- One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus
- The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
