Liar.

I thought I was just reading yet another unreliable narrator. A kid who may or may not be in some kind of trouble. I did not realize what I was getting myself into, and all because twitter set ablaze over the white-washing of the cover.

Liar by Justine Larbalestier


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I'll admit it. I started this book because of all the controversy over the cover. But, I finished and loved it because of the unreliable narrator's voice and story. I did not know what I was getting into, and 1/2 through the book I almost threw it to the ground with a giant WTF? But I couldn't tear my eyes from the page long enough to actually throw anything.Micah is a lot of things. Top of that list is: liar. We cannot believe a word she is saying, though she claims she is trying to tell the truth. She amends things, over and over she amends them. Though she's telling us lie after lie the voice is scary authentic. I can't tell you more of what happens without ruining the book for you. Except this: her boyfriend is dead. Some of the people at her school think she did it.(One of the bullies, Brandon, is the most one-dimensional character. But, he serves his purpose. Most of the rest are nuanced, and that's as told through Micah's voice.)There are irksome things about the story that take away from the overall satisfaction of the book. But, it is the kind of read designed to leave you unsettled and disquieted. Last, but not least, the most believable thing about Micah are her passions, running, the people she cares about most, and science. I love that she loves science, and talks about it at a level that may be beyond the scope of some readers, but will serve to ignite their interest, rather than bogging down the story.

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