Parents' Guide to

All the Truth That's In Me

By Kate Pavao, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Girl finds voice in book filled with brutality and romance.

All the Truth That's In Me Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

age 14+

Based on 1 parent review

age 14+

Very interesting book with a good moral

The book is not as violent as the summery on the back makes it seem. Things are talked about but never in detail.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Too much violence

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (2 ):

The unusual and sophisticated storytelling makes this book a better fit for careful teen readers. The author gives readers only hints at the date, place, and history of Judy's settlement, and the details about her capture remain a mystery until the end. More mature readers also will be better prepared for the dark material including the brutal amputation of much of Judy's tongue and primitive surgery for her war-wounded brother.

There's a lot of rough stuff here, but readers looking for a romance will find plenty to swoon over in the tender gestures between Judy and Lucas. For example, one night she finds him freezing outside his home and secretly curls up with him under the blankets, even though "[e]very moment I tell myself I don't dare stay any longer." The ending comes across a bit too neat given all the buildup, but it's a satisfying finish for the long-suffering couple.

Book Details

  • Author: Julie Berry
  • Genre: Coming of Age
  • Book type: Fiction
  • Publisher: Viking
  • Publication date: September 26, 2013
  • Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 17
  • Number of pages: 288
  • Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Kindle
  • Last updated: July 12, 2017

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