If I Lie
By Sandie Angulo Chen,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Captivating tale of loyalty, sacrifice best for older teens.
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What's the Story?
Quinn used to be one half of Sweethaven High School's perfect couple, but after her boyfriend Carey joins the Marines and deploys, she does the unthinkable -- she's caught kissing another boy in a provocative photo. Quinn turns into a pariah overnight, but despite losing her social standing, her friendship, even the respect of her father -- a former Marine himself -- she refuses to tell the truth: that she and Carey weren't together anymore when the photo was taken, because Carey had just broken up with her and admitted he's gay. When Carey goes Missing in Action in Afghanistan, Quinn wonders if she will ever be out from the under the weight of his secret and and lies.
Is It Any Good?
Author Corrine Jackson beautifully conveys the heartache and loneliness of living with a heavy secret, of having one defining moment that changes the rest of your life. Although she could easily save herself from the perpetual grief and humiliation of being branded the small military town's biggest slut, Quinn convincingly reveals why telling the truth would be such an unthinkable betrayal of Carey, whom she loves unconditionally. The fact that his best friend Blake was the (unrecognizable) guy in the photo makes things ever more complicated. He, too, could step forward and defend Quinn, but doing so would devastate Carey's parents even more.
Quinn's ordeal -- everyone at her school seems to hate her, even the girls who used to be her best friends -- is tempered by the one relationship in her life that is uncomplicated and sweet. As a volunteer at the VA hospital, Quinn strikes up a close friendship with George, and elderly vet who encourages and supports Quinn when no one else will. Their conversations are the only moments in If I LIE that aren't tainted by her reputation. There's also a forbidden romance between Quinn and Blake (he doesn't know the truth about Carey) that simmers until it boils over into a declaration of love. But If I Lie is not a romance; this is a story about sacrifice, loyalty, and acceptance. With her compelling, complicated protagonist, Jackson will make readers think hard about truth, love, and duty.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Quinn's theory that everyone has defining moments that change the course of their lives. What was hers? Have you made any defining decisions?
Have you read other stories that give you a picture of what it's like for gay teens? Is there less prejudice than there once was where you live?
Do you think Carey was cowardly not to come out of the closet before deploying?
Book Details
- Author: Corrine Jackson
- Genre: Coming of Age
- Topics: Friendship, High School
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Simon Pulse
- Publication date: August 28, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 17
- Number of pages: 288
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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