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Lie
Everybody knows, nobody's talking. . . .
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.
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.
207 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 2011
18 people are currently reading
1719 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Bock
13 books96 followersCaroline Bock writes micros to novels. Her latest novel, and her first for adults, The Other Beautiful People, is a workplace love story about a movie-loving marketing executive, and it will be published on June 2, 2026, by Regal House Publishing. Her short story collection, Carry Her Home, won the Fiction Award from the Washington Writers' Publishing House. She is also the author of acclaimed young adult novels LIE and Before My Eyes from St. Martin’s Press. Currently, she is the co-president and prose editor at the Washington Writers’ Publishing House. Prior to focusing on her writing/editing, she was a marketing and public relations executive in the cable industry for two decades, most notably at Bravo and IFC. She is a graduate of Syracuse University where she studied creative writing with Raymond Carver, earned an MFA in Fiction from the City College of New York, and often leads writing workshops at the Writer’s Center in Bethesda. She lives with her husband in Potomac, Maryland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
September 8, 2016
This is not a book to "enjoy" or get excited about it. It's one of those seemingly rare books whose sole purpose is to make you think. I'm not sure even how to rate this book. I guess I'll see to that once I finish getting my thoughts in order.
Skylar Thompson (presumably the girl on the cover) is Jimmy Seeger's girlfriend. Yup that is her label because Jimmy is a person that everyone falls in love with. He is confident and a natural born leader. People feel this pull to listen to him. Skylar has just lost her mother to cancer a month ago and Jimmy's strong and protective personality won her over easily. Well the town is shocked to hear that Jimmy and Sean (Jimmy's best friend) have been arrested for beating up two brothers who come from Hispanic backgrounds. One of them, Arturo, is in critical condition. But how can this be? The kids are good here, and Jimmy can do no wrong, …right?
I'm a typically happy person so I tend to steer away from too intense reads. This would be one of those reads. The book is told from ten different perspectives, and that may seem like overkill but the author makes it so it adds something to the story and not hinders it. The plot and characters are steeped in worry, confusion, and the weight of the depression is suffocating. The Long Island town itself feels like it's falling on its own weight of lies. No joke here to break the tension or a good dose of happy moments to put the reader at ease. It was so hard to read this because I could feel myself being pulled down with them; heavy with the decisions that had to be made. The book had me thinking of what I would do in each person's position. Is there such thing as being too loyal? Or is it about choosing who to give that loyalty to, and in fact who actually deserves your loyalty? It seems easy when you see a story on the news, but once you are involved and know the people and have witnessed something terrible it changes everything.
I personally liked seeing the point of views of the adults here. I'm sorry to say some of them seem kind of dim but I'm not going to say there are not dim adults out there because there are, but by having the adults have a point of view it shows how important their role is in a situation like this.
This is a bit on the irrelevant side, but I want to emphasize to teenagers out there that though senior year is something to be celebrated, don't put too much expectation on it. I mention this because these teenagers seemed to have the sense that they had to have something different and exciting happen to them on their last year and it got out of hand.
The only thing for me that I didn't connect to was how much confusion the characters have. I would have liked to see one character be sensible throughout. My favorite narrator out of the ten was Carlos, Arturo's brother. I suspect that this book will be found in classrooms in the near future because there is a lot to discuss. It not only has the obvious theme of hate crimes but also the role of adults and teenagers in taking responsibility. If I go back and read it I know I'll find more.
Skylar Thompson (presumably the girl on the cover) is Jimmy Seeger's girlfriend. Yup that is her label because Jimmy is a person that everyone falls in love with. He is confident and a natural born leader. People feel this pull to listen to him. Skylar has just lost her mother to cancer a month ago and Jimmy's strong and protective personality won her over easily. Well the town is shocked to hear that Jimmy and Sean (Jimmy's best friend) have been arrested for beating up two brothers who come from Hispanic backgrounds. One of them, Arturo, is in critical condition. But how can this be? The kids are good here, and Jimmy can do no wrong, …right?
I'm a typically happy person so I tend to steer away from too intense reads. This would be one of those reads. The book is told from ten different perspectives, and that may seem like overkill but the author makes it so it adds something to the story and not hinders it. The plot and characters are steeped in worry, confusion, and the weight of the depression is suffocating. The Long Island town itself feels like it's falling on its own weight of lies. No joke here to break the tension or a good dose of happy moments to put the reader at ease. It was so hard to read this because I could feel myself being pulled down with them; heavy with the decisions that had to be made. The book had me thinking of what I would do in each person's position. Is there such thing as being too loyal? Or is it about choosing who to give that loyalty to, and in fact who actually deserves your loyalty? It seems easy when you see a story on the news, but once you are involved and know the people and have witnessed something terrible it changes everything.
I personally liked seeing the point of views of the adults here. I'm sorry to say some of them seem kind of dim but I'm not going to say there are not dim adults out there because there are, but by having the adults have a point of view it shows how important their role is in a situation like this.
This is a bit on the irrelevant side, but I want to emphasize to teenagers out there that though senior year is something to be celebrated, don't put too much expectation on it. I mention this because these teenagers seemed to have the sense that they had to have something different and exciting happen to them on their last year and it got out of hand.
The only thing for me that I didn't connect to was how much confusion the characters have. I would have liked to see one character be sensible throughout. My favorite narrator out of the ten was Carlos, Arturo's brother. I suspect that this book will be found in classrooms in the near future because there is a lot to discuss. It not only has the obvious theme of hate crimes but also the role of adults and teenagers in taking responsibility. If I go back and read it I know I'll find more.
August 28, 2014
LIE
By Caroline Bock
THE DEBUT YOUNG NOVEL THAT EVERYONE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT===============================
Starred Review - Kirkus Reviews:
Author: Bock, Caroline Review Date: July 1, 2011 Publisher:St. Martin’s Griffin Pages: 224 Price ( Paperback ): $9.99 Publication Date: August 11, 2011 ISBN ( Paperback ): 978-0-312-66832-7 Category: Fiction:
“This effective, character-driven, episodic story examines the consequences of a hate crime on the teens involved in it.
Bock focuses mainly on Skylar, a shy girl, and on her loyalty to her boyfriend Jimmy, whom readers soon learn has beaten a Salvadoran immigrant to death. Although Jimmy’s in jail, the police have little evidence against him. “Everybody knows. Nobody’s talking,” runs the mantra among the high-school crowd that knows full well Jimmy beats up Latinos every Saturday night. The author alternates short chapters written from different characters’ points of view. Readers get to know the involved teenagers and their families, as well as the victim, his brother and their mother. By portraying, simply and without comment, the reactions of the various characters, the author conveys the horror of the crime and the devastating effects on all involved, including those responsible. Sean, Jimmy’s best friend and companion on the fateful night, can’t deal with his guilt but also knows he dare not tell the truth. Lisa Marie sticks by Jimmy with no doubts. Skylar never doubts her love for Jimmy but faces a difficult choice when it transpires that the truth must come from her, or it will not come out at all.
Realistic and devastatingly insightful, this novel can serve as a springboard to classroom and family discussions. Unusual and important. (Fiction. 12 & up) --- Kirkus Reviews
=============================================
Starred Review - Publishers Weekly:
LIE
Caroline Bock. St. Martin's Griffin, $9.99 trade paper (224p)
ISBN 978-0-312-66832-7
Bock's (Confessions of a Carb Queen) first YA novel is a smart, topical story about a racially motivated hate crime, its far-ranging consequences, and the community determined to keep it under wraps. Skylar Thompson, a sensitive and complex loner, is deeply reliant on her boyfriend, Jimmy Seeger, a cocky, clean-cut jock. Shortly before their high school graduation, Jimmy and his best friend Sean are arrested for the vicious beating of Arturo Cortez, a young El Salvadoran mason, who subsequently dies of his injuries. Charismatic but cruel, Jimmy has been leading a gang that goes "beaner-hopping" on Saturday nights, assaulting Latinos for sick thrills. Skylar, who witnessed Jimmy's unprovoked attack on Arturo, suffers a crisis of conscience over whether to cover for her boyfriend; the lies Skylar and others are pressured to tell cut through the town like the Long Island Expressway the title plays on. Avoiding preachiness, Bock handles the novel's multiple viewpoints exceptionally well, rotating among the painfully believable voices of high school students and adults. Her characters may keep the truth inside, but their story reads like a confessional. Ages 12–up. (Sept.)
=======================
Sneak Peek Reviewers Club June 15, 2011
BOCK, Caroline. Lie. Griffin. September 2011. Pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-312-66832-7.
Gr 7 Up-The police are questioning 17-year-old Skylar Thompson. Her baseball and football star boyfriend Jimmy was accused of assaulting two immigrants, and she was the prime witness. Skylar is trying to keep quiet for Jimmy because she believes he's her savior. After all, he was the only person who helped pull her out of depression when her mother died. However, one of the immigrants, Carlos Cortez, demands justice, and Skylar wonders why she started protecting Jimmy in the first place. Sean, Jimmy's best friend and accomplice, was also at the scene, but he's out on bail and has offered to testify against Jimmy. He must decide whether or not to turn against his friend in order to save his own skin. As the book progresses, each character begins to ponder why they started following Jimmy-were they really trying to save him or themselves?
This book was, indeed, eye opening. Told in several voices, Bock creates a suspenseful, gripping, and powerful novel that will keep readers on their toes. In the beginning, it was like a puzzle. Everyone kept quiet about everything, yet there were always small clues leaking out. As the novel progresses, both Skylar and Sean change into new people, questioning what is right and what is wrong.
This book is definitely a great read for high school students. There's a lot that students can relate to and Bock does an impressive job of being in the shoes of a teenager struggling through life. Definitely a great read.-Jenny C., age 16
By Caroline Bock
THE DEBUT YOUNG NOVEL THAT EVERYONE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT===============================
Starred Review - Kirkus Reviews:
Author: Bock, Caroline Review Date: July 1, 2011 Publisher:St. Martin’s Griffin Pages: 224 Price ( Paperback ): $9.99 Publication Date: August 11, 2011 ISBN ( Paperback ): 978-0-312-66832-7 Category: Fiction:
“This effective, character-driven, episodic story examines the consequences of a hate crime on the teens involved in it.
Bock focuses mainly on Skylar, a shy girl, and on her loyalty to her boyfriend Jimmy, whom readers soon learn has beaten a Salvadoran immigrant to death. Although Jimmy’s in jail, the police have little evidence against him. “Everybody knows. Nobody’s talking,” runs the mantra among the high-school crowd that knows full well Jimmy beats up Latinos every Saturday night. The author alternates short chapters written from different characters’ points of view. Readers get to know the involved teenagers and their families, as well as the victim, his brother and their mother. By portraying, simply and without comment, the reactions of the various characters, the author conveys the horror of the crime and the devastating effects on all involved, including those responsible. Sean, Jimmy’s best friend and companion on the fateful night, can’t deal with his guilt but also knows he dare not tell the truth. Lisa Marie sticks by Jimmy with no doubts. Skylar never doubts her love for Jimmy but faces a difficult choice when it transpires that the truth must come from her, or it will not come out at all.
Realistic and devastatingly insightful, this novel can serve as a springboard to classroom and family discussions. Unusual and important. (Fiction. 12 & up) --- Kirkus Reviews
=============================================
Starred Review - Publishers Weekly:
LIE
Caroline Bock. St. Martin's Griffin, $9.99 trade paper (224p)
ISBN 978-0-312-66832-7
Bock's (Confessions of a Carb Queen) first YA novel is a smart, topical story about a racially motivated hate crime, its far-ranging consequences, and the community determined to keep it under wraps. Skylar Thompson, a sensitive and complex loner, is deeply reliant on her boyfriend, Jimmy Seeger, a cocky, clean-cut jock. Shortly before their high school graduation, Jimmy and his best friend Sean are arrested for the vicious beating of Arturo Cortez, a young El Salvadoran mason, who subsequently dies of his injuries. Charismatic but cruel, Jimmy has been leading a gang that goes "beaner-hopping" on Saturday nights, assaulting Latinos for sick thrills. Skylar, who witnessed Jimmy's unprovoked attack on Arturo, suffers a crisis of conscience over whether to cover for her boyfriend; the lies Skylar and others are pressured to tell cut through the town like the Long Island Expressway the title plays on. Avoiding preachiness, Bock handles the novel's multiple viewpoints exceptionally well, rotating among the painfully believable voices of high school students and adults. Her characters may keep the truth inside, but their story reads like a confessional. Ages 12–up. (Sept.)
=======================
Sneak Peek Reviewers Club June 15, 2011
BOCK, Caroline. Lie. Griffin. September 2011. Pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-312-66832-7.
Gr 7 Up-The police are questioning 17-year-old Skylar Thompson. Her baseball and football star boyfriend Jimmy was accused of assaulting two immigrants, and she was the prime witness. Skylar is trying to keep quiet for Jimmy because she believes he's her savior. After all, he was the only person who helped pull her out of depression when her mother died. However, one of the immigrants, Carlos Cortez, demands justice, and Skylar wonders why she started protecting Jimmy in the first place. Sean, Jimmy's best friend and accomplice, was also at the scene, but he's out on bail and has offered to testify against Jimmy. He must decide whether or not to turn against his friend in order to save his own skin. As the book progresses, each character begins to ponder why they started following Jimmy-were they really trying to save him or themselves?
This book was, indeed, eye opening. Told in several voices, Bock creates a suspenseful, gripping, and powerful novel that will keep readers on their toes. In the beginning, it was like a puzzle. Everyone kept quiet about everything, yet there were always small clues leaking out. As the novel progresses, both Skylar and Sean change into new people, questioning what is right and what is wrong.
This book is definitely a great read for high school students. There's a lot that students can relate to and Bock does an impressive job of being in the shoes of a teenager struggling through life. Definitely a great read.-Jenny C., age 16
September 1, 2011
The reviews are mixed on this book and after finishing my ARC copy, I now know why. Even my own view is divided. The story itself is grippingly realistic and drawn straight from currents news topics. It’s exceptionally well done in that regard and the author has done a great job at balancing the character’s reactions to the event. Now (and this is where most people, including myself, struggled with the title): the characters are just horrible people. It is impossible to feel any type of empathy for them whatsoever. Which really explains the stark division in reviews: some people will hate them so much they give up reading while others will “soldier” on to make it through to the end. I’m not sure what the author intended here.
If the intent was indeed to make the reader hate all the characters, the author succeeded. If it was to show the arrogance of the characters and their lack of empathy to others, the author succeeded as well. I can respect that and, if those were the goals, it was a well done and well thought out narrative. If, however, the goal was to bring the story of hate crimes to light from a behind the scenes perspective then the book didn’t serve its purpose very well in my opinion. Readers need to be relate to at least one character and by making the reader hate them all, it was impossible to try and understand how their upbringing and failures as “decent” people caused them to be involved in such a situation because, frankly, I didn’t care about any of them or why they did (or didn’t do) something or what it might cost them. In other words, because they were such snarky characters I was never able to get invested in the story.
If you can move past this character issue then you may enjoy the book but be forewarned that you will have to WORK at relating to a character and, for me anyway, that takes away the magic of books even the realistic fiction ones.
(ARC Galley Proof)
If the intent was indeed to make the reader hate all the characters, the author succeeded. If it was to show the arrogance of the characters and their lack of empathy to others, the author succeeded as well. I can respect that and, if those were the goals, it was a well done and well thought out narrative. If, however, the goal was to bring the story of hate crimes to light from a behind the scenes perspective then the book didn’t serve its purpose very well in my opinion. Readers need to be relate to at least one character and by making the reader hate them all, it was impossible to try and understand how their upbringing and failures as “decent” people caused them to be involved in such a situation because, frankly, I didn’t care about any of them or why they did (or didn’t do) something or what it might cost them. In other words, because they were such snarky characters I was never able to get invested in the story.
If you can move past this character issue then you may enjoy the book but be forewarned that you will have to WORK at relating to a character and, for me anyway, that takes away the magic of books even the realistic fiction ones.
(ARC Galley Proof)
August 19, 2011
Lie
Author: Caroline Bock
Reviewed by Fran Lewis
Teens often have a code that they follow even if wrong. Loyalty, faithfulness and even fear will keep some from speaking out against those that they feel either keep them safe from harm or threatened if the dare to go against them. It you witnessed a murder and knew the outcome was fatal for one and injuries for the other would you tell? Do you think hate crimes and racial attacks should go unpunished even if you think they are wrong? Listen to the voices as I relate what they have to say and decide for yourself if Jimmy, Sean and those involved should get away with one of the most heinous crimes anyone can ever commit: BEATING FOR RACE! Skylar Thompson’s voice is the first one heard. She is seventeen years old and has witnessed a crime committed by her boyfriend, Jimmy. Jimmy brutally and cruelly assaulted two El Salvadorian immigrants from another town nearby and now will stand trial as an adult. Arturo Cortez pays the ultimate price. His brother is seriously beaten. Jimmy takes pride in beating up Latinos on Saturday night. It’s like a ritual or worse his own mantra for living. Next, you hear the voice of Sean who is in a jail cell frightened to death. Sitting among other criminals in the same cell you can hear the fear in his voice, the anguish in his heart but do you think he is remorseful?
It started out as fun. What happened he claims was a mistake? Lisa Marie promises Jimmy from a call made from prison to her cell phone she would always be with him, her father would help him with his legal problems and be there for Skylar. Skylar and Lisa Marie are both guilty of telling lies. Lies, everyone tells them. Some lies are more deadly than others when the end truth comes out. Truths are sometimes considered Lies when we twist them to suit our own personal outcome. Skylar lied and told the police she did not witness what happened. Lisa Marie lied or omitted telling Jimmy she was meeting Skylar. Why, still remains to be seen as there are many more voices to be heard, more inner thoughts to be revealed and final outcomes still remain to be seen. So, why won’t Jimmy’s parents post bail? Why will Sean’s? Just when does loyalty stop and the truth need to come out? Boyfriends have powerful holds over naïve and impressionable girls. Skylar cannot seem to function or focus since Jimmy was arrested and feels alone without him. After her mother died he was all she had. Skylar and Lisa Marie discuss what is next and how to deal with things at a local diner. These are the next two voices heard. There are so many distinct voices heard. One at a time the author introduces each of the characters in a unique and creative way. Short and crisp chapters devoted to allowing the reader to hear the inner thoughts of the characters as he/she debates his/her own fate in this incident and in their own life. Skylar caught up in a web of her own deceit, lies and world in order to justify her actions on the night that Carlos and Arturo’s lives would change. One would end and the other would harbor guilt, remorse and anger that things did not go the right way and he could not convince his brother not to take a ride from strangers. The voice of the Principal of the school is heard as she recounts her feelings about Jimmy and Sean including their relationship and how the teachers viewed them. Jimmy strong-minded, charismatic and controlling the actions of all of the others even from his jail cell. Calling Lisa Marie and Skylar making sure that no one speaks about the incident out in the open and to the police. Loyalty, faith and understanding hoping they follow and hear his words or orders to them in order to protect as he states each one of them but who is he really protecting? The voice of Tommy Thompson, Skylar’s father comes through loud and clear. The man works hard and is trying to find a way to communicate with his daughter but she is so controlled, so blinded and so consumed with Jimmy as her “savior and protector,” her judgment is clouded and she cannot see past her own clouded vision of what is really there and what really happened that night. The voice of the mother of the boys is one of fear, frustration and anger as she is trapped in her own country taking care of her family and she hoping after eleven years to get to America and see her sons and protect them from any further harm. But, can she? Is it too late for everyone? Hate is a terrible word. Prejudice is a disease that spreads especially when one person controls the minds of others and they fall prey to that voice when he/she is a superstar in their own right or at least in the eyes of others who have made them that. Friends, family and even many teachers revere Jimmy. He is a star on the baseball team and of course given special treatment as many athletes on pro teams today when they walk into a room. Lisa Marie seems to be the one constant in this story as well as Skylar. These two voices come through loud and clear. Lisa strong and single-minded in her thoughts as she hovers of Skylar, trying to be her close friend yet with one thought in mind to protect Jimmy. Why? That has come to light as yet.
Lies people tell them every second of every day. Skylar: Lies to the police and her father to protect Jimmy. Lies to herself about her life thinking he is her only way out. Lisa Marie, Sean and the rest keeping the LIE alive in their own minds and blocking out any truths that might save them all. Jimmy: his voice is not heard except in sporadic phone calls to both Lisa Marie and Skylar. You never really hear his inner most feelings or thoughts and the one thing you will not hear from any is REMORSE! A common practice to go after Mexicans called Beaners on Saturday night just for fun seems the norm with these kids and even the police looked away until now. A great place to live and relatively safe. A school that rates among the best but what goes on outside of the closed doors is not reflected according the Principal as what goes on inside her school or classroom doors. One town, one huge cover-up and one huge and dangerous LIE. Will anyone come out with the truth? Will the truth just be another LIE? Author Caroline Bock has created a plot filled with many important lessons for adults and teens to learn. Hate is a terrible word. Race and class prejudice needs to be discussed in classrooms and hopefully eliminated. When loyalty and trust is a lie that could hurt you or others is it right? When one voice rises above the rest who are weak and afraid what do you do? Sean feels he is worthless and not worthy to be around Jimmy. He states he failed? How? Listening to Sean and Skylar talk near her mother’s grave you being to sense that one of them might break and speak out. Can you keep a Lie forever? Is it right to beat someone up for fun just because they are of a different race? Should an athletic coach be threatened and feel he has to play someone that is not up to the task? Just how far would you go to be in first place? The new mantra in life: First place or no place does not only refer to the game but someone’s position in another’s life. Just how important is selling your thoughts, integrity and values to another who just wants to control you and your actions really worth it? You hear the voice of Jimmy’s father telling the story in his own words and expressing his feelings about what really happened and what he did to protect his son. You hear the voice of Carlo’s when he meets his mother and you hear Skylar, Lisa Marie and Sean each battling with their own version of Lies and half-truths. Lisa Marie supported by her parents. Skylar’s dad hoping to take her away from this nightmare and move on with their lives. Skylar, lost in her own world consumed with Jimmy and only protecting him yet not sure if she should tell the truth to anyone. Lisa claiming she was not there and Skylar the same thing. One witness could end that all. What does happen and who comes out and where you will have to read and learn for yourself. A gripping and compelling novel that will haunt the reader way after you complete reading the novel and turn the last page. Where does Jimmy wind up? Will Skylar face the truth and tell what really happened? Trust: Hard to find someone according to Skylar. Friendships tested, family ties broken and mended and one young man who holds the truth in his hands and the scale of justice he hopes tipped in his direction.
An ending so powerful you will definitely need a box of tissues before you find out who remains true to themselves and who continues to LIE. LIE: Long Island Expressway: A road that took many of the voices to where they had to go to protect their LIES. Does anyone say they are sorry? What Skylar decide? What is Jimmy’s fate? LIES: CAN YOU LIVE WITH THEM: REMEMBER THERE IS NO TURNING BACK:
I give this book: FIVE HONEST TRUTHS
Fran Lewis: REVIEWER
Author: Caroline Bock
Reviewed by Fran Lewis
Teens often have a code that they follow even if wrong. Loyalty, faithfulness and even fear will keep some from speaking out against those that they feel either keep them safe from harm or threatened if the dare to go against them. It you witnessed a murder and knew the outcome was fatal for one and injuries for the other would you tell? Do you think hate crimes and racial attacks should go unpunished even if you think they are wrong? Listen to the voices as I relate what they have to say and decide for yourself if Jimmy, Sean and those involved should get away with one of the most heinous crimes anyone can ever commit: BEATING FOR RACE! Skylar Thompson’s voice is the first one heard. She is seventeen years old and has witnessed a crime committed by her boyfriend, Jimmy. Jimmy brutally and cruelly assaulted two El Salvadorian immigrants from another town nearby and now will stand trial as an adult. Arturo Cortez pays the ultimate price. His brother is seriously beaten. Jimmy takes pride in beating up Latinos on Saturday night. It’s like a ritual or worse his own mantra for living. Next, you hear the voice of Sean who is in a jail cell frightened to death. Sitting among other criminals in the same cell you can hear the fear in his voice, the anguish in his heart but do you think he is remorseful?
It started out as fun. What happened he claims was a mistake? Lisa Marie promises Jimmy from a call made from prison to her cell phone she would always be with him, her father would help him with his legal problems and be there for Skylar. Skylar and Lisa Marie are both guilty of telling lies. Lies, everyone tells them. Some lies are more deadly than others when the end truth comes out. Truths are sometimes considered Lies when we twist them to suit our own personal outcome. Skylar lied and told the police she did not witness what happened. Lisa Marie lied or omitted telling Jimmy she was meeting Skylar. Why, still remains to be seen as there are many more voices to be heard, more inner thoughts to be revealed and final outcomes still remain to be seen. So, why won’t Jimmy’s parents post bail? Why will Sean’s? Just when does loyalty stop and the truth need to come out? Boyfriends have powerful holds over naïve and impressionable girls. Skylar cannot seem to function or focus since Jimmy was arrested and feels alone without him. After her mother died he was all she had. Skylar and Lisa Marie discuss what is next and how to deal with things at a local diner. These are the next two voices heard. There are so many distinct voices heard. One at a time the author introduces each of the characters in a unique and creative way. Short and crisp chapters devoted to allowing the reader to hear the inner thoughts of the characters as he/she debates his/her own fate in this incident and in their own life. Skylar caught up in a web of her own deceit, lies and world in order to justify her actions on the night that Carlos and Arturo’s lives would change. One would end and the other would harbor guilt, remorse and anger that things did not go the right way and he could not convince his brother not to take a ride from strangers. The voice of the Principal of the school is heard as she recounts her feelings about Jimmy and Sean including their relationship and how the teachers viewed them. Jimmy strong-minded, charismatic and controlling the actions of all of the others even from his jail cell. Calling Lisa Marie and Skylar making sure that no one speaks about the incident out in the open and to the police. Loyalty, faith and understanding hoping they follow and hear his words or orders to them in order to protect as he states each one of them but who is he really protecting? The voice of Tommy Thompson, Skylar’s father comes through loud and clear. The man works hard and is trying to find a way to communicate with his daughter but she is so controlled, so blinded and so consumed with Jimmy as her “savior and protector,” her judgment is clouded and she cannot see past her own clouded vision of what is really there and what really happened that night. The voice of the mother of the boys is one of fear, frustration and anger as she is trapped in her own country taking care of her family and she hoping after eleven years to get to America and see her sons and protect them from any further harm. But, can she? Is it too late for everyone? Hate is a terrible word. Prejudice is a disease that spreads especially when one person controls the minds of others and they fall prey to that voice when he/she is a superstar in their own right or at least in the eyes of others who have made them that. Friends, family and even many teachers revere Jimmy. He is a star on the baseball team and of course given special treatment as many athletes on pro teams today when they walk into a room. Lisa Marie seems to be the one constant in this story as well as Skylar. These two voices come through loud and clear. Lisa strong and single-minded in her thoughts as she hovers of Skylar, trying to be her close friend yet with one thought in mind to protect Jimmy. Why? That has come to light as yet.
Lies people tell them every second of every day. Skylar: Lies to the police and her father to protect Jimmy. Lies to herself about her life thinking he is her only way out. Lisa Marie, Sean and the rest keeping the LIE alive in their own minds and blocking out any truths that might save them all. Jimmy: his voice is not heard except in sporadic phone calls to both Lisa Marie and Skylar. You never really hear his inner most feelings or thoughts and the one thing you will not hear from any is REMORSE! A common practice to go after Mexicans called Beaners on Saturday night just for fun seems the norm with these kids and even the police looked away until now. A great place to live and relatively safe. A school that rates among the best but what goes on outside of the closed doors is not reflected according the Principal as what goes on inside her school or classroom doors. One town, one huge cover-up and one huge and dangerous LIE. Will anyone come out with the truth? Will the truth just be another LIE? Author Caroline Bock has created a plot filled with many important lessons for adults and teens to learn. Hate is a terrible word. Race and class prejudice needs to be discussed in classrooms and hopefully eliminated. When loyalty and trust is a lie that could hurt you or others is it right? When one voice rises above the rest who are weak and afraid what do you do? Sean feels he is worthless and not worthy to be around Jimmy. He states he failed? How? Listening to Sean and Skylar talk near her mother’s grave you being to sense that one of them might break and speak out. Can you keep a Lie forever? Is it right to beat someone up for fun just because they are of a different race? Should an athletic coach be threatened and feel he has to play someone that is not up to the task? Just how far would you go to be in first place? The new mantra in life: First place or no place does not only refer to the game but someone’s position in another’s life. Just how important is selling your thoughts, integrity and values to another who just wants to control you and your actions really worth it? You hear the voice of Jimmy’s father telling the story in his own words and expressing his feelings about what really happened and what he did to protect his son. You hear the voice of Carlo’s when he meets his mother and you hear Skylar, Lisa Marie and Sean each battling with their own version of Lies and half-truths. Lisa Marie supported by her parents. Skylar’s dad hoping to take her away from this nightmare and move on with their lives. Skylar, lost in her own world consumed with Jimmy and only protecting him yet not sure if she should tell the truth to anyone. Lisa claiming she was not there and Skylar the same thing. One witness could end that all. What does happen and who comes out and where you will have to read and learn for yourself. A gripping and compelling novel that will haunt the reader way after you complete reading the novel and turn the last page. Where does Jimmy wind up? Will Skylar face the truth and tell what really happened? Trust: Hard to find someone according to Skylar. Friendships tested, family ties broken and mended and one young man who holds the truth in his hands and the scale of justice he hopes tipped in his direction.
An ending so powerful you will definitely need a box of tissues before you find out who remains true to themselves and who continues to LIE. LIE: Long Island Expressway: A road that took many of the voices to where they had to go to protect their LIES. Does anyone say they are sorry? What Skylar decide? What is Jimmy’s fate? LIES: CAN YOU LIVE WITH THEM: REMEMBER THERE IS NO TURNING BACK:
I give this book: FIVE HONEST TRUTHS
Fran Lewis: REVIEWER
September 13, 2011
Review also posted on my blog: The Book Barbies
How do you decide to read a book? What makes you add a book to your 'to-be-read' pile? I'll tell you what: genre, summary and cover. We want to read something we will enjoy, we want something we will end up liking and it's not a secret that everyone judges books by their covers. So to me the answer to those categories have to fall under: YA or adult romance, pretty cover, interesting summary. Lie fit into all these categories so it was a go but let me tell you beneath the pretty cover and hella interesting summary, is a terrible story. STOP, I don't mean terrible it gets 0 stars terrible, I-want-to-burn-this-book terrible but terrible as in this book is not to be read for shit and giggles, it's not a guilty pleasure read you read by the poolside because the story is dark, it's too real and it's heartbreaking. So if your the type to stick to sweet books this is not for you.
I wasn't expecting what I got with Lie, to be honest I don't really know what I was expecting but what I got was definitely 180° not what I was expecting.
First of all if you read any review about Lie (and when I picked up the book I didn't) you will already know the book goes through 10 different POV. Yes, TEN. We got to hear Skylar Thompson's thoughts, she is Jimmy's girlfriend. We read her dad's thoughts, her bestfriends Lisa Marie, from Jimmy's bestfriend Sean wand Carlos, the victim and a bunch of random people but through out all this the one person we don't get to read their thoughts is the one and only Jimmy and if that is a good thing or not I will get back to you on that. I feel like we read about so many different feelings concerning Jimmy that it made up his character and we didn't need to have his POV.
I would like to say that I am the first person to jump on the wagon that knows hate-crime exists, and that yes, there is still racism through out the world. I have seen it and I see it every single day, I live in Houston after all, you can't more of a racial diverse city. So I found everything about beaner hopping, the racism and the ground this book is built on to be absolutely 100% realistic with the fact that last year a group of white kids that call themselves 'crib killers' brought a knife to school ready to 'kill' some 'cribs' (a group of Mexicans who like to think they have a gang) in mind.
I salute Bock for going to the land of taboo and picking a subject from there to write about and if I do say so myself this book is well done. She captured the hate crime perfectly, the writing is very well done and I teared up twice at certain parts of the book. Then why did I give this book only 3 stars? Well there is thing books have and it's characters and the characters of this book frustrated it me from here to Antarctica. While I get that Bock tried her best to portray the characters as realistic as possible and I think she did a good job but I think she was a little extreme about it. One thing I didn't understand is how EVERYONE worshiped Jimmy like he was Jesus Christ himself. I get that maybe Sean and Skylar would kiss the ground he walks on but did everyone have to too? Not one person had common sense to see what he was doing is down right awful? At a certain part of the book, when everyone was praising Jimmy like Buddha I actually liked him even though I knew what he did... his 'charm' got me but it didn't get me enough to overlook what a complete disgusting human being he is, and the grown-ups, oh my god are grown-ups really this naive? because I doubt it. Bock made every single grown up in this book have a mind of a 2 year old! Why did they give a blind eye to the answers right in front of their eyes? I can understand a couple of the grown ups in this book doing it but did it have to be EVERY single one. It frustrated me to no end and made me want to pull my hair out!
I would have liked to read more from Carlos because he was my favorite narrator and less of Lisa Marie who I almost hate more the Jimmy which reminds me to say, I didn't fully understand why Jimmy does the things he does. What caused him to get to the super extreme level of racism he is in? I understand his dad went through a lot because of terrorists and lost his jobs to illegal immigrants but still that doesn't drive a person to torture people. I would have liked more background on that but besides that Bock does a really well job to make you feel for the victims. Not all the characters we read about are saints just like normal people and they all do awful stupid things, but surprisingly that didn't make me hate every one of them. I liked how we saw how each character dealt with what happened in their own way, how they tried to get past it and what their actions and reactions were. I though that was handled very book just like the book and over all I really enjoyed Lie. I even think I can pick this book up again and re-read which definitely in my scale means that this is a must read even though a couple of things could have been better.
-thank you&come again.
How do you decide to read a book? What makes you add a book to your 'to-be-read' pile? I'll tell you what: genre, summary and cover. We want to read something we will enjoy, we want something we will end up liking and it's not a secret that everyone judges books by their covers. So to me the answer to those categories have to fall under: YA or adult romance, pretty cover, interesting summary. Lie fit into all these categories so it was a go but let me tell you beneath the pretty cover and hella interesting summary, is a terrible story. STOP, I don't mean terrible it gets 0 stars terrible, I-want-to-burn-this-book terrible but terrible as in this book is not to be read for shit and giggles, it's not a guilty pleasure read you read by the poolside because the story is dark, it's too real and it's heartbreaking. So if your the type to stick to sweet books this is not for you.
I wasn't expecting what I got with Lie, to be honest I don't really know what I was expecting but what I got was definitely 180° not what I was expecting.
First of all if you read any review about Lie (and when I picked up the book I didn't) you will already know the book goes through 10 different POV. Yes, TEN. We got to hear Skylar Thompson's thoughts, she is Jimmy's girlfriend. We read her dad's thoughts, her bestfriends Lisa Marie, from Jimmy's bestfriend Sean wand Carlos, the victim and a bunch of random people but through out all this the one person we don't get to read their thoughts is the one and only Jimmy and if that is a good thing or not I will get back to you on that. I feel like we read about so many different feelings concerning Jimmy that it made up his character and we didn't need to have his POV.
I would like to say that I am the first person to jump on the wagon that knows hate-crime exists, and that yes, there is still racism through out the world. I have seen it and I see it every single day, I live in Houston after all, you can't more of a racial diverse city. So I found everything about beaner hopping, the racism and the ground this book is built on to be absolutely 100% realistic with the fact that last year a group of white kids that call themselves 'crib killers' brought a knife to school ready to 'kill' some 'cribs' (a group of Mexicans who like to think they have a gang) in mind.
I salute Bock for going to the land of taboo and picking a subject from there to write about and if I do say so myself this book is well done. She captured the hate crime perfectly, the writing is very well done and I teared up twice at certain parts of the book. Then why did I give this book only 3 stars? Well there is thing books have and it's characters and the characters of this book frustrated it me from here to Antarctica. While I get that Bock tried her best to portray the characters as realistic as possible and I think she did a good job but I think she was a little extreme about it. One thing I didn't understand is how EVERYONE worshiped Jimmy like he was Jesus Christ himself. I get that maybe Sean and Skylar would kiss the ground he walks on but did everyone have to too? Not one person had common sense to see what he was doing is down right awful? At a certain part of the book, when everyone was praising Jimmy like Buddha I actually liked him even though I knew what he did... his 'charm' got me but it didn't get me enough to overlook what a complete disgusting human being he is, and the grown-ups, oh my god are grown-ups really this naive? because I doubt it. Bock made every single grown up in this book have a mind of a 2 year old! Why did they give a blind eye to the answers right in front of their eyes? I can understand a couple of the grown ups in this book doing it but did it have to be EVERY single one. It frustrated me to no end and made me want to pull my hair out!
I would have liked to read more from Carlos because he was my favorite narrator and less of Lisa Marie who I almost hate more the Jimmy which reminds me to say, I didn't fully understand why Jimmy does the things he does. What caused him to get to the super extreme level of racism he is in? I understand his dad went through a lot because of terrorists and lost his jobs to illegal immigrants but still that doesn't drive a person to torture people. I would have liked more background on that but besides that Bock does a really well job to make you feel for the victims. Not all the characters we read about are saints just like normal people and they all do awful stupid things, but surprisingly that didn't make me hate every one of them. I liked how we saw how each character dealt with what happened in their own way, how they tried to get past it and what their actions and reactions were. I though that was handled very book just like the book and over all I really enjoyed Lie. I even think I can pick this book up again and re-read which definitely in my scale means that this is a must read even though a couple of things could have been better.
-thank you&come again.
July 5, 2011
Wow... that was intense!!
This is the story about a lie and how one lie can go downhill and destroys people. What I found most remarkable about this story was the way it's been told. First person narration In alternating POV's, and not only the main character we also get the POV of nearly every person involved in this drama. It was amazing how Mrs Bock was able to get you in one minute in the mind frame of a fragile 18 year old girl and in the next into an police officers mind.
It all starts with a very charismatic young boy who manages with his charm and charisma to get a whole school crowed behind him. He is one of those people that make you feel valuable and you want to be friends with. This kind of men are the ones that can lead people, a born leader everyone trusts instantly. But... can they also see behind all this and see when things go downhill and are simply wrong? That is the question you ask yourself when reading this book.
The story is full of very unique characters that are each very distinkt and have a recognizable voice. The most important voice though is from Skylar. She lost her mom a year ago and is still full of grieve, and only Jimmy can make her feel better. Only him, and a hero like that can't ever be wrong right? She' so dependent from him that she closes her eyes shut won't let her see the truth behind. She was a very fragile and vulnerable girl and it made me sad seing her going through all this...
This is also the story about prejuctice and hate. Something that happens everywhere in the world anytime and it is very freighting, the more so because it is real.
The narration makes the plot flow effortless and you are easily captivated by this emotional and very intense story. The alternating POV makes it even more captivating. You will think about this long after you finished the last page.
This was an emotional intense story about when it is right to lie and when you have to say the truth also to stay true to yourself. It shows you how easy people can be manipulated by a boy who has charisma like no other..
It's a freighting story, but very genuine!
This is the story about a lie and how one lie can go downhill and destroys people. What I found most remarkable about this story was the way it's been told. First person narration In alternating POV's, and not only the main character we also get the POV of nearly every person involved in this drama. It was amazing how Mrs Bock was able to get you in one minute in the mind frame of a fragile 18 year old girl and in the next into an police officers mind.
It all starts with a very charismatic young boy who manages with his charm and charisma to get a whole school crowed behind him. He is one of those people that make you feel valuable and you want to be friends with. This kind of men are the ones that can lead people, a born leader everyone trusts instantly. But... can they also see behind all this and see when things go downhill and are simply wrong? That is the question you ask yourself when reading this book.
The story is full of very unique characters that are each very distinkt and have a recognizable voice. The most important voice though is from Skylar. She lost her mom a year ago and is still full of grieve, and only Jimmy can make her feel better. Only him, and a hero like that can't ever be wrong right? She' so dependent from him that she closes her eyes shut won't let her see the truth behind. She was a very fragile and vulnerable girl and it made me sad seing her going through all this...
This is also the story about prejuctice and hate. Something that happens everywhere in the world anytime and it is very freighting, the more so because it is real.
The narration makes the plot flow effortless and you are easily captivated by this emotional and very intense story. The alternating POV makes it even more captivating. You will think about this long after you finished the last page.
This was an emotional intense story about when it is right to lie and when you have to say the truth also to stay true to yourself. It shows you how easy people can be manipulated by a boy who has charisma like no other..
It's a freighting story, but very genuine!
June 14, 2015
Lie is a hard-hitting novel about being true to yourself no matter what. I haven’t seen very many reviews for this one and I have to say that I’m surprised. This is a book that deserves recognition and one that I highly recommend.
Lie is the story of a girl whose life is torn apart by a hate crime but not in the way you would expect. You see, she’s not the victim. She’s a witness and her boyfriend is the accused. Lie is all about what happened that night and why no one is talking about it.
Skylar is needy, weak, and confused. She is not an easy girl to like. In fact, she’s quite easy to dislike. She depends on Jimmy for her happiness and Lisa Marie for direction when Jimmy isn’t around. She’s clearly been deeply affected by her mom’s death but it’s no excuse for her naivete and her willingness to look past Jimmy’s crimes. However, she did grow throughout the book and while I still didn’t necessarily like her at the end, her story was completely captivating.
The book switches between many points-of-view: Skylar, Skylar’s dad, Lisa Marie, Sean, Carlos, his mom, Coach Martinez, the school principal, and the office on the case. In this one case it did not get confusing and instead only added to the greatness of the book. Each point-of-view shows a different person who has been affected by the hate crime and it shows how one crime can change a whole community. Each point-of-view was really necessary to get the point across.
Lie is a rather depressing book, I give you fair warning. This isn’t a light read with a fairytale ending. Lie is realistic fiction at it’s best and to me, everything about it was perfect. It doesn’t have a typical “happy ending” but it has a very satisfying one. Caroline Bock may have written a fictional tale but’s a very real story.
Overall, Lie is realistic fiction that packs a punch and will leave readers thinking long after the last page has been turned.
Lie is the story of a girl whose life is torn apart by a hate crime but not in the way you would expect. You see, she’s not the victim. She’s a witness and her boyfriend is the accused. Lie is all about what happened that night and why no one is talking about it.
Skylar is needy, weak, and confused. She is not an easy girl to like. In fact, she’s quite easy to dislike. She depends on Jimmy for her happiness and Lisa Marie for direction when Jimmy isn’t around. She’s clearly been deeply affected by her mom’s death but it’s no excuse for her naivete and her willingness to look past Jimmy’s crimes. However, she did grow throughout the book and while I still didn’t necessarily like her at the end, her story was completely captivating.
The book switches between many points-of-view: Skylar, Skylar’s dad, Lisa Marie, Sean, Carlos, his mom, Coach Martinez, the school principal, and the office on the case. In this one case it did not get confusing and instead only added to the greatness of the book. Each point-of-view shows a different person who has been affected by the hate crime and it shows how one crime can change a whole community. Each point-of-view was really necessary to get the point across.
Lie is a rather depressing book, I give you fair warning. This isn’t a light read with a fairytale ending. Lie is realistic fiction at it’s best and to me, everything about it was perfect. It doesn’t have a typical “happy ending” but it has a very satisfying one. Caroline Bock may have written a fictional tale but’s a very real story.
Overall, Lie is realistic fiction that packs a punch and will leave readers thinking long after the last page has been turned.
August 28, 2011
4.5 Stars
This is the story of the aftermath of a hate crime. The setting is Long Island, New York. Those involved in the incident are Jimmy…a wanna-be military leader, high school senior. Sean, Jimmy’s best friend, high school senior with a tendency to follow rather than lead. Skylar, Jimmy’s girlfriend, recently lost her Mother to ovarian cancer, and is lost…Jimmy is her life preserver. And Lisa Marie, Skylar’s best friend, secretly in love with Jimmy, and tends to be an “athletics” groupie. The victims are two brothers, Arturo and Carlos Cortez. Arturo is not in the US legally, but Carlos was born in the States and is a citizen.
WOW is really the first word I uttered upon finishing this book. I will be honest, I shied away from this story after reading the synopsis. Hate crimes are ugly. For me they rank right up there, just below child abuse. Not something I want to read about in my spare time…know what I mean? That said, the reviews I’d read about “LIE”, were all overwhelmingly positive so I decided to read it anyway.
I’m glad that I did. If for no other reason than to becoming familiar with, and a fan of, Ms. Bock’s writing. She is talented beyond measure. She crafted such a touching and thought-provoking story…one where I cried and yelled at the characters, quite often. The story is told from numerous shifting perspectives…everyone touched by the “incident”. So you, as the viewer, got to see everything unfold from many viewpoints…which made it interesting, but what made it fascinating was that with each of these viewpoints also came with some of the character’s history, thus putting the character’s filter on that viewpoint.
It was tough read and I struggled through parts of it, even though it was a work of fiction. The author doesn’t pull any of her punches. I urge you to read it, better yet, read it with your kids and use it as a stepping stone for some great discussion…but be forewarned and go into it with your eyes open.
This is the story of the aftermath of a hate crime. The setting is Long Island, New York. Those involved in the incident are Jimmy…a wanna-be military leader, high school senior. Sean, Jimmy’s best friend, high school senior with a tendency to follow rather than lead. Skylar, Jimmy’s girlfriend, recently lost her Mother to ovarian cancer, and is lost…Jimmy is her life preserver. And Lisa Marie, Skylar’s best friend, secretly in love with Jimmy, and tends to be an “athletics” groupie. The victims are two brothers, Arturo and Carlos Cortez. Arturo is not in the US legally, but Carlos was born in the States and is a citizen.
WOW is really the first word I uttered upon finishing this book. I will be honest, I shied away from this story after reading the synopsis. Hate crimes are ugly. For me they rank right up there, just below child abuse. Not something I want to read about in my spare time…know what I mean? That said, the reviews I’d read about “LIE”, were all overwhelmingly positive so I decided to read it anyway.
I’m glad that I did. If for no other reason than to becoming familiar with, and a fan of, Ms. Bock’s writing. She is talented beyond measure. She crafted such a touching and thought-provoking story…one where I cried and yelled at the characters, quite often. The story is told from numerous shifting perspectives…everyone touched by the “incident”. So you, as the viewer, got to see everything unfold from many viewpoints…which made it interesting, but what made it fascinating was that with each of these viewpoints also came with some of the character’s history, thus putting the character’s filter on that viewpoint.
It was tough read and I struggled through parts of it, even though it was a work of fiction. The author doesn’t pull any of her punches. I urge you to read it, better yet, read it with your kids and use it as a stepping stone for some great discussion…but be forewarned and go into it with your eyes open.
October 31, 2011
This was an intense book. Bock took on a hard subject and handled it in such an impressive way that this book will be sticking with me for a while. This is a book that will get people talking.
This book was extremely realistic and that makes it all the more shocking. To think that this book, while a work of fiction, is true in many ways was extremely powerful. I felt so much for Skylar, the shy girl who doesn't want to lose another person in her life. She knows if she goes along with the lie, she will be able to keep the people around her. But if she tells the truth, she will be losing several people important to her.
I know some people might have a hard time with the multiple points of view, but I found them extremely helpful in understanding how this hate crime affected the town. You see the truth eating Skylar and Sean alive, and how Lisa Marie can delude herself. You see into the mind of the town and how this one event can disrupt the lives of so many not directly involved. I only with there had been Jimmy's point of view, even if it was only a short little blurb.
I think this is a book that everyone needs to read because it opens your eyes and makes you think. It's a powerful book that I will definitely be recommending to anyone that will listen to me.
This book was extremely realistic and that makes it all the more shocking. To think that this book, while a work of fiction, is true in many ways was extremely powerful. I felt so much for Skylar, the shy girl who doesn't want to lose another person in her life. She knows if she goes along with the lie, she will be able to keep the people around her. But if she tells the truth, she will be losing several people important to her.
I know some people might have a hard time with the multiple points of view, but I found them extremely helpful in understanding how this hate crime affected the town. You see the truth eating Skylar and Sean alive, and how Lisa Marie can delude herself. You see into the mind of the town and how this one event can disrupt the lives of so many not directly involved. I only with there had been Jimmy's point of view, even if it was only a short little blurb.
I think this is a book that everyone needs to read because it opens your eyes and makes you think. It's a powerful book that I will definitely be recommending to anyone that will listen to me.
September 2, 2011
So sad:( What a beautifully written story. All the characters read like real flesh and bone.
July 26, 2011
Well-written and heartbreaking.
March 24, 2020
The rambling writing style and constant start of sentences with conjunctions was very distracting and detracted from a story that was already middle of the road. This sort of book has been done better by other authors.
March 16, 2025
This is one of the honors class’ lit circle books and I had never read it - this one will hit close to home for a few of my kids, and I think there’s a lot of deeper level thinking with this one… it’ll be interesting to see what they pick up or don’t pick up on.
August 21, 2011
"The attacks were such an established pastime that the youths, who have pleaded not guilty, had a casual and derogatory term for it, 'beaner hopping.'"
---The New York Times, front page story
after the murder of a Hispanic immigrant on Long Island
Author Caroline Bock opens her YA debut novel LIE (St. Martins Griffin: August 30, 2011) with this news snippet. The objective, journalistic style offers a stark contrast to Bock's use of multiple narrative voices to construct a fictional narrative touching on the nature of hate crimes and other issues relevant to teens.
Reading LIE is like slowly peeling an onion by its translucent layers of skin. Readers learn "the truth" in snippets and from ten distinct voices. Complicating readers' search for the story is the absence of the most important voice, that of the accused, Jimmy Seger.
The novel opens with Skylar Thompson narrating. She has been interrogated by Officer Healey about the events of "last Saturday night," specifically Skylar's boyfriend Jimmy's role: "Was Jimmy Seger the Mastermind?"
Bock complicates Jimmy in myriad ways, including his friendship and romance with the grieving Skylar after her mother's death. To what extent does Skylar really know Jimmy? How can Skylar reconcile the complicated moral code by which Jimmy lives and protects his friends with the "morality" which also makes him a bigot?
LIE raises many questions, and it's the ten first-person narrators these binaries create that give voice to the issues. Yet the silences Bock constructs also speak volumes: Why don't we hear from Jimmy? What motivates teens to create a bubble of silence, one in which "everybody knows, nobody's talking," as Skylar's BFF Lisa Marie Murano chants throughout the novel.
Innocence has no place in LIE, as Bock deftly critiques the pedestal on which school administrators and coaches place student-athletes, from whom they then attempt to distance themselves and the school when those students are laid low. Readers hear this in the adult voices Bock interjects into the narrative.
Bock even challenges the American pastime, baseball, in her symbolizing of the Louisville Slugger.
She further critiques the iconic great American road motif and its symbolism of freedom and the Westward journey that leads to fulfillment of the American Dream. The LIE (Long Island Expressway) ends abruptly, but it's also the scene of the crime in LIE.
LIE debuts just in time for the anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attack, which plays a subtle role in the narrative and suggests how we should and should not define heroism.
Readers may find reading LIE a bit slow-going at first. Try peeling an onion by its thin skin to see what I mean. Ultimately, LIE voices the questions with which teens find themselves challenged, and the pace quickens, like a speeding car on the LIE, propelling the rider to the abrupt ending.
*Cross-post: Hanging by a Book: www.gmfunkbook.blogspot.com and lesson plans w/ review: www.evolvingenglishteacher.blogspot.com
---The New York Times, front page story
after the murder of a Hispanic immigrant on Long Island
Author Caroline Bock opens her YA debut novel LIE (St. Martins Griffin: August 30, 2011) with this news snippet. The objective, journalistic style offers a stark contrast to Bock's use of multiple narrative voices to construct a fictional narrative touching on the nature of hate crimes and other issues relevant to teens.
Reading LIE is like slowly peeling an onion by its translucent layers of skin. Readers learn "the truth" in snippets and from ten distinct voices. Complicating readers' search for the story is the absence of the most important voice, that of the accused, Jimmy Seger.
The novel opens with Skylar Thompson narrating. She has been interrogated by Officer Healey about the events of "last Saturday night," specifically Skylar's boyfriend Jimmy's role: "Was Jimmy Seger the Mastermind?"
Bock complicates Jimmy in myriad ways, including his friendship and romance with the grieving Skylar after her mother's death. To what extent does Skylar really know Jimmy? How can Skylar reconcile the complicated moral code by which Jimmy lives and protects his friends with the "morality" which also makes him a bigot?
LIE raises many questions, and it's the ten first-person narrators these binaries create that give voice to the issues. Yet the silences Bock constructs also speak volumes: Why don't we hear from Jimmy? What motivates teens to create a bubble of silence, one in which "everybody knows, nobody's talking," as Skylar's BFF Lisa Marie Murano chants throughout the novel.
Innocence has no place in LIE, as Bock deftly critiques the pedestal on which school administrators and coaches place student-athletes, from whom they then attempt to distance themselves and the school when those students are laid low. Readers hear this in the adult voices Bock interjects into the narrative.
Bock even challenges the American pastime, baseball, in her symbolizing of the Louisville Slugger.
She further critiques the iconic great American road motif and its symbolism of freedom and the Westward journey that leads to fulfillment of the American Dream. The LIE (Long Island Expressway) ends abruptly, but it's also the scene of the crime in LIE.
LIE debuts just in time for the anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attack, which plays a subtle role in the narrative and suggests how we should and should not define heroism.
Readers may find reading LIE a bit slow-going at first. Try peeling an onion by its thin skin to see what I mean. Ultimately, LIE voices the questions with which teens find themselves challenged, and the pace quickens, like a speeding car on the LIE, propelling the rider to the abrupt ending.
*Cross-post: Hanging by a Book: www.gmfunkbook.blogspot.com and lesson plans w/ review: www.evolvingenglishteacher.blogspot.com
September 12, 2011
Lie is an utterly heart breaking book about the decisions a group of people make in the aftermath of a hate crime. As someone who had a family member victimized by one, this novel was a very personal and emotional read for me.
The novel is told through multiple POV and I don't mean just 2 or 3, but 10. While this allows the reader to see how various town's people are affected by the event, its also about 6 perspectives to many. I felt that some of the impact was lost because your constantly jumping from person to person. I think having Skylar, Sean, Lisa (Skylar's best friend) and Carlos' POV would have been enough for me since all 4 teens have very different views of what happened that night.
Skylar and Sean are not the easiest characters to like, but still felt very real and complex. Both do some pretty questionable things in the novel and continually shut out the people who might be able to help them. While I did feel bad for the situation they both find themselves in, I in no way felt that they were victims. All the choices they made regarding Jimmy, let them to where the ended up. Half of the book is them coming to terms with those choices and the difficult directions their lives might be heading in because of them. With all that being said, you still root for them. You want them to move past what's happened and become better people because of it.
Of the 4 teens, I felt Lisa was the least likeable character. She lacked depth and cared more about her social status then anything or anyone else. I really didn't enjoy reading her chapters at all. However I also felt that her POV was important and that without it you wouldn't get to see the incredible pressures teens can place on themselves and each other. I also really wish more time had been spent with Carlos. As the victim's brother, his POV was the most impacting and Carlos home life seemed the most interesting. Carlos gets only a short section of the novel and I felt that his chapters were some of the strongest and most engaging.
The simplistic writing style, structure and directness of the story allows for a very quick read. Author Caroline Bock easily gets her message of tolerance across without shoving it in your face. At certain points in the novel some characters, or situations felt rather cliche but I actually thing this was done on purpose to show how often we use stereotypes in society.
My own personal connection to a story like this, made reading certain scenes very hard for me. For a short novel I often had to stop reading completely. I felt many of the same feelings that Skylar and Carlos feel in the novel; fear, uncertainty, anger, loss... Though the novel isn't perfect, I think it does a pretty remarkable job of handling a sensitive topic like a hate crime and showing the fallout of those directly effected by one.
The novel is told through multiple POV and I don't mean just 2 or 3, but 10. While this allows the reader to see how various town's people are affected by the event, its also about 6 perspectives to many. I felt that some of the impact was lost because your constantly jumping from person to person. I think having Skylar, Sean, Lisa (Skylar's best friend) and Carlos' POV would have been enough for me since all 4 teens have very different views of what happened that night.
Skylar and Sean are not the easiest characters to like, but still felt very real and complex. Both do some pretty questionable things in the novel and continually shut out the people who might be able to help them. While I did feel bad for the situation they both find themselves in, I in no way felt that they were victims. All the choices they made regarding Jimmy, let them to where the ended up. Half of the book is them coming to terms with those choices and the difficult directions their lives might be heading in because of them. With all that being said, you still root for them. You want them to move past what's happened and become better people because of it.
Of the 4 teens, I felt Lisa was the least likeable character. She lacked depth and cared more about her social status then anything or anyone else. I really didn't enjoy reading her chapters at all. However I also felt that her POV was important and that without it you wouldn't get to see the incredible pressures teens can place on themselves and each other. I also really wish more time had been spent with Carlos. As the victim's brother, his POV was the most impacting and Carlos home life seemed the most interesting. Carlos gets only a short section of the novel and I felt that his chapters were some of the strongest and most engaging.
The simplistic writing style, structure and directness of the story allows for a very quick read. Author Caroline Bock easily gets her message of tolerance across without shoving it in your face. At certain points in the novel some characters, or situations felt rather cliche but I actually thing this was done on purpose to show how often we use stereotypes in society.
My own personal connection to a story like this, made reading certain scenes very hard for me. For a short novel I often had to stop reading completely. I felt many of the same feelings that Skylar and Carlos feel in the novel; fear, uncertainty, anger, loss... Though the novel isn't perfect, I think it does a pretty remarkable job of handling a sensitive topic like a hate crime and showing the fallout of those directly effected by one.
October 23, 2011
The book wasn't what I was expecting. I knew going in that the book was basically about hate crimes. I thought that a lot of the book would be about "the incident". The built up to that Saturday night, the brutality, the mentality of the 'beaner-hoppers' and the victims, etc. I was wrong. The book is about the aftermath of that night. The consequences of doing committing a heinous act. The anomie and solitude that's coupled with guilt and how the teenagers cope with what's happened.
I love how the book is layered, jumping from panicked anxiety, grief, anger, and isolation. There are multiple points of view; therefore, you have insight into one of the victims and his mother. You have insight into most of the minds of the teenagers involved . You also get the chance to read about the adults (parents, a school teacher and principal). I feel that as a reader, I could relate to every character mentioned. Lisa Marie wants to follow the crowd and is desperate for stability. Sean is overcome with guilt and can't find an outlet. Skylar struggles with right and wrong, and the fact that she is in love with the assailant complicates things further for her. I could understand the worried parents who protect their children in different ways (encouraging one to say what needs to be said in order to get this over with, encouraging others to lie so his son can get out of jail, and encouraging one to do what's right no matter what).
Also, from a materialistic perspective, the cover art is very well done. I loved the matted finish. And the paper quality was excellent. But, not that any of this matters because you're not supposed to judge a book by the cover anyways!
I love how the book is layered, jumping from panicked anxiety, grief, anger, and isolation. There are multiple points of view; therefore, you have insight into one of the victims and his mother. You have insight into most of the minds of the teenagers involved . You also get the chance to read about the adults (parents, a school teacher and principal). I feel that as a reader, I could relate to every character mentioned. Lisa Marie wants to follow the crowd and is desperate for stability. Sean is overcome with guilt and can't find an outlet. Skylar struggles with right and wrong, and the fact that she is in love with the assailant complicates things further for her. I could understand the worried parents who protect their children in different ways (encouraging one to say what needs to be said in order to get this over with, encouraging others to lie so his son can get out of jail, and encouraging one to do what's right no matter what).
Also, from a materialistic perspective, the cover art is very well done. I loved the matted finish. And the paper quality was excellent. But, not that any of this matters because you're not supposed to judge a book by the cover anyways!
November 8, 2020
I don’t know exactly how to write a review but i’m extremely disappointed by how low the review on this book because i think the story was... something that i can’t exactly pin point.
I think in order to understand and connect to this story deeply and overlook, you need to be a teenager to fully connect.
This is a book that it is always on my mind, that turns up at times and just never leaves me and never will. I cry about this book because I felt a strange connection.
This really represents teens and the flaws, i saw a review stating none of the characters are good people, and that’s the thing, that’s the truth, none of us are good people and Caroline Bock represents that very well, she doesn’t lie to us, she gives us a protagonist that we look for and gives the protagonist flaws because every human being has flaws. She brought truth to her story that pulls you in at the heart.
I felt genuine pain when Sean killed himself, I felt pain for Skylar because i felt she was truly alone in that moment, she had no one to understand what she was going through, and maybe Sean didn’t know, but he was in the same remote situation as she was, he was there and so was she, and then he was gone. She ahead a boyfriend in jail, a best friend who didn’t really care except for not getting caught, and a father who was oblivious.
Lisa marie and Skylar’s relationship is something so painful to look and examine but captured perfectly that some of us don’t have the privilege to find someone really there for us, LM was selfish and Skylar was too “sick” (and i mean that in the terms of metal health) to realize that she was being taken advantage of. and it’s hard to described but their relationship was something perfect and toxic.
This book will forever be in my heart and i will never not think about it.
I think in order to understand and connect to this story deeply and overlook, you need to be a teenager to fully connect.
This is a book that it is always on my mind, that turns up at times and just never leaves me and never will. I cry about this book because I felt a strange connection.
This really represents teens and the flaws, i saw a review stating none of the characters are good people, and that’s the thing, that’s the truth, none of us are good people and Caroline Bock represents that very well, she doesn’t lie to us, she gives us a protagonist that we look for and gives the protagonist flaws because every human being has flaws. She brought truth to her story that pulls you in at the heart.
I felt genuine pain when Sean killed himself, I felt pain for Skylar because i felt she was truly alone in that moment, she had no one to understand what she was going through, and maybe Sean didn’t know, but he was in the same remote situation as she was, he was there and so was she, and then he was gone. She ahead a boyfriend in jail, a best friend who didn’t really care except for not getting caught, and a father who was oblivious.
Lisa marie and Skylar’s relationship is something so painful to look and examine but captured perfectly that some of us don’t have the privilege to find someone really there for us, LM was selfish and Skylar was too “sick” (and i mean that in the terms of metal health) to realize that she was being taken advantage of. and it’s hard to described but their relationship was something perfect and toxic.
This book will forever be in my heart and i will never not think about it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2011
Whatever preconceived ideas I had about this novels were consummately shattered upon reading five chapters in. I went into this thinking it would be an angst-ridden, emotional tale of one girl’s struggle to balance right and wrong. Perhaps the most valuable lesson Caroline Bock taught me is that there is no simple answer, and one story can have many sides.
Lie is, in fact, told by ten different people. Each person gives their own take on what happened the night Jimmy and Sean attacked two El Salvadoran boys simply because those boys were Hispanic. While it might seem that so many voices telling the tale could get muddled or jumbled, Bock does a surprisingly good job at keeping them separate. Instead of confusion, each person adds a new layer and dimension that brings focus to the story.
The only drawback to this is that I felt I couldn’t really establish a strong connection to any of the characters. Skylar is the most prevalent narrator, but the entire novel is told in such a fragmented and fractured way that I couldn’t really nail her character down and bond with her. On the flip side, the bonus to this method is that it kept me from making any assumptions or judgments.
There’s no denying the tragic nature of this book. Unfortunately this book is rife with real world truths and beliefs that plague our society as a whole. Bock is careful not to press her own beliefs onto the reader, which is commendable. Lie could have easily served as a soapbox platform for her, but she kept it objective. I don’t know that I could have done the same. She was able to explain hatred and bigotry in a way that didn’t make me immediately repulsed. I could actually understand. That, my friends, is the power of a gifted writer.
Lie is, in fact, told by ten different people. Each person gives their own take on what happened the night Jimmy and Sean attacked two El Salvadoran boys simply because those boys were Hispanic. While it might seem that so many voices telling the tale could get muddled or jumbled, Bock does a surprisingly good job at keeping them separate. Instead of confusion, each person adds a new layer and dimension that brings focus to the story.
The only drawback to this is that I felt I couldn’t really establish a strong connection to any of the characters. Skylar is the most prevalent narrator, but the entire novel is told in such a fragmented and fractured way that I couldn’t really nail her character down and bond with her. On the flip side, the bonus to this method is that it kept me from making any assumptions or judgments.
There’s no denying the tragic nature of this book. Unfortunately this book is rife with real world truths and beliefs that plague our society as a whole. Bock is careful not to press her own beliefs onto the reader, which is commendable. Lie could have easily served as a soapbox platform for her, but she kept it objective. I don’t know that I could have done the same. She was able to explain hatred and bigotry in a way that didn’t make me immediately repulsed. I could actually understand. That, my friends, is the power of a gifted writer.
November 10, 2011
Before I read this book, i had never heard the term "beaner-hopping", which basically a hate crime against mexican immigrants. Yes, I'd be completly nieve if I didn't know that this kind of predjudice exsisted, but haven't ever read a novel regarding hate crimes of this nature, so it immediately intruged me.
This book took a while for me to get into but about fifty pages in the pace really picked up for me and a few twists and turns really grabbed me. This story is unique in the fact that it had multiple points of view, not just a few, but more like 8 or 9 which helped tell the story, from different points of interest. I related to some of the characters while others, not at all. I liked Skylar and Sean, but Lisa Marie and Jimmy not so much. Lisa Marie in my opinion was a horrible friend, and I honestly could have skipped her POV completley and probably liked the book that much better. Jimmy just felt under-developed to me, I wish they would have told his point of you, and maybe had some insight into why he did what he did alongside Sean.
The ending is what really irritated me, I felt like it just ended up abruptly with her decision to tell the truth, but I wanted to know what happened with Jimmy, if he was convicted, and how that played into their relationship? Did Skylar stay by his side, or did she leave him/or him her? I just felt cheated of too much important questions left unanswered.
I did think that this was a pretty decent book, I didn't LOVE it, but I definitely didn't HATE it either. It had a few downfalls, but was a unique topic for a YA novel, and in a generation where bullying is so prevelant, I felt the subject matter to be very important.
This book took a while for me to get into but about fifty pages in the pace really picked up for me and a few twists and turns really grabbed me. This story is unique in the fact that it had multiple points of view, not just a few, but more like 8 or 9 which helped tell the story, from different points of interest. I related to some of the characters while others, not at all. I liked Skylar and Sean, but Lisa Marie and Jimmy not so much. Lisa Marie in my opinion was a horrible friend, and I honestly could have skipped her POV completley and probably liked the book that much better. Jimmy just felt under-developed to me, I wish they would have told his point of you, and maybe had some insight into why he did what he did alongside Sean.
The ending is what really irritated me, I felt like it just ended up abruptly with her decision to tell the truth, but I wanted to know what happened with Jimmy, if he was convicted, and how that played into their relationship? Did Skylar stay by his side, or did she leave him/or him her? I just felt cheated of too much important questions left unanswered.
I did think that this was a pretty decent book, I didn't LOVE it, but I definitely didn't HATE it either. It had a few downfalls, but was a unique topic for a YA novel, and in a generation where bullying is so prevelant, I felt the subject matter to be very important.
July 11, 2012
“Hope is the thing with feathers -- That perches in the soul” is the beginning of Emily Dickinson’s poem which is quoted in the YA novel LIE by Caroline Bock. This book is a shocking page-turner, and it will have you hoping against all odds for an ending that offers some justice for the victim. Based on events that happened not far from my own community on Long Island, LIE is a work of fiction that explores difficult topics such as racism, hate crimes, and peer pressure.
Although the names and other details have been changed, I was sad to learn that the inspiration for this story came from a true story. For me, it’s very difficult to learn about such a terrible example of widespread racism by teenagers occurring so close to home. However, I believe that books like LIE help expose the prejudice that continues to exist in modern-day America, and also help teach that celebrating the diversity in our communities (rather than ignoring the issue) is a key factor in making hate crimes a thing of the past.
This book explores the consequences of telling a lie versus the consequences of telling the truth. Anyone with an interest in race relations and/or high school students taking classes in youth and law should read it. I can definitely say that it was a real eye-opener for me in regard to how much racism still exists here in New York. LIE by Caroline Bock is an excellent read, and its message about hope and the importance of telling the truth will stay with you long after you’ve finished the last page.
Although the names and other details have been changed, I was sad to learn that the inspiration for this story came from a true story. For me, it’s very difficult to learn about such a terrible example of widespread racism by teenagers occurring so close to home. However, I believe that books like LIE help expose the prejudice that continues to exist in modern-day America, and also help teach that celebrating the diversity in our communities (rather than ignoring the issue) is a key factor in making hate crimes a thing of the past.
This book explores the consequences of telling a lie versus the consequences of telling the truth. Anyone with an interest in race relations and/or high school students taking classes in youth and law should read it. I can definitely say that it was a real eye-opener for me in regard to how much racism still exists here in New York. LIE by Caroline Bock is an excellent read, and its message about hope and the importance of telling the truth will stay with you long after you’ve finished the last page.
March 25, 2013
De titel Lieg voor mij van Caroline Bock (de Nederlandse vertaling van Lie) is al in het voorjaar verschenen. Deze recensie is dus wat laat, maar ook niet geheel onpartijdig, aangezien ik het boek zelf heb vertaald.
Het thema van dit boek is heel erg belangrijk: pesten. Maar niet zo maar onschuldig een beetje pesten. Nee, in dit verhaal gaat een stel tieners met hun onderliggende vreemdelingenhaat zelfs zo ver dat er slachtoffers vallen. Waarvan eentje dodelijk...
Caroline Bock schrijft een redelijk realistisch verhaal over een stel tieners dat te maken krijgt met een gruwelijke gebeurtenis. Na een 'spelletje' tacovreter-treiteren, zoals ze dat in hun plezier noemen, blijkt namelijk dat er een dodelijk slachtoffer is gevallen. Het boek weet dat te veroordelen, zonder dat al te direct te doen.
Wat Bock doet is de beleving van dit alles schetsen door de ogen van een handjevol tieners, waaronder Skylar (het vriendinnetje van de dader), Sean (de beste vriend van de dader en medeschuldige) en zijn vriendin Lisa-Marie (van het type als-ik-mijn-ogen-dichtdoe-dan-zie-je-me-niet).
Er zit niet alleen een behoorlijke lading in dit boek, maar ook een verrassende twist in het verhaal. Ik vond het een bijzonder boek om te vertalen en ik hoop ook dat de boodschap door genoeg tieners wordt gelezen en opgepikt. Zelfs als pesten lang niet zo ver gaat als in dit boek, dan is het belangrijk om eens stil te staan bij de gevolgen voor een ander. En jezelf.
(Review geschreven, 10 augustus 2012)
Het thema van dit boek is heel erg belangrijk: pesten. Maar niet zo maar onschuldig een beetje pesten. Nee, in dit verhaal gaat een stel tieners met hun onderliggende vreemdelingenhaat zelfs zo ver dat er slachtoffers vallen. Waarvan eentje dodelijk...
Caroline Bock schrijft een redelijk realistisch verhaal over een stel tieners dat te maken krijgt met een gruwelijke gebeurtenis. Na een 'spelletje' tacovreter-treiteren, zoals ze dat in hun plezier noemen, blijkt namelijk dat er een dodelijk slachtoffer is gevallen. Het boek weet dat te veroordelen, zonder dat al te direct te doen.
Wat Bock doet is de beleving van dit alles schetsen door de ogen van een handjevol tieners, waaronder Skylar (het vriendinnetje van de dader), Sean (de beste vriend van de dader en medeschuldige) en zijn vriendin Lisa-Marie (van het type als-ik-mijn-ogen-dichtdoe-dan-zie-je-me-niet).
Er zit niet alleen een behoorlijke lading in dit boek, maar ook een verrassende twist in het verhaal. Ik vond het een bijzonder boek om te vertalen en ik hoop ook dat de boodschap door genoeg tieners wordt gelezen en opgepikt. Zelfs als pesten lang niet zo ver gaat als in dit boek, dan is het belangrijk om eens stil te staan bij de gevolgen voor een ander. En jezelf.
(Review geschreven, 10 augustus 2012)
February 23, 2012
"Lie" was a story told by a lot of different points of view. The main character was a girl named Skylar Thompson. Each chapter is another persons view on things, but Skylar seemed to have the most to say. The whole book revolvs around this crime that has been comitted. In their town, it was popular to go "beaner hopping." That is when a group of kids (usally the popular ones) would go jump Mexican kids. Sean and Jimmy decide to do this one night. Usaly you just ruff them up a bit, not doing much damage, but Jimmy takes it to far. One of the boys they jumped ends up in the hospital, and the police investigate from there. I really liked this book, because it was exciting. Each person had a intresting thing to add into this crime, or something that you wouldn't expect. In most books it's a happily ever after, but in this book it was almost the opposite. There was always that sence that things would be okay, but they turned it on you, to make it exciting. Each family had there own addition or part in this. Some past problems stir up into their lives again. The parents had an intresting back story. Whenever i sat down to read, i would always get sucked in, because there were a lot of twists. The only reason i didn't give it five stars was because I didn't like the things the characters did. For example jumping kids just because they were Mexican. All and all it was a good book.
December 17, 2011
I just finished book like now. NOW, I shall repeat. Ok so I gave this book a 3 stars rating on goodreads but it was more like 2 stars.
This book is about a crime that takes place in a small town (I think it's a small). Jimmy is accused of assaulting two immigrants. Now Skylar is the prime witness. This book is narrated by everyone which was frustrating most of the time. I mean I get it why we need to read from Skylar point of view and Jimmy's. but having to read the principals' point of view and their coach was a bit too much for me. I only wanted to focus on Skylar and Jimmy because I really liked them and wanted nothing but the best for them. Also, I thought the book was too slow and it only got exciting at the end. Well, actually, it got excited every time Skylar or Jimmy started to speak.
Now looking at the book's main message/moral:
Everyone had different view on assaulting immigrants. Some, in the book, thought it was a great thing because they are taking over jobs leaving Americans unemployed. And others of course thought it was wrong to do such a thing…even if they were illegal immigrant. Now that creates some debate within each individual who plans to read this book.
Overall, this book wasn’t my cup of tea but I really liked its message.
This book is about a crime that takes place in a small town (I think it's a small). Jimmy is accused of assaulting two immigrants. Now Skylar is the prime witness. This book is narrated by everyone which was frustrating most of the time. I mean I get it why we need to read from Skylar point of view and Jimmy's. but having to read the principals' point of view and their coach was a bit too much for me. I only wanted to focus on Skylar and Jimmy because I really liked them and wanted nothing but the best for them. Also, I thought the book was too slow and it only got exciting at the end. Well, actually, it got excited every time Skylar or Jimmy started to speak.
Now looking at the book's main message/moral:
Everyone had different view on assaulting immigrants. Some, in the book, thought it was a great thing because they are taking over jobs leaving Americans unemployed. And others of course thought it was wrong to do such a thing…even if they were illegal immigrant. Now that creates some debate within each individual who plans to read this book.
Overall, this book wasn’t my cup of tea but I really liked its message.
June 13, 2012
This was very confronting. All 10 of the viewpoints expressed in the book added another side to what was seemingly was a straightforward crime. I did not know what to feel about Jimmy - he confused me to no end and I couldn't wrap my head around his characteristics and demeanor.
This book i could not put down. I was trying to analyse every aspect of the situation and still could not decide my feelings. After finishing, i found that the characters stuck with me and still kept me wondering. I actually haven't stopped thinking about it. I loved it. It was something that appeared very realistic to me. Racism is something that is a large part of life today and is something that needs to be put to a stop - this book shows one of the many possible outcomes and is probably the most disturbing.
I loved this book and challenged me in ways that i did not expect when i first opened it. It changed how i viewed Jimmy constantly.
'Everybody knows. Nobodys talking. '
This book i could not put down. I was trying to analyse every aspect of the situation and still could not decide my feelings. After finishing, i found that the characters stuck with me and still kept me wondering. I actually haven't stopped thinking about it. I loved it. It was something that appeared very realistic to me. Racism is something that is a large part of life today and is something that needs to be put to a stop - this book shows one of the many possible outcomes and is probably the most disturbing.
I loved this book and challenged me in ways that i did not expect when i first opened it. It changed how i viewed Jimmy constantly.
'Everybody knows. Nobodys talking. '
Read
November 6, 2011When I first heard about Lie I was instantly intrigued, because not only did the premise sounded relatistic and unique but it was also backed by one of my favorite YA authors- Jennifer Brown, author of Hate List. However, I didn't end up enjoying Lie as much as I hoped I would. For one, while the premise was interesting, I felt the execution was a bit too choppy for my taste. Plus I felt that it was bogged down with way too many messages, and due to the constant switching of narrators, I never really got to know the main characters that well, which is something that always brings a book down a notch or two in my eyes. In all, Lie by Caroline Bock turned out to not be the book for me. However, others have enjoyed it, so if it sounds like something you would enjoy, I still suggest you give it a try.
September 22, 2011
I really enjoyed this book and disagree with some of the reviews posted here about the characters. I understand why people didn't like the characters - they were unlikeable, but honestly, that is what made this story so realistic. There ARE people out there who feel the way Jimmy did....there ARE kids who will follow people like Jimmy without asking questions...yes it is frustrating and you want to scream to Skylar to WAKE UP - this guy is no good, but that is what makes the story so powerful. I loved how the author showed the various perspectives of the characters - especially that of Arturo's brother and mother..it shows how Jimmy and the groups activities affected so many other people. This book sends a powerful message about the choices we make, and how we can (or can't) live with them.
January 30, 2012
I liked that the book was written in the first person but from the perspective of many different characters. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I didn't find all of the voices of the characters completely believable. It seemed like at times the characters were thinking from the author's perspective, not from the perspective of an insular, working-class person from Suffolk County. While I could imagine a group of families perpetuating this lie on Long Island in 2011, I think there would also be very prominent voices in the community doing everything possible to expose what really happened. This perspective was mostly absent from the book. My favorite character was Skylar Thompson's father Tommy Thompson, who I think was the most sympathetic and most believable character. I would recommend this book for high school students but not necessarily for adults.
November 5, 2011
This was good book with a very deep subject matter. Hate crimes...
This book was well written and I enjoyed the storyline. The end of the story actually brought tears to my eyes and choked me up....
The story was told from the different characters eyes...so each chapter was from someone different.
There were no twists and turns in this story, you knew from the beginning what happened but even so the story held my attention.
I wish that you were able to see deeper into who Jimmy really was and the relationship between him and Skylar, but other then that, it was good.
The story was told over a period of about a weeks time.
Sklar was the main character in this story and even though the other characters described her as being "weak", "soft" or what have you, she surprises you.
This book was well written and I enjoyed the storyline. The end of the story actually brought tears to my eyes and choked me up....
The story was told from the different characters eyes...so each chapter was from someone different.
There were no twists and turns in this story, you knew from the beginning what happened but even so the story held my attention.
I wish that you were able to see deeper into who Jimmy really was and the relationship between him and Skylar, but other then that, it was good.
The story was told over a period of about a weeks time.
Sklar was the main character in this story and even though the other characters described her as being "weak", "soft" or what have you, she surprises you.
July 1, 2014
Well, turns out I like the book after all. The beginning was rather slow and boring, and just plain confusing. But as the story progressed it was much better. I liked Skylar and her dad's development of character. Also eventually doing the right thing, and ready to face the consequences for it. So Skylar was a rather admirable character. I can't explain the book. Like about the message/lesson it's trying to tell. I think you'd have to read it to really understand it and get the full message of it. An inspiring book. (I really hate writing reviews. Especially if I don't feel like writing one but I have to write one. I just suck at organizing my thoughts and just ends up rambling about..something...Can't wait to get 12 reviews done.)
October 2, 2011
A very timely novel based on true events about hate crimes and racism in the suburbs. A group of popular Long Island high school kids like to go "beaner hopping" on the weekends - they like to intimidate, threaten, and beat up hispanics. Until one night it goes too far. The story is told about "the incident" from the perspectives of ten people, and you learn the truth bit by bit as you read. Many people knew what was going on, but they looked the other way. This is a coming of age story and a cautionary tale. It was fast-paced, and kept me reading.
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