Thursday, April 14, 2016

We were liars


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Lockhart, E. (2014).  We were liars. New York: Random House Children's Books. 

Cadence Sinclair Eastman is a young girl with memories of spending summer vacations in Cape Cod at her family’s estate.  Cadence begins to spend time with her cousins, Johnny and Mirren.  As she comes of age, she begins a romantic relationship with Gat.  Gat is her uncle’s nephew by marriage.  As we find out, Cadence doesn’t remember an injury she suffered two summers ago.  Memories begin to unfold as she remembers her aunt and mother arguing about the property and how it will be divided in their father’s will. 

 

As memories come back to Cadence, she realizes that she along with Johnny, Mirren, and Gat set fire to the biggest estate and we come to find out that the latter three were trapped and burned to death in the fire.  Cadence has been having conversations with the ghosts of Johnny, Mirren, and Gat.  It’s not until the memories are recovered, that the ghosts are able to jump into the ocean and swim away. 

 

The difficult topics are best suited for more mature readers or high school students.  Havighurst’s Development Task of getting along with others and peers is addressed as well as the family dynamics and relationships amongst family members.  Suggested readings include What I thought was true or Isla and the happily ever after.

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