The Secret to Lying

by Todd Mitchell

Book Overview

A teenage boy's self-reinvention gets out of control in a sharp, funny, poignant, and compulsively readable novel that gives a familiar theme a surprising twist.

James was the guy no one noticed -- just another fifteen-year-old in a small town. So when he gets into an academy for gifted students, he decides to leave his boring past behind. In a boarding school full of nerds and geeks, being cool is easy. All it takes is a few harmless...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0763656208
• ISBN13: 9780763656201
• Release Date: October 2011
• Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.6" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 14 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 9 and higher

Customer Reviews

Teens get a look into their secret selves with "Secret of Lying"

James is Destructo-boy, a self-created character with his own version of superpowers: his fake life of fight leagues and car theft is way cooler than his real one. He's got a wicked dream life that tests him on even deeper, more physical levels, and his one true friend, Ghost44, is only known via IMs. Sound cool? "Secret to Lying" is -- but it's also pretty tragic. It's one thing to have a prank war with your arch-nemeses, the Steve Squared, but it's another thing to drink too much cough syrup and sleepwalk out a window. James's fate could have gone either way, but Mitchell obviously believes in the power within every kid to save themselves. James is always relatable, always our hero, and always trying to pull all the threads of his life together into something he feels is true. He does some crazy stuff, but Mitchell makes sure we understand the circumstances that led him to the crazy. "Secret" is funny, sure, but never veers into sensationalism or drama-for-drama's sake. There's sex and violence and "social issues" a-plenty, but it's never gratuitous. It's a boy's book that's got a lot to say to everyone. Teens, come meet your secret self; adults, come meet the secret lives of teens.

Wonderful high school experience

A well written tale of a young man trying to invent himself again with a change in school. Clever twists and creative storytelling make for an enjoyable read from start to finish. A real coming of age story of a journey to become comfortable embracing your identity. Loved it!

Original Great Read

This book brings up many issues, but really it does more than that. Its a well written, beautiful, dark, funny book with an endless stream of wit and originality.

A Good Addiction Reviews

A train wreck waiting to happen and an artful blurring between reality and fantasy, The Secret To Lying masterfully delves into one teen's struggle to be noticed. The boy who was often forgotten, James finds himself at a new school with a fresh start. With opportunity ample before him, he holds nothing back in the stories he comes up with regarding his past- until it becomes too much even for him. On a shallow level, this book is about lying and reaping what's been sown. On the deeper level Mitchell incorporated, this book is the epitome of teenage confusion and a struggle to find one's self. A coming of age novel mixed with moralistic questions, The Secret To Lying is a refreshing read for any age. James' internal struggles, debates and fears aren't hidden, clearly driving much of his actions throughout the book. Unable to see far enough in the future to realize the path he is on and resistant to help, James does nothing but continue to delve deeper into the darkness that threatens to engulf him. James is masterfully done, making a complete character change early on as soon as he starts at his new school before developing through great strides by the end of the book. There are three different characters seen throughout centered with this one person and Mitchell has created a unique, memorable and promising method to bring about each one. Subtly touching on many areas of psychological, rationalization and motivations, James is a character any teenager- male or female- will relate to. Even the most outwardly confident teen will find some consolation in James' struggles and from an outside perspective, his decisions and chosen methods to deal with the demons battling inside him can easily be identified as inept. From inside James' head, however, the reader can easily understand the drives behind his lying and other things he does. Mitchell holds nothing back when he puts this character on display, creating a strong emotional connection between reader and damaged character. In his journey to finding himself, James encounters a range of characters and because of the ASMA school setting, the social groups are different. This is a place where the geeks can be bold without repercussion, the nerds can be popular and being smart is idealized rather than ostracized. In some ways, James attending a boarding high school is much like a college freshman, suddenly rapt with new opportunities and no parental supervision. While some handle it smoothly, others go overboard and given his mental state starting at the school, James' actions are easily understood. Enter Jess, a punk style girl who shows interest in him and though an attraction is there, it is clear to both the reader and even James other things are off and missing. This relationship is a fluid example of teenage emotions, torn between a desire to be with someone and confusion over what they should be feeling. A lack of one thing and an upsurge of another create turmoil within James, pulling the re

Sharp, funny, dark, and compelling. A point-blank exploration of teen image issues.

This book really surprised me. I've read other reviews that compared it to John Green's Looking for Alaska, probably because it takes place in a boarding school, with witty, intelligent characters who pull lots of pranks. But beyond that, these books take very different paths. The Secret to Lying is narrated by James, a high school sophmore who is desperate to be someone. So when he gets into a school for students gifted in math and science, he decides to reinvent himself as the person he literally always dreamed of being. He tells some outlandish lies, and the geeks believe him. But his new found fame comes with a price, as his identity fractures. The book integrates three interlacing story lines in a totally unique way. One is James' quest to be popular. Another is an I.M. affair he carries out with the eloquent ghost44, who sees through his lies. And the third depicts James's internal struggle, as his fictionalizing of himself results in his being trapped in an a dark city overrun by demons where he fights to win control of what perhaps should not be controlled. It's a potent illustration of how all problems, in essence, exist in our minds. There's some heavy stuff here --anorexia, cutting, drinking, and other self-destructive behaviors. What the Secret of Lying does fantastically well, though, is to explore the reasons behind such behaviors in a dramatic way that avoids simplification. Quite simply, it's a book about being. As a teacher, I'm always on the lookout for honest, interesting books to recommend to smart teens who are struggling to figure out how to be themselves. I'm also always on the lookout for books that might appeal to teen boys. This one definitely does both --and will go down with some of my all-time favorites such as The Perks of Being a Wallflower and The Catcher in the Rye as an edgy, honest, powerful book to remember and pass on.