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Little Red Lies
The war is over, but for thirteen-year-old Rachel, the battle has just begun. Putting childhood behind her, she knows what she wants - to prove she has acting talent worthy of the school drama club, and what she doesn't want - to romantically fall for someone completely inappropriate. Worries about her veteran brother's failing health and repugnance at her mother's unexpected and unwanted pregnancy drive her to seek solace from a seemingly sympathetic, but self-serving teacher. The lies she tells herself hoping to reach solutions to the problems complicating her life merely function to make matters worse. Ultimately, she finds a way to come to terms with life as it reaches an end and life as it begins.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
15 people are currently reading
1124 people want to read
About the author
Julie Johnston
20 books14 followersJulie Johnston grew up in a small town in eastern Ontario, then went to the University of Toronto to study physio and occupational therapy. After university she and her husband, whom she met while in Toronto, worked for over a year at the Ontario Hospital School for physically and mentally handicapped children in Smith Falls, then travelled for four months in Europe, moved to Kingston, then Toronto and, finally, settled in Peterborough where she raised four daughters. Over the years, she published many short stories in several magazines, but not until an encouraging interview with a writer-in-residence at Trent University, did she begin work on a novel. Hero of Lesser Causes was completed (the first time) in 1986. After many re-writes and several publishing delays, it was published to great acclaim in 1992, winning the Governor General's Literary Award / Children's Literature (for English text) that year. Julie Johnston's second novel, Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me, was also honoured with the Governor General's Literary Award, making her the first author to win the award for both her first and second books.
Awards
1992 Governor General's Literary Award / Children's Literature (for best English text) for Hero of Lesser Causes.
1993 National Chapter of Canada IODE Violet Downey Book Award for Hero of Lesser Causes.
1994 Governor General's Literary Award / Children's Literature (for best English text) for Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me.
1995 Ruth Schwartz Children's Book Award (Young Adult/Middle Reader Category) for Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me.
1995 Young Adult Canadian Book Award (Canadian Library Association) for Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me.
Awards
1992 Governor General's Literary Award / Children's Literature (for best English text) for Hero of Lesser Causes.
1993 National Chapter of Canada IODE Violet Downey Book Award for Hero of Lesser Causes.
1994 Governor General's Literary Award / Children's Literature (for best English text) for Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me.
1995 Ruth Schwartz Children's Book Award (Young Adult/Middle Reader Category) for Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me.
1995 Young Adult Canadian Book Award (Canadian Library Association) for Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
October 5, 2013
My, what a hard read that was. This book wasn't badly written, far from it in fact. But the main character Rachel is as selfish as you'll ever read. It was just too much for me.
Rachel is a nasty, selfish, stupid little girl. It all me, me, me with her. She's all "I don't care that my brother's dying, it's not fair that he gets all the attention and I'm treated like a slave when all I'm actually ever asked to do is help dry the dishes and set the table". Urgh. Shut up.
She's angry and resentful of her family for NO REASON. Then, when her mother has a baby it has to sleep in a Moses basket and then in the tiny sewing room because the only other space is in Rachel's room and she's all "I don't intend to share my room. Why should I?"
I just felt like screaming YOU SELFISH SPOILED BITCH, WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE at her and slamming the book shut. But I didn't, because surely she was about to grow up and learn a lesson humility..?
As it happens, she doesn't. Rachel stays a child right up to the very end.
Now, the end. The whole book was building up to the end. It was overall a rather flat end to the book. I think you were meant to want to cry and be totally shocked and heartbroken, but I just though "oh, that's a bit sad" and closed the book.
If I think back on this book at all it'll probably be in frustration thanks to Little Miss Selfish.
Rachel is a nasty, selfish, stupid little girl. It all me, me, me with her. She's all "I don't care that my brother's dying, it's not fair that he gets all the attention and I'm treated like a slave when all I'm actually ever asked to do is help dry the dishes and set the table". Urgh. Shut up.
She's angry and resentful of her family for NO REASON. Then, when her mother has a baby it has to sleep in a Moses basket and then in the tiny sewing room because the only other space is in Rachel's room and she's all "I don't intend to share my room. Why should I?"
I just felt like screaming YOU SELFISH SPOILED BITCH, WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE at her and slamming the book shut. But I didn't, because surely she was about to grow up and learn a lesson humility..?
As it happens, she doesn't. Rachel stays a child right up to the very end.
Now, the end. The whole book was building up to the end. It was overall a rather flat end to the book. I think you were meant to want to cry and be totally shocked and heartbroken, but I just though "oh, that's a bit sad" and closed the book.
If I think back on this book at all it'll probably be in frustration thanks to Little Miss Selfish.
September 6, 2013
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Tundra Books and Netgalley.)
13-year-old Rachel hopes that things will be just like they used to be before, when her brother Jamie comes back from serving in the Second World War, but Jamie seems different.
Rachel wants to be a playwright when she gets older, and when a new teacher offers to tutor her and help her, she accepts, even when her friends think that his intentions may not be pure.
What is wrong with Jamie though? Will he ever get better? Can Rachel really write plays? What does her teacher really want with her? And why is her mother suddenly in bed all the time?
This story was okay, but certain things annoyed me, and the ending was pretty poo.
Rachel was quite a naïve character, and some of the things she came out with just irritated me. I couldn’t quite believe it when one of the first things she said to her brother after he returned from the war was ‘was it exciting?’. I mean really? How about horrific, and terrifying? I wouldn’t choose the word ‘excited’ – as Jamie replied – some of his friends died.
The storyline in this was okay, but I didn’t feel like much was resolved by the end. The main storylines were Jamie coming back from the war, Jamie being ill, Rachel’s dreams of being a playwright, and her misadventures with a teacher at school. These were all okay storylines, but at times I felt like the story wasn’t going anywhere.
I also disliked the way that people treated Jamie after he got home from the war – telling him that he had changed, and they wanted him to change back, and moaning that he wasn’t eating, and that he needed to get over it. I know PTSD wasn’t like a known thing back in the 1940’s, but still, did nobody think he might have been affected by what had happened to him in the war?
The ending was what annoyed me the most though. I was actually afraid to read the last page, because I was scared that we were about to get a very sad ending, but what we actually got was… nothing. Yes, that’s right – nothing. The story just stopped! One storyline was resolved, but the most important ones were just left hanging. I could not quite believe it – I actually kept scrolling in case there was a mistake and there was more to come – but no, that was the end. I mean just what?
Having finished this, I’m now wondering what the point was, and I hate it when a story doesn’t seem to have any point to it. I feel like I read this whole book, went through all this mediocre stuff, and then didn’t even find out how things ended. I mean did Jamie recover from his illness or not?
Overall; a disappointing story, and I really didn’t like the end.
5 out of 10.
13-year-old Rachel hopes that things will be just like they used to be before, when her brother Jamie comes back from serving in the Second World War, but Jamie seems different.
Rachel wants to be a playwright when she gets older, and when a new teacher offers to tutor her and help her, she accepts, even when her friends think that his intentions may not be pure.
What is wrong with Jamie though? Will he ever get better? Can Rachel really write plays? What does her teacher really want with her? And why is her mother suddenly in bed all the time?
This story was okay, but certain things annoyed me, and the ending was pretty poo.
Rachel was quite a naïve character, and some of the things she came out with just irritated me. I couldn’t quite believe it when one of the first things she said to her brother after he returned from the war was ‘was it exciting?’. I mean really? How about horrific, and terrifying? I wouldn’t choose the word ‘excited’ – as Jamie replied – some of his friends died.
The storyline in this was okay, but I didn’t feel like much was resolved by the end. The main storylines were Jamie coming back from the war, Jamie being ill, Rachel’s dreams of being a playwright, and her misadventures with a teacher at school. These were all okay storylines, but at times I felt like the story wasn’t going anywhere.
I also disliked the way that people treated Jamie after he got home from the war – telling him that he had changed, and they wanted him to change back, and moaning that he wasn’t eating, and that he needed to get over it. I know PTSD wasn’t like a known thing back in the 1940’s, but still, did nobody think he might have been affected by what had happened to him in the war?
The ending was what annoyed me the most though. I was actually afraid to read the last page, because I was scared that we were about to get a very sad ending, but what we actually got was… nothing. Yes, that’s right – nothing. The story just stopped! One storyline was resolved, but the most important ones were just left hanging. I could not quite believe it – I actually kept scrolling in case there was a mistake and there was more to come – but no, that was the end. I mean just what?
Having finished this, I’m now wondering what the point was, and I hate it when a story doesn’t seem to have any point to it. I feel like I read this whole book, went through all this mediocre stuff, and then didn’t even find out how things ended. I mean did Jamie recover from his illness or not?
Overall; a disappointing story, and I really didn’t like the end.
5 out of 10.
September 10, 2013
An unfortunate side effect of reading LITTLE RED LIES in one sitting is that I have no notes on my thoughts. An upside is that I was completely immersed in the lives of the characters in LITTLE RED LIES.
The story is begins at the end of WWII when Rachel’s brother returns from the war. He’s changed in ways that the family won’t realize until it’s almost too late. Plus, he’s a complete dick now to his family.
I’m impressed by the subtle things in the narrative that broadcasts the lives of the other characters without Rachel noticing. It really felt like the other characters lived their lives independently from the Rachel’s plot. There were hints of things that happened in early chapters that made an impact on Rachel’s life later on. Some of them were so cleverly hidden that I felt broadsided by the plot twists. HOW DID I NOT SEE THAT COMING?!
I never felt like the dual story lines ever connected in the end. I don’t remember the book saying if the letters written from Jamie, Rachel’s brother, were ever read or if they were destroyed…or whatever. I really wish that the story ended with a scene connecting the letters with Rachel.
However, the ending is poignant and beautiful. This isn’t a HEA, but those looking for a HEA won’t be shell-shocked. Be prepared for a fair amount of crying, yelling at Rachel and Jamie), and reading until the wee hours of the morning. It wasn’t a perfect book, yet this book will leave a mark on your heart (heh, bookmark, get it?).
The story is begins at the end of WWII when Rachel’s brother returns from the war. He’s changed in ways that the family won’t realize until it’s almost too late. Plus, he’s a complete dick now to his family.
I’m impressed by the subtle things in the narrative that broadcasts the lives of the other characters without Rachel noticing. It really felt like the other characters lived their lives independently from the Rachel’s plot. There were hints of things that happened in early chapters that made an impact on Rachel’s life later on. Some of them were so cleverly hidden that I felt broadsided by the plot twists. HOW DID I NOT SEE THAT COMING?!
I never felt like the dual story lines ever connected in the end. I don’t remember the book saying if the letters written from Jamie, Rachel’s brother, were ever read or if they were destroyed…or whatever. I really wish that the story ended with a scene connecting the letters with Rachel.
However, the ending is poignant and beautiful. This isn’t a HEA, but those looking for a HEA won’t be shell-shocked. Be prepared for a fair amount of crying, yelling at Rachel and Jamie), and reading until the wee hours of the morning. It wasn’t a perfect book, yet this book will leave a mark on your heart (heh, bookmark, get it?).
September 14, 2013
The first thing that comes to my mind when I think about how to describe this book is that for a contemporary fiction, it is okay. The setting is about 60 years ago and yet I describe this as contemporary - because it feels kind of timeless that way. This same story could be set in the modern times and would still not lose it's touch.
It's the story of Rachel - a teenage girl living in family that seems to be coming apart. Her brother is back from the Second World War and is mourning the loss of his friend. He is changed and can't seem to adjust to the family he has come back to. His sudden discovery of a terminal illness drives him further into his loneliness. Rachel tries to be nice to him but she wants her pre-war brother back, as he is the only one she can count on. There is a new young teacher at school whom she likes who may or may not like her back (that creep!) and her parents are about to have another child. Her friends she cannot say anything to nor her family - keeping her secrets to herself is troubling to her. She wants to be in love but doesn't understand it. She wants to be an actress but would be better at play-writing.
The writing of this book is the best part of it. The plot moves smoothly, if a bit slowly. The situations realistic but the only problem I had was with the voice - that of Rachel's. She is a typical teenager but yet I couldn't really connect to her as a character. She is smart, is wise beyond her years - but prefers to act like a sullen kid. She loves her teacher but why? Just because that creep looked twice at her and touched her? How can that be called love? The parts where the perspective shifted to her brother - the unsent letters - those were the ones I could empathize with. So while the writing was flawless, the pace and the voice dampened the experience for me. Truthfully, I would recommend this to lovers of realistic fiction only since it would not be exciting to someone used to fantasy and paranormal books.
Received a copy via NetGalley for review purposes.
It's the story of Rachel - a teenage girl living in family that seems to be coming apart. Her brother is back from the Second World War and is mourning the loss of his friend. He is changed and can't seem to adjust to the family he has come back to. His sudden discovery of a terminal illness drives him further into his loneliness. Rachel tries to be nice to him but she wants her pre-war brother back, as he is the only one she can count on. There is a new young teacher at school whom she likes who may or may not like her back (that creep!) and her parents are about to have another child. Her friends she cannot say anything to nor her family - keeping her secrets to herself is troubling to her. She wants to be in love but doesn't understand it. She wants to be an actress but would be better at play-writing.
The writing of this book is the best part of it. The plot moves smoothly, if a bit slowly. The situations realistic but the only problem I had was with the voice - that of Rachel's. She is a typical teenager but yet I couldn't really connect to her as a character. She is smart, is wise beyond her years - but prefers to act like a sullen kid. She loves her teacher but why? Just because that creep looked twice at her and touched her? How can that be called love? The parts where the perspective shifted to her brother - the unsent letters - those were the ones I could empathize with. So while the writing was flawless, the pace and the voice dampened the experience for me. Truthfully, I would recommend this to lovers of realistic fiction only since it would not be exciting to someone used to fantasy and paranormal books.
Received a copy via NetGalley for review purposes.
August 24, 2013
I received a copy of Julie Johnston's "Little Red Lies" through a Goodreads first reads giveaway.
I was a little leery at first, but I can safely say that this is one of my favorite books. I have immediately begun to read the book again after finishing it last week. I have never started re-reading a book immediately after finishing it before, so that should tell you something.
The characters are wonderfully developed and the main characters are very well developed and mufti-faceted. No one is truly a sinner or a saint in this story. Rachel is not only trying to understand herself and the world around her as she matures, but is also coping with her brother's return from the war in Europe. Jamie is attempting to come to grips with civilian life and the changes that have occurred during his 3 year absence.
I really enjoyed the method of story telling used by Johnston. The narration switches between Rachel"s first hand accounts of events and conversations and Jamie's unsent letters to his sister Rachel. There is a sense of omnipotence for the reader as Rachel often mentions information which she through her innocence and ignorance which fills in the gaps of the story for the reader. A combination of inexperience along with her sheltered upbringing often leaves Rachel in the dark, but not the reader. This drives home the innocence of childhood. As the book progresses and Rachel matures, she becomes more aware of the situations occurring around her.
Eventually, Jamie's unsent letters stop serving as a source of information about what he went through during his military service and becomes a second perspective on the events occurring now that he is home and trying to readjust to civilian life.
This was a wonderful read.
I was a little leery at first, but I can safely say that this is one of my favorite books. I have immediately begun to read the book again after finishing it last week. I have never started re-reading a book immediately after finishing it before, so that should tell you something.
The characters are wonderfully developed and the main characters are very well developed and mufti-faceted. No one is truly a sinner or a saint in this story. Rachel is not only trying to understand herself and the world around her as she matures, but is also coping with her brother's return from the war in Europe. Jamie is attempting to come to grips with civilian life and the changes that have occurred during his 3 year absence.
I really enjoyed the method of story telling used by Johnston. The narration switches between Rachel"s first hand accounts of events and conversations and Jamie's unsent letters to his sister Rachel. There is a sense of omnipotence for the reader as Rachel often mentions information which she through her innocence and ignorance which fills in the gaps of the story for the reader. A combination of inexperience along with her sheltered upbringing often leaves Rachel in the dark, but not the reader. This drives home the innocence of childhood. As the book progresses and Rachel matures, she becomes more aware of the situations occurring around her.
Eventually, Jamie's unsent letters stop serving as a source of information about what he went through during his military service and becomes a second perspective on the events occurring now that he is home and trying to readjust to civilian life.
This was a wonderful read.
October 7, 2015
The only reason I'm giving this book 2 stars is because I liked the characters, except for Rachel. It is so incredibly difficult to read a book when you just hate the main character.
Rachel McLaren is the most selfish protagonist that I've ever read about. She doesn't care about anybody except for herself. Rachel doesn't care that her brother is dying, her mother is depressed or about her friend Hazel's home life. No, she cares more about how she embarrassed herself at a play and how much she's attracted to her teacher. Rachel believes that she's a slave even though the most she's asked to do is wash dishes, set the table and take care of the baby occasionally. Not to mention that Rachel is over-dramatic, petulant and an all around brat.
I read through the book hoping that Rachel's character would develop more. After all, at the end of the novel she's almost 16 years old. Alas, there was no redemption for Rachel. Just more whining and a lack luster ending. I understand that Rachel is young and a teenager and going through her formative years, but she should be more mature than. I understand being selfish at that young age, but this is just too much.
The book was alright with a clear voice and good characters (besides Rachel f course) but the plots were clunky. The novel seemed jumbled and jumped around too much to totally understand. One minute she's talking about Jamie's illness, the next she's talking about how much she loves her teacher. It's just muddled.
Rachel McLaren is the most selfish protagonist that I've ever read about. She doesn't care about anybody except for herself. Rachel doesn't care that her brother is dying, her mother is depressed or about her friend Hazel's home life. No, she cares more about how she embarrassed herself at a play and how much she's attracted to her teacher. Rachel believes that she's a slave even though the most she's asked to do is wash dishes, set the table and take care of the baby occasionally. Not to mention that Rachel is over-dramatic, petulant and an all around brat.
I read through the book hoping that Rachel's character would develop more. After all, at the end of the novel she's almost 16 years old. Alas, there was no redemption for Rachel. Just more whining and a lack luster ending. I understand that Rachel is young and a teenager and going through her formative years, but she should be more mature than. I understand being selfish at that young age, but this is just too much.
The book was alright with a clear voice and good characters (besides Rachel f course) but the plots were clunky. The novel seemed jumbled and jumped around too much to totally understand. One minute she's talking about Jamie's illness, the next she's talking about how much she loves her teacher. It's just muddled.
September 26, 2013
This was a rather difficult book to decide on a rating for and how to review. I love the main character, although at times she can come off as a bit sassy to her parents and rather self-important. Still, she was a strong, well written character that I am not likely to forget as soon as I start reading the next book on my list.
The overall story was interesting, but in my opinion, moved slowly at times and made it a bit of a struggle to stay interested in, especially at the beginning.
The relationship between the main character and her brother who had recently returned from war gave this book an unusual dynamic that I quite enjoyed. The author had a really good grasp of how to show the suffering and trauma that goes along with vets who return from active duty.
I can't say that all of the events in this book were entirely unexpected, but I did enjoy watching them unfold. The progression was smooth and the ending wasn't shocking, but answered enough questions to leave me satisfied with the result.
Overall, this was an interesting book. If you like rather introspective looks into the lives of your characters, this one will keep you happy. One of the better family dramas I have read in recent months.
This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher and Netgalley.
The overall story was interesting, but in my opinion, moved slowly at times and made it a bit of a struggle to stay interested in, especially at the beginning.
The relationship between the main character and her brother who had recently returned from war gave this book an unusual dynamic that I quite enjoyed. The author had a really good grasp of how to show the suffering and trauma that goes along with vets who return from active duty.
I can't say that all of the events in this book were entirely unexpected, but I did enjoy watching them unfold. The progression was smooth and the ending wasn't shocking, but answered enough questions to leave me satisfied with the result.
Overall, this was an interesting book. If you like rather introspective looks into the lives of your characters, this one will keep you happy. One of the better family dramas I have read in recent months.
This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher and Netgalley.
January 8, 2015
Little Red Lies is not at all what it seemed to be. The summary lead me to believe that Little Red Lies was a book about how a young girl adapted to her brother being home after he had been deployed to war. Instead, the book seemed scattered, talking about more than one topic a the time. Fo example, there is apart in he book whereRachel, the main character, is taking about her brother at war, but then the story jumps to her current feelings on he teacher. To be honest, it was kind of a hard read for me. Not because of Julie Johnston's word play necessarily but because the story jumped from topic to topic. Also, the book is set in the past, right after WW2. I personally do not like historical books, but I wanted to try something other than Romance Novel. Don't get me wrong, the book did have some highlights, but overall, it was disappointing.
September 18, 2013
I received this book free to review from Netgalley. I almost gave up on it because it is not well written. It has lots of conversations in quotation marks switching from one person to another without anything in between and it is difficult to follow the conversations and tell who is talking. I skimmed quite a bit and got more into the story and it is a good story. Rachel is 13 years old and her brother has returned from serving in WWII with PTSD and another illness as well that is diagnosed later in the book. I enjoyed his undelievered letters to Rachel about the war. Rachel has an imaginary bordering on real - ick - romance with a teacher and trouble with her parents. It is an interesting post WWII coming of age story.
August 8, 2013
I received a copy of this book through Goodreads' First Reads program. Thank you to Goodreads and Tundra Books!
This book appealed to me originally because of the beautiful cover, and then I read the summary on Goodreads and became intrigued and entered the giveaway.
Little Red Lies seemed to be following two storylines at once, that of Rachel, the main character, and Jamie, her brother. Unfortunately for the book, I thought her brother's storyline was the more interesting one.
Rachel is also a bit of a difficult character, and I found myself wanting to know much more of her friends than I ever knew about her. While I know she's just a kid, she seems completely oblivious to how selfish or rude she is being to her friends and family, while resenting those same people when they act that way to her. That kind of attitude is definitely something I've seen in other YA protagonists (and teenagers in general), but they at least seem to justify it to themselves/the reader, rather than just leaving it as it is. I couldn't always understand why Rachel was acting out when she did, and it often felt like she was just acting out for the hell of it, rather than because it was actually a justified reaction to what was going on in her life.
Early on in the book especially, Rachel is very focused on being sophisticated and adult, which is frankly ridiculous from my POV as an adult reader, seeing that she's thirteen years old, and I found her difficult to relate to for that reason as well. Her own storyline was also a bit difficult to follow, and certain things seemed (to me) to be unnecessary when compared to what I felt was the real story with her brother, which frustrated me a bit. I thought Rachel's "little red lies" would become a part of the story more than they did, due to the title, and I was a bit disappointed on that front.
That said, I really enjoyed the core story Little Red Lies told, about a soldier returning home from war and attempting to reintegrate himself into society and back into his family and circle of friends. The family's interaction in the book was definitely the high point of the book for me, and it was when the book was focused on the family's interactions and relationships that it was the strongest for me.
The book was a quick read (while it took me about a week to read it due to other obligations, I essentially read it in 2-3 sittings). There is definitely a lot going on, which can feel like a bit much at times, but it all definitely kept me turning the pages. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a YA historical fiction read.
This book appealed to me originally because of the beautiful cover, and then I read the summary on Goodreads and became intrigued and entered the giveaway.
Little Red Lies seemed to be following two storylines at once, that of Rachel, the main character, and Jamie, her brother. Unfortunately for the book, I thought her brother's storyline was the more interesting one.
Rachel is also a bit of a difficult character, and I found myself wanting to know much more of her friends than I ever knew about her. While I know she's just a kid, she seems completely oblivious to how selfish or rude she is being to her friends and family, while resenting those same people when they act that way to her. That kind of attitude is definitely something I've seen in other YA protagonists (and teenagers in general), but they at least seem to justify it to themselves/the reader, rather than just leaving it as it is. I couldn't always understand why Rachel was acting out when she did, and it often felt like she was just acting out for the hell of it, rather than because it was actually a justified reaction to what was going on in her life.
Early on in the book especially, Rachel is very focused on being sophisticated and adult, which is frankly ridiculous from my POV as an adult reader, seeing that she's thirteen years old, and I found her difficult to relate to for that reason as well. Her own storyline was also a bit difficult to follow, and certain things seemed (to me) to be unnecessary when compared to what I felt was the real story with her brother, which frustrated me a bit. I thought Rachel's "little red lies" would become a part of the story more than they did, due to the title, and I was a bit disappointed on that front.
That said, I really enjoyed the core story Little Red Lies told, about a soldier returning home from war and attempting to reintegrate himself into society and back into his family and circle of friends. The family's interaction in the book was definitely the high point of the book for me, and it was when the book was focused on the family's interactions and relationships that it was the strongest for me.
The book was a quick read (while it took me about a week to read it due to other obligations, I essentially read it in 2-3 sittings). There is definitely a lot going on, which can feel like a bit much at times, but it all definitely kept me turning the pages. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a YA historical fiction read.
September 23, 2013
Rating 3.5
Little Red Lies, is a period piece set in post world war 2. Told from a first person point of view, the main storyteller is Rachel, a fourteen year old, whose brother Jamie has just come back from the war. Although it seems that the book is just detailing Rachel's day to day life, in essence its about how her family, Jamie and even the town she's living in, is dealing with the aftermath of war. Its a nuanced storytelling, you have to read between what is going on and the actual emotions being conveyed. This is not really light reading and in many sense most readers will become very impatient with the pacing and even the way the story is told. Its not subtle, in fact its obvious whats going on but being told from the first POV it gives obscurity to what is in front of you. There is however a shifting in the narrative viewpoint with Jamie every now and again giving his own take on certain events thru unsent letters which reads more like a diary. This give a balance on the events unfolding and the war that Jamie can't forget. There is no main plot to the book, instead there are a lot of events that goes on related to the MacLarens. This in itself tends to drag in some pages however the writing stays true to what the book is all about. Surviving and learning to push forward amidst everything.
*The ARC for this book was provided by NetGalley and the publishers in return for an honest review*
Little Red Lies, is a period piece set in post world war 2. Told from a first person point of view, the main storyteller is Rachel, a fourteen year old, whose brother Jamie has just come back from the war. Although it seems that the book is just detailing Rachel's day to day life, in essence its about how her family, Jamie and even the town she's living in, is dealing with the aftermath of war. Its a nuanced storytelling, you have to read between what is going on and the actual emotions being conveyed. This is not really light reading and in many sense most readers will become very impatient with the pacing and even the way the story is told. Its not subtle, in fact its obvious whats going on but being told from the first POV it gives obscurity to what is in front of you. There is however a shifting in the narrative viewpoint with Jamie every now and again giving his own take on certain events thru unsent letters which reads more like a diary. This give a balance on the events unfolding and the war that Jamie can't forget. There is no main plot to the book, instead there are a lot of events that goes on related to the MacLarens. This in itself tends to drag in some pages however the writing stays true to what the book is all about. Surviving and learning to push forward amidst everything.
*The ARC for this book was provided by NetGalley and the publishers in return for an honest review*
September 15, 2013
"On my tombstone, they will engrave 'Rachel Liar McLaren. She meant well, but she had no backbone' "
I picked Little Red Lies because the summary of a young girl growing up and dealing with her brother's changes after the war sounded interesting to me. I hadn't expected it to be subtle, charming and endearing.
But that's exactly what I found it to be. It is a story of family, relationships, connection, and most of all, growing up, and being human. The main character, Rachel McLaren is an imaginative, somewhat dramatic girl with just a little bit of spunk. As a reader, you care for her. If you are close to her age, you want to be her best friend. If you are older than her, you want to take her under your wing; she feels like a little sister who has some growing up to do, but you know that when she does, she will become a remarkable woman. She has some troubles with reality at first, but she always means well.
Author Julie Johnston tells this story with subtlety, really showing the reader the personality of Rachel, her brother, and her parents. There is no need to have things spelled out in the book.
It ends like a fading breeze, rather than as a big bang, leaving conclusions that go without saying. Little Red Lies feels like a companion. It won't give you an epiphany, but it will stay with you.
Rachel McLaren will live on in my heart.
I picked Little Red Lies because the summary of a young girl growing up and dealing with her brother's changes after the war sounded interesting to me. I hadn't expected it to be subtle, charming and endearing.
But that's exactly what I found it to be. It is a story of family, relationships, connection, and most of all, growing up, and being human. The main character, Rachel McLaren is an imaginative, somewhat dramatic girl with just a little bit of spunk. As a reader, you care for her. If you are close to her age, you want to be her best friend. If you are older than her, you want to take her under your wing; she feels like a little sister who has some growing up to do, but you know that when she does, she will become a remarkable woman. She has some troubles with reality at first, but she always means well.
Author Julie Johnston tells this story with subtlety, really showing the reader the personality of Rachel, her brother, and her parents. There is no need to have things spelled out in the book.
It ends like a fading breeze, rather than as a big bang, leaving conclusions that go without saying. Little Red Lies feels like a companion. It won't give you an epiphany, but it will stay with you.
Rachel McLaren will live on in my heart.
August 17, 2013
Rachel is trying to define herself outside of her family. She joins the drama club to explore her creative side and begins to wear a lipstick called “Little Red Lies” to express herself with her appearance. Her brother has recently returned from war, and his withdrawal from those around him becomes more apparent as he is diagnosed with a life threatening illness. Rachel’s life is further stretched when her mother unexpectedly announces that she is pregnant and a teacher offers friendship that hints at becoming more.
Little Red Lies explores the lies that we tell ourselves and others when all we want is to please those around us. Many people have trouble telling others no and they don’t want to disappoint those around them. During a time when secrets were kept at home and even then some things were not talked about, Johnston delves into the thoughts and fears of an impressionable young lady and helps the reader question their own conscious. How would you react to family members suffering from depression? Would you ask questions when you know friends and family are keeping secrets? Little Red Lies is not a page turner and will not be a perfect read for everyone, but for those readers who want a realistic fiction book; this will be a satisfying option.
Little Red Lies explores the lies that we tell ourselves and others when all we want is to please those around us. Many people have trouble telling others no and they don’t want to disappoint those around them. During a time when secrets were kept at home and even then some things were not talked about, Johnston delves into the thoughts and fears of an impressionable young lady and helps the reader question their own conscious. How would you react to family members suffering from depression? Would you ask questions when you know friends and family are keeping secrets? Little Red Lies is not a page turner and will not be a perfect read for everyone, but for those readers who want a realistic fiction book; this will be a satisfying option.
April 21, 2015
What I really like is that this a different way of looking at the the post WW2 era. It looks at the aftermath for a young girl whose brother fought in the war. It looks at a family that is falling apart. It's about a man who survived the war only to come back and find out he is sick. The wide range of issues discussed makes the book feel fresh.
My main problem with the book was there was a lot going on. I think The author should have focused more on Jamie and their relationship, but instead there were a lot of other things happening. It all wrapped up very nicely but between her teacher, Mary, her friends, and even the grandma there seemed to be a lot going on the was necessary.
There were times when I felt the main character, Rachel, was slightly unlikely but I am okay with that. I don't think you always have to love the main character for a book to good. Overall, she was compelling but she had times of selfishness and drama, but keep in mind she is 15 year old. I know (being 17) that this is just the way 15 year old are.
I definitely recommend reading this book! I was a rather fast read and it was really good. It offered a different perceptive than I have read before and I thought that was awesome!
May 12, 2015
Rachel, 13, and her family are ecstatic that Jamie, Rachel's brother has returned home from World War Two. Everyone expects him to be the same boy who left three years earlier and it annoys him to have to remind people that he is different, he's been to war, he has seen people (including his good friend) die. The girl he left behind decides he is not the boy for her. He has no interest in working at his father's pharmacy. So, Jamie decides to go to university in Toronto. Rachel is disappointed in her brother's new personality and mourns the loss of how close they were before the war. Rachel falls for her drama teacher, mainly because of his encouragement of her "talent," and plans to run away with him. Jamie contracts leukemia and has to be hospitalized. Rachel and Jamie's mother gets pregnant and Jamie feels he is being replaced. When Rachel goes to leave with her teacher, she winds up in Toronto with her brother. I liked this story, but it got too complicated and rushed in the end with so many plot pieces being tied together.
August 15, 2014
Book Review
It’s tough to be thirteen, especially at a time when women are still inferior, war weighs heavy on everybody’s mind, and trying to find oneself can mean making mistakes. Sheltered for most of her life, Rachel is coming of age, her brother has just returned from the war and suffers from major depression, and her aging mother became pregnant, putting Rachel at the bottom of everyone’s priorities. On the brink of being a woman, but still a child, Rachel wants to be seen as mature and grown, and when her teacher offers to tutor her, his intentions are exactly adult-like and you quickly realize Rachel and her family are a train wreck.
“Granny’s eyes are on my lips. Here it comes, I think. A war paint crack, or raspberry jam, or here’s a hankie, wipe it off. But, no. She grins at me and winks.”
Read the full review at http://www.musingwithcrayolakym.com/b...
It’s tough to be thirteen, especially at a time when women are still inferior, war weighs heavy on everybody’s mind, and trying to find oneself can mean making mistakes. Sheltered for most of her life, Rachel is coming of age, her brother has just returned from the war and suffers from major depression, and her aging mother became pregnant, putting Rachel at the bottom of everyone’s priorities. On the brink of being a woman, but still a child, Rachel wants to be seen as mature and grown, and when her teacher offers to tutor her, his intentions are exactly adult-like and you quickly realize Rachel and her family are a train wreck.
“Granny’s eyes are on my lips. Here it comes, I think. A war paint crack, or raspberry jam, or here’s a hankie, wipe it off. But, no. She grins at me and winks.”
Read the full review at http://www.musingwithcrayolakym.com/b...
March 13, 2014
Rachel's brother Jamie has just come back from serving in WW2. Rachel and Jamie were always close and now Jamie seems like a different person. He's watched his friends die and and can't get bloody images out of his head. He feels alone, like his family can't understand what he went though, and he's right. They just want him to stop moping. The story is told mostly through 13 year old Rachel's voice, but also through letters by Jamie during the war - letters which he never sent home - describing the horror of what he went through. Rachel is starting to grow up and trying to get a grip on the world, and is dealing with all the changes in her family at the same time. Sometimes she handles things well, sometimes not. She is 13 after all. It was an interesting experience reading about some of these difficult issues from the perspective of a 13 year old. It was sad at times, and a little humorous in some places, insightful in others, but it was overall a very enjoyable read.
August 22, 2013
Little Red Lies is a quick read due to Johnston's numerous plot twists and characters each with their own quirks and story to tell. Johnston makes life real for the family dealing with a son just coming home from WWII. The 14 year old mail character Rachel doesn't always handle the situation with the most tact, but how else would a curious young girl react to her brother coming home after three years? Her brother left when she was a young girl and now she wants to prove, in more ways than one, that she is a young lady old enough to make her own decisions.
As the story unfolds each character deals with old relationships changing and new ones forming, sometimes for the better and sometimes the worse. Johnston left me wanting more at the end, like any good book, but okay with the outcome as well.
Read book for review as a Goodreads giveaway.
As the story unfolds each character deals with old relationships changing and new ones forming, sometimes for the better and sometimes the worse. Johnston left me wanting more at the end, like any good book, but okay with the outcome as well.
Read book for review as a Goodreads giveaway.
September 5, 2013
I received an arc of Little Red Lies from the publisher. This story is a middle-grade read and a truly touching story about life told from the perspective of our young narrator. She's trying to discover who she is, separate from her family, through her school and friends. This is a story of what she really desires to accomplish and slowly discovering that what someone wants isn't always what we get.
Once her brother returns from the battlefront of WW2, everyone notices just how much he has changed. And, sadly, not for the better. Life isn't fair and sometimes it can be cruel.
A read I would recommend to any young adult contemporary fan. The narrator is younger than my usual reads but her not understanding what's happening around her pushes this story into one you'll be hard-pressed to forget. But be warned, this is a bittersweet one.
Once her brother returns from the battlefront of WW2, everyone notices just how much he has changed. And, sadly, not for the better. Life isn't fair and sometimes it can be cruel.
A read I would recommend to any young adult contemporary fan. The narrator is younger than my usual reads but her not understanding what's happening around her pushes this story into one you'll be hard-pressed to forget. But be warned, this is a bittersweet one.
Read
February 12, 2015Recently I finished Little Red Lies by Julie Johnston, but for thirteen-year-old Rachel, the battle has just begun. Putting childhood behind her, she knows what she wants - to prove she has acting talent worthy of the school drama club, and what she doesn't want to fall in love with someone. Worries about her veteran brother's failing health.At her mom's unexpected and not wanted pregnancy drive her to seek solace from a seemingly sympathetic, but self-serving teacher. The lies she tells herself hoping to reach solutions to the problems complicating her life merely function to make matters worse. Ultimately, she finds a way to come to terms with life as it reaches an end and life as it begins.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2013
Little Red Lies was not at all what I expected, based on the title and the cover. I found the book very slow-movng, it took me over two weeks to read it. I was surprised about the setting - the timeframe. It was very hard to get to love either Rachel or Jamie, and at the end of the book (I loved that Jamie named the new baby Cooper)I still felt confused more than entertained.
The book contained some excellent topics - teen life, first loves, depression, mental illness, but I felt like there was no resolution to any of the situations. Rachel's family is the kind of family who move away and you never really think of them again.
The book contained some excellent topics - teen life, first loves, depression, mental illness, but I felt like there was no resolution to any of the situations. Rachel's family is the kind of family who move away and you never really think of them again.
September 20, 2013
I really liked the writing and the voice of the main character Rachel. It was an easy read with with some really nice moments. However it felt like there were so many things going on in this book. Almost as if the author wasn't sure what she wanted to write about. The subject travelled from war, to sickness, pedophilia,and new siblings, just to name a few. For me it gave the book an unfocused feeling, but I can see how this would be a really good book for a reluctant reader. There is always something new going on, and it covers so many topics that one is surely to hit the interest of the reader.
April 1, 2014
Thirteen-year-old Rachel is ready to join the world of the adults - most of the time. When her brother, Jamie, returns from the War, she is excited to show him how much she has grown up and to re-live all the happy times they had before the War.
Unfortunately, the War has left a mark on Jamie that he may not be able to live with. When Jamie becames mysteriously ill, Rachel can only watch as her family falls apart.
Rachel has a very realistic voice. She is self-absorbed, and swinging back and forth from childhood to adulthood. She is scared and angry. Actually, the best part of the book for me were Jamie's letters that add a poignancy to his struggle to live his life the best he can.
Unfortunately, the War has left a mark on Jamie that he may not be able to live with. When Jamie becames mysteriously ill, Rachel can only watch as her family falls apart.
Rachel has a very realistic voice. She is self-absorbed, and swinging back and forth from childhood to adulthood. She is scared and angry. Actually, the best part of the book for me were Jamie's letters that add a poignancy to his struggle to live his life the best he can.
May 9, 2015
Number one. Its set in Canada. I love that.
Number two. IT is about the war, but the after affect. Some people say you would be lucky to survive the war, but are you really lucky to have to live with the pain of it, dragging it with you until you die.
Number three. Really messed up plot twist. First you want her to be with the teacher, then its unbelievably messed up.
Finally number Four. The back of the book says it about "The complexity or relationships" . It is, good, bad, love, hate, broken and just really weird.
Number two. IT is about the war, but the after affect. Some people say you would be lucky to survive the war, but are you really lucky to have to live with the pain of it, dragging it with you until you die.
Number three. Really messed up plot twist. First you want her to be with the teacher, then its unbelievably messed up.
Finally number Four. The back of the book says it about "The complexity or relationships" . It is, good, bad, love, hate, broken and just really weird.
May 2, 2015
This book was totally not what I expected, but I really liked it.
The characters in this book aren't necessarily selfish or completely self-absorbed, but much like real people they are pretty wrapped up in themselves and their own lives. That resulted in much of this story taking place off the page. At first I found that slightly confusing but as I got used to it, I came to like it. A lot. Though Little Red Lies deals with some really big issues, it does it in a subtle, sideways manner that means Ms. Johnston isn't smacking you in the face with anything, but the emotion (though low key) is still present and sincere.
The characters in this book aren't necessarily selfish or completely self-absorbed, but much like real people they are pretty wrapped up in themselves and their own lives. That resulted in much of this story taking place off the page. At first I found that slightly confusing but as I got used to it, I came to like it. A lot. Though Little Red Lies deals with some really big issues, it does it in a subtle, sideways manner that means Ms. Johnston isn't smacking you in the face with anything, but the emotion (though low key) is still present and sincere.
November 29, 2013
When Rachel's brother, Jamie, returns from WW2, she is so relieved to have him home in their wee Ontario town. Yet, something is wrong. Jamie isn't the same young man who left. She desperately wants to be able to confide in him about her life. However, it's just another snag in her life, as everything around her seems to be crumbling down. It seems like the only person who shows her any kind of support is the new substitute teacher. He gets her; he listens. This novel is a good book that explores family crises and coming of age issues.
September 15, 2017
"An engaging novel about the complexity of relationships and the yearning for connection"
Those two bold phrases, together with the beautiful cover and the desirable settings were ultimately the reasons for why I borrowed this book. I guess I was able to connect with the book, especially with Rachel's emotions but the teacher being a bad guy was really a turn-off.
Very brisk writing and a good storyline that as usual supports for relationships within age groups. (But that's just me :)
Those two bold phrases, together with the beautiful cover and the desirable settings were ultimately the reasons for why I borrowed this book. I guess I was able to connect with the book, especially with Rachel's emotions but the teacher being a bad guy was really a turn-off.
Very brisk writing and a good storyline that as usual supports for relationships within age groups. (But that's just me :)
July 24, 2013
This book was just ok. I thought the plot was well done and was excited to read it. However, the narrator came off very monotonous which made me not very interested in the story line.
While she was worried about her brother coming back from the war - which made sense- all of her questions to him seemed rude and to not care about his feelings at all and in the meantime she was overwhelmed with jealousy towards his girlfriend.
Overall this was an okay book.
While she was worried about her brother coming back from the war - which made sense- all of her questions to him seemed rude and to not care about his feelings at all and in the meantime she was overwhelmed with jealousy towards his girlfriend.
Overall this was an okay book.
December 20, 2013
**I received a copy of this book via LibraryThing**
I don't know what to really say about Little Red Lies. It really just wasn't a good book. There really isn't anything likeable about Rachel, the main character. There was a lot going on in every aspect of the book but none of it made the book enjoyable for me, and most of it was completely unnecessary in the end. The author just couldn't put it all together and make it work.
I don't know what to really say about Little Red Lies. It really just wasn't a good book. There really isn't anything likeable about Rachel, the main character. There was a lot going on in every aspect of the book but none of it made the book enjoyable for me, and most of it was completely unnecessary in the end. The author just couldn't put it all together and make it work.
March 19, 2014
I am not sure how I feel about this book. Overall the book was good, the only thing I didn't like about it was the ending. It was definitely well written, however it felt like it ended at such an important part of the book. It was disappointing. But other than that, I like how it had more than one thing going on. I especially like the unsent letters from Jamie, it felt like a nice touch and it gives the readers a glimpse insideJamie's mind.
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