The Boy Who Lied

by Kim Slater

Fourteen-year-old Ed Clayton is a liar. It started when his dad went to prison and now he can't seem to stop. When Ed's younger brother, Sam, goes missing one day under his supervision, nobody believes him when he says he can't remember what happened. Things begin to go very wrong for Ed's family when his mother loses her job and they have to start using a food bank. Ditched even by his best friend, Ed is on his own trying find out what's happened to Sam, until he meets Fallon, a new neighbor who's willing to help him unravel the mystery. The two stumble on a secret even Ed could never have imagined. But nobody will ever believe a liar.

Genres: Childrens, Young Adult, Mystery, Crime

273 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2018

About the author

Librarian Note: Kim Slater is a pen name of K.L. Slater, at which site biographical information may be found.

Reviews

[Dove · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up two books by the same author in one trip to the library! What a nice surprise. I don't pay attention when I pick up books in the library, so it's such a cool coincidence that I picked up two books by the same person! I enjoyed her last book, so I'm happy I got to read another one of her books. This book was better than the other one I read. I haven't read a mystery novel in so long, I'm so happy I read one again. It filled a void in me. It's a lot different than the usual types of books I read, but that was good because it made it more interesting, unique, and it held my attention better. I'm happy to say I had no idea who the abductor was, and I was so shook when I found out who it was. When I found out who it was, I was so surprised simply because it was so obvious and I was mad at myself for not figuring it out earlier. There's a boy, whose brother is kidnapped, and the boy lost some of his memories after he fell off of this play thing. His dad is in jail. The boy has a reputation of being a liar, so the police doesn't believe his stories, or the fact that he can't remember what happened that day. It's kind of like the Boy who cried wolf. He lied so much that no one believes him now that he's telling the truth. So he's kind of left on his own to figure out who kidnapped his brother, and try to find him. The dad being in jail thing and brother's kidnapping are related, but in my head I thought they were just different stories and I saw no correlation- which is stupid. There's the mom, whose super depressed, the mom's best friend and her boyfriend who are taking care of them. This book has a lot of depth and complication- and it's honestly a ride. There's so much more to it- it just seems simple but it's not. I really enjoyed this book.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting read - I knew who the culprits were, mind, but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the tale as Ed tried to find his,little brother, Sam, after he disappeared when they were at the park.

I also completely understood Ed’s reasons for embellishing his stories and trying to hide just how bad his home life actually was, but I also appreciated how Fallon wanted to be his friend regardless and encouraged Ed to instead just tell the truth.

[watermelonreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot was draggy and nothing much happened until we’ve gone past the 70% mark.

Despite that, I understood why she wrote the way she did. Reading the first part made me feel frustrated, if that was what she intended it was great lol. She made me feel what the character felt exactly. The anger, the fear. I felt it all.

Writing about family and friendships are Slater’s forte, imo. And she delivered.

This book tackled lying. Many books often mention how it’s bad for you blah blah. Slater dug deeper and explored why we lie.

There was also a focus on what it means to be poor, judged and for your emotions to be acknowledged. We see friendships come and go. It’s sometimes for the better. For all we know, we might have even better friends in future.

This book also emphasised on the importance of you’ve done your best. It’s okay to put on a brave front but it gets tiring. It’s okay to show what you truly feel.

[Mayedah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real epic start to the story. Kinda fizzled towards the middle and end. Loved the arc, though, so recommend!

[Fiza Nasir · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little fast paced but was a nice light read 💓
A story of brotherhood , struggles ,LIES, betrayal, hatred and love...
" sometimes things don't go the way we have planned"

[WF · Rating 3 out of 5]

For tweens and younger readers, this is in-depth exploration of why people lie or tell tall tales, and is a spin on the story of the boy who cried wolf. The plot however, and the other characters, especially the villains, are very thin.

[Nirodh Hithaysha Yapa Bandara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing and mischievous. I loved the book from start to finish.

I couldn't believe that Augustine would do such a thing! Not after all she done to find Sam.

[Grace Oldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pleasant book that is very easy to read. When Ed’s younger brother (Sam) goes missing without a trace. Ed attempts to help find him in his own separate investigation. The only problem being is he is known as a liar. I really enjoyed reading this book because the author was great at making characters. I instantly fell in love with poor Sam and Ed and later on in the book a girl called Fallon. Although you can predict it quite easily it is such a joy to read. I recommend it to anybody wanting a shorter read.

[M S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really a interesting read - I knew who the kidnappers were - had the suspicion but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of the tale as Ed tried to find his father.
It was also a very easy to understand read, loved it!

[Elly Brinsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite children's author smashed it out of the park (& not just Bulwell Hall Park!) yet again. I recommend to anyone young and old!

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a way this novel is a retelling of the cautionary tale of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Ed Clayton is a decent kid but life at home is troubled. When his Dad is accused of fraud and sent to prison Ed’s whole life as he knows it unravels. His Mum can barely cope and life becomes a series of poverty, embarrassment and humiliation. The only thing preventing them from complete financial breakdown is the help from his mum’s best friend and her new partner. As Ed struggles more and more with daily life he starts weaving fantastical lies to protect himself from his reality. It doesn’t help that his lying has spread into his school life giving him a reputation as a liar. The story begins with the disappearance of Ed’s little brother Sam. They are playing together on the playground equipment and Sam talks to someone hiding in the bush. As Ed call out to Sam he falls and hits his head. When he gains consciousness he is in the hospital, he has no memory and Sam is gone. Unfortunately, given Ed’s lying reputation no one will believe him. In his search to find Sam, together with his new neighbour Fallon, Ed must rely on his own resources to discover what is happening to his Mum, why is his Dad really in prison and where is Sam? This is a gripping, fast paced narrative that challenges representations of poverty, the media, the mental health system and the legal system. Be prepared for lots of twists and turns.
Suitable for 11+

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Ed loses his memory after playing in the park with his brother, Sam who has learning difficulties and has downs syndrome he can't help the police to find his brother as he suffers trying to recover his lost memories.



With the press hounding their door, his depressed mum, having no money or food, his dad in prison from doing fraud with a business partner which leads to a good plot twist at the end to do with their friend's Augustine and Charlie who live with them during this hard time...



They search the area from the park, den and streets of Nottingham especially with the help of the new neighbours next door Fallon and her dad who help him visit his dad in prison and also notice a red car coming and going at night and when they follow it make a stunning revelation...



I always love Kim's mystery books especially being set down the road in Nottingham not far from me. I enjoyed this one though did predict what would happen not perfectly but who would be found guilty yes upon being introduced to the characters. I liked the difference in the two brothers and how Ed has to recover himself despite his family not believing him he doesn't give up getting to his beloved brother no matter how long it took. I hated Charlie as you should the way he spoke and his manner was horrible. You will enjoy this quick mystery I'm sure it's like a teenage Midsummer Murder though no murder just mystery instead.

[Titas Choudhury · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seriously don't know why this book isn't more popular! I mean, I've seen worse books of this genre being absolutely gobbled up, yet I only found this one because I was sent this as a surprise giveaway win.

This book is very very well written. It's realistic even in its fictional setting. Yes, a tee can't chase after a couple of people doing illegal stuff with just the help of another teen. But children can often sense things adults try to hide. Indeed Ed and Fallon being the heroes saving the day might rationally be thought unlikely, but the way it's set up doesn't feel so.

The best part about this book is how raw it is. It doesn't play down ideas of poverty, abuse, mental health, and bullying. It paints a world through the eyes of a teen that's very accurate. It also dips into how very ordinary mishaps can transform the lives of those near the victim.

The ending felt a little underdone, as I would have liked to see a little more action and a little more tying up of plot knots, but it still went well. Really loved how speedy it was, and how despite dwelling on the harsh realities of life it also didn't stagnate anywhere.

I'm going to recommend this book more, because it deserves the attention.

[Aisha ⋆₊˚⊹♡৻ꪆ⋆˚✿˖° · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book hit hard. What do you do when lying becomes your only coping mechanism? When your life has spiraled so far down that fiction is the only thing that keeps you going? The protagonist, a boy struggling to hold it together, faces an impossible situation when his baby brother goes missing. He tries to tell people, but no one believes him—they just call him a liar. Even his own mother doesn’t trust him, and the weight of that betrayal is devastating.

The story perfectly captures the crushing isolation of being dismissed by the people you need most. His lies, once a way to cope, now trap him in a cycle where he can’t get help when he needs it most. The frustration and hopelessness he feels is palpable, and as a reader, you feel that desperation right along with him.

This isn’t just a story about a missing brother; it’s about the suffocating impact of mistrust, and how hard it is to reclaim your truth when no one believes you. It’s an emotional and powerful read that stays with you long after the final page.

[Yusta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed this book.

The story is an interesting mystery. I love that it takes place in Nottingham and how it describes struggling families; I used to know such "disfunctional" families when I was younger and it is fascinating to see their story from the eyes of a child. I think Kim Slater does this well.

In regards to the mystery, the ending is not as predictable as people have wrote. Of course, you have a good guess at what's happened to young Sam, but the question remains: why?

And all the questions have been answered very well indeed.

Now the rating. 3 stars is a good rating, mind you. It is, after all, a book that is not particularly aimed at me (a 21-year-old university student) and has not changed my perceptions about life or the world. It has, however, entertained me and it is a very compelling read that's perfect for those rainy evenings.

Thank you for the story, Kim Slater. I will definitely have a look at the author's other books.

[Ms Kirby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book about family and relationships, including neighbours and schoolfriends. I especially liked it because it dealt with a subject rarely covered in children's fiction: having a parent in prison.
I liked the way the main character struggles to admit he is lying and doesn't understand why until the girl next door helps him to see that telling the truth is the simplest and best way.
In this book, there is a mystery as his younger brother, Sam, goes missing. As the police aren't getting very far with the investigation and he is worried they won't believe him, Ed investigates himself, with Fallon, the girl from next door.
This is quite an emotional book, covering the situation with Ed's father being in prison and the depression his mother suffers, resulting in unemployment and poverty and hunger.
The ending is happy as Ed and Fallon discover the truth and get Sam back safely.

[Jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story about a missing boy Sam, and his older brother Ed. Unfortunately Ed fell at the playground and can't remember much about Sam's disappearance. He is also prone to telling lies and, as a result, people don't believe him when he starts remembering things about Sam's disappearance. Mum is struggling to cope as Ed's Dad is in prison and she struggles even more when Sam goes missing. It's up to Ed to try to remember what happened and to find Sam. Great characters in this book - Fallon - the new girl next door, Augustine - a family friend, Charlie - Augustine's obnoxious boyfriend. This is a perfect story for 11-12 year olds.

[Taha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like this one. i had such a difficult time getting through this. i did not like the characters. i did not like the plot. the relationships were mediocre. you question the protagonists choices and feelings, and they're never properly justified. some middle grade readers may enjoy it, but i saw the ending coming. i like being surprised when it comes to mysteries and thrillers, but with this one, i just wanted it to be over.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book while reading it, but so have to struggle a little now (a week or two later) to remember what happened in it... An intriguing mystery about family, friendship, and trying to find a missing brother, but it really fell away at the end. It needed at least another 20 pages to finish the story - not the two it got. A shame, this could have been fantastic!

[Claire Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice easy read! I could feel the emotions Ed felt about his brother, and I think the book's underlying message about telling lies is great. I love Kim Slater's book when I was a child and I was lucky to actually meet her and have my book signed by her! I haven't read her books in many years, so it was nice to take a little trip down memory lane 🙂

[Cheirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is an easy read and you can understand well where it is leading to unlike some mysteries I've read. Though the story was kind of predictable but overall, the storyline made it so intriguing, I couldn't stop myself from finishing the book.

[Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and interesting. The Boy Who Lied is a fantastic representation of the trouble constant lying can cause and how freeing the truth can be. In this book the main character is the most obvious liar BUT not the only one. Lying comes in many forms and this book points that out remarkably.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really good and made you feel like you wanted murder one of the characters, though the end was portrayed subtly and let me down. Overall, an amazing book.

[Kyra · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was verry confusing

[Rebecca Bentley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story. I liked how it was built up at the beginning but felt the end was a bit rushed.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book held my interest but I thought it was an obvious twist and it ended rather abruptly and without much excitement.
I do think middle school kids would like it.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story bound to make your mind wander. intriguing, mysterious and a big twist at the end.

[Aimee Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did like the plot however I didn't like how rushed the final few chapters were compared to the slow-paced beginning of the book. I did enjoy reading this though.

[Gece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kim Slater is my favorite of author of all time, and this book did not dissapoint.

[Fudgy · Rating 3 out of 5]

the real game begin around 70%
bland narrative yet focusing on the main stuff.
Plot was totally predictable.