To Tell You the Truth

by Beth Vrabel

A Southern-voiced middle grade novel about a young girl and the adventure she embarks upon to prove her Gran’s stories were true.

Trixy needs a story, fast, or she’s going to fail the fourth grade—that’s a fact. But every time she sits down to write, her mind is a blank. The only stories she can think of are Gran’s, the ones no one else ever believed but Trixy gulped down like sweet tea. Gran is gone now, buried under the lilac bush in the family plot, so it’s not like Trixy’s hurting anybody to claim one of those stories as her own, is she?

That stolen story turns out to be a huge success, and soon everybody in town wants Trixy to tell them a tale. Before long, the only one left is the story she vowed never to share, the one that made Gran’s face cloud up with sadness. Trying to find a way out of this tangled mess, Trixy and her friend Raymond hit the road to follow the twists and turns of Gran’s past. Maybe then Trixy can write a story that’s all her own, one that’s the straight-up truth.

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Grief, Juvenile, School, Writing, Humor

272 pages, Hardcover

Published June 8, 2021

About the author

Beth Vrabel is the author of Cyblis-nominated Caleb and Kit, ILA award-winning A Blind Guide to Stinkville, JLG-selection A Blind Guide to Normal, and The Reckless Club and Pack of Dorks series. She can't clap to the beat nor be trusted near Nutella. Beth loves traveling around the country to meet with young readers and writers, sharing a message of grit, resiliency and heart.

Reviews

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could have been shorter. Made it a little boring in the middle. Short book but it felt too long.

[Afoma (Reading Middle Grade) · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Tell You the Truth is a moving, adventurous, and heartwarming story about family, storytelling, and friendship. Trixy shares the spotlight with her Gran as both their stories are shared in this book. Readers will delight in Trixy’s gift of storytelling, the life-changing road trip she embarks on, and the life-long friendships she solidifies throughout the story. Featuring a fourth-grade protagonist, this unmissable, voice-y middle grade book is perfect for fans of Louisiana's Way Home and The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane in grades 3 and up.

Read my full review on my blog.

Many thanks to the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this poignant, but entertaining story about friendship, family, and finding your way through grief. Trixy is a spunky, sympathetic heroine whose voice is engaging and authentic. Her story has plenty of action to keep it interesting. While the tale deals with tough subjects, its humor and hopefulness keep it from getting too sad or dark. I think kids will enjoy this one, as I did.

[Ana Kyrcz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trixy works to get over the death of her Gran by sharing the thoughtful and important stories from her grandmother’s life. I enjoyed getting to know Trixy, her friends, and family, including her recently deceased grandmother. The stories share both the good and the bad, and while at first no one else believes them, Trixy is determined to prove their truth.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Trixie and Gran’s stories. Such a sweet book. Beth Vrabel does it again.

[Dr. T Loves Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

What it’s about: Ten year old Trixy is not doing very well in school these days. Since she and her Grandma were in a car crash, and Grandma died, Trixy has been having a hard time getting back to "normal". Her Grandma used to tell her stories all the time, and Trixy finds herself almost compelled to tell those stories.

It turns out Trixy is a natural storyteller, and her stories end up entered in a contest. But there is a debate about whether the stories Trixy is telling count, because they didn't happen to her, and there's a question about whether they're made up or real.

As things go from bad to worse in Trixy's house, she decides she's going to prove to everyone that her Grandma was not a liar. She's going to stow away with her friend Raymond's family when they head out for one of their annual tours. Raymond's father is a musician, and Grandma not only encouraged him to share his music with the world, but also helped him set up tour route. It turns out that the tour goes to several places Grandma mentioned in her stories. And Trixy is sure that she can find the truth of those stories if she visits those places.

But a ten year old runaway is going to raise some ruckus. And Trixy's best (and only) friend Raymond may not still be her friend. So Trixy is going to have a difficult road ahead of her as she tries to retrace the steps of her Grandma; and she won't be prepared for what she finds along the way.

What I thought: Vrabel has an easy way with storytelling. Even when they're being a bit selfish, her characters are likable and sympathetic. Trixy is no exception.

This is my third Vrabel book. The previous two focused more on humor, while still including some pathos. This story is less humorous, though there are a few fun moments throughout. The situations are very realistic, for better and for worse. In addition to the violent death of her Grandma (which takes place off-page but which is clearly a traumatic moment for Trixy, causing her anxiety any time she's in a vehicle), there is family separation, neglectful and self-absorbed parenting, and an eating disorder, in addition to some grade school bullying and some socioeconomic issues.

Trixy's story is an engaging one. She is a very self-aware character (I would suggest she's actually TOO self aware and in several places throughout the story, which strained my suspension of disbelief), and she has a strong moral compass - even when she's working against it, which leaves her feeling terrible.

But Trixy learns a lot over the course of the story, and her experiences can provide valuable lessons for readers.

Why I chose those shelves: trigger, child abuse, death-dying, mental health: A main plot point is the death by car accident of Grandma, there is anorexia, and several of Grandma's stories are about how badly she and Lil' Sis were treated as children by neglectful parents and others; lgbt, physical impairment: A side character has low vision and uses a cane sometimes, and is also implied in a low-key way during one scene to be gay; friendship & found family: Quite literally in this case; history: Grandma's stories are about her childhood in the 1950s, with some references to historical figures; performing arts: Raymond's dad is in a band that does short tours in the Nashville area; School: The story begins with Trixy's performance and behavior in school, leading to a conflict that propels the second half of the book forward;

Why I rated it like I did: Cute, but not as humorous as other Vrabel books. Good lessons about family, the importance of storytelling, what a "true story" is, dealing with grief, friendship (with specifically spelled out lines about what is NOT friendship). Managed to wring a tear from me at the end. Overall, an enjoyable story with important lessons for readers.

[Federica de Quagliatti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Credo che la bellezza di questo romanzo si possa racchiudere nella possibilità di diversi livelli di interpretazione a seconda dell’età del lettore: un bambino può divertirsi a seguire le avventure della caparbia protagonista che pur di dimostrare la veridicità delle storie della nonna è disposta a disobbedire a tutta la famiglia, e partire clandestinamente per un viaggio con il suo migliore amico; un adulto invece riuscirà a farsi ammaliare dal potere curativo che le storie possono avere, anche quando le persone care non ci sono più.
When someone dies, it happens over and over again. When someone shares a story, they live over and over.- scrive infatti la scrittrice nelle pagine finali del libro.

In generale, i personaggi sono ben studiati, e la trama si fonde perfettamente con le storie della nonna, rendendo il passaggio tra realtà e narrazione molto fluido.
Trixy è intelligente, coraggiosa, brillante, e forse talvolta un po’ troppo focalizzata su stessa. Raymond è il suo perfetto opposto: più introverso, ha spesso paura di infrangere le regole, ma pur di essere un buon amico non mancherà mai di aiutare la protagonista, diventando uno sprone alla crescita personale di Trixy.
Per quanto riguarda l’alternanza tra le vicende del romanzo e la narrazione delle storie, non solo c’è una chiara distinzione grafica che facilita la lettura, ma bisogna riconoscere che la scrittrice è stata brava ad inserirle al momento giusto: dando le informazioni necessarie per comprendere meglio il personaggio della nonna defunta, e creando allo stesso tempo la giusta suspance perché il lettore sia spinto ad andare avanti nella lettura.

Encomiabile l’attenzione e la serietà con cui vengono trattati i disturbi alimentari della madre della protagonista. Grazie al supporto della famiglia, infatti, la donna viene subito assistita in una clinica specialistica, dove può affrontare tutto il dolore che si porta dietro a seguito della scomparsa della madre.

Detto questo, To Tell You the Truth è un romanzo senza particolari guizzi dove, a causa di una trama a volte molto prevedibile (vedi i fortuiti e troppo facili incontri che i ragazzi hanno con persone, tipo Gary o Henry Michealson, che possono aiutarli a portare a compimento la loro missione), e personaggi i cui dissensi e dissapori si sarebbero potuti estremizzare molto di più, rendendo i rapporti umani e la loro crescita personale più evidenti, risulta un libro gradevole ma non appassionante.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gran told Trixy stories from the time she was born. No one else believed Gran’s stories were true, but Trixy knew they were. After Gran’s death, Trixy holds on to her stories, particularly the one she promised to never tell. Gran told Trixy that stories weren’t meant for everyone, because sometimes they can’t be heard. When her teacher tells her that she needs to write down a true story, Trixy borrows one from Gran. It’s a story that is unbelievable, combining cake, theft and Liberace. Soon Trixy is telling lots of people Gran’s stories and submitting some for publication. Deep down she knows the stories are real, but can she prove it? It’s going to take telling some lies, doing some sneaking, and traveling across the state to meet people who knew Gran and can tell Trixy the real truth.

Vrabel has created a novel wrapped around a series of delightful short stories told in Gran’s voice. Through those stories and Trixy’s memories, readers gain a deep sense of who Gran was. The novel is an exploration of the power of stories that are shared, a question of what truth really is, and then an ending that will require a few tissues. The writing is marvelous with just the right amount of Southern charm. The play between the novel itself and the stories works amazingly well, combining richly together.

Trixy is a character who is holding not only stories but also secrets. Her relationships with others are difficult thanks to her prickly way with others. Trixy regularly believes that she is right, doesn’t listen to others, and in the process speaks hurtfully to them. At the same time, her pain over losing her beloved Gran is evident as is her need to connect with other people. She manages to transform those around her with her stories while at the same time also changing herself too.

A charming Southern novel about stories, loss, love and truth. Appropriate for ages 9-12.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fourth grader Trixy Mae Williams is still reeling from the death of her beloved grandmother who often regaled her with tales of her formative years and adventures. When her teacher, Mrs. Brown, insists that she turn in her memoir, Trixy is completed blocked, and all she can think to do is tell some of the stories her grandmother shared with her. At first, Mrs. Brown finds it hard to believe that what she's reading is true, and then when others doubt her writing's veracity, Trixy hatches a plan to smuggle herself along when her best friend, Raymond Crickett, and his sister Sara accompany their musician father on a week-long tour through parts of Tennessee. Since the tour stops at several points mentioned in her grandmother's tales, Trixy figures she'll find the proof she needs that the stories are true and that her grandmother experienced everything she described. Those stories, retold faithfully by Trixy, seem rather sophisticated for a fourth grader, but by the time the trip is over, her grandmother's carefully-kept secrets will have been unraveled, and Trixy realizes that even someone we think we know well has depth and that life's choices can be quite complicated. This middle-grade novel, 3.5 for me, is filled with humor and sorrow as well as the very different ways which individuals deal with grief and loss. The author has captured her characters' voices quite well, and Trixy is loveable in her imperfections and inconsideration toward others.

[Emilee (emileereadsbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Kids for the gifted book.

Leaching from the pages of this book is southern charm. The phrasing and the pace of the story were just so enjoyable. Delights like this were in abundance "Oh, I screamed! I barreled up those stairs so quick I nearly left the Holy Spirit behind." I was reading this in bed and laughed so hard at that line that I woke my husband up. 
But the book is best summed up by this quote: "...But you were wrong...Because right now? I'm happy, but I'm sad too. Both can be true." This book is about a family, and mostly Trixy dealing with the tragic death of her grandmother. And she is learning how to hold both happiness and sadness in her heart at the same time. But the only way she thinks she can do that is by determining if her grandmother's stories are true. So she sneaks away to go on an adventure to the places that have loomed large in her imagination as her grandmother has told her story after story about her tumultuous childhood.

This is a fast paced middle grade book that deals with heavy topics with humor and a tender hand. It is quirky but believable, and so endearing.

Content Warning: Car Accident, Grief, Eating Disorder

[Amanda Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trixie had a special bond with her Gran. Growing up, she hung on each story her grandmother told her, learning more about the struggles she went through growing up. So when her Gran leaves suddenly, Trixie is lost. Her mom is slipping into a deep depression. Her dad works all the time. And now, Trixie is under pressure at school to write a story for a homework assignment. She chooses to retell a story her Gran had shared, even though she promised never to share them with anyone. Turns out, Trixie is a natural story-teller and one story turns into multiple ones, and she’s in trouble. Now she has to do something drastic to prove the stories are true and in turn, save herself and her family.

Beth Vrabel has a talent to connect the reader to a character. I was invested in following Trixie’s story, and the emotional twists and turns felt personal. The story started a little slow at first, but once Trixie put her plan into action, I couldn’t put it down. I love that the reader is exposed to small town living and the pains that can come with small town families. The story demonstrates the struggles that come with friendships, especially when someone doesn’t know what they want or need from the friend.

Trigger warnings: death and anorexia

[Ellen]

WOW - I am always in awe of how captivating kids fiction can be for me as an adult (especially when it is written right and Beth Vrabel hits another one out of the park). The characters are believable and relatable and just quirky enough, without feeling unrealistic. I LOVE that Vrabel has characters that represent abilities and issues in such a matter of fact way. "It" (no spoilers here) is part of the character without being the whole character and it always gives me an insight or two into what their life is like. I am a storyteller (child care and library story lady) so the theme really reached out and grabbed me. As an educator, I see enormous potential for book discussions and connection building activities. I also see how this book would be a great FAMILY read as it has characters from three generations. To Tell You the Truth helps you remember that everyone has stories and just because you have not heard them - doesn't mean they aren't fascinating and plentiful. No matter how many mental predictions of what would happen next that I made, this book still surprised me in the most pleasant way more than once.

[Rebecca Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was drawn into this book by the fun voice of Trixy, a girl who loves to tell stories. Trixy draws on the stories Gran told her of when Gran was a young girl and good at getting into trouble.

Gran’s stories get Trixy into trouble too because she tells them when she’s supposed to be doing schoolwork and because they’re so good that her teacher submits them to a true story contest, but the mean girl who’s won the contest each of the past few years accuses Trixy of making up the stories.

Trixy vows to prove the stories are true to preserve Gran’s memory and ensure she’s allowed to compete in the contest. But there’s a problem. Trixy can only prove the stories are true by running away, secretly tagging along on a road trip with her best friend and his dad.

To Tell You the Truth is a great story for middle graders who want to fall into an immersive story with great voice. Themes of friendship, family, and secrets – both how they hurt and how they heal – are woven through the book. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, tear-jerking, and heartwarming all in one.

Highly recommended.

At TheWingedPen.com we have dozens of reviews of middle-grade, young-adult and #ownvoice books. Check out our reviews at:
thewingedpen.com/category/books/
or just click on Book Recommendations on our home page where you can search by category!

[Miz Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

While mourning the recent death of her grandmother in a car accident, 10-year-old Trixie starts writing down and sharing the stories her grandmother had told about her childhood. Only, since her grandmother had never told anyone else the stories, no one but Trixie believes they are true stories. Trixie stows away with her best friend and his musician father on their band tour to Tennessee. The venues had been suggested by Trixie’s grandmother and were all connected to events of her childhood. Trixie is determined to prove the stories are true by visiting these places and finding people who remember her grandmother. Along the way Trixie learns about the many facets of “truth” in personal storytelling. True, yes. But only from one person’s perspective and who is telling the story (the stories change even when Trixie retells them) and who the audience is changes the story. Because it is a children’s book, things wrap up a bit tidily, but the process of stories changing and containing nuggets of truth even when hiding or sugar-coating other details was really well done.

[Cheryl Harrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a difficult time getting through the tragic events in the opening of TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH. That's only because the writing is so masterful that the characters and their situation feel so real. After that though, I love this story.

This is one of those books that will stay with me for years. I love how Trixy's story in modern times is interwoven with stories from her gran's childhood. I'm choking up just thinking about the ending. It's perfect.

I received a giveaway copy from the author.

[Ava Potts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book! I loved the storyline and I would’ve given it four stars except for the fact the the inside cover preview part felt to me like a whole different story. It made the biggest deal about how she got suspended, but I personally didn’t think that was the most important part of the story. If the inside cover matched the story more, this book would have a clear five stars!!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Eileen Winfrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trixy and her family are grieving the loss of Trixy's grandmother. Trixy is acting out at school, but finds a way forward in writing down all of her grandmother's stories. Desperate to prove the truth of these stories, Trixy sets out (without permission) to track down the truth and discovers more than she was looking for. It took me a few chapters to really commit to the story, so hang in there. It's worth it!

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't rate this any higher simply because I didn't like the main character very much. Also, the book had one of those unexpected *surprise!* twists that was rather confusing (probably due to the fact it took place in the final few pages). I felt like I needed a scorecard to sort everyone out. I'd planned to read the companion book to this one--but now I'm debating it. I did like the character, Raymond. Perhaps I'll give it a go for that reason.

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Adults will like this more than kids. I liked it, but kid appeal is just ok-2 stars. Charming, lovely are not words kids use when they ask me for books. Best as a read aloud. Purchase if your 4th grade teachers love to read aloud heartwarming stories with southern charm and lots of metaphor and simile descriptions or your readers like books by Sheila Turnage and Kate DiCamillo.

[Suzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely story about telling stories to help keep the memories of your loved ones alive. Trixy takes Gran's stories and starts sharing them with others. In this way it helps her deal with her grief and keep her Gran alive within her heart.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

[LS Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great multigenerational story! There’s enough suspense and twists to keep the story moving. I think a lot of kids enjoy reading stories about kids who live in an orphanage. I loved the “story telling” aspect of the book.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trixy takes us on quite the adventure! She also tells a great story. And the figurative language in this book is so perfect! There are so many layers to this book; it is fantastic!

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful tale featuring generations of storytelling, love and loss. A treat.

[Sophia Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What a wonderful book, that deals with grief in a beautiful way. The characters are amazing, and I feel as if I know them. I could not put this book down.

[Rhoda Saatela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. I loved Trixy’s spunkiness and her friendship with Raymond. While I thought her I mother’s side story was an unnecessary diversion, I think kids will enjoy this book.