Tru Confessions

by Janet Tashjian

Computer-literate, twelve-year-old Tru keeps an electronic diary where she documents her desire to cure her developmentally delayed twin brother and her plan to create her own television show. Reprint.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Family, Contemporary

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Janet Tashjian is a middle-grade and young adult novelist who’s been writing books for children for fifteen years. Her first novel Tru Confessions was made into a critically acclaimed Disney TV movie starring Clara Bryant and Shia LaBeouf. The Gospel According to Larry is a cult favorite and Fault Line is taught in many middle and high schools. Her novels My Life As a Book, My Life As a Stuntboy, and My Life As a Cartoonist are all illustrated by her teenage son, Jake. Their collaboration continues with Einstein the Class Hamster coming in August.

Janet lives with her family in Los Angeles, enjoying her respite from the long Boston winters. When she isn’t writing, she’s rewriting.

Janet has been doing school visits for fifteen years; you can email her at spatulaproductions@mac.com for details.

We invite you to follow her on Twitter @JanetTashjian and like her books on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Lif...
https://www.facebook.com/ForWhatItsWo...

Plus, check out her YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/janettash...

Reviews

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars.

I liked this one. It was a fun, quick read. It was hard to fall for the characters because there wasn't much depth but I still liked the story. I don't think I've ever uttered these words before but...I think I liked the movie a little better. I mean Shia LaBeouf...come on now.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this at random on the library shelf at work one day. A fast read, and an interesting perspective!

[Eleanor W · Rating 2 out of 5]

mom read this one out loud. Skipped some words and a whole segment about Ouija boards. Mom remembers this being made into a Disney Original Movie and wanted to read it. Our brother has special needs so mom tries to find books about being a sibling to someone that is different from everyone else. Over all it wasn't as good as mom remembers it being. She never read the book before and it has been years since that movie last played on the Disney Chanel so not sure if it is as good as se remembers either.

[Lfd6675 · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was a good read, and really looks into life with a person with a disability; however i feel the author could have used more complex language and a clearer plot, since it seemed to sometimes trail on, without any kind of base plot, using the characters as replacements. i still found it interesting and recommend this book from 7- 11.
please comment below on whether you agree or disagree with me :)

[Heidi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow. This has not stood the test of time. I hope the author will publish a very much needed updated edition. The terminology is offensive to people with special needs. The technology is outdated. But I would also like the author to delve into the character of Tru's brother better. We have one glimpse into how he feels but the rest of the time he seems to just be doing random antics. To all librarians out there, this book should be swiftly deleted from your collections.

[Amanda Gilles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this book since I was looking for a book published between 1990-2000 for this PBN book challenge. I am glad I found it because the protagonist's name is Trudy which is my grandma's name and she means the world to me! I also enjoyed the theme of "finding yourself" as the protagonist comes to realize her own struggle/growth amidst her tween ideas and creative writing. This is definitely a good read for upper elementary to expose them to having a family member with special needs.

[Jerrica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodnessss a book told from the perspective of a girl in Boston writing a diary on her COMPUTER! In 1997!!!! The internet was so innocent then, just travel blogs and chatrooms. Wingdings! Incredible.

And it's also such a moving and funny book. One scene in particular, when the mom brings home a boyfriend and Tru and Eddie decide to mess with him, had me absolutely cackling. A wonderful, wonderful book that I hope to use in later years of my teaching career.

[Wanda Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. I was wanting to find a testimonial read about special needs for my daughter and someone suggested this.

The book was written more than 20 years ago so they never identified the disability. With everything having a title I don’t know that people would be able to relate or understand.

This being a read for youth. It’s great. The frustration, disappointment and success a beautiful story.

[Alexis Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like how this book is written in a computer diary. Tru’s two goals in life. One is to have a career in television and the other is to find a cure for her brother. Her brother Eddie is developmentally disabled. I recommend this book for anyone who has a sibling or relative with a disability.

[Becca Haller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet YA book. They made a Disney Channel movie loosely based on this book, and it was always one of my favorites. The book didn’t stand up to the movie, but I love the message of accepting others no matter your differences. Makes my special ed teacher heart happy. ♥️

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. Sister and brother and how they manage growing up with her desire to be a movie producer and her brother having special needs.

[Conrad · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Magical Rewind reviewed the DCOM mafe from this book, I decided I had to read it. Now that I read it, I should see the movie too. Man, I hate Billy Meier.

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of those rare cases of the movie being better than the book. Tru Confessions is about Trudy and her twin brother Eddie. Except, Eddie is developmentally delayed and is enrolled in special education. Tru is 12 now and trying to decide the best sort of documentary to film in order to win her own television show on a local network...her subject; Eddie. This book had so many missed opportunities to show what it's like to be a sibling with a special needs brother. Instead we heard Tru's watered down commentary on vague situations. There was one meltdown scene but seemed so emotionally detached that it truly lost its impact. It was mainly a book about Tru being an angsty pre-teen who didn't get along with her mom and who's crush ended up being a bully. I wanted so much more from this book. The movie was beautiful in its depictions of a struggling family who just wanted normalcy for themselves...the book was a detached collection of musings.

[Ashley Schiess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Janet Tashjian writes a heartwarming novel in the form of an online diary of a young girl, named Trudy (Tru). The diary includes entries, lists, instant message, and drawings done by Tru's twin brother, Eddie. There is something special about Eddie though. He did not get enough oxygen when their mother was pregnant, and as a result, has a mental disorder now. Tru writes about her daily life, from her friends and her crush, to school, to her brother Eddie and their adventures together. Tru's goal in life is to have her own show on television so that she can raise awareness about Eddie's condition and to find a cure for him.

This book would be great for grades 4-6. It could be used as a read-aloud, in a class library, or as independent reading. The only possible issue with doing a read-aloud could be the multiple formats, but I still think it would be possible and that a whole class could benefit from this book! This book made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made you really think about what people that suffer from Asphyxia and other disorders go through, as well as their families. Students can really relate to this book because Tashjian makes Tru so relatable from how she writes about her daily life at school and with her friends. I especially like how the book portrays one of Tru's teachers, as a big supporter of her and her dreams :) I'm so glad that I picked up this book!

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trudy, who calls herself Tru, is an ordinary 12-year-old with big ambitions. Mostly, she wants two things: to find a cure for her twin brother Eddie, who is developmentally delayed after being deprived of oxygen at birth, and to host her own talk show. It would also be nice if Billy Meier would fall madly in love with her and if her mother would stop dating. So when Tru hears about a filmmaking contest for people her age, she realizes what a win could mean for solving all of her problems.
• No language issues
• Told in diary format
• Good example of an author’s use of voice
• Deals respectfully with Eddie’s condition and Tru’s concern for him and guilt over being “normal” herself

[Sandra McLeod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Trudy Walker has two dreams: to find a cure for her developmentally delayed twin brother and to have her own television show. She is able to combine both dreams when she enters her video about her brother in a local cable show contest and wins. She tells her story via an electronic diary format, and her entries are both poignant and insightful with a touch of humor thrown in which make for a great read.

[Salsabrarian]

Twelve-year-old Tru has two wishes--to host her own TV show and find a cure for her twin brother Eddie who is mentally disabled from a lack of oxygen in the birth canal. She writes about her ideas and life with Eddie and her mother in her computer journal. She enters a local cable TV competition to host a teen variety show. Tru expresses honestly her love, concern, resentment, and hopes about Eddie.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book touches my heart. I always used to say "it was the story of my life" because I have a younger brother who is autistic and I was always able to relate to Tru. I have cried at this book, and laughed. It's such a touching story about family and the undying love you have for them no matter how much they may get on your nerves sometimes. I love it a lot.

[JD Waggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The crazy, unpredictable writing style makes this interesting little commentary go incredibly quickly. A lot is dealt with in a short amount of pages about living with a developmentally disabled kid, without making it seem like an information overload. Very cute.

[Lorrie xD · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly inspiring book. It was that kind of book that teaches you to love life no matter what you are struggling with. I could literally read this book over and over. I would recommend it to anyone of any age.

[Kira E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a girl named Tru in 6th grade and her twin brother Eddie, who also has special needs. Tru wants to have her own tv show and when a contest comes in their local paper, she deiced to make her show about Eddie. This book was fun to read and I enjoyed it very much (:

[Jill Madsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heartfelt story of a girl gaining a deeper understanding of her twin brother who has special needs. Appreciated the story told from her perspective as too often we don't consider the impact special needs has on all family members.

[Naeia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly I really enjoyed the Disney movie that is based off this book. There were a lot of differences from the book and the movie. I just was not really into the book that much I finished it just to finish it.

[Karin · Rating 2 out of 5]

nothing really wrong with this book, just don't understand why it was reissued this fall. lots of references date the book and make it irrelevant for today's young reader.

[Rhian · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a good book TRU is always on the computer & is Eddie really TRU twin.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good! I would recomend this to anyone!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author was visiting school. So I had to read it. But it was good.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

not as good as the Larry books.

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good....kinda odd but shows the facts about a girl that has a retarded bro

[Shu Ni Lim · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice