YA literature: WHAT I SAW AND HOW I LIED by Judy Blundell

What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

Blundell, Judy. 2008. WHAT I SAW AND HOW I LIED. New York: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 978-0-439-90348-6

Evie Spooner can’t understand why her blond bombshell mother won’t let her wear lipstick and party gowns, why her friend Margie teases the neighborhood girl who happens to be Jewish, or why her stepfather Joe takes the family on an extended extravagant vacation to Palm Beach, Florida. The story is told by Evie in a circular flashback, leading the reader to many questions and suspense from the first page on. 

All seem to enjoying the new feeling of freedom and indulgence following the end of WWII, after the absence and rationing of the past several years. It is off season in deserted Palm Beach where the few residents of the Le Mirage hotel are very conspicuous. The Spooner family soon befriends the glamorous Grayson couple. Evie does all she can to feel less like a girl and more like a woman, including developing a secret relationship with the handsome older Peter who seems to be disliked by his past army buddy Joe, Evie’s dad. Things seem to be going well, when events begin to occur which confuse Evie. Her mom wants to hide the fact that she and Evie spend time with Peter during the day, Joe seems to be more and more agitated, and the Graysons are hiding something. 

“Using pitch-perfect dialogue and short sentences filled with meaning, Blundell has crafted a suspenseful, historical mystery that not only subtly explores issues of post–WWII racism, sexism, and socioeconomic class, but also realistically captures the headiness of first love and the crushing realization that adults are not all-powerful” (Jennifer Hubert, Booklist, 1 Nov 2008).A literal and figurative hurricane sweep the Spooner family into scandal, family intrigue, wartime theft, prejudice, a murder trial, an accused affair all which Evie weathers in her loss of innocence. Told through rich sensory details, this story reads more realistic than historical despite the setting. Though the overall story seems a bit farfetched and schizophrenic, the conflicts and experiences of Evie are relatable for most teens today. She finds out not all is as it seems, being grown up is hard, and people, including family can be very different than what you expect or think you know.  

Classroom Connections:

-       -  Cross-curricular novel study with LA and history relating to post WWII America

-       -  Booktalk props: lipstick, perfume bottle, music excerpts mentioned in the book, sand

Best Book Lists and Awards:

Booklist Best Books for Young Adults, 2009 ; American Library Association; United States
Booklist Top 10 Crime Fiction for Youth, 2009 ; American Library Association; United States
Capitol Choices, 2009 ; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Choices, 2009 ; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, September 29, 2008 ; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal Best Books, 2008 ; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, December 2008 ; Cahners; United States
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2009 ; American Library Association; United States

National Book Awards, 2008 Winner Young People's Literature United States