A review by jrosenstein
What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

4.0

I'm becoming a fan of the National Book Award committee. Second year in a row they've made excellent choices for young people's literature. This book stands out in a lot of ways. Not only is it a noir for young adults (I know of no others), but it is historical fiction that does not feel at all pedantic or educational. The atmosphere is perfectly woven, the characters incredibly complex, and the lessons learned are meaningful and never trite. It may be too slow to appeal to a lot of teens, but those who are willing to give it a chance will get pulled in.