Six Truths and a Lie

Gr 10 Up–When an explosion rocks a Fourth of July celebration, six Muslim teens are accused of terrorism. All the teens, from various Los Angeles high schools, were attending the annual bonfire sponsored by the Muslim Student Association. Of the six, only two actually knew each other, but before the night is over, they are irrevocably linked forever. Arrested and incarcerated, they experience harsh and unfair treatment because of their homelands and religion. Add to this a police and judicial system that works against them even when knowing the truth, and Shukairy’s book is so realistic that it hurts. Each of the six main characters are fully drawn, believable, and sympathetic. The plot structure moves back and forth among the characters and shows each perspective of the events. While the minor gothic element is a bit off-putting and unnecessary, it does not damage the impact of the book. Both the writing and story are so intense at times that readers may find they have to stop to take a breath before continuing.