The Girl Who Couldn’t Lie

Gr 4-7–The fiction trope of not being able to lie always produces some awkward situations. This approachable, entertaining read is no exception. Priya Shah is an overachieving ball of stress who never lets her guard down enough to let anyone know how she is feeling: the pressure she feels to excel in gymnastics, the secrets she keeps about her parents arguing, and the sadness she feels about the loss of her grandmother, Ba. Pretending she is fine all the time is exhausting. When she puts on her grandma’s bangle, she wakes up the next day and finds she must answer any question truthfully. Her relationship with her two best friends is challenged and blossoms over the course of the story. Priya learns that being vulnerable with people can improve her life and inspire others to do the same. One of the critical lessons explored in the book, “It’s okay not to be okay,” is a powerful mental health message.