This Is Why We Lie

Gr 9 Up–Early one morning, Jenna is taking photos at the lake when she spies a boy, Adam, in the water struggling with another person. He calls out for help, and she discovers that the girl in the water is dead. It’s even more shocking when they discover the girl, a student at Jenna’s school, was murdered. Jenna’s best friend, Hollie, was seen shouting at the girl before she died. Now Hollie is the number one suspect. Jenna’s aunt, who she lives with, is a police detective assigned to the case. More than anything, Jenna wants to help her friend. But to do that, she’ll have to dig into Adam’s school life, secret parties, illicit romances, and betrayals. Jenna’s not sure who to trust, and more than one person is lying. The plot keeps twisting in this murder mystery. Through Jenna and Adam’s alternating perspectives, readers will try to untangle the lies and the secrets at their school. This fast-paced novel will keep teens guessing until the very end. The two main characters are assumed white and able-bodied.