The Book of Lies - Softcover

Moloney, James

3.91

2,654 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0007140797 ISBN 13: 9780007140794

Publisher: Harpercollins Pub Ltd, 2011

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A spectacular fantasy adventure, where three children, led by Marcel, battle against the Book of Lies to find their true identities.What is the Book of Lies It is a collection of all the lies ever told If you open the Book and tell a lie the Book has not heard, it will add it to its collection. If you tell the Book a lie it has heard before, it will speak the lie out loud. If the Book speaks a lie over and over, it will convince you it is the truth, so a lie and the truth become oneIn the dead of night, an unconscious boy is brought to an orphanage. All traces of anything that could identify the boy are removed, including the gold ring he wears, engraved with the name Marcel. A book is placed in front of the boy and opened. But this is no ordinary book it is the Book of Lies. A powerful magic user, Lord Alwyn, uses the lies the Book contains to erase Marcels former life, and give him a new identity.But there is someone else in the room, someone who fills Marcels ears with wax to prevent him absorbing the lies flowing from the Book. For Marcel is not the only orphan who has had his identity changed by the Book of Lies, and he is soon thrown into an adventure that will see him encounter wolves, a flying horse, elves, a usurper king and his army and enchanted prisons. But the final battle will be with the Book of Lies itself, as only it can provide Marcel with his true identity.

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About the Author:

James was born in Sydney, Australia in 1954.He has been a champion Long Jumper, teacher and teacher librarian, but didn't start writing until he found himself in an outback town called Cunnamulla. After winning the Australian Children's Book of the Year Award twice (1996, 1997) James decided to write full time. This is his first fantasy novel for HarperCollins.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 4–8—When Marcel is delivered to an orphanage in the middle of the night, the wizard Lord Alwyn and his magical Book of Lies take away his memories of his previous life. Only the intervention of another orphan, Bea, allows Marcel to remember his true name. It soon becomes apparent that while he doesn't remember his past, it has followed him and links him to two other orphans, Nicola and Fergus. The three soon escape and become involved in the politics of their kingdom and the conflict between King Pelham and his rivals, Prince Damon and Princess Eleanor. Marcel and the other children discover that they play a key role in the conflicts that will shape their land's future, but first they must understand the treachery and lies that surround their own identities. Marcel is a sympathetic main character, though his reactions to the changes in his life seem shallow at times and the discovery of his own powers lacks drama. Supporting characters tend to dramatic gestures, but they lack depth and motivation. Moloney has created a number of unusual magical creatures that will catch readers' imaginations, including the sorcerer's unique flying horse and the Book of Lies itself, which becomes more mysterious and sinister as the story progresses. While this novel lacks the emotional depth to be truly outstanding, Marcel's search for identity will ring true to readers on the verge of adolescence.—Beth L. Meister, Pleasant View Elementary School, Franklin, WI
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