Nothing But the Truth (and a few white lies) - Hardcover

Headley, Justina Chen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0316011282 ISBN 13: 9780316011280

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2006

Synopsis

Half Asian and half white, Patty Ho has never felt completely home in her skin. When a Chinese fortuneteller foresees a white guy on Patty's horizon, things go from bad to worse in this debut novel by a bright new talent.

About this title

About the Author:

Justina Chen Headley grew up near Buffalo, NY and San Francisco. After attending Stanford University she spent time in New York and Sydney, Australia before settling near Seattle, Washington, where she currently lives with her two children. Her first, Nothing But the Truth (and a few white lies), was a Book Sense pick, and her second novel, Girl Overboard, won praise from Olympic Gold Medalist and fellow snowboarder Hannah Teter. Her third novel, a gorgeously written story about a teen's quest for beauty, North of Beautiful, was critically acclaimed with starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and Booklist.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 9 Up–This novel is a mostly successful exploration of teen hapa (half white, half Asian) life and the struggles unique to those who live between two distinct cultures. High school sophomore Patty Ho feels like she doesn't fit in anywhere: in her family, she is a distant second to her older brother; she sometimes feels out of place among her white friends; and she is decidedly concerned about fitting in at the math camp that she's getting ready to attend. When she arrives at Stanford University, however, Patty starts to see her situation a bit differently. The good-looking Asian boy she meets on the first day just might meet her strict mother's approval, and her new roommate is someone who, Patty notes, breaks all the rules. Just when she's starting to enjoy math camp, her domineering mother arrives and, convinced that Patty is spending more time having fun than studying, threatens to bring her home. There are some funny and thoughtful moments in the narrative as the teen undergoes significant changes in her feelings about herself and her family. The first 75 pages set up her situation at home and at school; they are both funny and telling. However, some readers might be disappointed because they can't see Patty back in her real world, and how her life has changed. In spite of these drawbacks, Headley's voice is a new and much-needed one that shows great promise.–Amy S. Pattee, Simmons College, Boston
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About this edition

• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0316011282
• ISBN 13: 9780316011280
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256