Module 10 - What I Saw and How I Lied

Summary

It is the end of the summer of 1947, and Evie is a typical teenage girl.  She longs to wear lipstick with matching nail polish and smoke.  She lives with her mother, stepfather, who recently returned from World War II, and his mother.  Someone keeps calling the house, looking for Joe, her stepfather, and eventually talks to him.  Joe insists he’s got the wrong soldier.  Then, Joe decides to take a sudden vacation and whisks Evie and her mother off to Palm Beach.  While staying at La Mirage, the only hotel they find open, the family becomes friends with the Graysons, with whom Joe hopes to make a big business move.  Shortly after arriving in Palm Beach, an old military “buddy” of Joe’s arrives named Peter.  Joe does not like Peter, and Peter seems to know secrets about Joe.  Evie falls in love with Peter.  During a hurricane, there is a death, which leads to an inquest in which Evie plays the starring role.

 

Bibliography

Blundell, J. (2008).  What I saw and how I lied.  New York, NY:  Scholastic.

 

My Impression

As I like historical fiction, especially dealing with the 1940s, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  Evie as the main character was likeable and believable.  As an adult, I found myself sometimes rolling my eyes at her naivety regarding Peter and what she believes his feelings to be.  I had to remind myself that she was a fairly innocent fifteen year old girl from 1947 without any experience in matters of romance other than what she saw in movies.  I liked how Evie bgrew up and changed in the book, even if those changes were forced on her by circumstance.  I also like how Evie dealt with the anti-Semitism in the book in the end, though it did leave me wondering how her family would react.  One thing I was not crazy about was Evie’s mom.  Through most of the book she was indignant about others seeing her beauty and making false assumptions about her reputation.  Because of this, it was disappointing and seemed out of character for her to tarnish her own reputation they way that she does.  My only caution to other readers is that the pacing of the book may be slow for some readers.

To Read or Not to Read:  If you like historical fiction, pick this up.  It is a worthwhile read, just don't expect a lot of excitement.

Professional Reviews

School Library Journal

"Gr 9 Up-- A 15-year-old revels in the attentions of an older man who is really interested in her mother; when her stepfather is accused of his murder, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Set in 1947 Florida, this riveting coming-of-age story delves into the heart of a naive teen coming to terms with her own perceptions, those of the adults around her, and the prejudices of the larger society. Winner of the 2008 National Book Award."

[Review of the book What I saw and how I lied, by J. Blundell].  (2009, May). School Library Journal, 55, 56.  Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/.

Kirkus Reviews
"Spontaneously moving to Florida seems like a dream come true to 15-year-old Evie, her mother, Beverly, and her stepfather, Joe, newly home from World War II. They move into a mostly abandoned hotel in Palm Beach, where Evie meets her first crush, Peter, a war buddy of Joe's. After a deal with a New York hotel owner falls through, Peter dies, and Joe and Beverly become murder suspects. What Evie sees turns out not to be much at all, and how she lies about it takes up a grand total of ten pages. In fact, what she sees are only small, deceptive fragments of a larger scandal involving money that Joe and Peter stole during the war, fragments left for the reader to piece together. Awkward Evie, slowly gaining worldliness through her new surroundings, is interesting to follow, but the book falls prey to too many conventions: The first major plot twist comes at exactly the halfway point, a second plot twist around the three-quarter mark, and the denouement contains just the required amount of symbolism. Disappointing."
[Review of the book What I saw and how I lied, by J. Blundell].  (2008, November 1).  Kirkus Reviews, 76(19), 1066.  Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com/.

Library Uses

This book could be used as an inspiration for a 1940s popculture event.  In the book, they make a lot of references to what is fashionable as well as old movies and movie stars.  Young adults know very little of popular culture at this time.  At this event, there could be screenings of old movies.  Books, images and magazines depicting fashion and leisure activities of the time period.  Music of the period could be played in the background. 


Image retrieved from:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-i-saw-and-how-i-lied-judy-blundell/1100294786?ean=9780439903486