Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley: Book review

Publisher/Year: September 30th 2014 MIRA Ink

Genre: YA Historical Fiction

Series: No

Pages: 377

Source/Format: e-arc | NetGalley

(Thanks NetGalley/MIRA Ink!)

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my opinion.

*This review may contain spoilers!*

Synopsis

Lie #1: I'm not afraid

Lie #2: I'm sure I'm doing the right thing

Lie #3: I don't care what they think of me It’s 1959. The battle for civil rights is raging. And it’s Sarah’s first day of school as one of the first black students at previously all-white Jefferson High. No one wants Sarah there. Not the Governor. Not the teachers. And certainly not the students – especially Linda, daughter of the town’s most ardent segregationist. Sarah and Linda are supposed to despise each other. But the more time they spend together, the less their differences matter. And both girls start to feel something they've never felt before. Something they’re determined to ignore. Because it’s one thing to stand up to an unjust world – but another to be terrified of what’s in your own heart.

My review

I absolutely love Historical Fiction, and as I have studied this time period at school recently, I was really excited to read this.

This book is so important. Not only is the premise of this book something we should still be talking about, it reflects present day in some shape or form and it is written so well. This is a book that should be read in years to come, and regarded as a way to truly understand what young black people were going through, and how they felt. This is a piece of fiction, and yet it feels so real. It really captures the essence of this time period.

However, this book doesn't just cover the battle for civil rights; it also deals with something else that wasn't accepted in 1959: being gay. Sarah is being made to feel ashamed for something that she can't control and while it was horrible to have to read someone feel bad about themselves, I am so glad it was in this book.

I thought about this book for so long after I read it, because it affected me that much. I really want to see this book being talked about more, because it is so powerful.

Izzy