Mayhew, Julie The Big Lie, 321 pgs. Candlewick Press, 2017.
$18. Language: R (36 swears, 18 Fs); Mature Content: R; Violence: PG-13.
Jessika is a ‘good’ girl. Or at least that’s what she tries
to be, but when her best friend Clementine opens her eyes to the cruel
realities of life under Nazi rule in modern-day Great Britain, Jessika is faced
with a difficult choice. Will she continue to live a safe and comfortable life
according to the strict rules and pre-determined path of the regime or follow
her friend into a life of freedom, but also danger? The decision is made more
difficult by the high status of her family and the reputation she has for
always following the rules. Jessika must decide if honesty truly is the best
policy or if there are some truths that are better left unsaid. This novel that
imagines what would have happened if Germany’s planned invasion of England had
been successful, explores the themes of truth, love, and the value of
freedom.
I really liked this book and I’ve thought about it quite a
lot since I finished. As a history teacher, I caught on pretty quickly to what
was going on and understood the context of the story. There were a lot of
little details of life under the Nazis that I don’t know if students would get
without some background into what the Nazis taught and how they tried establish
a “perfect” state. There is a side plot about the main character’s sexuality and
to me it felt unnecessary. I understand the point the author was trying to
make, but I felt like it bogged down in those sections. Because of the swearing
and the sexual content, I would have to be careful about who I recommended this
book to, even though I think it’s a book that could foster some really
interesting discussions about truth and its importance.
HS - OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Andrea R
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