The Truth and Lies of Ella Black by Emily Barr, 325 pages. Penguin, 2019. $15.
Language: R (3 F); Mature Content: PG-13 (Referenced - Sex, Drinking), Violence: PG-13 (Fighting, Self-harm, Referenced Suicide)
BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Ella is a 17 year old girl who lives in England until her parents mysteriously check her out of school for a dream vacation in Rio without any explanation. They take her phone away and refuse to share any information on what is happening or why. The mystery increases as the secret bad girl living in her mind, Bella, takes over and makes her assault her mother and run away alone and penniless in Rio to unravel the mystery of her past and try to survive.
The Truth and Lies of Ella Black attempts to connect with the feelings of loneliness and alienation that teens feel as they are coming of age, but in a more dramatic fashion than most. The book is a bit repetitive at times, I assume to build tension, but it gets a little annoying. Ella is also a mess, claiming Bella makes her so strong, but having a major break down at the same time, being in love with a boy she just met, and hating her parents, whilst needing them for money and security. I feel like teens will relate to this book, while being engaged in a crazy action story that they don’t have to live through.
Dina W. - ELA teacher
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