Lie by Caroline Bock - Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists

Mar 22, 2012 Cara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, realistic-fiction, whoa-that-s-heavy

This is not a book to "enjoy" or get excited about it. It's one of those seemingly rare books whose sole purpose is to make you think. I'm not sure even how to rate this book. I guess I'll see to that once I finish getting my thoughts in order.

Skylar Thompson (presumably the girl on the cover) is Jimmy Seeger's girlfriend. Yup that is her label because Jimmy is a person that everyone falls in love with. He is confident and a natural born leader. People feel this pull to listen to him. Skylar has...more This is not a book to "enjoy" or get excited about it. It's one of those seemingly rare books whose sole purpose is to make you think. I'm not sure even how to rate this book. I guess I'll see to that once I finish getting my thoughts in order.

Skylar Thompson (presumably the girl on the cover) is Jimmy Seeger's girlfriend. Yup that is her label because Jimmy is a person that everyone falls in love with. He is confident and a natural born leader. People feel this pull to listen to him. Skylar has just lost her mother to cancer a month ago and Jimmy's strong and protective personality won her over easily. Well the town is shocked to hear that Jimmy and Sean (Jimmy's best friend) have been arrested for beating up two brothers who come from Hispanic backgrounds. One of them, Arturo, is in critical condition. But how can this be? The kids are good here, and Jimmy can do no wrong, …right?

I'm a typically happy person so I tend to steer away from too intense reads. This would be one of those reads. The book is told from ten different perspectives, and that may seem like overkill but the author makes it so it adds something to the story and not hinders it. The plot and characters are steeped in worry, confusion, and the weight of the depression is suffocating. The Long Island town itself feels like it's falling on its own weight of lies. No joke here to break the tension or a good dose of happy moments to put the reader at ease. It was so hard to read this because I could feel myself being pulled down with them; heavy with the decisions that had to be made. The book had me thinking of what I would do in each person's position. Is there such thing as being too loyal? Or is it about choosing who to give that loyalty to, and in fact who actually deserves your loyalty? It seems easy when you see a story on the news, but once you are involved and know the people and have witnessed something terrible it changes everything.

I personally liked seeing the point of views of the adults here. I'm sorry to say some of them seem kind of dim but I'm not going to say there are not dim adults out there because there are, but by having the adults have a point of view it shows how important their role is in a situation like this.

This is a bit on the irrelevant side, but I want to emphasize to teenagers out there that though senior year is something to be celebrated, don't put too much expectation on it. I mention this because these teenagers seemed to have the sense that they had to have something different and exciting happen to them on their last year and it got out of hand.

The only thing for me that I didn't connect to was how much confusion the characters have. I would have liked to see one character be sensible throughout. My favorite narrator out of the ten was Carlos, Arturo's brother. I suspect that this book will be found in classrooms in the near future because there is a lot to discuss. It not only has the obvious theme of hate crimes but also the role of adults and teenagers in taking responsibility. If I go back and read it I know I'll find more. (less)

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Feb 20, 2013 Caroline Bock rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author)

LIE
By Caroline Bock
THE DEBUT YOUNG NOVEL THAT EVERYONE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT===============================
Starred Review - Kirkus Reviews:
Author: Bock, CarolineReview Date: July 1, 2011Publisher:St. Martin’s GriffinPages: 224Price ( Paperback ): $9.99Publication Date: August 11, 2011ISBN ( Paperback ): 978-0-312-66832-7Category: Fiction:
“This effective, character-driven, episodic story examines the consequences of a hate crime on the teens involved in it.
Bock focuses mainly on Skylar, a shy gir...more LIE
By Caroline Bock
THE DEBUT YOUNG NOVEL THAT EVERYONE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT===============================
Starred Review - Kirkus Reviews:
Author: Bock, Caroline  Review Date: July 1, 2011 Publisher:St. Martin’s Griffin Pages: 224 Price ( Paperback ): $9.99 Publication Date: August 11, 2011 ISBN ( Paperback ): 978-0-312-66832-7 Category: Fiction:
“This effective, character-driven, episodic story examines the consequences of a hate crime on the teens involved in it.
Bock focuses mainly on Skylar, a shy girl, and on her loyalty to her boyfriend Jimmy, whom readers soon learn has beaten a Salvadoran immigrant to death. Although Jimmy’s in jail, the police have little evidence against him. “Everybody knows. Nobody’s talking,” runs the mantra among the high-school crowd that knows full well Jimmy beats up Latinos every Saturday night. The author alternates short chapters written from different characters’ points of view. Readers get to know the involved teenagers and their families, as well as the victim, his brother and their mother. By portraying, simply and without comment, the reactions of the various characters, the author conveys the horror of the crime and the devastating effects on all involved, including those responsible. Sean, Jimmy’s best friend and companion on the fateful night, can’t deal with his guilt but also knows he dare not tell the truth. Lisa Marie sticks by Jimmy with no doubts. Skylar never doubts her love for Jimmy but faces a difficult choice when it transpires that the truth must come from her, or it will not come out at all.
Realistic and devastatingly insightful, this novel can serve as a springboard to classroom and family discussions. Unusual and important. (Fiction. 12 & up) --- Kirkus Reviews
=============================================
Starred Review - Publishers Weekly:
LIE
Caroline Bock. St. Martin's Griffin, $9.99 trade paper (224p)
ISBN 978-0-312-66832-7

Bock's (Confessions of a Carb Queen) first YA novel is a smart, topical story about a racially motivated hate crime, its far-ranging consequences, and the community determined to keep it under wraps. Skylar Thompson, a sensitive and complex loner, is deeply reliant on her boyfriend, Jimmy Seeger, a cocky, clean-cut jock. Shortly before their high school graduation, Jimmy and his best friend Sean are arrested for the vicious beating of Arturo Cortez, a young El Salvadoran mason, who subsequently dies of his injuries. Charismatic but cruel, Jimmy has been leading a gang that goes "beaner-hopping" on Saturday nights, assaulting Latinos for sick thrills. Skylar, who witnessed Jimmy's unprovoked attack on Arturo, suffers a crisis of conscience over whether to cover for her boyfriend; the lies Skylar and others are pressured to tell cut through the town like the Long Island Expressway the title plays on. Avoiding preachiness, Bock handles the novel's multiple viewpoints exceptionally well, rotating among the painfully believable voices of high school students and adults. Her characters may keep the truth inside, but their story reads like a confessional. Ages 12–up. (Sept.)
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Sneak Peek Reviewers Club June 15, 2011
BOCK, Caroline. Lie. Griffin. September 2011. Pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-312-66832-7.
Gr 7 Up-The police are questioning 17-year-old Skylar Thompson. Her baseball and football star boyfriend Jimmy was accused of assaulting two immigrants, and she was the prime witness. Skylar is trying to keep quiet for Jimmy because she believes he's her savior. After all, he was the only person who helped pull her out of depression when her mother died. However, one of the immigrants, Carlos Cortez, demands justice, and Skylar wonders why she started protecting Jimmy in the first place. Sean, Jimmy's best friend and accomplice, was also at the scene, but he's out on bail and has offered to testify against Jimmy. He must decide whether or not to turn against his friend in order to save his own skin. As the book progresses, each character begins to ponder why they started following Jimmy-were they really trying to save him or themselves?
This book was, indeed, eye opening. Told in several voices, Bock creates a suspenseful, gripping, and powerful novel that will keep readers on their toes. In the beginning, it was like a puzzle. Everyone kept quiet about everything, yet there were always small clues leaking out. As the novel progresses, both Skylar and Sean change into new people, questioning what is right and what is wrong.
This book is definitely a great read for high school students. There's a lot that students can relate to and Bock does an impressive job of being in the shoes of a teenager struggling through life. Definitely a great read.-Jenny C., age 16
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Sep 13, 2011 Racquel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011, contemporary, tear-jerker, ya, review-copy

Review also posted on my blog: The Book Barbies

How do you decide to read a book? What makes you add a book to your 'to-be-read' pile? I'll tell you what: genre, summary and cover. We want to read something we will enjoy, we want something we will end up liking and it's not a secret that everyone judges books by their covers. So to me the answer to those categories have to fall under: YA or adult romance, pretty cover, interesting summary. Lie fit into all these categories so it was a go but let...more Review also posted on my blog: The Book Barbies

How do you decide to read a book? What makes you add a book to your 'to-be-read' pile? I'll tell you what: genre, summary and cover. We want to read something we will enjoy, we want something we will end up liking and it's not a secret that everyone judges books by their covers. So to me the answer to those categories have to fall under: YA or adult romance, pretty cover, interesting summary. Lie fit into all these categories so it was a go but let me tell you beneath the pretty cover and hella interesting summary, is a terrible story. STOP, I don't mean terrible it gets 0 stars terrible, I-want-to-burn-this-book terrible but terrible as in this book is not to be read for shit and giggles, it's not a guilty pleasure read you read by the poolside because the story is dark, it's too real and it's heartbreaking. So if your the type to stick to sweet books this is not for you.

I wasn't expecting what I got with Lie, to be honest I don't really know what I was expecting but what I got was definitely 180° not what I was expecting.

First of all if you read any review about Lie (and when I picked up the book I didn't) you will already know the book goes through 10 different POV. Yes, TEN. We got to hear Skylar Thompson's thoughts, she is Jimmy's girlfriend. We read her dad's thoughts, her bestfriends Lisa Marie, from Jimmy's bestfriend Sean wand Carlos, the victim and a bunch of random people but through out all this the one person we don't get to read their thoughts is the one and only Jimmy and if that is a good thing or not I will get back to you on that. I feel like we read about so many different feelings concerning Jimmy that it made up his character and we didn't need to have his POV.

I would like to say that I am the first person to jump on the wagon that knows hate-crime exists, and that yes, there is still racism through out the world. I have seen it and I see it every single day, I live in Houston after all, you can't more of a racial diverse city. So I found everything about beaner hopping, the racism and the ground this book is built on to be absolutely 100% realistic with the fact that last year a group of white kids that call themselves 'crib killers' brought a knife to school ready to 'kill' some 'cribs' (a group of Mexicans who like to think they have a gang) in mind.

I salute Bock for going to the land of taboo and picking a subject from there to write about and if I do say so myself this book is well done. She captured the hate crime perfectly, the writing is very well done and I teared up twice at certain parts of the book. Then why did I give this book only 3 stars? Well there is thing books have and it's characters and the characters of this book frustrated it me from here to Antarctica. While I get that Bock tried her best to portray the characters as realistic as possible and I think she did a good job but I think she was a little extreme about it. One thing I didn't understand is how EVERYONE worshiped Jimmy like he was Jesus Christ himself. I get that maybe Sean and Skylar would kiss the ground he walks on but did everyone have to too? Not one person had common sense to see what he was doing is down right awful? At a certain part of the book, when everyone was praising Jimmy like Buddha I actually liked him even though I knew what he did... his 'charm' got me but it didn't get me enough to overlook what a complete disgusting human being he is, and the grown-ups, oh my god are grown-ups really this naive? because I doubt it. Bock made every single grown up in this book have a mind of a 2 year old! Why did they give a blind eye to the answers right in front of their eyes? I can understand a couple of the grown ups in this book doing it but did it have to be EVERY single one. It frustrated me to no end and made me want to pull my hair out!

I would have liked to read more from Carlos because he was my favorite narrator and less of Lisa Marie who I almost hate more the Jimmy which reminds me to say, I didn't fully understand why Jimmy does the things he does. What caused him to get to the super extreme level of racism he is in? I understand his dad went through a lot because of terrorists and lost his jobs to illegal immigrants but still that doesn't drive a person to torture people. I would have liked more background on that but besides that Bock does a really well job to make you feel for the victims. Not all the characters we read about are saints just like normal people and they all do awful stupid things, but surprisingly that didn't make me hate every one of them. I liked how we saw how each character dealt with what happened in their own way, how they tried to get past it and what their actions and reactions were. I though that was handled very book just like the book and over all I really enjoyed Lie. I even think I can pick this book up again and re-read which definitely in my scale means that this is a must read even though a couple of things could have been better.

-thank you&come again.(less)

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Nov 05, 2011 Lauren added it

Shelves: didn-t-finish

When I first heard about Lie I was instantly intrigued, because not only did the premise sounded relatistic and unique but it was also backed by one of my favorite YA authors- Jennifer Brown, author of Hate List. However, I didn't end up enjoying Lie as much as I hoped I would. For one, while the premise was interesting, I felt the execution was a bit too choppy for my taste. Plus I felt that it was bogged down with way too many messages, and due to the constant switching of narrators, I never r...more

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Jan 22, 2012 Lanora TM rated it 2 of 5 stars

Review: [return]Lie by Caroline Bock tells the story of a group of teens and their reaction to a hate crime that has taken place in their small town. The book switches back and forth between narrators, and gives the audience the perspective of other characters. This method is similar to Jodi Picoult's style; however, teens may been unfamiliar with Picoult since most of her books are geared towards adults. The characters in the book will have you guessing what you would personally do if you found...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Carmen Yeung rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-2013-advisory

This book was one of the best books i've read, because I like their ways of portraying each character in another character's mindset. The ending was completely out of the blue and I kind of did expected it because of Skylar's fear in talking or telling the truth. Skylar and her boyfriend Jimmy got into some kind of trouble, as it was told it was bullying and attacking people from South America. Skylar not only is worried for Jimmy, but she also prays for him to get out of the jail, because Jimmy...more

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Jul 10, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

“Hope is the thing with feathers -- That perches in the soul” is the beginning of Emily Dickinson’s poem which is quoted in the YA novel LIE by Caroline Bock. This book is a shocking page-turner, and it will have you hoping against all odds for an ending that offers some justice for the victim. Based on events that happened not far from my own community on Long Island, LIE is a work of fiction that explores difficult topics such as racism, hate crimes, and peer pressure.

Although the names and o...more

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Jun 03, 2012 Marj rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, favorites

What a powerful read!

'Lie' documents the lives of ten people during the 'in between' time after the crime but before the trial. It's a tense and beautifully written story of the motives that drive people to act and react, to follow and even to lead. All of the characters talking gravitate around or are affected by Jimmy, the centre of the action.

Although we don't hear Jimmy's story first hand, we are told so much about his life through other characters' stories that we come to know him: his raci...more

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Apr 05, 2012 Cac rated it 5 of 5 stars

LIE takes a well planted step into the realm of new contemporary literature. While weaving a very disturbing story that explores a hate crime in suburban Long Island, the author, Ms. Bock, creates from several points of view, a "God View" of the actions, reactions and emotions of the characters in play. Ms. Bock manages to harness the perspective of ten different characters giving the reader a truly realistic feel for the events surrounding the teenagers in question. The reader comes away with a...more LIE takes a well planted step into the realm of new contemporary literature. While weaving a very disturbing story that explores a hate crime in suburban Long Island, the author, Ms. Bock, creates from several points of view, a "God View" of the actions, reactions and emotions of the characters in play. Ms. Bock manages to harness the perspective of ten different characters giving the reader a truly realistic feel for the events surrounding the teenagers in question. The reader comes away with a feeling that what he or she just read might actually have been a real incident disguised as fiction to protect the innocent.

LIE follows four teenagers, after a night of questionable fun turns tragic. The teenagers responsible for the tragedy then pledge to stay quiet. The reader follows them as they continue to make bad choices and raising hard questions about morality and ethics that many readers will possibly relate to on some level. The dysfunctional Lisa Marie and the conflicted Skylar are two female characters that give the reader pause for thought. The author plays with themes that are traditional, but by no means old. She breathes new life into the genre with her style and well honed prose.

Some readers may find the point-of-view switching disorienting or confusing. To avoid this feeling I recommend that when you pick up this book you accept the ride it takes you on. Don't try to impose "rules" that don't really exist. Take the time to accept the work as presented with the understanding that life doesn't play out in neat little linear vignettes. Life is jarring, it jumps here and there. Life is wonderful because it rarely reads dully from point A to point B.

Although the story demographic is aimed at younger readers, adults will find plenty of good meat on the sturdy bones of this tale. The exploration of right and wrong along with the revelations made about how lives are impacted by other's actions is handled in a deft manner by the author. In short, LIE is a must read for the discerning reader looking for the best in new literature as well as for the casual reader looking for a read that won't disappoint. (less)

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Feb 22, 2012 Charlie rated it 4 of 5 stars

"Lie" was a story told by a lot of different points of view. The main character was a girl named Skylar Thompson. Each chapter is another persons view on things, but Skylar seemed to have the most to say. The whole book revolvs around this crime that has been comitted. In their town, it was popular to go "beaner hopping." That is when a group of kids (usally the popular ones) would go jump Mexican kids. Sean and Jimmy decide to do this one night. Usaly you just ruff them up a bit, not doing much...more

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Jan 25, 2012 Jeni rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, young-adult

An interesting story delving into racism, subtle evilness (that becomes decidedly un-subtle), peer-pressure, family ties and many other things.

Told in 10 different voices, the story is short, yet nearly too big. Several people sound the same and I sometimes got confused as to who was telling the story. I also found several parts difficult to read because I found them to be so unbelievable. Yes, I do think kids do stupid things without thinking, and yes, I do think those things sometimes spiral o...more

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Oct 28, 2011 cecilia rated it 3 of 5 stars

To lie or to come clean… Skylar Thompson has to decide whether to free her boyfriend Jimmy by keeping silent or speak the truth and face its consequences. To love or to let go… Jimmy helped Skylar come to terms with her mother’s death and makes her feel loved, but how can this Jimmy be the same one who brutally assaulted a couple of immigrants? To make things right or to leave it wrong… When Skylar finally makes a decision, will anyone be there to support her?

LIE is laid out a little differently...more

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Aug 28, 2011 Mickey (I'm A Book Shark) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, arc, netgalley

I received this ARC ecopy from Net Galley. Here is my honest review:

This book starts off with a quote from The New York Times about "beaner-hopping." This is not something I'd ever heard of before reading this book, and I live in Arizona. It is hardly an act I can wrap my head around, but it just goes to show that there is hate in this world that happens without people even knowing. I can't believe the level of hate and racism we still have in this country.

About the book itself: It is told in fi...more

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Aug 19, 2011 Fran rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lie
Author: Caroline Bock
Reviewed by Fran Lewis

Teens often have a code that they follow even if wrong. Loyalty, faithfulness and even fear will keep some from speaking out against those that they feel either keep them safe from harm or threatened if the dare to go against them. It you witnessed a murder and knew the outcome was fatal for one and injuries for the other would you tell? Do you think hate crimes and racial attacks should go unpunished even if you think they are wrong? Listen to the v...more Lie
Author: Caroline Bock
Reviewed by Fran Lewis

Teens often have a code that they follow even if wrong. Loyalty, faithfulness and even fear will keep some from speaking out against those that they feel either keep them safe from harm or threatened if the dare to go against them. It you witnessed a murder and knew the outcome was fatal for one and injuries for the other would you tell? Do you think hate crimes and racial attacks should go unpunished even if you think they are wrong? Listen to the voices as I relate what they have to say and decide for yourself if Jimmy, Sean and those involved should get away with one of the most heinous crimes anyone can ever commit: BEATING FOR RACE! Skylar Thompson’s voice is the first one heard. She is seventeen years old and has witnessed a crime committed by her boyfriend, Jimmy. Jimmy brutally and cruelly assaulted two El Salvadorian immigrants from another town nearby and now will stand trial as an adult. Arturo Cortez pays the ultimate price. His brother is seriously beaten. Jimmy takes pride in beating up Latinos on Saturday night. It’s like a ritual or worse his own mantra for living. Next, you hear the voice of Sean who is in a jail cell frightened to death. Sitting among other criminals in the same cell you can hear the fear in his voice, the anguish in his heart but do you think he is remorseful?

It started out as fun. What happened he claims was a mistake? Lisa Marie promises Jimmy from a call made from prison to her cell phone she would always be with him, her father would help him with his legal problems and be there for Skylar. Skylar and Lisa Marie are both guilty of telling lies. Lies, everyone tells them. Some lies are more deadly than others when the end truth comes out. Truths are sometimes considered Lies when we twist them to suit our own personal outcome. Skylar lied and told the police she did not witness what happened. Lisa Marie lied or omitted telling Jimmy she was meeting Skylar. Why, still remains to be seen as there are many more voices to be heard, more inner thoughts to be revealed and final outcomes still remain to be seen. So, why won’t Jimmy’s parents post bail? Why will Sean’s? Just when does loyalty stop and the truth need to come out? Boyfriends have powerful holds over naïve and impressionable girls. Skylar cannot seem to function or focus since Jimmy was arrested and feels alone without him. After her mother died he was all she had. Skylar and Lisa Marie discuss what is next and how to deal with things at a local diner. These are the next two voices heard. There are so many distinct voices heard. One at a time the author introduces each of the characters in a unique and creative way. Short and crisp chapters devoted to allowing the reader to hear the inner thoughts of the characters as he/she debates his/her own fate in this incident and in their own life. Skylar caught up in a web of her own deceit, lies and world in order to justify her actions on the night that Carlos and Arturo’s lives would change. One would end and the other would harbor guilt, remorse and anger that things did not go the right way and he could not convince his brother not to take a ride from strangers. The voice of the Principal of the school is heard as she recounts her feelings about Jimmy and Sean including their relationship and how the teachers viewed them. Jimmy strong-minded, charismatic and controlling the actions of all of the others even from his jail cell. Calling Lisa Marie and Skylar making sure that no one speaks about the incident out in the open and to the police. Loyalty, faith and understanding hoping they follow and hear his words or orders to them in order to protect as he states each one of them but who is he really protecting? The voice of Tommy Thompson, Skylar’s father comes through loud and clear. The man works hard and is trying to find a way to communicate with his daughter but she is so controlled, so blinded and so consumed with Jimmy as her “savior and protector,” her judgment is clouded and she cannot see past her own clouded vision of what is really there and what really happened that night. The voice of the mother of the boys is one of fear, frustration and anger as she is trapped in her own country taking care of her family and she hoping after eleven years to get to America and see her sons and protect them from any further harm. But, can she? Is it too late for everyone? Hate is a terrible word. Prejudice is a disease that spreads especially when one person controls the minds of others and they fall prey to that voice when he/she is a superstar in their own right or at least in the eyes of others who have made them that. Friends, family and even many teachers revere Jimmy. He is a star on the baseball team and of course given special treatment as many athletes on pro teams today when they walk into a room. Lisa Marie seems to be the one constant in this story as well as Skylar. These two voices come through loud and clear. Lisa strong and single-minded in her thoughts as she hovers of Skylar, trying to be her close friend yet with one thought in mind to protect Jimmy. Why? That has come to light as yet.

Lies people tell them every second of every day. Skylar: Lies to the police and her father to protect Jimmy. Lies to herself about her life thinking he is her only way out. Lisa Marie, Sean and the rest keeping the LIE alive in their own minds and blocking out any truths that might save them all. Jimmy: his voice is not heard except in sporadic phone calls to both Lisa Marie and Skylar. You never really hear his inner most feelings or thoughts and the one thing you will not hear from any is REMORSE! A common practice to go after Mexicans called Beaners on Saturday night just for fun seems the norm with these kids and even the police looked away until now. A great place to live and relatively safe. A school that rates among the best but what goes on outside of the closed doors is not reflected according the Principal as what goes on inside her school or classroom doors. One town, one huge cover-up and one huge and dangerous LIE. Will anyone come out with the truth? Will the truth just be another LIE? Author Caroline Bock has created a plot filled with many important lessons for adults and teens to learn. Hate is a terrible word. Race and class prejudice needs to be discussed in classrooms and hopefully eliminated. When loyalty and trust is a lie that could hurt you or others is it right? When one voice rises above the rest who are weak and afraid what do you do? Sean feels he is worthless and not worthy to be around Jimmy. He states he failed? How? Listening to Sean and Skylar talk near her mother’s grave you being to sense that one of them might break and speak out. Can you keep a Lie forever? Is it right to beat someone up for fun just because they are of a different race? Should an athletic coach be threatened and feel he has to play someone that is not up to the task? Just how far would you go to be in first place? The new mantra in life: First place or no place does not only refer to the game but someone’s position in another’s life. Just how important is selling your thoughts, integrity and values to another who just wants to control you and your actions really worth it? You hear the voice of Jimmy’s father telling the story in his own words and expressing his feelings about what really happened and what he did to protect his son. You hear the voice of Carlo’s when he meets his mother and you hear Skylar, Lisa Marie and Sean each battling with their own version of Lies and half-truths. Lisa Marie supported by her parents. Skylar’s dad hoping to take her away from this nightmare and move on with their lives. Skylar, lost in her own world consumed with Jimmy and only protecting him yet not sure if she should tell the truth to anyone. Lisa claiming she was not there and Skylar the same thing. One witness could end that all. What does happen and who comes out and where you will have to read and learn for yourself. A gripping and compelling novel that will haunt the reader way after you complete reading the novel and turn the last page. Where does Jimmy wind up? Will Skylar face the truth and tell what really happened? Trust: Hard to find someone according to Skylar. Friendships tested, family ties broken and mended and one young man who holds the truth in his hands and the scale of justice he hopes tipped in his direction.

An ending so powerful you will definitely need a box of tissues before you find out who remains true to themselves and who continues to LIE. LIE: Long Island Expressway: A road that took many of the voices to where they had to go to protect their LIES. Does anyone say they are sorry? What Skylar decide? What is Jimmy’s fate? LIES: CAN YOU LIVE WITH THEM: REMEMBER THERE IS NO TURNING BACK:
I give this book: FIVE HONEST TRUTHS

Fran Lewis: REVIEWER

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Oct 30, 2011 Brittany Rehage rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was an intense book. Bock took on a hard subject and handled it in such an impressive way that this book will be sticking with me for a while. This is a book that will get people talking.

This book was extremely realistic and that makes it all the more shocking. To think that this book, while a work of fiction, is true in many ways was extremely powerful. I felt so much for Skylar, the shy girl who doesn't want to lose another person in her life. She knows if she goes along with the lie, she...more

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Aug 27, 2011 Pam rated it 5 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars

This is the story of the aftermath of a hate crime. The setting is Long Island, New York. Those involved in the incident are Jimmy…a wanna-be military leader, high school senior. Sean, Jimmy’s best friend, high school senior with a tendency to follow rather than lead. Skylar, Jimmy’s girlfriend, recently lost her Mother to ovarian cancer, and is lost…Jimmy is her life preserver. And Lisa Marie, Skylar’s best friend, secretly in love with Jimmy, and tends to be an “athletics” groupie. Th...more 4.5 Stars

This is the story of the aftermath of a hate crime. The setting is Long Island, New York. Those involved in the incident are Jimmy…a wanna-be military leader, high school senior. Sean, Jimmy’s best friend, high school senior with a tendency to follow rather than lead. Skylar, Jimmy’s girlfriend, recently lost her Mother to ovarian cancer, and is lost…Jimmy is her life preserver. And Lisa Marie, Skylar’s best friend, secretly in love with Jimmy, and tends to be an “athletics” groupie. The victims are two brothers, Arturo and Carlos Cortez. Arturo is not in the US legally, but Carlos was born in the States and is a citizen.

WOW is really the first word I uttered upon finishing this book. I will be honest, I shied away from this story after reading the synopsis. Hate crimes are ugly. For me they rank right up there, just below child abuse. Not something I want to read about in my spare time…know what I mean? That said, the reviews I’d read about “LIE”, were all overwhelmingly positive so I decided to read it anyway.

I’m glad that I did. If for no other reason than to becoming familiar with, and a fan of, Ms. Bock’s writing. She is talented beyond measure. She crafted such a touching and thought-provoking story…one where I cried and yelled at the characters, quite often. The story is told from numerous shifting perspectives…everyone touched by the “incident”. So you, as the viewer, got to see everything unfold from many viewpoints…which made it interesting, but what made it fascinating was that with each of these viewpoints also came with some of the character’s history, thus putting the character’s filter on that viewpoint.

It was tough read and I struggled through parts of it, even though it was a work of fiction. The author doesn’t pull any of her punches. I urge you to read it, better yet, read it with your kids and use it as a stepping stone for some great discussion…but be forewarned and go into it with your eyes open.

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Oct 22, 2011 Shanna rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: young adults (high school, college)

Recommended to Shanna by: Caroline Bock

Shelves: contemporary, young-adult, first-reads

The book wasn't what I was expecting. I knew going in that the book was basically about hate crimes. I thought that a lot of the book would be about "the incident". The built up to that Saturday night, the brutality, the mentality of the 'beaner-hoppers' and the victims, etc. I was wrong. The book is about the aftermath of that night. The consequences of doing committing a heinous act. The anomie and solitude that's coupled with guilt and how the teenagers cope with what's happened.

I love how th...more The book wasn't what I was expecting. I knew going in that the book was basically about hate crimes. I thought that a lot of the book would be about "the incident". The built up to that Saturday night, the brutality, the mentality of the 'beaner-hoppers' and the victims, etc. I was wrong. The book is about the aftermath of that night. The consequences of doing committing a heinous act. The anomie and solitude that's coupled with guilt and how the teenagers cope with what's happened.

I love how the book is layered, jumping from panicked anxiety, grief, anger, and isolation. There are multiple points of view; therefore, you have insight into one of the victims and his mother. You have insight into most of the minds of the teenagers involved (view spoiler). You also get the chance to read about the adults (parents, a school teacher and principal). I feel that as a reader, I could relate to every character mentioned. Lisa Marie wants to follow the crowd and is desperate for stability. Sean is overcome with guilt and can't find an outlet. Skylar struggles with right and wrong, and the fact that she is in love with the assailant complicates things further for her. I could understand the worried parents who protect their children in different ways (encouraging one to say what needs to be said in order to get this over with, encouraging others to lie so his son can get out of jail, and encouraging one to do what's right no matter what).

(view spoiler)

Also, from a materialistic perspective, the cover art is very well done. I loved the matted finish. And the paper quality was excellent. But, not that any of this matters because you're not supposed to judge a book by the cover anyways!(less)

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Sep 26, 2011 Heidi Gonzalez rated it 3 of 5 stars

The author flips back and forth between characters allowing you to hear their innermost thoughts, and reactions to what happened that fateful night. The only voice that is missing is Jimmy, which I think is greatly missed. All the characters revolve around Jimmy yet his voice is missing from the book, although one could argue that most of the characters are so enraptured by Jimmy that Jimmy has been thinking and speaking for them for so long that now they are getting their opportunity to speak a...more

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Aug 22, 2011 Tina (yAdultReview) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-books, contemporary, ya, arc-netgalley

Review originally posted at Nose in a Book.

Let me start this off by saying that for almost this entire book, I loathed Skylar. I loathed her even more than her dumb friend, Lisa Marie. Skylar is the epitome of the clueless, obtuse, casually racist mentality spreading across our nation. I understand that Jimmy was there for her when her mother died, but she is ruled and controlled by her love for him. Everything is, “Jimmy said” or “Jimmy thinks.” I DON’T CARE ABOUT JIMMY. I already know he kille...more Review originally posted at Nose in a Book.

Let me start this off by saying that for almost this entire book, I loathed Skylar. I loathed her even more than her dumb friend, Lisa Marie. Skylar is the epitome of the clueless, obtuse, casually racist mentality spreading across our nation. I understand that Jimmy was there for her when her mother died, but she is ruled and controlled by her love for him. Everything is, “Jimmy said” or “Jimmy thinks.” I DON’T CARE ABOUT JIMMY. I already know he killed a man, and so do you! I want Skylar to break out of this insulated, sheltered existence and get out of Long Island. I knew people like her in high school, and maybe I was just in a more diverse environment, but I hated kids like her and never associated with them. Why would I? This girl is a whining, willfully ignorant jerk for a good two-thirds of the book! I’m trying to be sympathetic, but I can’t imagine just listening to and believing someone who calls an entire race of people “parasites.” How could she be so clueless? (I also might hate Jimmy since my cousin had a stalker named Jimmy…)

This book is so rough. It’s told from multiple points of view, so not only do you get to see inside Skylar and Sean’s heads, you also get to see inside the head of Carlos Cortez, the brother of the man Jimmy killed. We get a glimpse into Carlos’ mother’s head. It’s horrible and heartbreaking, and it will make you cry. This book is a lot like Shine by Lauren Myracle, but without a heroine who knows right from wrong. (Skylar doesn’t say something worthwhile until the eighty-nine percent mark!)

Sean is much more relateable to me than Skylar. He’s hurting and he’s remorseful and he can’t sleep. He wants to talk about it, but Skylar is a freaking zombie and Lisa Marie just keeps saying, “everyone knows. No one’s talking.” When I got to the last ten percent of the book, I was practically screaming for someone to come forward. Skylar wants to run away. We haven’t seen Lisa Marie for a few chapters. Everyone’s parents are turning a blind eye to this sort of thing. It’s sick and sad, it’s hard to read. Almost impossible. I had to loose a lot of rage on twitter over this book and its characters.

This book is good. The characters are real, and easy to hate for what they did, but they also have layers (though we’re told more than shown these layers). As much as I don’t understand these kids or their views, these things do happen. No matter how much I want to strangle Skylar, she’s had a rough year.

But I still hated every single character in this book. I would never read it again, but I’m glad I did, because this book was heartwrenching and beautiful, in it’s own way.(less)

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Aug 21, 2011 Glenda rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: teens. teachers

Recommended to Glenda by: the author

"The attacks were such an established pastime that the youths, who have pleaded not guilty, had a casual and derogatory term for it, 'beaner hopping.'"
---The New York Times, front page story
after the murder of a Hispanic immigrant on Long Island

Author Caroline Bock opens her YA debut novel LIE (St. Martins Griffin: August 30, 2011) with this news snippet. The objective, journalistic style offers a stark contrast to Bock's use of multiple narrative voices to construct a fictional narrative touch...more

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Dec 04, 2011 Mike rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, young-adult

It was a fluke that I ended up with this book. I was at the NCTE convention in Chicago and wandered the booksellers' exhibit. St. Martin was there, selling books for $3 a pop, and I picked this one up with three others. I'm really glad I did.

It took me forever to figure out that L.I.E. is the Long Island Expressway. The story is set there and the title and the expressway figure into the story quite neatly. The story is told in a series of first-person vignettes, which in itself makes it an intri...more

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Sep 01, 2011 Elizabeth B rated it 2 of 5 stars

The reviews are mixed on this book and after finishing my ARC copy, I now know why. Even my own view is divided. The story itself is grippingly realistic and drawn straight from currents news topics. It’s exceptionally well done in that regard and the author has done a great job at balancing the character’s reactions to the event. Now (and this is where most people, including myself, struggled with the title): the characters are just horrible people. It is impossible to feel any type of empathy...more

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Aug 30, 2011 Lynossa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: egalley, read-in-2011

I like how the book touched a sensitive issue, even though I can't stand the characters, it's one thing to have flawed characters but I hardly see the strong traits of each character.
However, I must admit the author managed to portray how fragile and dependent teenagers are. A smart egomaniac psychopath came and managed to charm everyone to the point they were willing to do anything to get his approval. Basically Jimmy is all in their mind, they do anything for Jimmy, happy to be in his side, an...more

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Jun 13, 2012 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was very confronting. All 10 of the viewpoints expressed in the book added another side to what was seemingly was a straightforward crime. I did not know what to feel about Jimmy - he confused me to no end and I couldn't wrap my head around his characteristics and demeanor.
This book i could not put down. I was trying to analyse every aspect of the situation and still could not decide my feelings. After finishing, i found that the characters stuck with me and still kept me wondering. I actu...more

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Sep 06, 2012 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked LIE very much although I thought it was somewhat slow at first.

In fact, the title, LIE stands for Long Island Expressway in addition to a lie maintained by several of the characters in this read. I was a bit surprised by the 10 distinct points of view on one major event--the murder of eighteen-year old, Carlos Cortez. These 10 points of view give us a snapshot into the fictional lives of each teen character and some of their parents, some of whom are not likeable or believable. Their re...more

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Sep 27, 2012 Conkristador rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was only hard to read in regards to the fact that it's sad to think that there are actually people in the real world that mirror the characters.

It portrays multiple viewpoints from people involved in a hate crime against two boys from El Salvador. Caroline Bock appropriately differentiates between each characters reaction. It includes a worried father who wants to distance himself from the crime so much that he doesn't even want to know the truth behind whether or not his daughter was...more

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Jan 30, 2012 Jonathan Karmel rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked that the book was written in the first person but from the perspective of many different characters. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I didn't find all of the voices of the characters completely believable. It seemed like at times the characters were thinking from the author's perspective, not from the perspective of an insular, working-class person from Suffolk County. While I could imagine a group of families perpetuating this lie on Long Island in 2011, I think there would also be ver...more

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Sep 22, 2011 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book and disagree with some of the reviews posted here about the characters. I understand why people didn't like the characters - they were unlikeable, but honestly, that is what made this story so realistic. There ARE people out there who feel the way Jimmy did....there ARE kids who will follow people like Jimmy without asking questions...yes it is frustrating and you want to scream to Skylar to WAKE UP - this guy is no good, but that is what makes the story so powerful. I...more

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Nov 04, 2011 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was good book with a very deep subject matter. Hate crimes...

This book was well written and I enjoyed the storyline. The end of the story actually brought tears to my eyes and choked me up....

The story was told from the different characters eyes...so each chapter was from someone different.

There were no twists and turns in this story, you knew from the beginning what happened but even so the story held my attention.

I wish that you were able to see deeper into who Jimmy really was and the re...more

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Oct 06, 2011 Charlotte rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: advanced-readers-copy, nook

http://charlotteswebofbooks.blogspot....

LIE is a character driven novel. Each chapter is told from a different perspective. You get to see all sides of this situation, from the baseball coach to the mother of victims. You get to see what kind of impact the actions of Jimmy and Sean have on others, not just those directly involved. I really felt for Skylar, she is feeling trapped by the events. She knows what happened was wrong, but she is afraid of losing Jimmy and is willing to do anything to p...more

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