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Harmless
There was a man. He had a knife. He attacked us down by the river.
It was just a harmless little lie.
Anna, Emma and Mariah concoct a story about why they're late getting home one night—a story that will replace their parents' anger with concern. They just have to stand by it. No matter what. Suddenly the police are involved, and the town demands that someone be punished. And then there is the man who is arrested and accused of a crime that never happened.
It was just a harmless little lie.
Anna, Emma and Mariah concoct a story about why they're late getting home one night—a story that will replace their parents' anger with concern. They just have to stand by it. No matter what. Suddenly the police are involved, and the town demands that someone be punished. And then there is the man who is arrested and accused of a crime that never happened.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published February 6, 2007
33 people are currently reading
2026 people want to read
About the author
Dana Reinhardt
17 books230 followersWhy don't you have a bio section?
Because I hate writing about myself.
But wouldn't that be easier than answering a whole bunch of FAQs?
Maybe. Probably. Go on...
So where are you from?
I'm from Los Angeles, but now I live in San Francisco. Except for the summers where I go back to Los Angeles in search of the sun.
What are you doing when you aren't writing?
Laundry, usually. Sometimes dishes. And I really like to walk near the Golden Gate Bridge.
Why don't you run instead of walk?
Running is hard. And I'm sort of lazy.
Have you ever had a real job?
Yes. Of course I have. I've waited tables, worked with adolescents in foster care, read the slush pile at a publishing house, and fact checked for a movie magazine. I also worked for FRONTLINE on PBS and Peter Jennings at ABC. I went to law school, which I know doesn't count as a job, but hey, that was a lot of work.
What's your writing day like? Do you stick to a routine?
I like to write in the mornings. Sometimes that means I have to get up really early. I try to write 700 words a day -- about three pages. I know there are lots of writers out there who can write way more than that. I know this because writers like to tell you about how many words they've written on FACEBOOK. So I try not to look at FACEBOOK when I'm writing. And anyway, I've learned that 700 words are about all I'm good for on any given day, and if I write more than that I usually end up getting rid of most of it later.
What, are you lazy or something?
I already told you I'm lazy. But seriously, 700 words are a lot of words. 700 of them, to be precise.
Where do you get your ideas?
From someplace inside my head.
That's not really an answer.
Yes, it is. And it's as honest an answer as I can give.
Are your books autobiographical?
Not really. I'm not adopted, I've never told a lie that sent someone to jail, I've never built a house or had a brother go to war. But there are always things in my books that come from my life or from the lives of the people around me. It would be impossible to make up everything.
Why do you write young adult fiction?
Because I was a young adult when I fell in love with reading and I can remember how books made me feel back then. How they provided both comfort and escape. That might make me sound like a shut-in, but I wasn't. I was just open to the experience books offered, probably more open than I am now as an adult. And I like writing for that sort of audience.
What exactly is young adult fiction?
Lots of people have thought long and hard about this question and have had many intelligent things to say about voice and how YA books can't spend too much time on adult characters, etc. I don't have anything to add to the debate except to say that YA should be a place to go in the bookstore or library if you are looking for a coming of age story, no matter how old you are.
Do you have a favorite book?
Yes.
Don't be coy, what is it?
To Kill a Mockingbird.
How come there aren't any vampires or wizards in your books?
Hmmmm... good question. Maybe I should write about vampires and wizards.
No, you shouldn't. You wouldn't be very good at that.
Thanks for the vote of confidence.
Did you wear a Soupy Sales sweatshirt when you were seven?
Does anybody even know who Soupy Sales is?
That's what the Internet is for. Don't avoid the question.
I'm sorry, is this really a Frequently Asked Question?
No. But, c'mon, tell us anyway.
Yes, I did. But I'm trying to portray myself as someone who wasn't a total loser. So maybe you shouldn't bring that up. And it also makes me sound ancient, which I'm not. Yet I had a Soupy Sales sweatshirt. And I loved it. It was yellow. And really soft.
You're right. It does make you sound like a loser.
Because I hate writing about myself.
But wouldn't that be easier than answering a whole bunch of FAQs?
Maybe. Probably. Go on...
So where are you from?
I'm from Los Angeles, but now I live in San Francisco. Except for the summers where I go back to Los Angeles in search of the sun.
What are you doing when you aren't writing?
Laundry, usually. Sometimes dishes. And I really like to walk near the Golden Gate Bridge.
Why don't you run instead of walk?
Running is hard. And I'm sort of lazy.
Have you ever had a real job?
Yes. Of course I have. I've waited tables, worked with adolescents in foster care, read the slush pile at a publishing house, and fact checked for a movie magazine. I also worked for FRONTLINE on PBS and Peter Jennings at ABC. I went to law school, which I know doesn't count as a job, but hey, that was a lot of work.
What's your writing day like? Do you stick to a routine?
I like to write in the mornings. Sometimes that means I have to get up really early. I try to write 700 words a day -- about three pages. I know there are lots of writers out there who can write way more than that. I know this because writers like to tell you about how many words they've written on FACEBOOK. So I try not to look at FACEBOOK when I'm writing. And anyway, I've learned that 700 words are about all I'm good for on any given day, and if I write more than that I usually end up getting rid of most of it later.
What, are you lazy or something?
I already told you I'm lazy. But seriously, 700 words are a lot of words. 700 of them, to be precise.
Where do you get your ideas?
From someplace inside my head.
That's not really an answer.
Yes, it is. And it's as honest an answer as I can give.
Are your books autobiographical?
Not really. I'm not adopted, I've never told a lie that sent someone to jail, I've never built a house or had a brother go to war. But there are always things in my books that come from my life or from the lives of the people around me. It would be impossible to make up everything.
Why do you write young adult fiction?
Because I was a young adult when I fell in love with reading and I can remember how books made me feel back then. How they provided both comfort and escape. That might make me sound like a shut-in, but I wasn't. I was just open to the experience books offered, probably more open than I am now as an adult. And I like writing for that sort of audience.
What exactly is young adult fiction?
Lots of people have thought long and hard about this question and have had many intelligent things to say about voice and how YA books can't spend too much time on adult characters, etc. I don't have anything to add to the debate except to say that YA should be a place to go in the bookstore or library if you are looking for a coming of age story, no matter how old you are.
Do you have a favorite book?
Yes.
Don't be coy, what is it?
To Kill a Mockingbird.
How come there aren't any vampires or wizards in your books?
Hmmmm... good question. Maybe I should write about vampires and wizards.
No, you shouldn't. You wouldn't be very good at that.
Thanks for the vote of confidence.
Did you wear a Soupy Sales sweatshirt when you were seven?
Does anybody even know who Soupy Sales is?
That's what the Internet is for. Don't avoid the question.
I'm sorry, is this really a Frequently Asked Question?
No. But, c'mon, tell us anyway.
Yes, I did. But I'm trying to portray myself as someone who wasn't a total loser. So maybe you shouldn't bring that up. And it also makes me sound ancient, which I'm not. Yet I had a Soupy Sales sweatshirt. And I loved it. It was yellow. And really soft.
You're right. It does make you sound like a loser.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews
September 2, 2021
this is a story that details the consequences of lies. when three girls get exposed in a teensy white lie, they decide to tell a much bigger lie because "go big or go home," right?? and "going home" will get them grounded.
"going big" will have much more serious consequences, but youth is shortsighted. and dumb. so very dumb.
for a while, the lying thing works out quite well - they even end up looking pretty heroic and get sympathy shopping sprees, and boys with curiosities. but then the lie catches fire and destroys everything in its path. oh noes! my new makeup suddenly does not seem worth it!
this is a pretty lightweight story - no great shakes, but when you get a free book in the middle of a horrific heat wave, you read what you get. and now i can bring it back to the free shelves at work, and forget it ever happened. hopefully, like this heat. it burrrns.
come to my blog!
"going big" will have much more serious consequences, but youth is shortsighted. and dumb. so very dumb.
for a while, the lying thing works out quite well - they even end up looking pretty heroic and get sympathy shopping sprees, and boys with curiosities. but then the lie catches fire and destroys everything in its path. oh noes! my new makeup suddenly does not seem worth it!
this is a pretty lightweight story - no great shakes, but when you get a free book in the middle of a horrific heat wave, you read what you get. and now i can bring it back to the free shelves at work, and forget it ever happened. hopefully, like this heat. it burrrns.
come to my blog! 
October 30, 2007
Mariah, Anna, and Emma all come together during their freshman year at ODS. Mariah has an older boyfriend at public school who constantly is giving her hickeys. When the girls become friends, Mariah introduced Anna and Emma to his friends. There was alcohol at the party and Emma ended up having sex with one of the boys she just met. This fundamentally alters Emma. She knows it was not rape, but she also knows she wasn’t ready. She silently struggles with this issue.
Meanwhile, the other girls are oblivious and when plans arise for the next weekend, they are all on board. They each tell their mothers they are staying at the other girls place for a sleepover and a movie, and then sneak out. In the middle of the party, Emma’s mother called to say that she stopped by the movie and didn’t see Emma “WHERE WAS SHE”???
The girls all freak out and ditch the party. They decide that they MUST come up with a plan. So they say that a man attacked Emma. While he was attacking, Mariah snuck up with a stone and pelted him on the head. The girls were all able to escape unscathed.
It is a simple lie where no one gets hurt. They will all be protected. Best of all, none of the parents will figure out where they really were.
However, things quickly spiral out of control. Another girl goes missing. The town is in an uproar about keeping the streets safe for young women. The parents make the girls go to the cops…one thing builds on top of another, until one of them cracks and must tell the truth to save herself.
Told in three different narrative voices, each girl has a turn explaining the situation. It is a very interesting book to read. You feel mounting tension the whole time and you are quickly drawn into the lie and the story. Reinhardt, who previously wrote “A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life” has done an excellent job with a timely book about when to tell the truth and when lies hurt. “Harmless” has a very good message for students to read, yet isn’t too preachy. Sex and alcohol do make an appearance. However, I think it is portrayed responsibly with ramifications fully explored on many different levels.
I personally wrote the author, and this was her reply:
Thank you so much for the thoughtful email. I can't tell you how much it
means to me. I also want to thank you for all you do to get kids reading.
I was at the Texas Librarians Association Conference this past April in
San Antonio and enjoyed it tremendously. I hope to visit Texas again
soon, and hope to make it to more TLA conferences in the future.
I have a new book coming out sometime next year, probably May or June,
called HOW TO BUILD A HOUSE and I'm hard at work on another novel that I'm
very excited about. So yes, I'm still plugging away, and I hope these new
books don't disappoint!
Thanks again for taking the time to write.
Meanwhile, the other girls are oblivious and when plans arise for the next weekend, they are all on board. They each tell their mothers they are staying at the other girls place for a sleepover and a movie, and then sneak out. In the middle of the party, Emma’s mother called to say that she stopped by the movie and didn’t see Emma “WHERE WAS SHE”???
The girls all freak out and ditch the party. They decide that they MUST come up with a plan. So they say that a man attacked Emma. While he was attacking, Mariah snuck up with a stone and pelted him on the head. The girls were all able to escape unscathed.
It is a simple lie where no one gets hurt. They will all be protected. Best of all, none of the parents will figure out where they really were.
However, things quickly spiral out of control. Another girl goes missing. The town is in an uproar about keeping the streets safe for young women. The parents make the girls go to the cops…one thing builds on top of another, until one of them cracks and must tell the truth to save herself.
Told in three different narrative voices, each girl has a turn explaining the situation. It is a very interesting book to read. You feel mounting tension the whole time and you are quickly drawn into the lie and the story. Reinhardt, who previously wrote “A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life” has done an excellent job with a timely book about when to tell the truth and when lies hurt. “Harmless” has a very good message for students to read, yet isn’t too preachy. Sex and alcohol do make an appearance. However, I think it is portrayed responsibly with ramifications fully explored on many different levels.
I personally wrote the author, and this was her reply:
Thank you so much for the thoughtful email. I can't tell you how much it
means to me. I also want to thank you for all you do to get kids reading.
I was at the Texas Librarians Association Conference this past April in
San Antonio and enjoyed it tremendously. I hope to visit Texas again
soon, and hope to make it to more TLA conferences in the future.
I have a new book coming out sometime next year, probably May or June,
called HOW TO BUILD A HOUSE and I'm hard at work on another novel that I'm
very excited about. So yes, I'm still plugging away, and I hope these new
books don't disappoint!
Thanks again for taking the time to write.
September 2, 2016
This is one of the best young adult books I have read in a long time. Very realistic, not sappy, dealing with real issues high school girls go through. Awesome portrayal of consequences that accompany bad choices and actions. This book reminded me of the Pretty Little Liars series but on a more mature level. The story is told from the alternating point of view of three girls who decide to tell one harmless little lie.
April 4, 2021
Anna wants to be popular.
Mariah wants more time with her older boyfriend.
Emma wants to hang out with her brother and his girlfriend.
These three friends lie about going to a party. Afraid they'll get in trouble for being very late for curfew, they concoct a story about Emma being attacked, and Anna and Mariah fighting off the attacker.
Just a little lie, right? Nothing can go wrong if they stick to the story, right?
HARMLESS, told in short chapters by the three friends, is a fast paced, compelling story that grabbed hold of me from page one and didn't let go until well after I finished reading. Each girl had a distinct voice and multidimensional personality. I would have known whose POV I was reading without the labels on the chapters.
Themes: friendship, honesty, drinking, sex, rape, family. There are no graphic descriptions, nothing that parents would object to because HARMLESS is a cautionary tale about consequences of trying to grow up too fast. The book is suitable for ages 12 up to adult. Although the girls are freshmen, older teens will still enjoy HARMLESS. This is a great novel for parents and teens to read together and discuss.
Dana Reinhardt is one of the best realistic YA writers I've read. Even the books I didn't think I'd enjoy held my interest. I'll read anything she writes, even her grocery list. HARMLESS should be read in schools too.
ETA: The narration for the audiobook could have been better. The actresses for Emma and Anna sounded the same. Mariah’s voice was easier to distinguish.
Mariah wants more time with her older boyfriend.
Emma wants to hang out with her brother and his girlfriend.
These three friends lie about going to a party. Afraid they'll get in trouble for being very late for curfew, they concoct a story about Emma being attacked, and Anna and Mariah fighting off the attacker.
Just a little lie, right? Nothing can go wrong if they stick to the story, right?
HARMLESS, told in short chapters by the three friends, is a fast paced, compelling story that grabbed hold of me from page one and didn't let go until well after I finished reading. Each girl had a distinct voice and multidimensional personality. I would have known whose POV I was reading without the labels on the chapters.
Themes: friendship, honesty, drinking, sex, rape, family. There are no graphic descriptions, nothing that parents would object to because HARMLESS is a cautionary tale about consequences of trying to grow up too fast. The book is suitable for ages 12 up to adult. Although the girls are freshmen, older teens will still enjoy HARMLESS. This is a great novel for parents and teens to read together and discuss.
Dana Reinhardt is one of the best realistic YA writers I've read. Even the books I didn't think I'd enjoy held my interest. I'll read anything she writes, even her grocery list. HARMLESS should be read in schools too.
ETA: The narration for the audiobook could have been better. The actresses for Emma and Anna sounded the same. Mariah’s voice was easier to distinguish.
November 8, 2013
WOW, that was INTENSE. I haven't felt that uncomfortable reading a book since The Shining. Mariah, Emma, and Anna told a big lie. And this is what happened. I was so uncomfortable reading this because I WAS a teenage girl, and I'll soon HAVE a teenage girl. And these girls were not bad girls. I or you or anyone could have a lapse in judgement as a teenager and make such a mistake, and then not have the maturity to correct it. The three different points of view made the story really strong. Anna was by far the most immature, having the least amount of guilt or understanding about the events that she directly put into motion. She had the most to gain. Emma was the most haunted by the lie they told, the most devastated, and the most effected. She had the most to lose. Mariah is an interesting character. She was levelheaded, trying to explain it away, but bothered by it despite her attempts to put it behind her. Mariah was intelligent and street smart and gritty. She was the one the girls looked to. She was the one who kept things cool. I would encourage my daughter to read this book when she gets older. I think it was really well written and the characters rang true. It is completely relate-able. I wish I had read this at age 14. I think it would have spoken to me as a troubled teenager. Not that I ever did something like this, but I don't think something like this couldn't have happened. And I feel the same way for my daughter.
February 19, 2010
Didn't enjoy it.
I felt the major conflict, 3 girls lying about being nearly raped as a cover for being out partying, was unrealistic. I would hope that 15 year old girls wouldn't believe such a story is taken lightly and craft that sort of lie. Sure, they'd fib, say they met up with someone and got a ride someplace, but claim to be attacked? Doubt it. (Being a teen myself, I wouldn't concoct such a story.)
The characters were highly unlikeable, by not only sticking to their lie, but reeling in and enjoying the benefits. It's a small town so the news got out. Anna felt popular, enjoyed others sympathy, went shopping with daddy's credit card. Mariah was distracted with trying to snag a fellow friends brother for a boyfriend. The only character who had any redeemable qualities was the guilt-stricken, withdrawn Emma and I didn't even like her. (Obviously, she's the one that busts and tells the truth.)
The story itself, and the characters were cruddy, and the writing joins that circle, as well. Did the author try to make this story boring, or was it completely unintentional? At least each characters chapters were relatively short, so you got to take breaks from them.
Skip this or pick it up at the library. Fortunately, I did.
I felt the major conflict, 3 girls lying about being nearly raped as a cover for being out partying, was unrealistic. I would hope that 15 year old girls wouldn't believe such a story is taken lightly and craft that sort of lie. Sure, they'd fib, say they met up with someone and got a ride someplace, but claim to be attacked? Doubt it. (Being a teen myself, I wouldn't concoct such a story.)
The characters were highly unlikeable, by not only sticking to their lie, but reeling in and enjoying the benefits. It's a small town so the news got out. Anna felt popular, enjoyed others sympathy, went shopping with daddy's credit card. Mariah was distracted with trying to snag a fellow friends brother for a boyfriend. The only character who had any redeemable qualities was the guilt-stricken, withdrawn Emma and I didn't even like her. (Obviously, she's the one that busts and tells the truth.)
The story itself, and the characters were cruddy, and the writing joins that circle, as well. Did the author try to make this story boring, or was it completely unintentional? At least each characters chapters were relatively short, so you got to take breaks from them.
Skip this or pick it up at the library. Fortunately, I did.
December 29, 2023
All the books I've read from Dana Reinhardt and especially The Summer I learned to Fly gained my respect for her insight into the teenage psych and Harmless is an excellent example of it.
Three girls tell an "innocent" lie to their parents to avoid reprimand and this act starts an avalanche of events that has enormous consequences to them and their community.
Wanting to belong and fear of rejection, mob psychology, sexual consent and underage drinking are just some of the common teenage issues that the author portrays with her masterful pen. This is a book that should be read by teenagers – both boys and girls - to be made aware of how their actions can and will affect other lives, often irrevocably.
Three girls tell an "innocent" lie to their parents to avoid reprimand and this act starts an avalanche of events that has enormous consequences to them and their community.
Wanting to belong and fear of rejection, mob psychology, sexual consent and underage drinking are just some of the common teenage issues that the author portrays with her masterful pen. This is a book that should be read by teenagers – both boys and girls - to be made aware of how their actions can and will affect other lives, often irrevocably.
Read
August 11, 2022This had some of the most unlikeable characters I have come across in a book ... ever. The three girls have no redeeming features at all. I also worry about the caliber of police departments being as quick to judge as the officer in charge. At least the primary detective smelled a rat.
May 5, 2008
Reviewed by Amber Gibson for TeensReadToo.com
Everyone's told lies. Most lies aren't even that bad. They don't hurt anyone...they're just harmless.
One night, Mariah, Anna, and Emma are off at an older boy's house, instead of at the movies like they said they would be. But when their parents show up at the movies and can't find them anywhere, they are caught in their lie. They're okay, but they don't want to be grounded for life. Telling a little lie would be a lot easier than telling the truth, and nobody would get in trouble.
So for fear of getting in huge trouble with their parents, the girls concoct a simple story. They were on their way to the movie, walking along the river, when a man attacked Emma. They didn't get a chance to see his face, and they don't remember what he looked like because they were scared. Luckily for Emma, Mariah and Anna threw a rock at the man's head and they were able to get away. The three best friends vow to stick by this story, but they have no idea how much this one lie will envelop their lives.
They didn't count on their parents involving the police. They didn't count on everyone at school finding out. They didn't count on the entire community rallying around the girls and calling them "heroes." And they definitely didn't count on anyone being arrested for their imaginary crime. The girls are in too deep, buried in their lie. The lie that was supposed to be their savior now nags their conscious with every waking moment. But will they be able to find the courage to tell the truth?
I could really relate to the characters in this book, and see how under a pressure situation, I might have made the wrong decision, too. HARMLESS by Dana Renihardt is the story of how a seemingly small lie can take on a life of its own. But, more importantly, it shows how anyone can make a stupid mistake, and that everyone deserves forgiveness.
Everyone's told lies. Most lies aren't even that bad. They don't hurt anyone...they're just harmless.
One night, Mariah, Anna, and Emma are off at an older boy's house, instead of at the movies like they said they would be. But when their parents show up at the movies and can't find them anywhere, they are caught in their lie. They're okay, but they don't want to be grounded for life. Telling a little lie would be a lot easier than telling the truth, and nobody would get in trouble.
So for fear of getting in huge trouble with their parents, the girls concoct a simple story. They were on their way to the movie, walking along the river, when a man attacked Emma. They didn't get a chance to see his face, and they don't remember what he looked like because they were scared. Luckily for Emma, Mariah and Anna threw a rock at the man's head and they were able to get away. The three best friends vow to stick by this story, but they have no idea how much this one lie will envelop their lives.
They didn't count on their parents involving the police. They didn't count on everyone at school finding out. They didn't count on the entire community rallying around the girls and calling them "heroes." And they definitely didn't count on anyone being arrested for their imaginary crime. The girls are in too deep, buried in their lie. The lie that was supposed to be their savior now nags their conscious with every waking moment. But will they be able to find the courage to tell the truth?
I could really relate to the characters in this book, and see how under a pressure situation, I might have made the wrong decision, too. HARMLESS by Dana Renihardt is the story of how a seemingly small lie can take on a life of its own. But, more importantly, it shows how anyone can make a stupid mistake, and that everyone deserves forgiveness.
November 4, 2007
Emma, Anna and Mariah are somewhat unlikely friends: Mariah is the girl everybody would like to be, Anna is frumpy and unkempt, and Emma has always hung around with Anna in the background. When the three decide to go to Mariah's boyfriend's house for a party, they have a good time hanging out with a few of the local high school guys. A good enough time that they decide to do it again the following weekend.
However, this time the parents begin to ask questions. Panicked, the three girls concoct a story about a man who goes after Emma and attempts to rape her; they claim the other two girls come to her rescue.
At first, they think this story will get them out of trouble; as their story begins to unwind, however, they find their friendships and relationships dissolving. How long will it take before the police find out the truth?
Perhaps their little white lie wasn't as harmless as they thought.
However, this time the parents begin to ask questions. Panicked, the three girls concoct a story about a man who goes after Emma and attempts to rape her; they claim the other two girls come to her rescue.
At first, they think this story will get them out of trouble; as their story begins to unwind, however, they find their friendships and relationships dissolving. How long will it take before the police find out the truth?
Perhaps their little white lie wasn't as harmless as they thought.
April 28, 2014
Harmless is about three girls who are best friends. One day they go out to a party without their parents knowing. At the party some of the boys stake interest and In them. Before they know what's happening, they find out that their parents don't know where they are. Their parents didn't find them where they said they were going to be. They didn't want to get in trouble so they made up a little white lie to cover the truth. But this lie turns into a big lie that will change their lives forever.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries and the consequences of lying. I enjoyed this book a lot because it makes you evaluate your own self and to see if there are any lies you have told recently. This book is an excellent read I just didn't like how it was from three perspectives and it didn't suck you in the book but it was really good.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries and the consequences of lying. I enjoyed this book a lot because it makes you evaluate your own self and to see if there are any lies you have told recently. This book is an excellent read I just didn't like how it was from three perspectives and it didn't suck you in the book but it was really good.
February 10, 2011
Powerful. Everyone should read this! It is scary to think how often this happens and how often those people living on the margins are accused of crimes and misdemeanors when they are completely innocent. Repeating hearsey -just as dangerous. Reinhardt makes the reader question themselves. Reading this book should make us all a bit more selfaware.
September 28, 2007
Three girls sneak off to a party. To avoid getting in trouble with their parents, they make up a story: they were attacked, and one of them was almost raped. I really felt the girls' unease and dread as the lie grew beyond their control. Lying is bad, kids.
December 13, 2007
I really liked this one. A story about how a small lie can have a life of it's own. Also about good kids making bad choices. The characters were likeable and totally believable.
December 23, 2014
I liked this book SO much more than I thought I was going to. Watch my full review of the book here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cU1k...
July 3, 2018
What the eff!!
I have read some reviews that say they dont see girls making this stuff up to get out of trouble! Either you have been living under a rock or you are very isolated from the world!
I have read some reviews that say they dont see girls making this stuff up to get out of trouble! Either you have been living under a rock or you are very isolated from the world!
Read
May 4, 2020You don't have to raise your hand, and I won't rat you out. But who has ever told your family you were going one place, when you really were headed somewhere else? Is that lying?
Emma, Anna and Mariah thought it would be a great way to cover up for their attendance at a sleepover party at the house of Mariah's boyfriend, DJ, who is a senior. DJ's parents are out of town, and the freshmen girls know their parents would never allow them to go otherwise.
Read p. 27.
So, if you have ever fibbed or stretched the truth over your whereabouts, have you ever gotten caught?
Anna, Emma and Mariah are caught in their lies, and so they make up an even bigger lie to cover up the first lie. That lie is a whopper to begin with, and it grows and grows until finally it gets out of hand.
Read p. 1
Emma, Anna and Mariah thought it would be a great way to cover up for their attendance at a sleepover party at the house of Mariah's boyfriend, DJ, who is a senior. DJ's parents are out of town, and the freshmen girls know their parents would never allow them to go otherwise.
Read p. 27.
So, if you have ever fibbed or stretched the truth over your whereabouts, have you ever gotten caught?
Anna, Emma and Mariah are caught in their lies, and so they make up an even bigger lie to cover up the first lie. That lie is a whopper to begin with, and it grows and grows until finally it gets out of hand.
Read p. 1
November 21, 2017
This was essentially a good book, but I think the synopsis offered more than what was delivered, or maybe it was just me expecting too much.
It was fast-paced enough not to be boring but devoid of any real action. It can most definitely be described as a coming of age story accompanied by some tension that hardly builds up to anything. In truth, that's really for the best because the ending doesn't deliver either and flops spectacularly right before the finish line.
It is a good story with poor execution in my opinion. There is a hard effort to make believable and likable characters but they all fall flat to me.
It was fast-paced enough not to be boring but devoid of any real action. It can most definitely be described as a coming of age story accompanied by some tension that hardly builds up to anything. In truth, that's really for the best because the ending doesn't deliver either and flops spectacularly right before the finish line.
It is a good story with poor execution in my opinion. There is a hard effort to make believable and likable characters but they all fall flat to me.
November 17, 2022
Even though I have not yet finished reading this book, I can confidently say this was one of the best books I have ever read. It's about these three high school girls who were somewhere they shouldn't have been. Their parents eventually started to wonder where they actually were, and since the three girls knew they were going to get in trouble they came up with a really big lie. But because this lie was so believable the police started getting involved because the story they came up with was so bad. This book kept me excited to keep reading it. I would give this book a 10 out of 10. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, for it was a very good read!
August 8, 2018
This is a quick, poignant read about the aftermath of what can happen when three girls decide to make up a lie. I just needed more. More consequences for Owen. Help for Emma. Emma and Anna to talk openly about what happened to Emma that night. Mariah help for her behavior of acting out and trying to mature herself too early. Justice for David Allen.
April 1, 2020
I suppose this isn’t bad. It’s put together okay. I didn’t realize when I grabbed it that it was ya, and definitely a ya that is obviously so while reading. It just seems too simple, like a novelization of a warning pamphlet, to really work too well. I’m not the target audience though and I have to try not to judge it like I expect to be.
January 14, 2018
This book was about being caught in a lie and then making a bigger lie to cover up the little lie. It was a good read especially about how a lie spirals out of and gets bigger and bigger. Recommend this book.
January 28, 2018
This book should be a required read in grade schools, high schools, colleges and some adults too.. such a eye opening book and I think even though this was fiction it has happened somewhere by someone...There is a reason God has a commandment Thou Shall Not Lie!!!! Gina Clabo
June 24, 2021
This book was extremely hard to read. It was sad and there was a lot of emotion, the characters felt really human. I'm glad I reD this, I'll never forget it. It was really well written, but it talked about such awful subjects I never want to think about it again
May 14, 2022
Suspenseful story to see what the girls did as mentioned in the beginning. Then suspenseful as story continued to see when the break would reveal the truth. Lies destroy as told in this story and as a teenager they do appear to be harmless.
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June 24, 2025This had some of the most unlikeable characters I have come across in a book ... ever. The three girls have no redeeming features at all. I also worry about the caliber of police departments being as quick to judge as the officer in charge. At least the primary detective smelled a rat.
December 19, 2025
This book was great until I got to the end. I felt towards the end that it just all happened. I feel like it was rushed all though I’m happy that we got closure on what happened to the other girl. I liked this book hehe showed very real emotions that teenage girls have
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2018
This is such a good book I love the twist in it and the different point of views!
April 8, 2018
This book was ok if was not at all what I expected.This book was hard to get into and slow paced it was just ok with a bad ending.Not a book I would choose to read again.
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