Choices do matter and forgiveness is possible.
Jack Fountain knows that what’s happened to his family sounds like... read full description
Jack Fountain knows that what’s happened to his family sounds like... read full description
reviews
Mar 12, 2010
Tammy
rated it: 
This fast paced thriller takes place in the span of 24 short hours. Four children are orphaned by horrible circumstances beyond their control.
Sadly the media was there to witness every tragic event unfold.
First, their mother decides to forgo cancer treatment to give her unborn child a chance to be brought into the world. This decision bring protesters and unwanted media attention.
Sadly, the mother does not survive after giving birth to a beautiful healthy little boy. The media More...
Sadly the media was there to witness every tragic event unfold.
First, their mother decides to forgo cancer treatment to give her unborn child a chance to be brought into the world. This decision bring protesters and unwanted media attention.
Sadly, the mother does not survive after giving birth to a beautiful healthy little boy. The media More...
Aug 22, 2009
Shayne
rated it: 
Who wouldn’t want a chance to be on television? Madison, Jack, and Smithy Fountain definitely wouldn’t. For the past two years their lives have been a media circus and all they want is to be left alone, to blend in, to be normal. The Fountain children are orphans. Their mother died of cancer shortly after giving birth to Tristan, having made a decision to have her baby rather than undergo chemotherapy that might have saved her life. Two years later, their father is killed in an accident. Th
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Jul 20, 2009
Bethany
rated it: 
I am ambivalent about this book. I kind of hated it, but it was also--I couldn't stop reading. I wanted to know what would happen, what had happened, but there were some things I just couldn't reconcile. Cooney felt very preachy here, as in, this character should turn to God, these kids should be kids and call their grandparents, and most of all (really, this was an over-arching theme in the book) no one should ever watch tv. If you watch tv, you are the devil. Everyon that is involved in m
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Jun 06, 2009
Jennifer
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Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
The four Fountain children are orphans. They first made headlines when their mother gave her life to save that of her unborn fourth child. The controversy centered on her battle with cancer and her refusal to accept chemotherapy at the risk of harming her unborn child. Overzealous news reporters portrayed baby Tris as his mother's killer.
The second time the family hit the headlines was when a tragic More...
The four Fountain children are orphans. They first made headlines when their mother gave her life to save that of her unborn fourth child. The controversy centered on her battle with cancer and her refusal to accept chemotherapy at the risk of harming her unborn child. Overzealous news reporters portrayed baby Tris as his mother's killer.
The second time the family hit the headlines was when a tragic More...
Jul 13, 2011
Courtney
rated it: 
Um, I hate to be mean, but I can't discuss this book without a certain amount of snark. The plot is really contrived and convoluted. I'm usually prepared for some suspension of disbelief, but not this much. We are supposed to believe that everyone blames a 2-year-old for the unrelated deaths of both his parents and that their long-lost-kinda/sorta-stepaunt is allowed to take custody after their father's death. An aunt who has no history with the family whatsoever. Oh, and the father? He di
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Jul 24, 2009
Mark
rated it:
Caroline Cooney has been writing well-crafted YA thrillers for a LONG time, and she's got it down pat. This one is no exception, and offers some moments where the goosebumps go up and down the arm. Story picks up about a year after a series of tragic events befell the Fountain family; Laura, the mother, was diagnosed with liver cancer while pregnant with her fourth child. She chose to carry the baby to term, rather than undergo chemo which might have saved her. Her story became a cause, and
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Apr 17, 2010
stegersaurus
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Sep 06, 2010
Kelsey
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If the Witness Lied was a thrilling and original novel by one of my favorite authors. While this isn’t my favorite novel by Caroline (that would be The Face on the Milk Carton) I still thoroughly enjoyed it.
After losing both their parents, Jack, Madison, and Smithy Fountain have grown apart. Jack is living at home with his horrid “Aunt” Cheryl and younger brother, Tris (who was blamed for both of their parents’ deaths and is only two). I think Jack was my favorite of the siblings. He More...
After losing both their parents, Jack, Madison, and Smithy Fountain have grown apart. Jack is living at home with his horrid “Aunt” Cheryl and younger brother, Tris (who was blamed for both of their parents’ deaths and is only two). I think Jack was my favorite of the siblings. He More...
Nov 29, 2010
Nancy
rated it:
If you love a mystery, this book is for you. Caroline B. Cooney writes a story that keeps you glued to the pages! In this novel, the Fountain family is torn apart by the death of their mother(cancer) and their father (murder? accident?). "Aunt" Cheryl moves in to take care of the children. She is not really their aunt and seems to want nothing else but to erase all memories of the parents from their home. She was the only witness to the death of the father, but how could a 2-year-ol
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Oct 02, 2010
Synesthesia
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May 24, 2009
Chloe
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The Fountain children, Madison, Jack, Smithy, and Tris (short for Tristan) have definitely experienced their share of tragedy. Their mother and father are both dead, and the circumstances of both deaths were all extremely controversial. As if it wouldn't be hard enough to be orphans, the media focused on the Fountain family at the times of each separate death of the parents, and their new guardian, Aunt Cheryl, soaks up the publicity while Tris is made to look like a monster in the eyes of
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Dec 08, 2011
Erin
rated it: 
If the Witness Lied
by Caroline Cooney
Part mystery, part drama, this novel makes the reader think. Could you love your brother if his birth caused the death of your mother? What if it caused the death of your father too? And who would take care of you if your parents were gone? The little brother in this family, Tris, seems to tear the family apart--that is until the siblings start to uncover evidence that perhaps Tris wasn't the cause of his parents' death after all. While this nove More...
by Caroline Cooney
Part mystery, part drama, this novel makes the reader think. Could you love your brother if his birth caused the death of your mother? What if it caused the death of your father too? And who would take care of you if your parents were gone? The little brother in this family, Tris, seems to tear the family apart--that is until the siblings start to uncover evidence that perhaps Tris wasn't the cause of his parents' death after all. While this nove More...
Mar 15, 2011
Dana
rated it:
Wow! A typical Caroline Cooney thriller - she just keeps you guessing until the very end! Jack Fountain just wants to protect what is left of his family - his little brother Tris and his two sisters Smithy and Madison who don't live at home at the present time. His parents are both gone and his Aunt Cheryl Rand presently lives at their house. Their lives have been a media circus since his mother was diagnosed with cancer. His Aunt Chery has again dragged the media into their lives and wants them
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Jan 04, 2012
Emily
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This is another one of those books that I couldn’t put down but didn’t necessarily like. Here’s what I think…A woman who has no legal relation to a bunch of orphans would have absolutely no right to make decisions for them. I’m pretty sure that if they didn’t want her there, they could kick her out. I know there was the concern that they would go to foster care, but there was clearly the grandparent option the whole time. I also didn’t buy the whole “everyone thinks this child is a devil” theory
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Jun 13, 2011
Pam
rated it:
Love Caroline Cooney books. While the premise is thin, the book develops the book slowly so that the reader can grasp the details. Felt like it was difficult to find out what had happened before the book starts. Some reviewers bashed the book for not letting the children trust any adults to get the help they need, it reminds me of the early Danielle Steel novels in that way. I think this is mostly a book about the older boy's(Jack) love and responsibility toward his younger brother (Tris).
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Jun 29, 2011
Kendall
rated it:
2011-2012 Truman nominee.
This may not be considered great literature, but WOW is it a compelling, awesome read. Cooney's masterful at building suspense...we see the lives of four children tragically orphaned slowly discover something strange about their father's death. An old cliche--"I couldn't put it down"---is absolutely true in this case. The book is like watching a tightly wound suspense film--Ransom, North by Northwest come to mind. Cooney is the Hitchcock of her genr More...
This may not be considered great literature, but WOW is it a compelling, awesome read. Cooney's masterful at building suspense...we see the lives of four children tragically orphaned slowly discover something strange about their father's death. An old cliche--"I couldn't put it down"---is absolutely true in this case. The book is like watching a tightly wound suspense film--Ransom, North by Northwest come to mind. Cooney is the Hitchcock of her genr More...
Jun 23, 2011
Stacey
rated it:
The four Fountain kids are orphans – Mom died of cancer, Dad was run over by his own jeep. Zach, the big brother, stays to take care of Tris, the baby, while their sisters, Smithy and Madison, bailed out due to grief. “Aunt” Cheryl decides to bring in a TV crew to film their reunion, and make some money. The public will want to watch—Tris is considered responsible for both parent’s deaths.
I liked this book. Cheryl is not what you think she is and I enjoyed watching Zach and hi More...
I liked this book. Cheryl is not what you think she is and I enjoyed watching Zach and hi More...
Feb 14, 2010
Joant
rated it:
YA thriller, if you are willing to overlook some major believability problems. I give it 3 stars, because I think Caroline Cooney writes very well, especially in the way she reveals character via interesting plot. But I never for a minute believed the " the media made the baby appear like the devil' storyline. Who would blame a baby , call a baby a killer, after this accident? And Aunt Cheryl? What loving father and grandparents, would not have sent this creepy woman packing? Since
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Jan 30, 2011
Jill
rated it:
I loved this book! It grabbed me right from the very beginning, 1st page. I couldn't wait to find out what happened. It was a little coincental and maybe contrived (?not sure that's exactly the word I'm looking for) that both girls came home on the same day, not to mention right when the "aunt" is getting things set up for a reality tv series about the family. Although it is explained by the Dad's b-day and upcoming anniversary of his death, it's still a little iffy. But that would be
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Jan 16, 2010
The Fountain family are no longer together. Jack is the only one to protect Tris. Smithy and Madison are gone. And somehow, sometime, the court let Aunt Cheryl raise Tris and Jack.
I’ve always wondered how hard it is for orphans, and now I know. Once Laura Fountain, the mom, died of cancer, everybody thinks that 2 year old Tris is the reason. Why? Because Laura wouldn’t take chemo, it would kill the baby. She would have it after Tries was born, but was too weak and died. Madison, More...
I’ve always wondered how hard it is for orphans, and now I know. Once Laura Fountain, the mom, died of cancer, everybody thinks that 2 year old Tris is the reason. Why? Because Laura wouldn’t take chemo, it would kill the baby. She would have it after Tries was born, but was too weak and died. Madison, More...
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Oct 10, 2009
Brenda
rated it:
Loved, loved, loved this suspense. It is a story of a family torn about by tragedy and by the media attention that follows. Just as the three young teenagers and toddler are coming to terms with their situation, their lives are thrown into another whirlwind as they suddenly realize ....The Witness Lied! This story does have a surprising Christian overtone that is not present in other Cooney books. It doesn't take away from the story, instead it enhancing the feelings that you can have when y
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May 24, 2011
Longbeverly
rated it:
This is a young adult book. It is on SC Librarian Assoc nominated book list, junior category. The subject matter is a little heavy in my opinion for the target audience. The mom chooses to have a baby even though she will then die of cancer, and then that baby, as a toddler, releases a parking brake and runs over his father in the driveway. The story winds up too easily - it would not turn out in real life, and i don't think it's fair to portray this to the junior audience, but I guess it's j
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Nov 23, 2010
Karen
rated it:
I actually did not offically finish the book, because it was too boring for me. I did not like it at ALL. It was very confusing and hard to keep up with. I tried my best but it was defintely not a book for me. I usually LOVE mystery books, because they are mysterous and you want to know what happens next. Instead, this book has no ACTION. I wanted crime and much more. I read Caroline B. Cooneys books, but I did not enjoy this book. If you finished it and disagree let me know, because I did not r
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Jan 20, 2009
Laura
rated it:
Cooney starts out strong with a disfunctional family of children trying to cope individually with the death of their parents -- their mother to cancer and their father a short time after from an accident caused by their young brother -- the the guardian who seeks to profit from the children's misfortune by putting them on t.v.
The teens are well-drawn and three-dimensional but most of the adults are cardboard cutouts.
On the whole a good read, but the ending is too pat and More...
The teens are well-drawn and three-dimensional but most of the adults are cardboard cutouts.
On the whole a good read, but the ending is too pat and More...
Aug 10, 2010
Jessica
rated it:
I had super high expectations for this book. Like most of Cooney's other works, I expected to be on the edge of my seat, grasping the book in two hands, and stareing at the book the entire time, not letting anything get me distracted. Ah, if that were only the case.
What we have in this book, is two non-relateable whiney girls, one moderatly likable older brother, and a toddler. Something happened to the father, the only surviving parent, and he is dead. He's been dead a while. We don' More...
What we have in this book, is two non-relateable whiney girls, one moderatly likable older brother, and a toddler. Something happened to the father, the only surviving parent, and he is dead. He's been dead a while. We don' More...
Mar 25, 2010
Jean
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Mar 02, 2010
Tasha
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The Fountain family has faced endless grief within the last couple of years and their future seems quite bleak as well. First the children’s mother died, after refusing treatment for her fatal cancer so that she could give life to their baby brother Tris. Then, just two years later their father dies in a terrible accident leaving the four Fountain children alone and parentless with only their self-involved Aunt Cheryl left to care for them.
Within weeks the two Fountain daughters, Ma More...
Within weeks the two Fountain daughters, Ma More...
Jul 25, 2009
Doree
rated it:
I enjoyed the story a lot, but found the characters names to be a huge distraction. The protagonists' last name is Fountain and their first names seem contrived. For me, each time I would read one of their names it was a distraction and a jarring departure from the pretend world I was enjoying. There were a few unfinished side-stories that I wish had been explored, but other than these two things, a really good read. And no icky, inappropriate stuff, which is not always the case, even with YA fi
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Nov 09, 2009
Gina
rated it:
The Fountain siblings, Jack, Madison and Smithy, must put aside their hostilities toward one another in order to protect their 3-year-old brother Tris from media exploitation of their family. When their Aunt Cheryl shamelessly sells their story to a reality show, the horrors of the past several years resurface with a vengeance. You see, it could be argued that little Tris is the very reason the Fountain parents are no longer alive.
An interesting, captivating read with a Christian th
An interesting, captivating read with a Christian th
Oct 05, 2010
Book Lady
rated it:
The children in the Fountain family have lost both parents, and now their Aunt Cheryl wants them to make a TV documentary about all that they have suffered. In the space of one day the older children begin to discover a dark secret in the family that threatens all of them: especially their three-year-old brother. I really enjoyed this book. The characters began to see the situation around them and themselves clearly for the first time since tragedy became a part of their family.
