Almost True (When I Was Joe, #2)

Jan 24, 2013 Emily Rachelle rated it 2 of 5 stars

(This review is for the entire trilogy.)

Let me start off by saying that this series was a new thing for me. First off, I'm not one for thrillers, which this series definitely counts as. But I enjoy mysteries, a similar genre, so I gave it a shot. Another first about these books is that I've never read stories both written by and targeted to British people - with British lingo, punctuation, grammar, etc. It was actually pretty fun to see all the differences and try to decode the British English....more (This review is for the entire trilogy.)

Let me start off by saying that this series was a new thing for me. First off, I'm not one for thrillers, which this series definitely counts as. But I enjoy mysteries, a similar genre, so I gave it a shot. Another first about these books is that I've never read stories both written by and targeted to British people - with British lingo, punctuation, grammar, etc. It was actually pretty fun to see all the differences and try to decode the British English. (I will note the author's website, wheniwasjoe.blogspot.com, has a page with British lingo and slang definitions.)

Starting with When I Was Joe, the series follows Ty, a boy who witnessed a murder and enters witness protection after telling the police about it. However, things aren't quite what they seem; Ty, his best friend Aaron, and the police are all keeping details to themselves - who can be trusted? In Almost True, Ty's family loses faith in the police protection that has failed them and Ty's aunt takes him to her own idea of a safe house, where Ty learns that he has an entire family and history he knew nothing about. In Another Life, Ty faces charges for his own bad choices and his newfound cousin Archie decides to find out who Ty really is. Throughout the series, secrets and misunderstandings surface while Ty struggles to make - and keep - trustworthy friends while staying alive and protecting the ones he loves.

The writing style is great, especially for the genre: very gripping and fast-paced without being rushed. The character's voice comes out naturally through the narrative. The characters have good traits and bad, but there were quite a few times I felt like the main characters weren't really any better than the 'bad guys.' I've never been to England (at least when I was old enough to remember), so I can't say for certain, but it seems the writer really knows her setting well and the details and description are well-balanced. They give you an idea of what's going on and where the characters are, without boring you with excessive detail.

However, on a content level, this series is not exactly recommendable. When the series starts out, there's a good deal of violence and slums-of-London living (smoking, drinking, shady people, not the best parenting, etc.), but that's to be expected with the storyline and setting. It's as the series goes on that I feel things get out of hand. With the first book it was mostly the violence, and then language, and then some immorality (not at all graphic, I will say).

With the second book there was more violence, more language, and a whole lot of really poor choices. I kept reading, thinking this was one of those books where people are really stupid and then see the light near the end. That sort of happened. And then the third book started with a different character, and drugs and mindless popularity and more stupidity came onto the scene. I kept reading, although the writing style had gone downhill and the head-hopping drove me nuts. Finally, though, I couldn't take any more of Archie's stupid choices and Ty's anger and anxiety. So I quit.

All in all, I think this series started off well. The characters were great, and I really loved Patrick and Helen from book two. But everything just kind of unraveled as Ty struggled with PTSD and Archie acted like a complete idiot. So, as you can see above, I've listed individual ratings for each book and give the overall trilogy two and a half stars.

I received these three books for free from the author in exchange for this review. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.(less)

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Sep 29, 2011 LH Johnson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, gritty

'Almost True' is the second story Keren David has written about Ty. Ty is a boy, an average boy, who was one day involved in a horrific event which came to change and define his life. David's prose is solid, earthy and real. And it's glorious.

I came to this book after reading a whole range of stories involving fairies, elves and vampires. I'd read 'When I was Joe' (the prequel) and found it a hugely readable and pacy novel. It sagged a little in the middle but that was easy to excuse as the sag...more

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May 05, 2011 Valerie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I thought this was a great conclusion to the first book, "When I was Joe." While I found some flaws in the first book, I thought this one did a wonderful job making up for them. I wasn't sure whether to give it 4 or 5 stars.
**possible spoiler** I was honestly bored with Claire and everyone in his old life. I didn't mind him going to see them or getting in contact, but there was just too much of it throughout the book. **end possible spoiler**
Other than that whole part of it, I was very thrilled...more

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Apr 09, 2011 Caroline rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, young-adult, contemporary

Almost True is the sequel to When I Was Joe. I can't review Almost True without writing some tiny spoilers for When I Was Joe so go read the wonderful first book and then come back to read my review of the even-more-wonderful second one!

The thing about sequels is that most of the time, you never get the same rush of emotions you felt while reading the first book in a series for the first time. You already know the characters and you see the plot coming so it hardly feels the same way, and at wor...more Almost True is the sequel to When I Was Joe. I can't review Almost True without writing some tiny spoilers for When I Was Joe so go read the wonderful first book and then come back to read my review of the even-more-wonderful second one!

The thing about sequels is that most of the time, you never get the same rush of emotions you felt while reading the first book in a series for the first time. You already know the characters and you see the plot coming so it hardly feels the same way, and at worse, you might even be disappointed.
I loved When I Was Joe so much that I was a bit worried when I started to read Almost True. I should not have wasted one second worrying because the plot of Almost True goes in the most unexpected direction at the beginning of the book and we follow Tyler/Joe in another thrilling adventure. We meet new characters, who are as interesting and lovable as the ones in the first book and we rediscover characters we know in a new light. I could list all the characters I love and why but that would lead me to talk about all of them! I like the evolution of Tyler and what he goes through in this book.

In this new book, Tyler is on the run and tries to hide in various places (that is me not telling you the plot as opposed to me forgetting what the plot is - in case you were wondering!). The rhythm is fast-paced and the story gripping, you won't be able to let go of this book until you reach the end, and what a conclusion to Ty's story it is!

At the centre of this new story is Tyler and his past. As much as he tries to get away from things, he ends up digging deeper and deeper in his own life story. He learns a lot about his family and realises that most of the things he assumed were true about himself were in fact not exactly true (or almost true - yes, I did just write that horrendous pun). If, like me, you are a sucker for complicated family stories, you will love this book! I just truly loved learning more about Tyler's origins and how he was brought up and how everyone related with each other.

I am going to repeat what I said in my When I Was Joe review, but I love how real this book felt. It is very British in the cultural aspects of the story but also brings forward universal themes on youth and violence. My terribly formulated opinion won't give the book justice so go read it to see what I mean! :) I love how brilliant the more serious themes are interwoven in a very thriller-y (and romance-y!) plot. You really do feel as if this is a real story and where we are following real people in today's United Kingdom. The setting is not only set in today's world but also related to very cultural and generational aspects of today's life. It gives a new meaning to young adult "contemporary novel".

As I said in my review of When I Was Joe, I *love* the title and how it is so important to the story. The sentence in which the title is written has become very important to me while reading and it made me think about the meaning of truth and how this meaning changes depending on who you are talking to. I don't know how and at which stage it was chosen but I simply love the title (for both books)!

I would advise everyone to read this book, but I cannot fathom why anyone *wouldn't* read it after reading the brilliant When I Was Joe. Books like this are the very reason why I read. There can't be any other words describing how utterly essential they are for me as a reader and as a person. I love learning things in books and I love it even more when they challenge my convinctions and make me think.

Fascinating characters, gripping plot and brilliant story-telling.... what else do you need in a book?* Now go read this book!

* To the bunch of girls who actually answered by "nice abs in a male character and all scenes shirtless", it was rhetorical question and we don't need anymore of *that* in books! :D(less)

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Apr 06, 2011 Shesten rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, keepers, owned, paperback, would-recommend

Plot Sketch: Almost True follows the story of Joe, er... Ty, er... Jake, um. We'll stick with dude's given name, Ty. Ty witnessed a horrific murder and is now in WitSec, well, the British equivalent thereof because this series is all kinds of British. This installment follows more running/hiding/coping for this unfortunate 14-year-old, enlightening us as to circumstances that we were left wondering about at the end of When I Was Joe. You get to meet Ty's father and his father's family, and get t...more Plot Sketch: Almost True follows the story of Joe, er... Ty, er... Jake, um. We'll stick with dude's given name, Ty. Ty witnessed a horrific murder and is now in WitSec, well, the British equivalent thereof because this series is all kinds of British. This installment follows more running/hiding/coping for this unfortunate 14-year-old, enlightening us as to circumstances that we were left wondering about at the end of When I Was Joe. You get to meet Ty's father and his father's family, and get to really understand Ty a lot better than you did when he was Joe. *sharp sigh* How do I describe this plot without saying the words, "when he was Joe?" *grin* Plus, there's an adorable dog named Meg who shows up at just the right times, dosing her friend Ty with a bit of reality and even possibly? saving his life. There're even ghosts. Sort of.

Verdict: After the ending to When I Was Joe, I was super anxious to pick this one up. That twisty bit at the end of the first book left me eager for more. This book, even thought it has more British slang than the first one, is easier to understand. I don't know if I'm catching on to the jargon or what, but I didn't have nearly the issues wrapping my brain around things this time as I did the first. It's witty, gripping, and well-written. It's emotionally engaging and a rare instance where I loved the first novel, but loved the second even more. The characters are much stronger in Almost True and I felt like they were people I could call up on the phone and either verbally abuse (Nicki) or pour out my thanks to (Patrick) for their roles in Ty's life. I had a hard time putting this one down, and the series as published so far comes highly recommended from me. Also note that there is less profanity and less heavy material in this installment than was in the first. Significantly less, though the material is just as serious and just as psychologically traumatizing for a teenaged protag. Bravo, Keren!

Location: London, yeah, a lot of it is in London.

Favorite Character: Besides the obvious adoration I have for Ty, I thought that Archie was a brilliantly written character and I went from hating him to adoring him to reflecting that the book would just not be the same without him. ♥ Archie.

Would Change: the Playstation sequence. I don't think it needed to be there, and if it did, it needed to be integrated a little better into the weight of the novel.

Favorite Line: "So she's going to need a really good big brother." page 420, ARC I almost cried at the character growth that happened in just one line. *sniff* *quick blinks*

Good for Monster? Contemporary lit is not where Monster dwells. But I'd definitely recommend this series for teen boys, and adult boys across the board. It's pretty darned good.

People Who Will Like This: my mom, Boyz II Men, Bill Gates, athletes, video game gods/goddesses

People Who Won't Like This: Lorien's Number Four, girls who don't want to look at themselves through a boy's eyes, spoiled rich kids(less)

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Dec 08, 2010 Becky rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-picks

Almost True is yet another powerful, utterly compelling novel from Keren David. For me, it is really a novel of our time and of our culture. I loved it.

Ty’s story as a witness to a crime takes him forward from his life as Joe in Keren’s first novel When I Was Joe. The exciting, liberating experience of being Joe has been left behind. At the beginning of Almost True, Ty is Jake - a lost boy living by the sea. He is frightened and he has every reason to be because the gang members who he is expect...more Almost True is yet another powerful, utterly compelling novel from Keren David. For me, it is really a novel of our time and of our culture. I loved it.

Ty’s story as a witness to a crime takes him forward from his life as Joe in Keren’s first novel When I Was Joe. The exciting, liberating experience of being Joe has been left behind. At the beginning of Almost True, Ty is Jake - a lost boy living by the sea. He is frightened and he has every reason to be because the gang members who he is expected to testify against want him dead and they will go to any lengths to make it so.

At its heart Almost True is a thriller. It is a novel about a boy being persecuted by criminals. But for me, it is so much more. It is a novel which can be read in different ways. I think it depends on your personal history and what you bring to the book as a reader.

The first theme that spoke to me in this novel was family. You know that saying “every family has its secrets” well that can be said of Ty’s family (and possibly my own but we won’t go there). This novel explores Ty’s relationship with many different characters – new ones that he meets and old ones who have expectations of him. Sometimes it is the people that know us best that it is hardest to be truthful with. We don’t want to let them down. We don’t want to admit we’ve made mistakes. This is true of Ty. Goodness, I expect it true of most people.

The second theme that spoke to me in this novel is truth. As we follow Ty, we realise that the truth isn’t always the rigid thing we think to be. Every person sees their own truth, remembers their own truth. They may choose to hide that knowledge or they may share it but that doesn’t mean that anyone else will believe it. We remember things from our past but it is within the human condition to create false memories. But when we knowingly lie, it can have huge psychological implications. Keren explores the effect of deceit on the human psyche, crafting the darkness of insanity with precision and tenderness.

The third theme that I felt was hugely important in this novel is society. Almost True is a novel of now. It explores this very moment in British culture when our politics is full of rhetoric on knife crime and violent teenagers, a generation of disaffected youths and the scourge of our broken society. For that reason, as well as Ty’s journey, it is a compelling and emotional read. Keren has written the truth of our lives – from cultural references about Strictly Come Dancing to the sensationalism of our tabloid newspapers – and narrated it so believably you can taste it.

I’ve read Almost True twice now and even though I knew what was going to happen the second time around, I still didn’t want to stop reading. What more can I say? Keren David is a master of suspenseful, contemporary writing. If you want to see the dark side of the world we live in, look no further. This book will take you there. But there is also hope because not everything the politicians and media tell us is true. And that is why I love Keren David and why she deserves our admiration and respect.(less)

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Mar 09, 2013 Ash.Mehta rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, romance

I won't go into the description of this book, as it is the sequel to "When I was Joe." If you haven't read that one, you should read it first!
I thought this was a great conclusion to the first book, "When I was Joe." While I found some flaws in the first book, I thought this one did a wonderful job making up for them. I wasn't sure whether to give it 4 or 5 stars.
**possible spoiler** I was honestly bored with Claire and everyone in his old life. I didn't mind him going to see them or getting in...more

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Sep 23, 2010 Clover (Fluttering Butterflies) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, uk-book-tours

Phew. What a ride this book is! Almost True is the sequel to When I Was Joe by Keren David which was one of my favourite books that I've read all year. I was absolutely beside myself with excitement to recieve a copy and I started it right away - abandoning the other book I had been reading. It was worth it.

Almost True continues with Ty's story. His mum and him have been living in another town under different names and still hiding from the people who are trying to kill Ty because of what he wit...more Phew. What a ride this book is! Almost True is the sequel to When I Was Joe by Keren David which was one of my favourite books that I've read all year. I was absolutely beside myself with excitement to recieve a copy and I started it right away - abandoning the other book I had been reading. It was worth it.

Almost True continues with Ty's story. His mum and him have been living in another town under different names and still hiding from the people who are trying to kill Ty because of what he witnessed. ..Only instead of Ty, someone else is shot. So now, Ty is sent somewhere very different and is able to explore another aspect of his identity, one that has life-changing results.

In When I Was Joe I found that was able to be quite funny and charming at times, and in Almost True it feels as though so much has been weighing on him, with his separation from Claire, the guilt for the things that he's done and the knowledge that other people in his life are getting hurt because of what he's put them through has changed him. The tone of this novel is very different. It feels more serious and grown-up. But there is a dog and a new friend for Ty who do lighten up the mood some.

There's a real importance in Almost True to being honest and of the truth. The seriousness and the consequences of knife crime. And lots and lots of making mistakes. Ty messes up pretty badly with the choices that he makes and what's great is that Keren David shows us, too, that everyone important in Ty's life has made some really terrible mistakes as well. And that's OK. Because even though it's a tough road to go down, they've each taken responsibility and were able to move on and have decent enough lives. It's a wonderful message to give to readers and one that isn't said in a heavy-handed way at all.

It's a really exciting read, this one. The story is constantly moving forward and so many new things are learned about Ty and the things that have happened in his past. I did sometimes want to reach into my book and shake Ty for making some of the choices that he does, but his voice and personality are just so likeable that I can't help caring for him as well. So much so that towards the end I had to put my book down and take a little break because my heart absolutely ached for Ty. Everything feels so authentic that it's hard to believe that these characters are fictional.

What are you waiting for? You really must read When I Was Joe and Almost True! Highly recommended. (less)

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Aug 26, 2010 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: signed, read-in-2010, books-i-own-print, for-review-read, favorites, british-author

Ty and his mother have been in witness protection since Ty saw a murder committed and gave a statement to the police. After their safety was compromised they were moved again and are now living in a small seaside town far away from their home in London. When the killers track them down yet again, a case of mistaken identity means that this time someone ends up dead and Ty is on the run again. His family no longer feel that they can trust the police to keep them safe so they decide to take matter...more Ty and his mother have been in witness protection since Ty saw a murder committed and gave a statement to the police. After their safety was compromised they were moved again and are now living in a small seaside town far away from their home in London. When the killers track them down yet again, a case of mistaken identity means that this time someone ends up dead and Ty is on the run again. His family no longer feel that they can trust the police to keep them safe so they decide to take matters into their own hands. Ty finds himself on his own and living with strangers but are they really strangers or are they people he should remember from his past?

If you've read my review of When I Was Joe you'll already know what a massive fan I was of that book and I couldn't wait to get my hands on this sequel. Let me start by saying that Almost True didn't disappoint and if anything was even more gripping than the first book. The story is fast paced and sweeps you back into Ty's world in a way that has you hooked from the very beginning. It is one of those books that you just won't want to put down. If you haven't yet read When I Was Joe I would recommend reading the stories in order but I would highly recommend both books.

Ty has been through a lot and it doesn't look like things will get easier for him any time soon. He has to do a lot of growing up in this story and I found it really interesting watching him build relationships with the family members he has no memory of. I don't want to give away any spoilers so let's just say that Ty gets to learn a lot of family secrets in this book which help him to understand things from his past. I enjoyed going with him on his journey.

Almost True gives a fascinating insight into Britain's knife culture and really makes you think about what it can be like for teenagers growing up in inner city areas with gangs. The story has a fast paced and interesting plot but will also make you think. I'd highly recommend this series to anyone from teen to adult and would think this story would make for a good talking point as part of the school curriculum. I'm looking forward to seeing what Keren David comes up with next!(less)

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Jan 16, 2011 Julia Phillips rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

An outstanding follow-up to 'When I Was Joe'. I couldn't wait to read this and sat up till 3am just to finish it.

The characters all move on from the end of the last book and Ty, at the centre of the story, feels his life spiralling out of control.

There are all the elements of a truly Shakespearian drama here - love, betrayal, friendship, family, misunderstanding, hatred... it's a heady mix and only the quality of the writing keeps this from being a complex mess of emotions.

Ty's voice is the d...more

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Aug 23, 2010 Empire of Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

If you have read my review of When I Was Joe by Keren (which can be found here), you'll know that I love Ty and his story and was excruciatingly excited for this book. And I'll tell you something, it doesn't disappoint for a single second!

Right from the beginning, Almost True hurtles along at break-neck speed. Ty is still on the run. But for now, he thinks he is safe. Until someone dies. A cast of mistaken identity. They've found him, and now he has to run again. But this time, things are differ...more If you have read my review of When I Was Joe by Keren (which can be found here), you'll know that I love Ty and his story and was excruciatingly excited for this book. And I'll tell you something, it doesn't disappoint for a single second!

Right from the beginning, Almost True hurtles along at break-neck speed. Ty is still on the run. But for now, he thinks he is safe. Until someone dies. A cast of mistaken identity. They've found him, and now he has to run again. But this time, things are different. His family no longer trust the police - and believe that there has been a leak of information, how else could they have found him in a small seaside town miles and miles away from London? They take things into their own hands and Ty is sent to live with complete strangers. Who soon turn out not to be so strange at all...

This book is certainly epic. So many events take place in this short period of Ty's life. He certainly has his fair share of anger - something I myself can relate to at his age (although I didn't launch myself at people...). I felt that this time, even more so than in When I Was Joe, he was more relate-able. I knew some of the things he was saying and feeling, and I felt for him where I haven't experienced things he has.

One thing I will say about both these books is that they are very thought provoking. There are questions raised that need to be thought about seriously in the real world. Knife crime. The consequences. And these books highlight this issue brilliantly. It shows that even people who are innocent - and have no intention to use a knife, despite holding one for whatever reason - can be drawn in to the danger and decay of knife crime. I'm lucky where I live that knife crime isn't really an every day thing. I think there have been only a handful of stabbings since I was born in the early 90's. But reading these books only makes me wonder how youngsters in the big cities feel as they go about their lives, where stabbings become a regular occurrence.

The writing is top notch. It's easy to get into, and from the first word, you know that it is a fourteen year old boy narrating. Keren David has got the narrative down to a tee. It's perfect, a feat which many would struggle with, so I have to commend Keren for this!

Something I really enjoyed about this book was all the little hints that showed universal appeal. Twilight, music references, a reference to manga phenomenon and film-adapted Death Note. All sorts that just made you believe you were reading the story of a fourteen year old boy, told by a fourteen year old boy.

Almost True is written with consummate skill. It's fast paced, hugely enjoyable and slightly addictive - I would not leave my room until I had finished! It ends Ty's story brilliant, or is it the end? I cannot thank Keren enough for another amazing reading experience. And I look forward to reading more from her in the future. If you haven't read When I Was Joe, then you need to get that seen to right away. You won't regret it, and then you can read this beauty of a book!(less)

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Jan 28, 2013 Maree rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Maree by: Jo

Shelves: uk, ya-contemp, e-books, 2012-read, favourites-2012

I am always nervous when it comes to reading (and reviewing) the second book in a series, particularly when I loved the first book. There are so many expectations that I find it easy to be let down. I am so, so, so incredibly happy to tell you that this is not the case with Almost True. When I Was Joe didn’t exactly end on a cliffhanger, but I was still left with so many questions. And boy, did David answer all those questions, and then some.

I was completely surprised by the direction David took...more

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Jan 20, 2013 Kirsty (overflowing library) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: uk-author

A brilliant read which had me hooked from the first page.

I read the first book in this series a while back and have been meaning to reading this for a while. From the moment I picked it up I knew I was going to struggle to put it down as I found it addictively engaging because the storyline was pacey and action packed.

In this book you get to know more about Ty's background as he finds out for himself for the first time more about his father and his father's family. I loved finding out that det...more

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Oct 27, 2012 Beth rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book, it was excellent. I enjoyed it evsn more than When I Was Joe. I loved the way Joe keeps fighting to stand up for himself and the relationships he has with the people he meets even though he is not supposed to become attached to anybody in case his identity is discovered. I love the trial and how you think everything could turn out to be okay and then it totally isn't. I am looking forward to the third book as i love Joe as a character and was sad to get to the end of this book...more

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Jan 30, 2011 LibraryLass rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, library-book, ya-fiction

Great finish to this story. I enjoyed it almost as much as the first. I did think that at times the voice of Ty/Joe became less authentic than in the first book. I mean I got pulled out of the story slightly by the almost "motherly" feel to the story. But these times were few and far between and did not stop me from enjoying the story at all. A fantastic read which I will be recommending to teens of both sexes and my colleagues who are into YA fiction. I will definitely be on the lookout for her...more

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Feb 13, 2012 Wisteriouswoman rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed it. It was a side of British life that is being covered more and more--gangs and council housing and parents that do drugs or raise their children as a single parent.
This one is an adventure and I wasn't sure where it was going because it had some surprises.
The good thing was that it wasn't too gritty with British slang and easy for an American to read and get into.
I want to read the first book in the series next so I know what happened to Ty before.

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Sep 15, 2010 Jenni rated it 5 of 5 stars

After having to read "When I Was Joe" in two parts I knew I wanted to read "Almost True" in one sitting. I did, and was glad!

"Almost True" continues telling the story of Ty, and is a real rollercoaster of action and emotion. I found at times that I couldn't read fast enough, and then at other times I almost didn't want to turn the page.

One of the things I really loved is how realistically the characters are created. Like most teenagers Ty gets it right some of the time and also gets it wrong, m...more

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Nov 23, 2011 Janie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: best-ever, issues, spy-kids, high-school-setting, 5-stars

Brilliant. Ty's point of view was honest and gripping. I was shocked how much was kept from Ty/Joe. The plot twists and turns as the reader, as Ty, finds out that his family's past is more turbulent than he had ever realized. His position in the witness protection program is the thing that set the whole thing in motion. One of the few times that the sequel is better than the original.

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Jul 07, 2011 Tracett rated it 3 of 5 stars

I loved When I was Joe. This is a good follow up. Much of what I enjoyed about WIWJ was Joe/Ty's interactions with his world. Almost True is very much about his interior thought process - and he is very confused. This makes a bit of a muddled read, but as he learns more and grows up more the book pulls together. If you liked "Joe" you really will want to read this. I hope to see more of this series.

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Sep 20, 2011 Mary Farrell rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the first book "When I was Joe". This one surprised me in taking the story to a deeper level. Yes, it's an exciting thriller--and the main character is multi-layered, dealing with stuff you can really sink your teeth into. A very satisfying read.

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Jul 15, 2011 Joshua lukeee bend rated it 4 of 5 stars

i think this book is a lot better than the first one, the way Alister appears to be telling Ty to help his mother even tho he is dead confused me a bit but overall the way Ty and his dad re-unite and the way Ty gets to see his long lost relatives and his girlfriend Clair made the story a whole lot more interesting. I loved this book<3

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Jun 09, 2011 Scarlett Morris rated it 5 of 5 stars

Sequel to When I was Joe, I believe it was better than the first one, as it focases more on Ty, rather than Joe, so it fills in his past. The romantic side of the story is very realistic and one a lot of teenagers can relate to. Again, a unique read.

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Aug 11, 2010 Samantha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Keren David's second book is even grittier than the last. Yet more danger, tension and secrets arise in the sequel to When I Was Joe.
The relationship that develops between Joe and his paternal grandparents is wonderfully written and the humour and sarcasm that ensues when Joe's cousin Archie comes to stay is laugh out loud funny!
I honestly cannot wait to see what Keren David comes up with next!

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Nov 07, 2010 Mark Warner rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favourite, fiction-teen

An amazing sequel to one of my favourite books... the story takes so many twists and turns that it is sometimes difficult to keep up with, but it's so engaging all the way through.

This story brings the two-part series to a wonderful close.

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Jun 15, 2012 Allyseria rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reallife

I was a fan of the first book so I was really excited to read this one (the sequel).

It was good, except for some awkward moments that kinda made me wish Keren David (the author) didn't put in.

The ending was a bit quick - I wouldn't say it was the best ending for this book. It didn't quite feel like everything tied up together.

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Jul 24, 2012 Samantha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic

I really enjoyed this story (the first book and the second). Ty is moving character with all his flaws and traits, and it was easy for me to get attached to the people who love him...especially Patrick.

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May 31, 2011 BCPL Youth Services Librarian added it · review of another edition

Shelves: family-drama, realistic-fiction

Click to see book in BCPL's online catalog

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Feb 07, 2012 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars

it wasnt as good as the first one but if you have read the first book you should read this one.

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Mar 27, 2012 Jayne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Youth literature but good. Teen in witness protection.

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Jun 12, 2011 Martha Itzcovitz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Slightly disappointed, not as good as When I was Joe

1 like · like · see review

title link	preview: Almost True
avg rating	preview: Almost True Goodreads rating: 4.20 (195 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7713246-almost-true?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328706414l/7713246.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7713246-almost-true?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Almost True by Keren David[/url]

Almost True (When I Was Joe #2)

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