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The Secret to Lying
A teenage boy’s self-reinvention gets out of control in a sharp, funny, poignant, and compulsively readable novel that gives a familiar theme a surprising twist.
James was the guy no one noticed — just another fifteen-year-old in a small town. So when he gets into an academy for gifted students, he decides to leave his boring past behind. In a boarding school full of nerds and geeks, being cool is easy. All it takes is a few harmless pranks to invent a new fighter, rebel, punk. Everyone’s impressed, except for the beautiful "Ice Queen" Ellie Frost and the mysterious ghost44, an IM presence who sees through his new identity. But James is riding high, playing pranks and hooking up with luscious Jessica Keen. There’s just one thing he’s starting to have vivid dreams of being a demon-hunting warrior, a thrill that is spilling over into dangerous and self-destructive acts while he’s awake. As he’s drawn deeper into his real-life lies and his dream-world conquests, James begins to What’s the price for being the coolest guy around?
James was the guy no one noticed — just another fifteen-year-old in a small town. So when he gets into an academy for gifted students, he decides to leave his boring past behind. In a boarding school full of nerds and geeks, being cool is easy. All it takes is a few harmless pranks to invent a new fighter, rebel, punk. Everyone’s impressed, except for the beautiful "Ice Queen" Ellie Frost and the mysterious ghost44, an IM presence who sees through his new identity. But James is riding high, playing pranks and hooking up with luscious Jessica Keen. There’s just one thing he’s starting to have vivid dreams of being a demon-hunting warrior, a thrill that is spilling over into dangerous and self-destructive acts while he’s awake. As he’s drawn deeper into his real-life lies and his dream-world conquests, James begins to What’s the price for being the coolest guy around?
336 pages, Hardcover
First published June 8, 2010
26 people are currently reading
899 people want to read
About the author
Todd Mitchell
23 books107 followersTodd Mitchell is the author of several award-winning middle grade and YA novels including The Last Panther (Penguin Random House), The Traitor King (Scholastic), The Secret to Lying (Candlewick), and Backwards (Candlewick). He has two new books coming out in fall 2021—one for writers, artists, and creators titled Breakthrough: How to Overcome Doubt, Fear, and Resistance so that You Can Be Your Ultimate Creative Self, and a middle grade novel that's recently been optioned for film/TV development titled The Namer of Spirits.
He lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he kayaks, mountain bikes, and teaches creative writing at Colorado State University. He loves speaking with young readers and writers. You can visit him (and learn about his squirrel obsession) at www.ToddMitchellBooks.com
About THE NAMER OF SPIRITS:
“A dangerous town carved out of unforgiving forest, a young girl who can name spirits and tame monsters, a race against time to save the natural world: The Namer of Spirits is what readers want and the world needs.”
—New York Times bestselling author Eliot Schrefer
About THE LAST PANTHER (winner of the Colorado Book Award, the Green Prize for Sustainable Literature, and a Green Earth Honor Book Award):
"BRILLIANT! A boldly original, profoundly wise, deeply moving book. It’s a rare gift to any reader, as well as to our planet."
—T. A. Barron, author of the Merlin Saga
"A powerful tale." —KIRKUS
"Difficult to put down. An important addition on a timely subject." —SLJ
About THE SECRET TO LYING (winner of the Colorado Book Award, for ages 14 & up):
"Engrossing and entertaining... a great read."
—PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY
About BACKWARDS (winner of the CAL Award, for ages 13 & up):
“[A] suspenseful paranormal novel. …at once thought-provoking and satisfying.” —School Library Journal
About THE TRAITOR KING (Scholastic Press, for ages 8 & up):
"Humor, menace, and mystery suffuse this fast-paced tale... This well-written tale is a must for most fantasy readers."
—School Library Journal
Other projects:
I co-wrote a graphic novel that came out with Vertigo Comics (part of D.C.), called A FLIGHT OF ANGELS (selected as a YALSA Top Ten Pick for Great Graphic Novels for Teens).
BROKEN SAVIORS, an alien invasion graphic novel series for ages 13 and up. You can read the first few issues of BROKEN SAVIORS on my website for free. Or find it in full HD on ComiXology!
http://www.toddmitchellbooks.com
He lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he kayaks, mountain bikes, and teaches creative writing at Colorado State University. He loves speaking with young readers and writers. You can visit him (and learn about his squirrel obsession) at www.ToddMitchellBooks.com
About THE NAMER OF SPIRITS:
“A dangerous town carved out of unforgiving forest, a young girl who can name spirits and tame monsters, a race against time to save the natural world: The Namer of Spirits is what readers want and the world needs.”
—New York Times bestselling author Eliot Schrefer
About THE LAST PANTHER (winner of the Colorado Book Award, the Green Prize for Sustainable Literature, and a Green Earth Honor Book Award):
"BRILLIANT! A boldly original, profoundly wise, deeply moving book. It’s a rare gift to any reader, as well as to our planet."
—T. A. Barron, author of the Merlin Saga
"A powerful tale." —KIRKUS
"Difficult to put down. An important addition on a timely subject." —SLJ
About THE SECRET TO LYING (winner of the Colorado Book Award, for ages 14 & up):
"Engrossing and entertaining... a great read."
—PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY
About BACKWARDS (winner of the CAL Award, for ages 13 & up):
“[A] suspenseful paranormal novel. …at once thought-provoking and satisfying.” —School Library Journal
About THE TRAITOR KING (Scholastic Press, for ages 8 & up):
"Humor, menace, and mystery suffuse this fast-paced tale... This well-written tale is a must for most fantasy readers."
—School Library Journal
Other projects:
I co-wrote a graphic novel that came out with Vertigo Comics (part of D.C.), called A FLIGHT OF ANGELS (selected as a YALSA Top Ten Pick for Great Graphic Novels for Teens).
BROKEN SAVIORS, an alien invasion graphic novel series for ages 13 and up. You can read the first few issues of BROKEN SAVIORS on my website for free. Or find it in full HD on ComiXology!
http://www.toddmitchellbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
June 13, 2010
A train wreck waiting to happen and an artful blurring between reality and fantasy, The Secret To Lying masterfully delves into one teen’s struggle to be noticed. The boy who was often forgotten, James finds himself at a new school with a fresh start. With opportunity ample before him, he holds nothing back in the stories he comes up with regarding his past- until it becomes too much even for him.
On a shallow level, this book is about lying and reaping what’s been sown. On the deeper level Mitchell incorporated, this book is the epitome of teenage confusion and a struggle to find one’s self. A coming of age novel mixed with moralistic questions, The Secret To Lying is a refreshing read for any age. James’ internal struggles, debates and fears aren’t hidden, clearly driving much of his actions throughout the book. Unable to see far enough in the future to realize the path he is on and resistant to help, James does nothing but continue to delve deeper into the darkness that threatens to engulf him.
James is masterfully done, making a complete character change early on as soon as he starts at his new school before developing through great strides by the end of the book. There are three different characters seen throughout centered with this one person and Mitchell has created a unique, memorable and promising method to bring about each one. Subtly touching on many areas of psychological, rationalization and motivations, James is a character any teenager- male or female- will relate to. Even the most outwardly confident teen will find some consolation in James’ struggles and from an outside perspective, his decisions and chosen methods to deal with the demons battling inside him can easily be identified as inept. From inside James’ head, however, the reader can easily understand the drives behind his lying and other things he does. Mitchell holds nothing back when he puts this character on display, creating a strong emotional connection between reader and damaged character.
In his journey to finding himself, James encounters a range of characters and because of the ASMA school setting, the social groups are different. This is a place where the geeks can be bold without repercussion, the nerds can be popular and being smart is idealized rather than ostracized. In some ways, James attending a boarding high school is much like a college freshman, suddenly rapt with new opportunities and no parental supervision. While some handle it smoothly, others go overboard and given his mental state starting at the school, James’ actions are easily understood.
Enter Jess, a punk style girl who shows interest in him and though an attraction is there, it is clear to both the reader and even James other things are off and missing. This relationship is a fluid example of teenage emotions, torn between a desire to be with someone and confusion over what they should be feeling. A lack of one thing and an upsurge of another create turmoil within James, pulling the reader along for the ride and leaving them as unsure about the outcome as James. Confounding James further is his inexplicable reactions and feelings towards Ellie, a popular girl dubbed as The Ice Queen. He is both annoyed and infatuated by her, unable to sift through and understand his reactions. James’ interactions with both Jess and Ellie are enjoyable though at times painful and help pull the plot and character development along beautifully.
Mixed in with the lies and uncertainty are numerous scenes of teenage pranks, banter, and companionship. There are several humorous scenes throughout the book, breaking up the serious aspect of the book. From shopping trips with his mother to an entire scene played out in the cafeteria as a stand against the food, James and his friends find themselves in some very entertaining situations that remind the reader of the characters' ages and though they are at a school for math and science, they are still teenagers.
Hosting a wide variety of characters with some interesting nicknames- from Cheese to Heinous to Muppet- The Secret To Lying is a smooth read along a tumultuous road rapt with rises and falls. The description and detail of James’ dreams paints a magnificent picture for the reader and the slow shifting of that world into James’ waking one is handled seamlessly. The integration of the actions of his dreams into the real world events is a brilliant method to tie everything together. Bold writing that gives a very strong mental voice to this smart but confused and unmotivated main character coupled with an endearing plot that very cleverly manipulates the lines between dreaming and awake, fiction and reality create a perfect novel for an emotional ride the reader is guaranteed to remain on until the ending.
On a shallow level, this book is about lying and reaping what’s been sown. On the deeper level Mitchell incorporated, this book is the epitome of teenage confusion and a struggle to find one’s self. A coming of age novel mixed with moralistic questions, The Secret To Lying is a refreshing read for any age. James’ internal struggles, debates and fears aren’t hidden, clearly driving much of his actions throughout the book. Unable to see far enough in the future to realize the path he is on and resistant to help, James does nothing but continue to delve deeper into the darkness that threatens to engulf him.
James is masterfully done, making a complete character change early on as soon as he starts at his new school before developing through great strides by the end of the book. There are three different characters seen throughout centered with this one person and Mitchell has created a unique, memorable and promising method to bring about each one. Subtly touching on many areas of psychological, rationalization and motivations, James is a character any teenager- male or female- will relate to. Even the most outwardly confident teen will find some consolation in James’ struggles and from an outside perspective, his decisions and chosen methods to deal with the demons battling inside him can easily be identified as inept. From inside James’ head, however, the reader can easily understand the drives behind his lying and other things he does. Mitchell holds nothing back when he puts this character on display, creating a strong emotional connection between reader and damaged character.
In his journey to finding himself, James encounters a range of characters and because of the ASMA school setting, the social groups are different. This is a place where the geeks can be bold without repercussion, the nerds can be popular and being smart is idealized rather than ostracized. In some ways, James attending a boarding high school is much like a college freshman, suddenly rapt with new opportunities and no parental supervision. While some handle it smoothly, others go overboard and given his mental state starting at the school, James’ actions are easily understood.
Enter Jess, a punk style girl who shows interest in him and though an attraction is there, it is clear to both the reader and even James other things are off and missing. This relationship is a fluid example of teenage emotions, torn between a desire to be with someone and confusion over what they should be feeling. A lack of one thing and an upsurge of another create turmoil within James, pulling the reader along for the ride and leaving them as unsure about the outcome as James. Confounding James further is his inexplicable reactions and feelings towards Ellie, a popular girl dubbed as The Ice Queen. He is both annoyed and infatuated by her, unable to sift through and understand his reactions. James’ interactions with both Jess and Ellie are enjoyable though at times painful and help pull the plot and character development along beautifully.
Mixed in with the lies and uncertainty are numerous scenes of teenage pranks, banter, and companionship. There are several humorous scenes throughout the book, breaking up the serious aspect of the book. From shopping trips with his mother to an entire scene played out in the cafeteria as a stand against the food, James and his friends find themselves in some very entertaining situations that remind the reader of the characters' ages and though they are at a school for math and science, they are still teenagers.
Hosting a wide variety of characters with some interesting nicknames- from Cheese to Heinous to Muppet- The Secret To Lying is a smooth read along a tumultuous road rapt with rises and falls. The description and detail of James’ dreams paints a magnificent picture for the reader and the slow shifting of that world into James’ waking one is handled seamlessly. The integration of the actions of his dreams into the real world events is a brilliant method to tie everything together. Bold writing that gives a very strong mental voice to this smart but confused and unmotivated main character coupled with an endearing plot that very cleverly manipulates the lines between dreaming and awake, fiction and reality create a perfect novel for an emotional ride the reader is guaranteed to remain on until the ending.
April 8, 2019
what the...
so messed up
yet so relatable
o
m
g
this is crazyyyyy
so messed up
yet so relatable
o
m
g
this is crazyyyyy
November 21, 2020
James Turner is like one of too many people in society who feels invisible. He looks to redeem himself when he goes to a new school where no one knows him and he can be whoever he says he is...in other words, lie about himself. While reading about James' story, the reader might see him/herself in James. Everyone wants to fit in and feel wanted and liked/loved. But when you become the person you "think" you want to be and one who others would really like, it might not end up that way. Especially if you discover you can't like your new self.
March 30, 2011
Much as I appreciate the recommendations of my friends, at this point I'm going to ignore everything they say about Todd Mitchell because they are unforgivably biased. You see, he's a local author and he's done a lot of writing programs with the library for teens, some of which I've attended and enjoyed. But because many of my fellow library-goers know him in person, I think they may be prejudiced towards his books. I enjoyed Traitor King, but it wasn't as mind-blowing as they led me to believe... and so it shouldn't have been a surprise that this wasn't either.
Really, why were these people whose opinions I trust praising this so highly? What, exactly, is the allure? This story is disjointed, awkward, poorly crafted, and cliched. The interesting concepts are buried beneath what I can only assume is the result of a compulsion to make a Book About Issues Teens Have Today. The pacing is all wrong. And the worst problem? The MC is STUPID.
First off, the thing that showed promise: the concept of James's dream world. As a lens through which his personal issues could be viewed, it could have been amazing. As an independent fantasy story, it could have been fascinating. What happened, though, was that it was used inconsistently and poorly. If the battles between James and the demons are a reflection of his inner struggle, I EXPECTED TO SEE MORE OF THEM. Glossing over them with summarial statements is not okay. And then there's the obvious correlation between the dreams and real life which was frankly a little bit too exact. Metaphors should be a bit more of a stretch. Is it too much to ask that this be something thought-provoking?
And now the bad stuff. Why in the name of all that is holy was James cutting himself? This is a FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE and I have NO FREAKING IDEA why he was self-mutilating, or even that he was depressed until he first picked up that razor blade. And even after his narration did not seem like the narrative of someone in deep depression or with any other psychological disorder.
NEW RULE: EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO WRITE ABOUT TEEN ISSUES, SELF-MUTILATION, OR EATING DISORDERS IS REQUIRED TO READ Wintergirls.
If I'd understood why James did what he did, I might have sympathized with him. If he hadn't been such a tremendous idiot, I might have sympathized with him. If he hadn't destroyed himself for NO GOOD REASON I might have sympathized with him. As it is- remind me why I give a shit? OH RIGHT. I don't.
And then there was Ellie. Now, speaking of coming out of nowhere... way to spring her issues on us at the ending, Mr. Mitchell. With no hint whatsoever that it might be coming. No spoilers, but it wouldn't have been that hard. People noticed James's issues, which were much less physical. Someone had to have noticed Ellie.
I suppose this could have been better if it had been longer- you know, if there had been any actual character development. I'm fairly sure this is shorter than Mitchell's middle-grade novel, which simply doesn't make sense. It should have been longer, more nuanced, and more polished.
One final positive thing: The kids at ASMA were interesting and far better characterized than any of the main characters. (Note that I'm not talking about anyone in particular but the faceless student body, which nonetheless seemed interesting.
So. No more Mitchell on recommendations of local friends. If I hear good things via GR, maybe. Maaaaaybe. This was a big disappointment.
Really, why were these people whose opinions I trust praising this so highly? What, exactly, is the allure? This story is disjointed, awkward, poorly crafted, and cliched. The interesting concepts are buried beneath what I can only assume is the result of a compulsion to make a Book About Issues Teens Have Today. The pacing is all wrong. And the worst problem? The MC is STUPID.
First off, the thing that showed promise: the concept of James's dream world. As a lens through which his personal issues could be viewed, it could have been amazing. As an independent fantasy story, it could have been fascinating. What happened, though, was that it was used inconsistently and poorly. If the battles between James and the demons are a reflection of his inner struggle, I EXPECTED TO SEE MORE OF THEM. Glossing over them with summarial statements is not okay. And then there's the obvious correlation between the dreams and real life which was frankly a little bit too exact. Metaphors should be a bit more of a stretch. Is it too much to ask that this be something thought-provoking?
And now the bad stuff. Why in the name of all that is holy was James cutting himself? This is a FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE and I have NO FREAKING IDEA why he was self-mutilating, or even that he was depressed until he first picked up that razor blade. And even after his narration did not seem like the narrative of someone in deep depression or with any other psychological disorder.
NEW RULE: EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO WRITE ABOUT TEEN ISSUES, SELF-MUTILATION, OR EATING DISORDERS IS REQUIRED TO READ Wintergirls.
If I'd understood why James did what he did, I might have sympathized with him. If he hadn't been such a tremendous idiot, I might have sympathized with him. If he hadn't destroyed himself for NO GOOD REASON I might have sympathized with him. As it is- remind me why I give a shit? OH RIGHT. I don't.
And then there was Ellie. Now, speaking of coming out of nowhere... way to spring her issues on us at the ending, Mr. Mitchell. With no hint whatsoever that it might be coming. No spoilers, but it wouldn't have been that hard. People noticed James's issues, which were much less physical. Someone had to have noticed Ellie.
I suppose this could have been better if it had been longer- you know, if there had been any actual character development. I'm fairly sure this is shorter than Mitchell's middle-grade novel, which simply doesn't make sense. It should have been longer, more nuanced, and more polished.
One final positive thing: The kids at ASMA were interesting and far better characterized than any of the main characters. (Note that I'm not talking about anyone in particular but the faceless student body, which nonetheless seemed interesting.
So. No more Mitchell on recommendations of local friends. If I hear good things via GR, maybe. Maaaaaybe. This was a big disappointment.
March 25, 2022
inferior to the winner’s curse, obviously! maybe 3.5 if i'm feeling generous.
I’ll freely confess that I skimmed over several large portions/swaths of this — but one thing’s for sure: it was hilarious how the main character was kind of a total doofus. (side note: maybe that’s why this book resonated so strongly with someone who, burdened with extremely poor/questionable taste, could also arguably be called a doofus?😉) Classic how he was the last one to realize what was going on/who he was really confiding in. Of course it was right there all along! Deliberate narrative telegraphing on the author’s part, with huge signs all over the place — it did feel inevitable and I knew she was the one from the start. (And frankly, she was definitely out of his league, in more ways than one.)
A small detail, but I appreciated how Wisconsin (home to half of my family for >50 years) was represented, which it hardly ever is as a book setting (other than little house on the prairie, etc.) — albeit as the faraway land that he pretended he’d run away to for reputation purposes. I’m extremely biased as an indirect namesake, but it’s true that Madison would be a very cool town to run away to! ;)
the one quote I actually really liked:
No one ever talks about IT.
What’s “IT”?
The things that matter. What’s at the center. People talk and talk, but they never say much. Sometimes we get close, but we rarely mention the truth.
[…] this cheap plastic magic trick I had as a kid […] that’s how I feel when […] everything should be right. I put the quarter in […] and the audience is waiting expectantly […] but I keep coming up empty.
[…] Thanks.
For what?
For finally talking about IT. — (Full quote: p. 120-121)
I’ll freely confess that I skimmed over several large portions/swaths of this — but one thing’s for sure: it was hilarious how the main character was kind of a total doofus. (side note: maybe that’s why this book resonated so strongly with someone who, burdened with extremely poor/questionable taste, could also arguably be called a doofus?😉) Classic how he was the last one to realize what was going on/who he was really confiding in. Of course it was right there all along! Deliberate narrative telegraphing on the author’s part, with huge signs all over the place — it did feel inevitable and I knew she was the one from the start. (And frankly, she was definitely out of his league, in more ways than one.)
A small detail, but I appreciated how Wisconsin (home to half of my family for >50 years) was represented, which it hardly ever is as a book setting (other than little house on the prairie, etc.) — albeit as the faraway land that he pretended he’d run away to for reputation purposes. I’m extremely biased as an indirect namesake, but it’s true that Madison would be a very cool town to run away to! ;)
the one quote I actually really liked:
No one ever talks about IT.
What’s “IT”?
The things that matter. What’s at the center. People talk and talk, but they never say much. Sometimes we get close, but we rarely mention the truth.
[…] this cheap plastic magic trick I had as a kid […] that’s how I feel when […] everything should be right. I put the quarter in […] and the audience is waiting expectantly […] but I keep coming up empty.
[…] Thanks.
For what?
For finally talking about IT. — (Full quote: p. 120-121)
March 31, 2010
High school sophomore James arrives at the American Science and Mathematics Academy boarding school (yes we are finally seeing a YA dork academy and not the gothic, creepy one normal to this genre) looking for a fresh start and a new life. James takes the opportunity to reinvent himself to the students. Instead of the nobody he was, he claims “rebel outsider” whom spent the majority of his time as a freshman, street fighting and stealing cars. Of course this places James in the ranks of drool-worthy stardom amongst the herd of nerds at this school and it’s not long before he stands out as a true rebel. While James finds some quick pleasure in the lies and friendships based upon his faulty exterior, inside he is a very sad and confused guy. Disturbing nightmares begin to take a toll on James as fantasy begins to mix with his reality. Sword fights in the dream land become real razors in the bathroom. Teachers, students and friends try to reach out and help James but addicted to his own destruction, he aimlessly tosses away one relationship after the other.
Mitchell’s use of the dark dreams and paranormal demon fighting were as I understood it- used metaphorically to link James mental turmoil in wanting to be that someone and the self-destruction of his cutting together. I understand why these elements were used but I felt it almost didn���t fit in with the coming of age story delivered. Not that this was a bad thing, but had it been left out it wouldn’t have been missed.
The Secret to Lying was a surprisingly humorous and almost heart breaking look into a young man’s mind of low self esteem and self-discovery. Todd Mitchell’s writing was fantastic, I felt he sincerely knew how to talk to the young teen, but was also able to pull me (a woman no longer a teen) back to a time in my life where James was highly relatable and recognizable. James is the average teen, and what I liked about this book even with the tad bit of paranormal flair on the side- he remains average. Never does James launch into this unbelievable super-hero of a guy but becomes the super-hero of overcoming real life issues. The ending for me was very heartfelt and left me with a sense of hope for the future life of this character.
Mitchell’s use of the dark dreams and paranormal demon fighting were as I understood it- used metaphorically to link James mental turmoil in wanting to be that someone and the self-destruction of his cutting together. I understand why these elements were used but I felt it almost didn���t fit in with the coming of age story delivered. Not that this was a bad thing, but had it been left out it wouldn’t have been missed.
The Secret to Lying was a surprisingly humorous and almost heart breaking look into a young man’s mind of low self esteem and self-discovery. Todd Mitchell’s writing was fantastic, I felt he sincerely knew how to talk to the young teen, but was also able to pull me (a woman no longer a teen) back to a time in my life where James was highly relatable and recognizable. James is the average teen, and what I liked about this book even with the tad bit of paranormal flair on the side- he remains average. Never does James launch into this unbelievable super-hero of a guy but becomes the super-hero of overcoming real life issues. The ending for me was very heartfelt and left me with a sense of hope for the future life of this character.
July 2, 2010
The real secret to Todd Mitchell’s book, The Secret to Lying, is that while it is shelved in the teen fiction section most adults would probably find it just as enjoyable and relevant. The story follows James Turner as he attempts to find a balance between who he is and who he wants to be. Invisible and ignored, James gets an opportunity to reinvent himself when he goes to a new school. His yearning to be noticed leads him to lie about his past and who he is, and as the lies snowball his eccentric bad-boy persona balloons until his true self becomes all but lost.
Perhaps one of the most surprising things about this book is how radically it departs from what one might expect. While the plot is fairly typical, the prose and world it is set within are not. James frequently retreats into his dreams, which are far more bizarre and Burroughs-esque than one would ever expect. Disturbing and strange interior worlds mix with James’ crafted lies to form a collage of teen apprehension. When the only real thing in James’ world is the friendship he forms online with an unnamed person reality becomes strangely fragile, vacant, and reflective, like a house formed of mirrors and windows.
While part of the charm of this book is in the characters and their adventures, what really makes the book pop is the snappy dialogue, solid prose, and honest heart. At its core this book is foray into the absurd mixed with the grounded reality and pain of finding oneself and growing up. For a book all about the lies we tell to each other and ourselves this may be one of the most honest books I’ve had the pleasure of reading.
Perhaps one of the most surprising things about this book is how radically it departs from what one might expect. While the plot is fairly typical, the prose and world it is set within are not. James frequently retreats into his dreams, which are far more bizarre and Burroughs-esque than one would ever expect. Disturbing and strange interior worlds mix with James’ crafted lies to form a collage of teen apprehension. When the only real thing in James’ world is the friendship he forms online with an unnamed person reality becomes strangely fragile, vacant, and reflective, like a house formed of mirrors and windows.
While part of the charm of this book is in the characters and their adventures, what really makes the book pop is the snappy dialogue, solid prose, and honest heart. At its core this book is foray into the absurd mixed with the grounded reality and pain of finding oneself and growing up. For a book all about the lies we tell to each other and ourselves this may be one of the most honest books I’ve had the pleasure of reading.
March 16, 2010
The Secret to Lying, is about a boy who doesn't feel that he fits in at his school or even at home. He feels overlooked everywhere he goes, until he is offered the chance to go to a new school. A boarding school for nerds actually. James figures anything would be better than his life the way it is, so when the next school year starts, he is living in a dorm and starting over at a new school. The thing is, James believes that his life was too boring to let anyone know about his actual life, so instead he tells them any exciting tale he can about his so called life prior to this new school. He becomes a guy that he thought he always wanted to be at his new school, but never actually feels like he is that guy. A new school and a new start doesn't make you feel any less lost if you just go through the motions. There was one grounding force though for James, Ghost44.
This book was captivating and funny. It was exciting and unexpected, yet made you think about how hard it is to find yourself and accept who you are. I thought this was a great read. It has real dilemmas portrayed in an unusual way. James deals with many of his inner conflicts through his dreams, which sometimes overlap with his reality. This adds another interesting aspect to the book. The writing holds your attention and keeps you wondering, whether James is fighting demons, telling his newest lie at his new school, or finally being himself with Ghost44, I was intrigued. This is definitely a book I would recommend!
This book was captivating and funny. It was exciting and unexpected, yet made you think about how hard it is to find yourself and accept who you are. I thought this was a great read. It has real dilemmas portrayed in an unusual way. James deals with many of his inner conflicts through his dreams, which sometimes overlap with his reality. This adds another interesting aspect to the book. The writing holds your attention and keeps you wondering, whether James is fighting demons, telling his newest lie at his new school, or finally being himself with Ghost44, I was intrigued. This is definitely a book I would recommend!
August 5, 2010
This, I have to say, was one of the best books I have read in the past few months. I thought it was going to be a difficult book to read because of the way the main character, James, was. He was the angsty anti-hero. When I kept reading, though, I got a welcome surprise. There was not only real life, there was also a fantesy world in the dreams. James had to battle himself and every bad emotion when he dove into sleep. Instead of dealing with them, he locked them away, and it was ultimatly his destruction. The characters were well developed and the plot was very engaging. James starts as the dramatic anti-hero, but he grows enormously and ends up being the person we all wish to be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2019
When James goes to Nerd School, he takes it as an opportunity to reinvent himself: no longer will he be average or forgettable. He'll spin a web of lies that present him as a daredevil and sometimes delinquent; in an effort to present as interesting, he'll keep everyone around him from learning anything real.
Now...some important context for this review: I went to Nerd School too. The same kind of Nerd School that James goes to, which is to say a government-funded boarding school with killer academics and an emphasis on math and science. I almost never see this kind of school in fiction (there are lots and lots of boarding-school books in which everybody has $$$$$$$, or in which everyone in a vampire or a witch or whatever, etc., but not so much ones where everyone just wants a really good education and can't necessarily get one in their hometown), so I was eager to read this.
I'd be curious to know whether Mitchell went to a comparable school. There are some things that feel so specific to the experience: the half-hour before curfew when students flood an area outside to socialise (we called this Happy Half, I think), or the way this kind of school is genuinely somewhere that smart students can be unashamedly, well, smart. And yet...and yet. James still immediately categorises everyone based on the same cliques they'd be in in a standard high school. James still judges other students pretty hard for not being 'cool'. (For the record, the students at my Dork School who were held in the highest stead were the ones who won national science competitions and tutored other students in physics.) You know what James is not interested in? School. He's not even remotely interested in any of his classes. Some of this can probably be put down to depression (though his depression is explained only in the barest of terms), but guys...you don't survive academically at that kind of school if you don't put in any effort. And: maybe more to the point, in terms of accuracy, that kind of school doesn't a) note your self-injury scars and shrug them off or b) note that you've jumped out of a window and let you stay anyway. For (a) at a minimum, they'd inform your parents. For (b) they'd sent you home so fast your head would spin. Not because of punishment but because of liability. If you're going to off yourself, they want you to do it on your own time and not on school property.
I don't know. I didn't like James, and although I suspect that some of that was intentional (a reflection of his depression making it difficult for him to connect to the world around him), there was very little for me to hold on to and say 'yes, this is a character I can root for'. I really wanted the school to be important to the story, but it really wouldn't have taken many changes to make this a 'standard' boarding school. I could call this three stars, because I think it's basically unremarkable, but I was so much hoping for more out of a Nerd School story.
Now...some important context for this review: I went to Nerd School too. The same kind of Nerd School that James goes to, which is to say a government-funded boarding school with killer academics and an emphasis on math and science. I almost never see this kind of school in fiction (there are lots and lots of boarding-school books in which everybody has $$$$$$$, or in which everyone in a vampire or a witch or whatever, etc., but not so much ones where everyone just wants a really good education and can't necessarily get one in their hometown), so I was eager to read this.
I'd be curious to know whether Mitchell went to a comparable school. There are some things that feel so specific to the experience: the half-hour before curfew when students flood an area outside to socialise (we called this Happy Half, I think), or the way this kind of school is genuinely somewhere that smart students can be unashamedly, well, smart. And yet...and yet. James still immediately categorises everyone based on the same cliques they'd be in in a standard high school. James still judges other students pretty hard for not being 'cool'. (For the record, the students at my Dork School who were held in the highest stead were the ones who won national science competitions and tutored other students in physics.) You know what James is not interested in? School. He's not even remotely interested in any of his classes. Some of this can probably be put down to depression (though his depression is explained only in the barest of terms), but guys...you don't survive academically at that kind of school if you don't put in any effort. And: maybe more to the point, in terms of accuracy, that kind of school doesn't a) note your self-injury scars and shrug them off or b) note that you've jumped out of a window and let you stay anyway. For (a) at a minimum, they'd inform your parents. For (b) they'd sent you home so fast your head would spin. Not because of punishment but because of liability. If you're going to off yourself, they want you to do it on your own time and not on school property.
I don't know. I didn't like James, and although I suspect that some of that was intentional (a reflection of his depression making it difficult for him to connect to the world around him), there was very little for me to hold on to and say 'yes, this is a character I can root for'. I really wanted the school to be important to the story, but it really wouldn't have taken many changes to make this a 'standard' boarding school. I could call this three stars, because I think it's basically unremarkable, but I was so much hoping for more out of a Nerd School story.
March 11, 2017
This book was amazing. I loved how there were 3 different ongoing stories (the real world, ghost44 chat, dream world). And they all sort of connected at the end. Plus, the book included stereotypes and talked about them, while at the same time not being stereotypical itself. I knew that ghost 44 was the Ice Queen since the very first text convo.
I think it was interesting how you always see an event from James' point of view, but it also makes it really confusing to know what, concretely happened. E.G. James always describes Ellie as being rude and arrogant, but in the end of the book it's as if it wasn't, so it's hard to understand how she was actually acting, let alone have an idea of why she acted that way. Another example was when one of James' friends (I forgot her name) mentioned what happened when she was making out with Steve. I really don't get why the author did that, tbh I think it's really shitty to write a whole book full of straight cis people, and only slightly hint a possibility of a LGBT+ character while making fun of them. But, of course, this might just be me jumping to conclusions.
I was really expecting "the shallow popular girl" stereotype to fall on Ellie, I like that it didn't, but it kind of fell on Jessica. So essentially they just replaced the "shallow blond thin popular girl" to the "rebellious shallow popular girl." I kinda felt bad for her because James really treated her like shit and didn't really show any remorse. Talking about stereotypes, I think that emo/punk/goth personalities were excessively stereotyped. You can easily see the "shallow introverted teenager with no personality goes punk (emo/goth) because they want to fit in and be cool" trope, which I h8, but somehow it didn't over simplify it, making it not so bad.
I thought it was so intriguing and insightful how James started making "white lies", while having 0 personality, so quickly he no longer knew who he was, what was true and what was fake. The dreams were amazing to represent what he was going through in an abstract/fantasyesque way. I like how there was a subtle critique to the "kill them before they kill you" idea. James eventually realized he was on the wrong side, it was obvious there was something wrong with the 2 idiots he met at the diner. He actually only ended up on their side out of circumstance, they were the two people he first met when he first started dreaming.
When I finished the book, I felt really frustrated. To me, it was one of those books that you finish but you don't feel like you finished. I felt like something was missing. Honestly, I hate to sink the ship (pun intended), but I kinda wanted Ellie and James to be just friends. Like, it was cute and all, but I just saw them as having a platonic BFFesque relationship. It was just too predictable that they would date, and James kind of liked her from the beginning. It was as if James liked her appearance and disliked her personality, but then found out that actually he liked her personality, if that makes any sense (it doesn't). I think the book heavily romatized low self esteem and eating disorders, in a very 1D way. (Remember "you don't know you're beautiful, and that's what makes you beautiful"? Like, wtf?) Basically the author almost glorified how she thought she was ugly and needed to be thinner, which is definitely not something you should glorify. Although I did love ghost44's insights, e.g. how there's 2 types of shy.
Despite all this, I think it was an extremely interesting, well-written, and fun to read book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2022
Favorite book from junior high / high school. My (far superior) counterpart to Sahar's The Winner's Curse.
Still great, but the nostalgia factor certainly helped.
Still great, but the nostalgia factor certainly helped.
September 23, 2025
Generally pretty ahead of its time, I can see why it might really appeal to teens.
November 18, 2012
Reviewed by John Jacobson aka "R.J. Jacobs" for TeensReadToo.com
Moving to ASMA (American Science and Mathematics Academy) gave James a chance to change himself. No longer would he be the nerdy guy who didn't get a date or any attention. No longer would he be invisible. Instead, James can start a new life. Through lying.
Suddenly, James is seen as someone exciting. Sure, he's going to a school for math and science, but there is a definite sense of coolness about him now. He hangs out with his roommate, Dickie, and another boy dubbed Heinous. Together, they are a group of three troublemakers who pull off the occasional theatrical display and somehow manage to be respected by some at ASMA.
James also has something else going on at school. Or someone else. Ellie, aka the Ice Queen, is one of the most popular sophomore girls. She expertly ignores him, but he can't help but like her. His lies grow as his crush on her grows, and soon he finds himself talking to a mysterious stranger on IM named ghost44. He also begins to have strange dreams where he fights demons for two strangers named Nick and Kiana. Who is ghost44, and how can James manage to keep his real identity throughout all of the lying?
Mitchell creates a character the reader is intrigued by. James keeps his distance as the center of our story, and remains an enigma throughout. From the first page we see him build up an identity that isn't really his, pretending to have gotten into street fights and even cutting himself. It's rather a slow trend into his depression, and it's very dark and broken - much like the cover of the novel. He's rather unlikable sometimes, but the author's intent is rather obvious. As the reader, you are not supposed to like this journey at the beginning. James is, after all, denouncing himself.
I also appreciated the way he worked on relationships. James is curious about sex and does date someone named Jessica early on, but he quickly recognizes his feelings for her aren't really romantic. He is honest about this, and it was nice not to have a love triangle going on, or having a main character convince themselves that they should, in fact, be in love with said person. Mitchell treated the relationships realistically, and that was a highlight for me. I also enjoyed the friendship between Heinous, Dickie, and James. It was close but not super-close. It felt realistic considering the emotional distance James has and the way that teenagers have superficial relationships.
Some parts of the novel were not very exciting; this definitely isn't an action-adventure novel. James' emotional distance also hinders the reading experience somewhat, as you don't always feel emotionally invested in his story. There is also a level of complexity in the novel that, while interesting, makes it hard to get into for this type of read. The dreams are short and fairly average, but with ghost 44...they will make the reader try and search hard for a message that will not be easily apparent at the beginning of the novel. Overall, it is just a slower experience for the reader. It may hinder some, but it makes the book a deeper and more interesting read.
If you are looking for a book that is completely original with a gritty take on teenagerdom, THE SECRET TO LYING is right up your alley.
Moving to ASMA (American Science and Mathematics Academy) gave James a chance to change himself. No longer would he be the nerdy guy who didn't get a date or any attention. No longer would he be invisible. Instead, James can start a new life. Through lying.
Suddenly, James is seen as someone exciting. Sure, he's going to a school for math and science, but there is a definite sense of coolness about him now. He hangs out with his roommate, Dickie, and another boy dubbed Heinous. Together, they are a group of three troublemakers who pull off the occasional theatrical display and somehow manage to be respected by some at ASMA.
James also has something else going on at school. Or someone else. Ellie, aka the Ice Queen, is one of the most popular sophomore girls. She expertly ignores him, but he can't help but like her. His lies grow as his crush on her grows, and soon he finds himself talking to a mysterious stranger on IM named ghost44. He also begins to have strange dreams where he fights demons for two strangers named Nick and Kiana. Who is ghost44, and how can James manage to keep his real identity throughout all of the lying?
Mitchell creates a character the reader is intrigued by. James keeps his distance as the center of our story, and remains an enigma throughout. From the first page we see him build up an identity that isn't really his, pretending to have gotten into street fights and even cutting himself. It's rather a slow trend into his depression, and it's very dark and broken - much like the cover of the novel. He's rather unlikable sometimes, but the author's intent is rather obvious. As the reader, you are not supposed to like this journey at the beginning. James is, after all, denouncing himself.
I also appreciated the way he worked on relationships. James is curious about sex and does date someone named Jessica early on, but he quickly recognizes his feelings for her aren't really romantic. He is honest about this, and it was nice not to have a love triangle going on, or having a main character convince themselves that they should, in fact, be in love with said person. Mitchell treated the relationships realistically, and that was a highlight for me. I also enjoyed the friendship between Heinous, Dickie, and James. It was close but not super-close. It felt realistic considering the emotional distance James has and the way that teenagers have superficial relationships.
Some parts of the novel were not very exciting; this definitely isn't an action-adventure novel. James' emotional distance also hinders the reading experience somewhat, as you don't always feel emotionally invested in his story. There is also a level of complexity in the novel that, while interesting, makes it hard to get into for this type of read. The dreams are short and fairly average, but with ghost 44...they will make the reader try and search hard for a message that will not be easily apparent at the beginning of the novel. Overall, it is just a slower experience for the reader. It may hinder some, but it makes the book a deeper and more interesting read.
If you are looking for a book that is completely original with a gritty take on teenagerdom, THE SECRET TO LYING is right up your alley.
April 25, 2013
Catherine's Response:
Beginning this book, I expected a fairly shallow look at how a boy goes from zero to popular kid with a few minor hiccups and well-played pranks along the way. I got so much more than that. Instead I found myself immersed in a story about the struggles of dealing with isolation, loneliness, and control. Todd Mitchell examines some of the most difficult and controversial parts of being a teenager, such as having sex for the first time, self-image issues that can lead to eating disorders, and feelings of isolation that can lead to cutting, without ever making the book feel too heavy. I loved the cast of characters he has created. The quirky band of geeks had a great dynamic and added just the right amount of humor to balance out the heavier themes.
While James is not always completely likeable, I could certainly sympathize with his inner struggles, loneliness, and need for acceptance. I found myself rooting for him to get the girl and overcome his demons. I appreciated the metaphors in the dream sequences but at times they felt a little too blatant and forced. Mitchell does a good job of taking a realistic look at teens’ emotions and needs. I appreciated that he didn’t neatly make all of James’s problems disappear in the end. I also liked that he showed the healing process begin and James’s realization that there are adults who care about him, especially his father and school counselor. While it was not without flaws, this was a very good, thought-provoking novel.
A Quick Pitch:
Have you ever felt like a complete and total outsider at school? And that if you could just move to a new place, things would be different? Meet James. Written in a combination of dream sequences, Instant Messages, and prose, James tells his story.
He’s always been a nobody, a zero, the kid that everyone forgets. When he gets the chance to attend an elite public boarding school for the ultra-smart (somewhat ironically named ASMA), he decides it’s time to change his image. It starts as just a few lies about his old life but soon he has a reputation as a street-fighting, car-stealing rebel. The best part is everyone seems to believe him, …well, except for the beautiful Ellie Frost and the mysterious ghost 44 (an anonymous IM presence), but it doesn’t really matter. James finally has friends and he’s hooking up with Jess, a hot rebel girl at school!
Life should be perfect but James still feels isolated. Ghost44 seems to be the only one who wants to know the real James. He starts cutting himself just to feel something. Then the crazy dreams start. In his dreams, he’s a demon-fighting hero. But the lines of dreaming and reality are beginning to blur. If James can’t get things under control, he might find himself trapped in his own web of lies.
Beginning this book, I expected a fairly shallow look at how a boy goes from zero to popular kid with a few minor hiccups and well-played pranks along the way. I got so much more than that. Instead I found myself immersed in a story about the struggles of dealing with isolation, loneliness, and control. Todd Mitchell examines some of the most difficult and controversial parts of being a teenager, such as having sex for the first time, self-image issues that can lead to eating disorders, and feelings of isolation that can lead to cutting, without ever making the book feel too heavy. I loved the cast of characters he has created. The quirky band of geeks had a great dynamic and added just the right amount of humor to balance out the heavier themes.
While James is not always completely likeable, I could certainly sympathize with his inner struggles, loneliness, and need for acceptance. I found myself rooting for him to get the girl and overcome his demons. I appreciated the metaphors in the dream sequences but at times they felt a little too blatant and forced. Mitchell does a good job of taking a realistic look at teens’ emotions and needs. I appreciated that he didn’t neatly make all of James’s problems disappear in the end. I also liked that he showed the healing process begin and James’s realization that there are adults who care about him, especially his father and school counselor. While it was not without flaws, this was a very good, thought-provoking novel.
A Quick Pitch:
Have you ever felt like a complete and total outsider at school? And that if you could just move to a new place, things would be different? Meet James. Written in a combination of dream sequences, Instant Messages, and prose, James tells his story.
He’s always been a nobody, a zero, the kid that everyone forgets. When he gets the chance to attend an elite public boarding school for the ultra-smart (somewhat ironically named ASMA), he decides it’s time to change his image. It starts as just a few lies about his old life but soon he has a reputation as a street-fighting, car-stealing rebel. The best part is everyone seems to believe him, …well, except for the beautiful Ellie Frost and the mysterious ghost 44 (an anonymous IM presence), but it doesn’t really matter. James finally has friends and he’s hooking up with Jess, a hot rebel girl at school!
Life should be perfect but James still feels isolated. Ghost44 seems to be the only one who wants to know the real James. He starts cutting himself just to feel something. Then the crazy dreams start. In his dreams, he’s a demon-fighting hero. But the lines of dreaming and reality are beginning to blur. If James can’t get things under control, he might find himself trapped in his own web of lies.
October 13, 2010
Epic Wins: (What I loved about the book!)
- The message: That sometime we are our own worst enemy and that we have choices to make in life that are ours alone.
- Like I said with It Started with a Dare, lying sucks! James has to lie and twist the truth till he doesn’t know who he is and has to find himself; he does this through his dreams.
- James: When he wasn’t lying he was pretty funny, made me laugh a lot.
- All the crazy pranks that him and his roommate (Dickie, a guy who speaks in a British accent and loves to laugh) play on people or performed for people.
- Ghost44: I knew it was her! The whole time I knew it! To know exactly who she is you’ll have to read. She was my favorite.
- His hair-brain parents left a few laughs. I like how he called his mother moms because of her multiple personalities. :)
Epic Fails: (please remember: this isn’t fails just weird oddities I found or stuff I didn’t like about the book, I just thought the name fit well with my blog)
- Ellie: She had an attitude like no other but I suppose that is where she got the nick name ‘Ice Queen’.
- Drinking, never a good thing when mixed with hypothermia.
- Lying, not a big fan of the constant tales he comes up with but I respect it, it had to be done.
- Sex: I’m actually really mad that this came up; I was on a streak of clean lit. Oh well!
- How he treated poor Jess! She was probably mess up mentally when he was done with her. (of course she is just a character in a book so why I care is beyond me)
Overall:
Like a work of art, sometimes you don’t like the look but you respect the message. That makes it mean more to you. After this and It started with a Dare, I think I won’t ever lie again even little white lies! So go find out who ghost44 is already!
just sayin,
Kare
- The message: That sometime we are our own worst enemy and that we have choices to make in life that are ours alone.
- Like I said with It Started with a Dare, lying sucks! James has to lie and twist the truth till he doesn’t know who he is and has to find himself; he does this through his dreams.
- James: When he wasn’t lying he was pretty funny, made me laugh a lot.
- All the crazy pranks that him and his roommate (Dickie, a guy who speaks in a British accent and loves to laugh) play on people or performed for people.
- Ghost44: I knew it was her! The whole time I knew it! To know exactly who she is you’ll have to read. She was my favorite.
- His hair-brain parents left a few laughs. I like how he called his mother moms because of her multiple personalities. :)
Epic Fails: (please remember: this isn’t fails just weird oddities I found or stuff I didn’t like about the book, I just thought the name fit well with my blog)
- Ellie: She had an attitude like no other but I suppose that is where she got the nick name ‘Ice Queen’.
- Drinking, never a good thing when mixed with hypothermia.
- Lying, not a big fan of the constant tales he comes up with but I respect it, it had to be done.
- Sex: I’m actually really mad that this came up; I was on a streak of clean lit. Oh well!
- How he treated poor Jess! She was probably mess up mentally when he was done with her. (of course she is just a character in a book so why I care is beyond me)
Overall:
Like a work of art, sometimes you don’t like the look but you respect the message. That makes it mean more to you. After this and It started with a Dare, I think I won’t ever lie again even little white lies! So go find out who ghost44 is already!
just sayin,
Kare
August 11, 2021
"Because there’s this gap between who I am and who people see. I can’t be myself in person."
"Can’t or won’t? It’s your choice — you imprison yourself or you free yourself."
"It’s not that simple."
"But what if it is? What if all it takes to cross the gap is to reach out and have someone reach back?"
"And if the person doesn’t reach back?"
"Then they don’t reach back. Only you have to believe that they will, or you’re not really reaching."
-
I loved it!
This book expands on a lot of topics the main center of all which is a person's identity.
It talks about the fact how sometimes people completely change their personality just to seem interesting and to stand out, how you don't show your true self around others because you don't think they'll like the real you and how sometimes the hardest thing to do it to be your true self.
The book also focuses on the topic of loneliness and how you can be surrounded by hundreds of people and still feel like a ghost. It shows how all of us are fighting our inner demons and that you shouldn't feel bad about it and pretend that everythung's fine but aknowledge the problem and seek help.
There are so many other things to talk about too but I don't want to give away any spoilers!
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and I liked the themes it explored. It really made me think and that's one of the main things that I want from a book!
"Can’t or won’t? It’s your choice — you imprison yourself or you free yourself."
"It’s not that simple."
"But what if it is? What if all it takes to cross the gap is to reach out and have someone reach back?"
"And if the person doesn’t reach back?"
"Then they don’t reach back. Only you have to believe that they will, or you’re not really reaching."
-
I loved it!
This book expands on a lot of topics the main center of all which is a person's identity.
It talks about the fact how sometimes people completely change their personality just to seem interesting and to stand out, how you don't show your true self around others because you don't think they'll like the real you and how sometimes the hardest thing to do it to be your true self.
The book also focuses on the topic of loneliness and how you can be surrounded by hundreds of people and still feel like a ghost. It shows how all of us are fighting our inner demons and that you shouldn't feel bad about it and pretend that everythung's fine but aknowledge the problem and seek help.
There are so many other things to talk about too but I don't want to give away any spoilers!
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and I liked the themes it explored. It really made me think and that's one of the main things that I want from a book!
August 19, 2010
In this coming-of-age story, James starts a new school and uses that opportunity to create a different persona, based on a series of lies. As one would predict, this doesn't work out so well, and he struggles to figure out who he really is and how to end his self-destructive behavior.
I don't read a lot of fiction, but I was drawn to this book because I went to a high school that is very similar to the one James enters (which is based on one the author attended). It was good to be reminded of what that was like, and I think Todd Mitchell really captured the experience well. I could guess right away where the plot was heading (I'm--ahem--a *bit* older than the intended audience), but I don't think this was a bad thing because it meant that conflicts were not superfluous and invented just for the sake of drama. The characters were believable and engaging, and the issues with which they struggled were, of course, not unique to their particular setting.
I don't read a lot of fiction, but I was drawn to this book because I went to a high school that is very similar to the one James enters (which is based on one the author attended). It was good to be reminded of what that was like, and I think Todd Mitchell really captured the experience well. I could guess right away where the plot was heading (I'm--ahem--a *bit* older than the intended audience), but I don't think this was a bad thing because it meant that conflicts were not superfluous and invented just for the sake of drama. The characters were believable and engaging, and the issues with which they struggled were, of course, not unique to their particular setting.
August 26, 2012
I got this book free from Librarything Early Reviewers.
Meh. Although this sounds like the kind of thing I ought to like -- boarding school novels, psychologically troubled teens -- I really couldn't get into it. Half the time it felt like a ripoff of Looking for Alaska , and I figured out ghost44's identity almost right away. I might pick up this author again, depending -- I think he has promise, anyway, even if I didn't like this book. The book didn't suck, it just wasn't as good as it could have been.
Meh. Although this sounds like the kind of thing I ought to like -- boarding school novels, psychologically troubled teens -- I really couldn't get into it. Half the time it felt like a ripoff of Looking for Alaska , and I figured out ghost44's identity almost right away. I might pick up this author again, depending -- I think he has promise, anyway, even if I didn't like this book. The book didn't suck, it just wasn't as good as it could have been.
August 29, 2010
Simply put, The Secret to Lying, by Todd Mitchell, was amazing. Rarely do I encounter a YA book that so accurately captures the challenges and thrills of being a teen. It’s been a few years since I’ve been a teenager, but this book brought it all back to me – the awkward struggle to fit in, the desire to be unique and exceptional in some way, the playfulness and seriousness of friendships and new love. This book has it all. And although the book primarily hones in on the struggles of a teenage boy, many readers – males and females of all ages – will be deeply touched by this story.
May 24, 2015
James is smart. But he isn’t sporty or popular or even noticed at his school. When he is given the opportunity to go to an exclusive school for gifted students, he decides to ‘become’ someone else.
The new James is a rebel, pulling pranks with his new mates ‘Heinous’ and ‘Dickie’. But when he shows off one too many times and ends up in hospital, his friends and teachers begin to worry about him. In the struggle to ‘become’ someone, he loses himself. Only someone else going through the same struggle helps him find himself again.
The new James is a rebel, pulling pranks with his new mates ‘Heinous’ and ‘Dickie’. But when he shows off one too many times and ends up in hospital, his friends and teachers begin to worry about him. In the struggle to ‘become’ someone, he loses himself. Only someone else going through the same struggle helps him find himself again.
March 1, 2012
The title to this book could give the impression of someone who lies constantly and gets into trouble with his parents or the police. Instead, this book tells the story of someone who makes up stories about his past in order to fit in at his new school as a slightly dangerous, but cool person. I thought it was very well-written, though I knew who the online ghost he talks to really was in person. It's a story that gave me some to think about and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
April 9, 2013
Todd has done it again. This is a great story of choices and consequences. When James has a chance to reinvent himself to be cooler, he loses his true self. He isn't alone. What is real and what is facade? And where would you choose to live your life?
Once again, author Todd Mitchell, came to my school and led our middle school students in an amazing creative writing workshop. Thank you Todd!
Once again, author Todd Mitchell, came to my school and led our middle school students in an amazing creative writing workshop. Thank you Todd!
May 9, 2014
A quick read, this one keep my interest for the most part. I didn't love the dream sequences - guess I would have edited them out - but presenting the protagonist honestly with his glaring faults makes for a layered narrative. Looking forward to reading "Backwards" by the same author. It sounds great and "The Secret to Lying" indicates that Mitchell is a promising YA writer.
September 8, 2010
I just finished this book and loved it. I have passed "The Secret of Lying" to my 13-year old daughter and she is really enjoying it too. This book allowed me to talk to my daughter about some important topics and has really opened up our line of communication.
February 23, 2018
This book is about a boy who is socially challenged at his old school and gets offered to go to a smarter school even though he may not be the most brightest student. He takes this offer and goes to this new school. To go to this school he has to move pretty far away from his parents but he still ends up taking it. When he gets to this school rumors start up about him about him being a pretty bad kid and he decides to go along with it even though none of them are true. He and his new friends that he made in his common house made a lot of trouble and faced the consequences. When James's old school came to play soccer against him he got worried that one of them would recognize him and let out his secret about not being all that he said he is.
I relate to James in the way of wishing that I could have a do over in life and be more social and make myself more cool. If I could start over I would create a whole new me but i wouldn't make all of the things i had done crazy impossible like James did when he said he set the baseball arena on fire. I would make sure I wouldn't ever see any of the kids at my old school while I was in my school and if I did I would avoid them at all costs.
This book was a fantastic book, it had its ups and downs but it turned out pretty well. It had just the right amount of drama had just enough romance and it was interesting to read. My favorite part of the book was when they started the food fight in the cafeteria and almost got suspended for it, they had it all planned out and had props they made it look like they were shooting, stabbing and hitting each other. The props they used were mostly ketchup and fake knifes to make it all look real. The only reason they even did it was because they were creating a riot against the disgusting school food. My least part would have ti be at the beginning of the book before he got the chance to go to the new school and had no friends. I feel bad that he never had any friends and was an outcast of the school.
I would and most likely will recommend this book to another person. This book is very intriguing and should be recommended every time someone reads it. This book takes you on the adventure of his life of a lie and its wonderful to read. This book I would say could be for almost everyone, It has adventure and a bunch of other cool features in it so unless you don't like that kind of stuff then you would most likely find it a good book.
I relate to James in the way of wishing that I could have a do over in life and be more social and make myself more cool. If I could start over I would create a whole new me but i wouldn't make all of the things i had done crazy impossible like James did when he said he set the baseball arena on fire. I would make sure I wouldn't ever see any of the kids at my old school while I was in my school and if I did I would avoid them at all costs.
This book was a fantastic book, it had its ups and downs but it turned out pretty well. It had just the right amount of drama had just enough romance and it was interesting to read. My favorite part of the book was when they started the food fight in the cafeteria and almost got suspended for it, they had it all planned out and had props they made it look like they were shooting, stabbing and hitting each other. The props they used were mostly ketchup and fake knifes to make it all look real. The only reason they even did it was because they were creating a riot against the disgusting school food. My least part would have ti be at the beginning of the book before he got the chance to go to the new school and had no friends. I feel bad that he never had any friends and was an outcast of the school.
I would and most likely will recommend this book to another person. This book is very intriguing and should be recommended every time someone reads it. This book takes you on the adventure of his life of a lie and its wonderful to read. This book I would say could be for almost everyone, It has adventure and a bunch of other cool features in it so unless you don't like that kind of stuff then you would most likely find it a good book.
January 4, 2025
James Turner is bland, anonymous, and unremarkable at his high school. When he gets a chance to attend a prestigious boarding school for advanced students, he decides to re-invent himself. He creates an identity as a street fighter, car-wrecker, law-breaking juvenile delinquent. He makes new acquaintances such as roommate Dickie Lang, Cheese, Muppet, and Heinous. He gets involved in a relationship with world-wise, tattooed Jessica Keen but he secretly yearns for the Ice Queen, Ellie Frost. A mysterious ghost44 IM's him and he shares all his secrets and insecurities. His dreams are haunted by fights with demons and assorted monsters. After almost dying by swimming in an icy pond and jumping out a second story window, James realizes that his cutting and other behaviors are a cry for help. I didn't really care much for this book as none of the characters appealed to me. There just was nothing to stand out in this book.
February 1, 2011
Here's a review I wrote for www.matterdaily.org:
Todd Mitchell
Written by Charlie Malone
Monday, 27 December 2010
“The geeks let me be whatever I imagined.”secret_to_lying
This realization gives teen-aged James Turner permission to become anyone he wants at his new high school. At any moment it seems James might get lost, damaged, or destroyed by his reinvention of himself. Young adulthood can be terminal. This truth gives The Secret to Lying its drive.
Aiming this book at high school-aged young adults, author Todd Mitchell has the vision to infuse the novel with mischief and humor. As James and his classmates at ASMA, the American Science and Mathematics Academy (cough, wheeze), awaken sexually, stage dramatic protests against cafeteria food, live with eating disorders unrelated to the quality of the cafeteria, cut themselves, struggle to shape their own identities, prank their dorm neighbors, experiment with alcohol or over-the-counter medications, and encounter very serious questions of when to ask for help, and how to get through stigmas associated with counseling, Mitchell balances the mood of the book carefully.
As the risks facing James grow more tangible, and more menacing, his own humor takes on a deliberately hollow sense. Meanwhile, other characters worry and distance themselves. Issues of mental health and identity development for young people are often the subjects parents and teachers struggle to talk about. Our best novels for young adults take risks and give these themes truthful attention and ways for readers to think through them. While being faithful to the importance of these topics, all the easy phrases describing well-paced novels that hook the reader still apply, (pick any three): gripping, engrossing, humorous, exiting, insightful, engaging, heartbreaking, page-turning, hard-to-put down...
This book has layers, the kind of architecture that rewards a reader’s thinking and questions. Mitchell works in a variety of forms, including dreams and instant messaging. The dreams, which might be the only part of the novel that I found inconsistently convincing, offer a parallel story mirroring the issues James won’t fully acknowledge in his life. The IMs provide a safe, rich space for two characters to express themselves without consequence. James’ path of reinvention transforms him from an anonymity at a traditional school to a rebel at a school for math and science geeks—err high aptitude students. Here’s James coping with being ignored by his cheerleader-crush at his first school:
“It’s no big deal, I told myself. There are kids who are orphaned, or shipwrecked, or fighting in wars—every story we read in English class focused on someone coping with something big. Compared to their problems, not getting an H was definitely not worth talking about. But that was the problem. Nothing in my life was worth talking about. I was so unremarkable that one even noticed I’d been forgotten.”
The difficulty of feeling intense emotions, as we do in high school, combined with the shame of knowing there are bigger issues in the world, is a painful combination. We wonder if our feelings matter, and adolescent boys face gender roles valuing stoicism and toughness over expression. We can deal with the world as it is, or escape into video games, sports, drugs, or, as James does, start over and invent a more interesting version of himself. In other words, lie.
James Turner, becoming J.T., delights in the new, attention-worthy version of himself.
“Rumors about me spread, spilling beyond the sophomore class. I repeated some of the stories I’d told at the lock-in and made up a few new ones, but mostly I acted modest, like my car-stealing, street-fighting past wasn’t something I enjoyed talking about. Instead of bragging, I sounded like the soul survivor of a catastrophe, reluctantly giving an interview.”
As much fun as this reinvention is for James and his friends, Dickie and Heinous, it’s more fun for the reader. Their antics, pranks, and banter are immature and enjoyable. For all these playful moments, the novel always has a sense of its direction and seeds of the important issues at hand. After a ketchup-enhanced, staged battle in the cafeteria, James sprawls on the floor tomato-scented and playing possum at the feet of a beautiful upper-class student thinking, “Nothing ever made me feel so alive as playing dead.”
James’ use of stage vocabulary like “act”,”play”, and “role” adds up through the book for both the reader and the characters. He later admits, “I forced myself to joke with them, but my laughter sounded empty. I was a cardboard cutout of a person—a flat look-alike trying to pass myself off as real. I worried that Dickie and Heinous might hear the hollowness in my voice and know that I was all lies, paper thin.”
It’s painful to watch scenes where James can’t stop from lying, can’t stop playing his role. What we witness is the difficult transition from holding our identity as something external—as fashion, or a character in a film to mimic—to a real internalization of how we actually see ourselves. Mitchell’s representation of this not only feels right, but when you take it apart it matches up with human development scholarship. This is to say, he really nails these difficult experiences. The details are just right, rich and meaningful, screen names, the one-eyed school counselor as an external representation of the stigma of asking for help—it all fits.
Todd Mitchell lives here in Fort Collins with his family and teaches at CSU. He shares Elvis’s birthday. His first book, Traitor King, was a finalist for the Colorado Book Award. A glimpse at his acknowledgments hints at how much of himself he put into this novel. It pays off. For more information visit: www.toddmitchellbooks.com.
Todd Mitchell
Written by Charlie Malone
Monday, 27 December 2010
“The geeks let me be whatever I imagined.”secret_to_lying
This realization gives teen-aged James Turner permission to become anyone he wants at his new high school. At any moment it seems James might get lost, damaged, or destroyed by his reinvention of himself. Young adulthood can be terminal. This truth gives The Secret to Lying its drive.
Aiming this book at high school-aged young adults, author Todd Mitchell has the vision to infuse the novel with mischief and humor. As James and his classmates at ASMA, the American Science and Mathematics Academy (cough, wheeze), awaken sexually, stage dramatic protests against cafeteria food, live with eating disorders unrelated to the quality of the cafeteria, cut themselves, struggle to shape their own identities, prank their dorm neighbors, experiment with alcohol or over-the-counter medications, and encounter very serious questions of when to ask for help, and how to get through stigmas associated with counseling, Mitchell balances the mood of the book carefully.
As the risks facing James grow more tangible, and more menacing, his own humor takes on a deliberately hollow sense. Meanwhile, other characters worry and distance themselves. Issues of mental health and identity development for young people are often the subjects parents and teachers struggle to talk about. Our best novels for young adults take risks and give these themes truthful attention and ways for readers to think through them. While being faithful to the importance of these topics, all the easy phrases describing well-paced novels that hook the reader still apply, (pick any three): gripping, engrossing, humorous, exiting, insightful, engaging, heartbreaking, page-turning, hard-to-put down...
This book has layers, the kind of architecture that rewards a reader’s thinking and questions. Mitchell works in a variety of forms, including dreams and instant messaging. The dreams, which might be the only part of the novel that I found inconsistently convincing, offer a parallel story mirroring the issues James won’t fully acknowledge in his life. The IMs provide a safe, rich space for two characters to express themselves without consequence. James’ path of reinvention transforms him from an anonymity at a traditional school to a rebel at a school for math and science geeks—err high aptitude students. Here’s James coping with being ignored by his cheerleader-crush at his first school:
“It’s no big deal, I told myself. There are kids who are orphaned, or shipwrecked, or fighting in wars—every story we read in English class focused on someone coping with something big. Compared to their problems, not getting an H was definitely not worth talking about. But that was the problem. Nothing in my life was worth talking about. I was so unremarkable that one even noticed I’d been forgotten.”
The difficulty of feeling intense emotions, as we do in high school, combined with the shame of knowing there are bigger issues in the world, is a painful combination. We wonder if our feelings matter, and adolescent boys face gender roles valuing stoicism and toughness over expression. We can deal with the world as it is, or escape into video games, sports, drugs, or, as James does, start over and invent a more interesting version of himself. In other words, lie.
James Turner, becoming J.T., delights in the new, attention-worthy version of himself.
“Rumors about me spread, spilling beyond the sophomore class. I repeated some of the stories I’d told at the lock-in and made up a few new ones, but mostly I acted modest, like my car-stealing, street-fighting past wasn’t something I enjoyed talking about. Instead of bragging, I sounded like the soul survivor of a catastrophe, reluctantly giving an interview.”
As much fun as this reinvention is for James and his friends, Dickie and Heinous, it’s more fun for the reader. Their antics, pranks, and banter are immature and enjoyable. For all these playful moments, the novel always has a sense of its direction and seeds of the important issues at hand. After a ketchup-enhanced, staged battle in the cafeteria, James sprawls on the floor tomato-scented and playing possum at the feet of a beautiful upper-class student thinking, “Nothing ever made me feel so alive as playing dead.”
James’ use of stage vocabulary like “act”,”play”, and “role” adds up through the book for both the reader and the characters. He later admits, “I forced myself to joke with them, but my laughter sounded empty. I was a cardboard cutout of a person—a flat look-alike trying to pass myself off as real. I worried that Dickie and Heinous might hear the hollowness in my voice and know that I was all lies, paper thin.”
It’s painful to watch scenes where James can’t stop from lying, can’t stop playing his role. What we witness is the difficult transition from holding our identity as something external—as fashion, or a character in a film to mimic—to a real internalization of how we actually see ourselves. Mitchell’s representation of this not only feels right, but when you take it apart it matches up with human development scholarship. This is to say, he really nails these difficult experiences. The details are just right, rich and meaningful, screen names, the one-eyed school counselor as an external representation of the stigma of asking for help—it all fits.
Todd Mitchell lives here in Fort Collins with his family and teaches at CSU. He shares Elvis’s birthday. His first book, Traitor King, was a finalist for the Colorado Book Award. A glimpse at his acknowledgments hints at how much of himself he put into this novel. It pays off. For more information visit: www.toddmitchellbooks.com.
September 28, 2022
I remember picking this book up around my 8th grade and never finished it due to unknown reasons of blurred memories.
I finally remembered it and I’m glad I finished it. I personally feel like the characters are real and fleshed out to be relatable for the readers. Finishing this book made me feel a mellow happiness of wishing we could get more of the story while appreciating a nice story reminding me that not too long ago I was that age too wishing for something like this to happen to me.
Part of me is working a corporate job and the other is still at school going between periods, messing with friends, and lying about myself because I was also a James.
Great book and great relatability to me. I love it and will pick it up again whenever I have that scratch to itch on relive this story.
I finally remembered it and I’m glad I finished it. I personally feel like the characters are real and fleshed out to be relatable for the readers. Finishing this book made me feel a mellow happiness of wishing we could get more of the story while appreciating a nice story reminding me that not too long ago I was that age too wishing for something like this to happen to me.
Part of me is working a corporate job and the other is still at school going between periods, messing with friends, and lying about myself because I was also a James.
Great book and great relatability to me. I love it and will pick it up again whenever I have that scratch to itch on relive this story.
February 4, 2019
When James was transferred to ASMA, he decided to create fake stories about himself to gain popularity and avoid being ignored like he did in his old school. James eventually had to create more fake stories to cover up the fake stories he made up previous and found himself sinking deeper and deeper into the lies. As the story goes on, James was forced to confront the aftermath these fake story brought to him.
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