Booktalk: When 12-year-old Maggie and her father move to Pearl, Louisiana, Maggie lies about her mother's absence, saying that her mother is visiting family in California, because she doesn't want people to know that her mother is mentally unstable and spending time in a mental health facility. Maggie is befriended by Sam, a girl from across town. When Maggie learns that Sam has a serious problem at home, Sam swears Maggie to secrecy. In order to keep both her secret about her mother and Sam's secret, Maggie gets bogged down in a web of lies. Through a series of events, she begins to understand that, sometimes, secrets need to be revealed...that, sometimes, there are truths "worth tellin'."
(Although I really enjoyed the story, I was put off by the veracity of one particular piece of dialogue when Maggie questions a prominent citizen's sudden concern for Sam by saying, "Why the sudden interest now?" What 12-year-old uses that phraseology? Moreover, it didn't sound in character for Maggie or consistent with her previously established diction. I know I am nitpicking here, but, as soon as I read it, it struck me as false. But, don't let that keep you from reading this story because, overall, I do recommend it.) ( )

Toni Teepell's debut novel, A Truth Worth Telling; tells the story of a 12 year old girl and her life growing up as the child of a schizoprenic mother. Her father moves her and her mother to a small southern town. The family moves there because it's close to the mental hospital her mother uses. Maggie, our main character, is forced to grow up way to fast to deal with the hand that life has dealt her.

Told with heartbreaking tenderness, humor and honesty, this novel takes us through her trials of getting accepted into a new small town, the stigma of mental illness, and isolation. Maggie is nervous about telling locals the story of her Mother's illness, so it takes her quite a while to find a friend. Her friend, another young girl in the town, is also a bit of an outsider. Daughter of an alcoholic mother who abuses her, her risk taking, cigar smoking and petty thief new friend, Samantha, has a world of troubles of her own.

Rich in small southern town charm, we meet other characters who likewise seem true to life and somewhat eccentric. I found myself totally absorbed in the story, and truly cared about the people therein. When I finished the book, I wished there was more.....a part 2, so I could continue to share Maggie and Samantha's life. In my mind, that is the true hallmark of a well written novel; people you wonder about and care for when the book is over.

I look forward to reading more by Toni Teepell, and thank her for a touching, sometimes hearbreaking novel. She shows great promise as an author. ( )

A TRUTH WORTH TELLIN’
BY TONI TEEPELL

This heartfelt story is set in the South and told with a Southern charm.
Within the first few pages, I could feel the emotions of the main
character, Maggie, and understand why she finds comfort in lying about
her family life. If only her sugar sweet lies were truth, and little Maggie
didn’t have a mother that was schizophrenic.

Maggie and her Daddy move to Pearl, Louisiana into a small house near
the state mental hospital, where her mother is a patient. The house is
equipped with pink azaleas, a tree house in the front yard, and a little girl
named Sam. She seems to be a permanent fixture to the house, arriving
at a moment’s notice on her bicycle with a carefree smile and untamed
strawberry-colored hair. Then one day, Sam can no longer hide the truth
after appearing beaten. Over a game of “Go Fish” and peanut butter/jelly
sandwiches, the girls stop lying about their mamas and realize they share
a common bond: mothers that are troubled with sicknesses.

The descriptive, vibrant author takes us on a journey through the lives of
two eleven-year-olds as they experience events that most adults will
never encounter. They learn how to cope with family issues, a distant
community, and learning life lessons. Pour a glass of sweet tea or coffee
milk, sit on your porch swing, and enjoy this great read. Well done, Toni
Teepell! The truth really is worth telling!

December 28, 2009

♠ L Marie ♥



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