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Nick Lake
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There Will Be Lies Kindle Edition

by Nick Lake (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 215 ratings
Editors' pick Best Young Adult
See all formats and editions
In four hours, Shelby Jane Cooper will be struck by a car.

Shortly after, she and her mother will leave the hospital and set out on a winding journey toward the Grand Canyon.

All Shelby knows is that they're running from dangers only her mother understands. And the further they travel, the more Shelby questions everything about her past--and her current reality. Forced to take advantage of the kindness of unsuspecting travelers, Shelby grapples with what's real, what isn't, and who she can trust . . . if anybody.

Award-winning author Nick Lake proves his skills as a master storyteller in this heart-pounding new novel. This emotionally charged thrill ride leads to a shocking ending that will have readers flipping back to the beginning.

Awards for There Will Be Lies
A Boston Globe Best YA Book of 2015
A Texas TAYSHAS Pick
Previous page
  1. Print length
    481 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Bloomsbury USA Childrens
  5. Publication date
    January 6, 2015
  6. Reading age
    14 - 17 years
  7. Grade level
    9 - 12
  8. File size
    5115 KB
  9. Page Flip
    Enabled
  10. Word Wise
    Enabled
  11. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  12. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—"I have no words to describe how I am feeling—it's like grief, maybe, but grief for myself. I was living my life, and then something came along and killed me, erased me." Seventeen-year-old Shelby Jane Cooper's world begins to come apart after she is hit by a car in Scottsdale, AZ. Her overprotective mother takes them on the run, and a coyote (who used to be a boy) begins to bring her into the Dreaming, a magical place where Shelby is no longer deaf and the animal inhabitants believe she can save them from an evil witch. What's real, this world or the Dreaming? What are the "two lies" that Coyote warns Shelby about? What is the one truth? Lake's new novel is perplexing and disorienting, full of the rich language and heady epiphanies readers have come to expect from the Printz-award winning author of In Darkness (Bloomsbury, 2012). The plot draws on Native American mythology and the haunting vastness of the Southwest landscape. The battles between elks and wolves, narrow escapes from authorities, and the looming mystery (Who is Shelby?) will make teens want to tear through the pages. Encourage them to temper this impulse lest they miss a single one of Shelby's heartrending revelations that happen on her journey to save the Dreaming and herself.—Chelsey Philpot, Boston University

Review

“Perplexing and disorienting, full of the rich language and heady epiphanies readers have come to expect from the Printz-award winning author.” ―starred review, School Library Journal

“Impressively unpredictable--a motley mix of taut thriller, transportive fantasy, and poignant coming-of-age . . . Shelby narrates the surreal implosion of her life in an indignant, funny voice, à la Judy Blume.” ―Entertainment Weekly

“A rare joy to behold . . . Another impressive stylistic swerve from Printz-winner Lake.” ―Booklist

“Suspenseful, complicated . . . A fine exploration of the power of story itself to heal the unconscious from scars physical and emotional.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Lake returns to the mix of reality and fantasy he used to great success in his Printz-winning In Darkness . . . Shelby is highly sympathetic, and readers will stick with her as she figures out who she can trust.” ―Publishers Weekly

“A twisty drama suffused with elements of folklore.” ―Wall Street Journal

“Lake is truly a masterful storyteller . . . . This is a strange and beautiful story that truly deserves to be read. Do not hesitate to add this to your collection.” ―VOYA

“This hallucinatory, kaleidoscopic mix of plot, characters, and setting is eminently discussable for its nuanced themes . . . . Lake continues to practice his craft at a high level.” ―The Horn Book

“Unlike anything else currently in the YA market . . . Readers will be rewarded with a beautiful ending highlighting the importance of family, independence, and finding one's own way.” ―Library Media Connection

“Lake employs a powerful combination of realism and myth to craft a resonant story of survival.” ―BCCB

“Intelligent, empathetic, and eye-opening.” ―starred review, Booklist on HOSTAGE THREE

“Perceptive and harrowing.” ―starred review, Publishers Weekly on HOSTAGE THREE

“A dark journey well worth taking--engrossing, disturbing, illuminating.” ―starred review, Kirkus Reviews on IN DARKNESS

“A startling but successful feat of literary imagination.” ―starred review, Publishers Weekly on IN DARKNESS

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00OZM4APU
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury USA Childrens; 1st edition (January 6, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 6, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5115 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 481 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 215 ratings

About the author

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Nick Lake

Nick Lake

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Nick Lake was born in Northumberland, England, but grew up in Luxembourg. As an author, Nick has won the Printz Award, for his novel In Darkness, and has been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal twice.

Nick is also a publishing director for children's fiction, working with many of the best-known names in children's books. Nick lives in Oxfordshire with his family, in a 16th century house with 19th century windows. He advises against visiting in winter.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
215 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Mulagra
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic author
Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2016
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My daughter (12) devoured this book. Nick Lake is a fantastic author. However, readers should know that although his writing style is brilliant and engaging, some of the themes in is book are very mature and could be troubling for some readers.
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sarah brown
4.0 out of 5 stars There Will Be Lies
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2015
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There Will Be Lies is a story that will keep you guessing up until about halfway through when the plot changing reveal occurs.

And while I had my suspicions about what was going to happen, the revelation when it occurred was none the less shocking made more so by the fantastic writing.

Shelby is a seventeen year old girl who is homeschooled by her Mom and who is more often or not accompanied everywhere by her Mom, who doesn't seem to want to let her out of her sight for too long if at all.

When Shelby is hit by a car and injured, she is whisked away from the hospital by her Mom so fast it's as if the devil was on her heels.

But this starts a chain of events that will change Shelby's life forever.

With a subplot taking part in 'The Dreaming', where Shelby is given a task to fulfill, this symbolically crosses over into her real life and the situation she finds herself in.

Full of suspense, intrigue, mystery and adventure this story will keep you on your toes and fill you with anticipation, as we discover the truth along with Shelby that's been kept from her most of her life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I plan on seeking out Nick's other releases as well.

Highly recommended.
One person found this helpful
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Kindred
3.0 out of 5 stars There Will Be Lies
Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2015
Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )
Interesting choice for a British man to write a story from an American teenage girl’s point of view and Nick Lake almost gets away with it. Granted, he has some of the annoying turns of a phrase down and Shelby, the teenage girl does tend to exaggerate all of her emotional responses to her troubles like a teenager, but she comes across as too wise and too proficient in jumping to adult conclusions to quite be organic.

We meet Shelby as a series of events turn her world upside down. Told in two concurrent plots, she has herself an old fashioned vision quest paralleling her real life crisis caused by an accident where she is hit by a truck while on a sidewalk outside of the library where an employee, Mark has befriended her as she tries to overlook the admonitions of her mother that men are nothing but dangerous. When a coyote suddenly appears to Shelby as she lay on the sidewalk he warns her that there will be two lies before she knows the truth. Why do apparitions always speak in riddles? Anyway, thus starts the vision quest. She begins to find herself in a separate reality known as The Dreaming and learns more about her world and her purpose. Yes, there are plenty of unlikely moments and some silly events here, but it’s meant to be more of a fairy tale than a realistic modern tale so it’s easy to move past it.

So, the story weaves back and forth fairly smoothly and bought the idea that Shelby is a normal teenager until she mentions treacle. Unless she is a pedantic Harry Potter fanatic, she wouldn’t know treacle from shinola. Just a small thing but it bugged me. There are a few more examples of breaking character but seriously, I doubt the kids reading this will care. And I do consider this an older kids book because it’s too simplistic and derivative for the average reading adult but will probably be a new viewpoint to a younger person, and I mean that in a good way. There isn’t any sex, very little profanity and only necessary violence. Most of the alternative story is based on Navajo and other Native American folklore and spirituality and it’s always good to learn about other cultures.

On both sides of the story there are enough surprises, plot shifts and new discoveries to keep the reader interested though I would have edited maybe 50 pages out of it to reduce some of the repetitiveness and slow spots. Otherwise, a good yarn for younger readers and a great introduction to the question of identity and how much our loved ones shape who we are and how the choices of others affect us even if we aren't aware of them.
One person found this helpful
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Jorn Earl Otte
5.0 out of 5 stars and you will too after reading this amazing book.
Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2016
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Nick Lake's storytelling powers are first rate, and this novel is no exception. Moves along at a crisp pace with new turns at every corner. The Dreaming is a place I want to visit, and you will too after reading this amazing book.
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Jamma
5.0 out of 5 stars to encourage reading, I promised my granddaughter I would ...
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2017
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to encourage reading, I promised my granddaughter I would buy as many books as she could read. this is one of her selections.
it is summer break for her now. she's reading this now.
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Camila
4.0 out of 5 stars book review
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2021
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the book came fine which i loved the book was new just have one or two dents not too bad but i would say before buying a book from here read the reviews but i also never had a bad book come so it is promising.
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Mak
5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2021
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Such a good book!!!
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Top reviews from other countries

boogalouie
5.0 out of 5 stars Achingly ready to be transferred to screen...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 25, 2018
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Bought to read as part of the young people's Carnegie package, this book is pure genius.
Plot builds up well with transience between reality and fantasy and fantasy back to reality in a seamless manner.
Characters develop well too, with vital factors for later in the story becoming cunningly disobviated well within the text.
An an adult reader within the teenage reading group, I was delighted to witness the joy and wonderment these young people displayed and expressed while tackling this book. So clever is the build up to the plot's climax that the identity of the fantasy Queen with her reality counterpart is not seen until the final reveal. What I particularly enjoyed discussing with the young people I worked with was the relevance and parallels of story content against social pressures met by them - and ll of us - in today's social contexts. An important moral about morality and choices.
A brilliant read, one I would chose for a class or group read every time, if only syllabi allowed!

This is achingly ready to be moved to screen - where are you Spielberg??
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K. J. Kelly
4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant story, twisty and thrilling, with emotion and appeal to teenagers of any gender
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 19, 2016
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The Carnegie shortlist is always a good place to look for challenging, exciting and entertaining young people's fiction. This one had passed me by (though I have read some of Lake's work before), but the shortlist prompted me to try it.

And it's a good one. From the very start, you are missing information. There are early twists and you think you have a grip on the story and then - another one. The story takes a turn, you re-assess, you move on with the characters.

But it doesn't end there...

Shelby is our eyes and ears on this world. Or rather these worlds, as there are fantastical elements contained within. Protected all her life by a (to my mind) suffocating mother, she's been home-schooled, but has a close relationship with her mum and doesn't feel she's missed out. That all begins to change one day after Shelby is knocked down by a car, and not only will secrets and lies begin to worm their way out, but a surreal world emerges when a coyote begins talking to Shelby...

Just what is going on? What is real? What is a lie?

I loved this story!!!! I loved the fact that I couldn't trust everything, everyone, that I didn't know just what was coming next, just as Shelby didn't. Told from her point of view, we are never sure what we can trust and believe.

To be honest though, I'm not a fan of the coyote/fantasy plotline, I think if it were taken out entirely the book would still have been complete, tense, exciting and missing nothing. I can see what Lake is doing with the coyote but I didn't think it was needed. But that's me, I don't like that sort of story.

I did however, adore Shelby's. Some fantastic misdirection, tension, wonderful moments of family feeling (both good and bad), a story that suddenly took turns that raised my eyebrows (I could feel them!!) as well as brought tears to my eyes.

Nick Lake needs one of these books, one of these days commissioning as a mini-series. This is the second of his I've enjoyed with a capable and smart young woman as the heroine that readers of both genders will identify with (and cleverly designed gender-neutral covers as well).

Very, very good writing, a great idea for a story, and definitely worthy of a place on the Carnegie shortlist.
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Miss C.
5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing, exciting and something new.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 26, 2016
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I am an obsessive reader, I will read anything and everything, so it is hugely exciting to find a book that is new and different.
There will be lies manages to deliver a page turning adventure with tension, shocks and plot twists at the same time as a moving spiritual journey that carries even the most cynical reader along.
I can't wait to read more from this author.
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G. Richardson
3.0 out of 5 stars A good book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 4, 2017
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Really good book, there is nothing at all wrong with it and it is very clever but I've read better books so have to give it a 3 out of 5
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fordyuk
4.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 15, 2016
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Good book interesting read that had plenty of twists that I actually didn't expect. I didn't realise this was a fantasy novel as well so be aware when purchasing the book. In all it was good story could have been condensed but worth a read.
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