Three Things I Know Are True
By (Author) Betty Culley
HarperCollins Publishers Inc
HarperTeen
30th December 2019
United States
Young Adult
Fiction
811.6
Hardback
480
Width 140mm, Height 210mm, Spine 37mm
518g
Fans of Jandy Nelson and Marieke Nijkamp will love this deeply moving novel in verse about the aftermath of a gun accident.
Life changes forever for Liv when her older brother, Jonah, accidentally shoots himself with his best friend Clays fathers gun. Now Jonah needs round-the-clock care just to stay alive, and Liv feels like shes the only person who can see that her brother is still there inside his broken body.
With Livs mom suing Clays family, there are divisions in the community that Liv knows shes not supposed to cross. But Clay is her friend, too, and she refuses to turn away from himjust like she refuses to give up on Jonah.
This powerful novel is a stunning exploration of tragedy, grief, compassion, and forgiveness.
"Culleys compelling free-verse poems accumulate into a poignant story of a family that was already struggling and then transformed into something unrecognizable. Livs narration is touching, honest, and perceptive. Astory of love and resilience as much as loss and grief." Bulletin of the Center for Childrens Books (starred review) "Piercingly realistic. A poignant, humanizing exploration of a sadly timely issue." Kirkus Reviews "An emotional journeythat follows a life-altering tragedy.Culley weaves carefully chosen details into a slowly forming tapestry. Atale that is both harrowing in subject matter and elegant in execution." ALA Booklist "A heartbreaking story about a topic that is too prevalent in todays society." School Library Journal "Eloquent narrative verse. Culley deftly captures the communitys nuanced responses and the heartbreak both families navigate as this devastating tragedy becomes a political battleground." Publishers Weekly
Betty Culley lives in central Maine, where the rivers run through the small towns. She's an RN who worked as an obstetrics nurse and as a pediatric home hospice nurse. Three Things I Know Are True is her debut.