Staff Pick
Luca's world is ripped apart when his mother dies in her sleep one night. With no father or grandparent to help him, Luca braves the world alone, continuing on as if his mother were alive and well. He meticulously plans his appearance and actions every day, so there is nothing out of the ordinary that may call attention to his situation. The feeling of impending doom grows slowly through this short novella, and by the end, the storm clouds are in a full rolling boil. Luca's fear that he will be shuttled off to an orphanage is what drives him to keep his secret. Yet, as the days go on and the stench in his mother's room becomes overwhelming, Luca begins to slowly break down. He believes he must continue on: this is his only option.
Surprisingly, The First True Lie is not depressing. Luca is a smart, insightful kid, and watching him try to make his way through this crisis is an exercise in empathy. Recommended By Dianah H., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
'They always tell you that you shouldn't tell lies, but without lies I'd already be in an orphanage.
This, in any case, is my first true lie'
Luca and his mum are like two peas in a pod in their special, fragile world.
Then, one winter morning his mother doesn't wake up. Luca suddenly finds himself alone for the first time. Terrified of what telling the truth might bring, he decides to keep the biggest secret of his life. Luca goes along to school every day, pretending everything is as it always has been. But he returns home every night to a cold, dark house. So he begins to build a protective bubble with the memories of his mother, the words and stories he so loves - and his cat Blue - against the truth on the other side of the bedroom door.