Normandy Pale goes to the Green Pastures Academy of Art & Design, a place where you're more likely to see kids in the gym setting up a display of protest art than shooting hoops. She spends all of her time with her two best friends, Neil, an incredibly painter who tries to capture the spirit of 1970s film characters in his clothing choices, and Dusk, whose real name is Dawn, but who prefers the darkness and mystery associated with the evening. When these three unique characters get the idea to start asking bold questions of their classmates, seeking out the honest truth about people's backgrounds, secrets and obvious lies, The Truth Commission is formed. But when one of Normandy's targets suggests that maybe she should begin her search for the truth closer to home, Normandy realizes it is time she finally address her issues with her sister, Keira, a gifted graphic novelist who has used her family as inspiration for her art without their permission, and who has recently returned from art school unexpectedly and without explanation.
Why It's Worth Reading:
Who doesn't have a few secrets in their family that they wish they could draw out? Don't we all sometimes wish we could ask brutally honest questions to the people who beguile and fascinate us? The idea of The Truth Commission is opens up these possibilities to Normandy, though not without consequences. Plus, the school that she attends is strange and cool and totally different from the high schools I've known, so it makes a fantastic backdrop to the story. Mix in some great character development in her friends and family, a unique format (the novel is laid out as Normandy's spring writing project, complete with notes to her advisor, drawings, & footnotes), and a compelling mystery regarding Keira's abrupt return from college and I could not put The Truth Commission down.
Book Details:
ISBN: 9780451468772
Format: eBook
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: April 14, 2015
Source: Penguin First To Read
Awards: 5 starred reviews!!
Do We Own a Copy?: On order