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charlieschu's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
animelanie's review against another edition
3.0
Read for Review
Aubrey and Joel are the best of friends. They have always been friends, and while others might think they are odd, they are perfectly happy enjoying their make believe games, even if they might be getting a bit old for them now. When Aubrey returns from their camping trip having gone a separate way from Joel, and he has now disappeared, this makes Aubrey the last person to see him. The whole town is looking for him, but Aubrey might be the only one who can find him. Setting out to look for him with Aubrey’s older sister, Teagan, and Joel and Aubrey’s friend, Mari, they might find themselves along the way.
This middle grade book, set in America, is narrated by Aubrey, starting straight after the camping trip. The story unfolds naturally, moving forward smoothly, with a few flashbacks sprinkled throughout. There are a variety of characters, facing different issues, which are issues that many readers experience. Chapter length varies, with some chapters being much shorter than others. The novel is essentially a contemporary book with mystery and adventure, and heart. While we are living in modern times, children still experience racism and discrimination for being themselves, which this book looks at through the eyes of a preteen child learning about themselves. Good for fans of ‘Melissa’ (previously titled ‘George’) by Alex Gino.
Themes: Lies and Truth, Mystery, Understanding, Relationships, LGBTQIA+, Middle Grade, Racism
Aubrey and Joel are the best of friends. They have always been friends, and while others might think they are odd, they are perfectly happy enjoying their make believe games, even if they might be getting a bit old for them now. When Aubrey returns from their camping trip having gone a separate way from Joel, and he has now disappeared, this makes Aubrey the last person to see him. The whole town is looking for him, but Aubrey might be the only one who can find him. Setting out to look for him with Aubrey’s older sister, Teagan, and Joel and Aubrey’s friend, Mari, they might find themselves along the way.
This middle grade book, set in America, is narrated by Aubrey, starting straight after the camping trip. The story unfolds naturally, moving forward smoothly, with a few flashbacks sprinkled throughout. There are a variety of characters, facing different issues, which are issues that many readers experience. Chapter length varies, with some chapters being much shorter than others. The novel is essentially a contemporary book with mystery and adventure, and heart. While we are living in modern times, children still experience racism and discrimination for being themselves, which this book looks at through the eyes of a preteen child learning about themselves. Good for fans of ‘Melissa’ (previously titled ‘George’) by Alex Gino.
Themes: Lies and Truth, Mystery, Understanding, Relationships, LGBTQIA+, Middle Grade, Racism
bickie's review
Joel (Black - Black mother, white father) and Aubrey (white) have been best friends since kindergarten in their small, primarily white, primarily Catholic rural Kentucky town. They love to play creative games like Woodland Elves, Pirates, and Secret Agents (I might have gotten the name of that game wrong), which, now that they are in 6th grade, they only play in the woods away from everyone else. Sixth grade has been a tough year; the bully, Rudy Thomas (white), has gotten crueler, making hurtful comments to Joel, who is not tough or sporty but rather creative and involved in the theater. School admin does nothing meaningful to stop Rudy's behavior despite their (lie of a) "zero tolerance" policy toward bullying. One good thing about the year has been the addition of a new student, Mari (short for Mariposa), who has purple hair and two moms, and who doesn't laugh when Joel tells her about the Woodland Elves game and seems interested when Aubrey tells her about the different types of trees in the woods.
The morning after the last day of 6th grade, Joel cannot be found. Aubrey tells several lies of omission and a few outright lies, mostly because the police and Joel's family do not seem trustworthy or deserving of knowing the full truth. Aubrey notices that although all the adults in town say they care about Joel, no one did anything to help him this whole year despite the multiple warning signs. Including Aubrey. Aubrey is beginning to notice that there are a lot of liars in Riverview.
As happens when walking a long time in the woods, Aubrey begins to piece together multiple elements of Joel's experience and Aubrey's own, starting to identify why they bristle when called a girl or young lady, and even the feeling of being mistaken for a boy one time.
One passage:
"I kept trying to figure out what Officer McCarthy had started to say. When he looked at Joel, what was he seeing? Did he think Joel was more likely to run away because he's Black? Did he think Joel was more likely to run away because he's a boy who doesn't act like boys are supposed to? If Joel being a 'kid like him' had anything to do with why he ran away, it wasn't how Officer McCarthy had made it seem. It was because Joel was in Riverview. Because he lived in a mostly white town where he stands out from the crowd with just a glance. Because he lived in a place where people like his dad and Rudy Thomas's dad want boys to act certain ways and like certain things.
And when Joel didn't fit, that town tried to squeeze him into place instead of letting Joel make the place fit him. They squeezed and squeezed until he couldn't stay anymore.
In Officer McCarthy's office, I waited for my dad to say something. I waited for him to make Officer McCarthy explain what he'd really meant or to tell him he was being racist.
My dad didn't say any of that. His teeth just stayed clamped together.
And so I didn't say anything, either." pp. 256-257
Spoiler
Eventually, Mari shares that she sees a therapist in Louisville (the closest city) to deal with the anxiety caused by moving from the more diverse and open-minded Asheville, NC, to Riverview: "'...we had a community. Here, I feel like my moms just spend all their time bracing themselves, always having to be prepared that some homophobe's going to say something, or do something, and so I'm bracing myself, too, and it's just exhausting. Feeling like you're never quite going to fit in, you know? Feeling like you're always on the outside...'" p. 239The morning after the last day of 6th grade, Joel cannot be found. Aubrey tells several lies of omission and a few outright lies, mostly because the police and Joel's family do not seem trustworthy or deserving of knowing the full truth. Aubrey notices that although all the adults in town say they care about Joel, no one did anything to help him this whole year despite the multiple warning signs. Including Aubrey. Aubrey is beginning to notice that there are a lot of liars in Riverview.
As happens when walking a long time in the woods, Aubrey begins to piece together multiple elements of Joel's experience and Aubrey's own, starting to identify why they bristle when called a girl or young lady, and even the feeling of being mistaken for a boy one time.
Spoiler
One has to wonder what will happen to Joel and Aubrey once they return to their families. Knowing what they know about themselves, that Joel is gay, and Aubrey is non-binary, will not change the bigoted community they live in. Joel's mom seems to be perhaps a bit open, at least to getting him out of town for a while. Perhaps Mari's moms will help the two kids at least, especially the one who has returned with her family to Riverview to care for her mother.One passage:
"I kept trying to figure out what Officer McCarthy had started to say. When he looked at Joel, what was he seeing? Did he think Joel was more likely to run away because he's Black? Did he think Joel was more likely to run away because he's a boy who doesn't act like boys are supposed to? If Joel being a 'kid like him' had anything to do with why he ran away, it wasn't how Officer McCarthy had made it seem. It was because Joel was in Riverview. Because he lived in a mostly white town where he stands out from the crowd with just a glance. Because he lived in a place where people like his dad and Rudy Thomas's dad want boys to act certain ways and like certain things.
And when Joel didn't fit, that town tried to squeeze him into place instead of letting Joel make the place fit him. They squeezed and squeezed until he couldn't stay anymore.
In Officer McCarthy's office, I waited for my dad to say something. I waited for him to make Officer McCarthy explain what he'd really meant or to tell him he was being racist.
My dad didn't say any of that. His teeth just stayed clamped together.
And so I didn't say anything, either." pp. 256-257
blogginboutbooks's review
4.0
I'll be honest, gender issues are not my favorite topics to read about in middle-grade literature. Too often, these types of books feel too issue-y, heavy-handed, and even unrealistic for me. When done well, though, they can not just help LGBTQ+ kids feel seen and understood but also aid those around them (friends, family, classmates, adult leaders, etc.) in being more empathetic and accepting. THE BEST LIARS IN RIVERVIEW falls mostly in the latter category for me. While, overall, the story does seem too heavy for a MG audience, I also think it captures the confusion, longing, worry, and wonder of those middle-grade years really well. The juxtaposition of Aubrey and Joel enjoying their "childish" imaginary games while at the same time contemplating their own sexuality really brings out the complicated emotions today's kids are dealing with at this age, when they're teetering on that delicate line between childhood and adolescence. Even if they're cisgender and heterosexual, it's a strange time of life! The novel has a tender authenticity to it, especially in regards to gender confusion, that likely comes from the author's own experience (although I don't know Thompson's story). In addition, it teaches some important lessons about kindness, acceptance, love, and standing up to bullies. I also appreciate its acknowledgement that just because someone (a parent, for example) may not quite know how to deal with a complicated situation or say the right thing doesn't mean they don't care, they're not trying, or that they can't grow and change. Overall, THE BEST LIARS IN RIVERVIEW has a kind of raw, but gentle tone that hit me just right as an adult reader. While I didn't absolutely love the book, it did open my mind and touch my heart.
matheo96gro's review
5.0
This was so good! These characters will definitely stick with me for a long time. I loved every aspect of this book.
fallingletters's review
5.0
Review originally published 6 November 2022 at Falling Letters.
A quick-paced read that I finished in one sitting, protagonist Aubrey’s voice pulled me into the story as I wondered what had happened between her and Joel and if she would find him before adult interference became problematic.
The Best Liars in Riverview explores what it can be like to be young and questioning in a town full of well meaning white Christians, who smooth over and stay quiet and uphold the status quo.
It’s been awhile since I flagged so many passages and quotes in a middle grade story. I found lots of lines that cut straight through to the heart of something, even if Aubrey hadn’t yet recognized the significance herself. I won’t share everything I noted here – go read the book
A quick-paced read that I finished in one sitting, protagonist Aubrey’s voice pulled me into the story as I wondered what had happened between her and Joel and if she would find him before adult interference became problematic.
The Best Liars in Riverview explores what it can be like to be young and questioning in a town full of well meaning white Christians, who smooth over and stay quiet and uphold the status quo.
[Aubrey reflecting on a kid in gym glass who would say “God, Gallagher, you’re such a girl.”] Sometimes he wouldn’t say “girl.” Sometimes he’d say words that were worse. Coach Nielsen, our PE teacher, might hear. He might say, “Second commandment, Thomas.” We all memorized the Ten Commandments in Sunday school at the Church of the Sacred Heart. The second one is this: Thou shalt not take the Lord’s name in vain. Neilsen would make Rudy Thomas run a lap around the gym for saying “God” like that. He never acknowledged the other words. (pg 141)Aubrey reminded me of Bug from [b: Too Bright to See|54786049|Too Bright to See|Kyle Lukoff|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1596374489l/54786049._SX50_.jpg|75900580] – both kiddos full of sadness for a reason deeper than they can identify at the start of the story. They both know they’re not happy with how their communities view them, but they haven’t yet pinpointed why.
“Your sister has sleepovers with other girls. […] It’s different. Joel’s a boy, and you’re a girl.” I didn’t know why that made anger flash through me, hot like lightning. I didn’t know why I hated, hated, hated my dad for pointing that out. (pg 74)
[Mom’s response when an elderly family member thinks Aubrey looks too much like a boy:] Lots of girls these days wear T-shirts and ponytails. It’s true. I knew it was true. But my stomach was fluttering like maybe I’d eaten too much Jell-O salad. (pg 135)There’s a moment where Aubrey, her sister, and their friend Mari are playing pretend that I loved. Aubrey makes a face at the suggestion of being elf queen and Mari quips “Elf king, then” with a little smile of, perhaps, recognition, so Aubrey plays as elf king in the court (pg 162). Small gestures, both negative and positive, can have a huge impact.
It’s been awhile since I flagged so many passages and quotes in a middle grade story. I found lots of lines that cut straight through to the heart of something, even if Aubrey hadn’t yet recognized the significance herself. I won’t share everything I noted here – go read the book
uffda1nat's review
5.0
Do you ever read a book and you're like "huh. I really could have used this when I was growing up." This is one of the books with the added bonus of "huh. I really needed this book right now." This book is part adventure (running away on a raft you built yourself? Yes, please), part reckoning with growing up and speaking your truth. Other features include some accidental arson and lots of being queer in the woods. Highly recommend.
cdpeterson15's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
blakehalsey's review
5.0
I had the honor of getting an early read on this luminous debut! You don’t want to miss this brave and tender story.