All The Truth That’s In Me/Julie Gardener Perry
Viking Juvenile/Speak, 2013, 288pp
Fiction, Mystery and Romance

You were kidnapped shortly after your best friend disappeared. Only you return 2 years later. You know what happened to your best friend. You cannot tell because, it risks you disappearing and not coming back again. This is not the only reason you cannot tell, the man who abducted you took something from you… your tongue.

Judith and Charlotte (also known as Lottie) were about 14 when they disappeared. Lottie went first. She is later found dead in the river. Judith wasn’t found, she escaped from her captive. Upon her return she receives the news of her father’s death. In the 2 years of Judith’s absence her father got sick looking for her and passed away. This caused her mother much grief and also caused her mother to treat Judith differently. The town wants to know what happened so, the members send Judith to the church. People in town shun her and treat her as if she is cursed. Lucas Whitmore her only friend, he helps her and talks to her nicely but he does so tormented by his past. His father disappeared around the same time Judith did, for this reason he has been suspicious of his father’s whereabouts. ”When Lottie was killed I was worried, but when you disappeared I grew suspicious.” Having grown up together they start to grow fonder of each other by the minute. Julie Gardener makes their love an interesting twist as they slowly get closer while drifting apart. ”Perhaps you know that I alone can empathize today.” In this tale of love, sacrifice, courage, and finding ones voice you will want to cry, celebrate, and rip the pages out of the book.

In this beautifully yet quite odd written book I think the author fulfilled the purpose. All The Truth That’s In Me truly makes you fall in love with these characters and you certainly feel and see everything through Judith’s unique perspective “Reverend Frye makes his way down the aisle toward you… Your gaze sweeps over Eunice’s bonnet, and I see a trace of sorrow. Yet another village belle you’ve lost.” I found this book motivational for those who feel as if they’ve lost their voice in any matter. I recommend this to all middle school students and those who are in the mood to read this kind of feel better book. One of the many strengths of this book is how easily you can visualize what you read. The book takes a while to understand. Julie uses a form of older English that charms those that understand it while scaring those who don’t away. This issue becomes apparent in the first pages of the book “quote of older English”

This book will always remind me that even though things are rough that there has to be a flood before we can see the rainbow. If you ever want to give up just don’t because, it will get better. In Judith’s case she finds her happiness and finds people that she would never guess could help her. This book is a great read even with occasional old English and some very funny situations.