I think it was that dead white male writer, Mr. William Shakespeare, who remarked through one of his characters "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when we endeavor to deceive." I believe that Hannah, narrator of Jennifer Lynn Alvarez's Lies Like Wildfire, would agree with the truth of that saying.
Hannah has grown up in a small California forest town with MO (Maureen), Luke, and Drummer. Violet has joined them on her summers spent with her grandmother. The friends have been besties since early childhood when they were dubbed the monsters. Now they've just graduated high school. They're enjoying what very well could be their last summer together...
...until on an ordinary visit to a favorite lake when a dropped marijuana pipe sparks a wildfire 🔥 that blazes out of control, killing ten people, leaving thousands more homeless, and destroying acres of protected forest in a national park. The others think they should admit to their roles in the fire. After all it resulted from a simple mistake...
...but sheriff's daughter Hannah knows better. In a disaster only impact, not intent, will be taken into consideration. If the truth comes out instead of starting college or jobs they'll be starting long prison sentences...
...but damage control becomes harder when two of the group become suspects...
...and then one of group goes missing after telling the others by text her plans to go to the police with the truth.
Readers who love a truly twisty mystery will really enjoy Lies Like Wildfire. And it also could lead to serious discussions of the ethical issues it raises.
On a purrrsonal note, it was a good Thanksgiving. Katie, Jacob, and Adam came over for the big dinner. It was great seeing them for the first time since September.
A great big shout out goes out to Katie, Jacob, and Adam.
Jules Hathaway
Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone
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