All the Truth That's in Me by Julie Berry

Published by: Viking Juvenile

Series: stand-alone

Genre: mystery, romance, historical-fiction, second person, thriller, contemporary

Pages: 274

Format: hardback

Source: library



" Four years ago, Judith and her best friend disappeared from their small town of Roswell Station. Two years ago, only Judith returned, permanently mutilated, reviled and ignored by those who were once her friends and family. Unable to speak, Judith lives like a ghost in her own home, silently pouring out her thoughts to the boy who’s owned her heart as long as she can remember—even if he doesn’t know it—her childhood friend, Lucas. But when Roswell Station is attacked, long-buried secrets come to light, and Judith is forced to choose: continue to live in silence, or recover her voice, even if it means changing her world, and the lives around her, forever. This startlingly original novel will shock and disturb you; it will fill                                                                            you with Judith’s passion and longing; and its mysteries will keep you feverishly turning the                                                                            pages until the very last. "

4.5 stars  really

This book was just absolutely amazing.

I picked this book up on the "new" bookshelf at my local library and the cover captured my attention. Usually, covers like this one usually lead me to bad writing/plot/characters for some reason, so I was weary at first, but I'm very glad I did read it.

Berry wrought this book in such a way that I cannot describe.

The writing was great and wonderfully executed. I don't know how much better it could have gotten. The book is written in second person, odd, but nonetheless amazing. Usually, second person tends to be hit or miss and I've personally never read a good second person story, maybe only a poem here or there. But somehow, Berry pulls it off, and I don't know how she did it, but she did it. I felt like I was there with Judith with every step she took and with every memory she retold; I was next to her the whole time. 

The story takes place in the pilgrim days, I suppose, and is about a girl named Judith.

Judith disappeared one day and came back two years later, unable to speak. Her best friend also disappeared right around the same time she did, except she didn't come back. Unable to speak, the villagers shunned her and even her own mother. The only one to really give her any time of day was an old batty woman that liked to gossip and on occasion, Lucas, the boy she has loved ever since she was a child.

The supporting characters are lovely and add to the story, while Judith herself was not entirely the best protagonist, but I still loved her nonetheless. Characters like her mother and her brother, add to the syampthy I felt towards Judith. How could her own mother just abandon her like that. Even disturbing things play out in this novel and it just made me sick, but it pointed out that things like that happened before this current time.

The book is short, less than 300 pages and is a wonderful one-shot.

I did not give it 5 stars purely because I will most likely not read it again. I do recommend it to everyone, but I doubt I'll be cramming it down other's throats, unfortunately.