海角大神

'The Honest Truth' features a boy, a dog, and some very difficult decisions

A young boy who loves to climb mountains faces adult-sized challenges in this debut novel.

As much as I love a good dog tale, I do not love books about sick kids. Yes, I know a lot of young readers choose to have their hearts broken while reading. I usually stay away from those stories. But I鈥檓 glad I didn鈥檛 stay away from The Honest Truth. This debut novel, narrated by a middle-school boy and aimed at readers ages 9-12 is touching, smart, and a page-turner. That鈥檚 a big accomplishment for one book.

Young Mark loves to climb mountains. Though he鈥檚 been diagnosed with cancer, he鈥檚 not giving up. He and his dog Beau take off on a train to Seattle, determined to reach Mount Rainier.聽 The only person who knows where he might be headed is his best friend Jessie who is conflicted about what to do, whether to tell his parents and the authorities, and 鈥淗ow to help, when helping and hurting are the same.鈥�

Mark has planned his adventure to the most minute detail. He鈥檚 saved enough money for food and transportation. He can鈥檛 shake the memory of his mom鈥檚 crying but he鈥檚 determined to throw his parents and the police off his trail. He鈥檚 left a secret note, discoverable by his best friend. Still, there鈥檚 no way he could have anticipated the trouble he鈥檒l encounter along the way.

Of course, that鈥檚 what makes the pages turn so quickly. Will Mark outwit the gang of thugs who follow him down the alley? Will the friendly waitress at the coffee shop see his picture on the television and turn him in? And most of all, will Jessie alert his parents? The short, interspersed chapters told in his friend鈥檚 voice are especially moving as we see her struggle with a decision that has no right answers.

And of course, there鈥檚 the dog. Beau is loyal, never leaving his master鈥檚 side. He鈥檚 got a very big heart. Gemeinhart makes us believe this little dog can do almost anything 鈥� and will 鈥� to protect Mark. When the boy is attacked, Beau comes out of his 鈥渄uffel bag like hot burning justice. Like all the right kinds of anger.鈥� Even a heart-breaking story is made better by a canine friend.

"The Honest Truth" was written as a celebration of and tribute to a friend of Gemeinhart鈥檚 who loved to climb mountains. It鈥檚 an adventure, a fitting homage to friendship, and yes, a dog book with the power and beauty to stick around for a very long time.