Truth & Lies

Whether exploring the consequences of concealing the truth or excavating the mysterious nature of truth itself, the titles in this collection discuss the intersections among honesty, factualness, legitimacy, deception, falsehood, and lies.

Exile

by Shannon Messenger

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hope, Love, Memory, Language, Race, Future, The Past, Family, Friendship, Community, Education, Immigration, Nation, War, Fate, Justice, Music, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Conflict, Animals, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies, Self Discovery

Tags Children`s Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Action & Adventure

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Exiles

by Jane Harper

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Community, The Past

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Modern Classic Fiction

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Exodus

by Kate Stewart

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Love, Regret, Revenge, Appearance & Reality, Family, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies

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Fake ID

by Lamar Giles

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Safety & Danger, Race, Coming of Age, Family, Social Class, Community

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Coming of Age, Bullying, Trauma & Abuse, Grief & Death, Race & Racism, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Action & Adventure

Originally published in 2014, Fake ID is a mystery/thriller novel written by Lamar Giles and intended for young adults. The narrator and main character is Nick Pearson, a 15-year-old who has just moved to Stepton, Virginia, becoming a Black student in a predominantly white setting. Nick and his family are in the Federal Witness Protection Program (WITSEC). Unintentionally, he finds himself involved in a love triangle and a mysterious murder.As a Black author, Giles is... Read Fake ID Summary

Faker

by Gordon Korman

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Fathers, Friendship, Community, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies

Tags Children`s Literature

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Fall on your Knees

by Ann-Marie MacDonald

Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Shame & Pride, Truth & Lies, Religion & Spirituality, Music, Good & Evil, Self Discovery, Fathers, Childhood & Youth, Sexual Identity, Race, Fear

Tags Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+, Magical Realism, Coming of Age, Trauma & Abuse, Love & Sexuality, Music, Religion & Spirituality, Race & Racism, World History, Canadian Literature

Fall on Your Knees (1996), first-time novelist Ann-Marie MacDonald’s ambitious multigenerational family saga set in the early decades of the 20th century, moves from the bleak coastal towns of Canada’s Cape Breton Island to the bustling New York City of the Jazz Era. Recalling both the psychological richness of William Faulkner’s family sagas set in Yoknapatawpha County and the dark passions in the Gothic tales of Flannery O’Connor, Fall on Your Knees follows three very... Read Fall on your Knees Summary

Family of Liars

by E. Lockhart

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Truth & Lies, Perseverance, Loyalty & Betrayal, Siblings, Family

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Romance, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Modern Classic Fiction

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Family of Spies

by Christine Kuehn

Publication year 2025

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Memory, Regret, Shame & Pride, The Past, Family, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Truth & Lies

Tags US History, European History, World War II, Memoir & Autobiography, Politics & Government, Espionage

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Fatherland

by Robert Harris

Publication year 1992

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Love, Race, Midlife, Future, Family, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Equality, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Science Fiction, Military & War, World War II

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Final Girls

by Riley Sager

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Fear, Revenge, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Death, Appearance & Reality, Self Discovery, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

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Fingersmith

by Sarah Waters

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mothers, Truth & Lies, Sexual Identity

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, LGBTQ+, Gothic Literature, Victorian Period, Trauma & Abuse, Love & Sexuality, World History, Romance

A thrilling tale of thievery, betrayal, and mistaken identity, Fingersmith, by Welsh author Sarah Waters, tells the story of two women from two very different stations of life whose fates are inextricably linked. Set in the 1860s, Fingersmith is narrated alternately by Sue Smith (also known as Sue Trinder) and Maud Lilly. One is a young “fingersmith”—slang for a thief—lovingly protected from the worst of her world by Mrs. Sucksby; the other is an aristocratic... Read Fingersmith Summary