The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart

Hello everyone, welcome to this first post in this wintry month of July. Since this month is a mixed group of reviews, I thought I’d start off with a contemporary adventure type story. If you’re after something that tackles a range of themes and issues then you might enjoy this as much as I did…

Title: The Honest Truth

Author: Dan Gemeinhart

Genre: Fiction – contemporary

Publication details: Scholastic Press; NY, 2015

ISBN: 9780545665735

What this book is about: In all the ways that matter, Mark is a normal kid. He’s got a dog named Bean and a best friend, Jessie. He likes to take photos and write haiku poems in his notebook. He dreams of climbing a mountain one day. But the thing is, Mark is quite sick. The kind of sick some people never get better from. So Mark runs away. He leaves home with his camera, his notebook, his dog, and a plan. A plan to reach the top of Mt. Rainier. Even if it’s the last thing he ever does. The Honest Truth is a rare and extraordinary novel about big questions, small moments, and one incredible journey.

My review: This was an amazing debut novel!! I found the character of Mark an amazing and courageous young man. I found myself crying quite a fair bit during the reading of this. There are so many issues that are tackled here: death, loss, sickness, perseverance, friendship and above all, how young kids deal with cancer and the illness that follows. The main friendship between Mark and Bean, the one of a boy and a dog, tested their faith in each other and showcased the determination they both had. I really enjoyed this story of courage and miracles!!

My rating: 5 ⭐

“It’s never too late for the adventure of a lifetime.”