Book Description Review “Culley’s compelling free-verse poems accumulate into a poignant story of a family that was already struggling and then transformed into something unrecognizable. Liv’s narration is touching, honest, and perceptive. A story of love and resilience as much as loss and grief.” (Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review))”Piercingly realistic. A poignant, humanizing exploration of a sadly timely issue.” (Kirkus Reviews)”An emotional journey that follows a life-altering tragedy. Culley weaves carefully chosen details into a slowly forming tapestry. A tale that is both harrowing in subject matter and elegant in execution.” (ALA Booklist)”A heartbreaking story about a topic that is too prevalent in today’s society.” (School Library Journal)”Eloquent narrative verse. Culley deftly captures the community’s nuanced responses and the heartbreak both families navigate as this devastating tragedy becomes a political battleground.” (Publishers Weekly) Read more About the Author Betty Culley lives in central Maine, where the rivers run through the small towns. She’s an RN who worked as an obstetrics nurse and as a pediatric home hospice nurse. Three Things I Know Are True is her debut. Read more Customers Review: As a busy mom, I don’t have a lot of time for pleasure reading, so let me tell you, I was surprised when I finished this book in basically one sitting (I couldn’t put it down, but I did have to put my kids to bed!). I loved that the story was so easy to read, this is because it is written in verse! I had never read a book written like this, and I found it delightful, sort of like reading poetry, and the words the author chooses end up being so important. This author is an excellent wordsmith and every word was perfectly chosen to make the story more beautiful. As a mom of two boys, this topic of guns, and the story that unfolds between two friends and their families, was very salient. It put those issues in a personal spot for me to consider, and I think it will do the same for others. Well worth every minute!
Liv’s reckless brother Jonah plays with a neighbor’s gun.Now he’s mostly dead.Her mother sues Clay’s fatherfor not storing the gun properly.Liv feels lost,Clay is lost.Told in verse,Liv takes us through her painful journey.Betty Culley’s simple wordsdrip Liv’s sadness,Clay’s emptiness.THREE THINGS I KNOW ARE TRUEmade me think.I all-caps HATE guns.I don’t go to houses with gunsand don’t think people should own them.But Jonah was sixteen,not six.He knew better.As much as I wanted to blame only Clay’s father,Jonah had a history of stupid risky behavior.Of course, had there not been a gunhe wouldn’t have and couldn’t have shot himself.
My Rating: 3.5 starsIn the end, we are all paying for the care Jonah will need for the rest of his life.Three Things I Know Are true is the heartbreaking story of Liv as she deals with the aftermath of her brother (Jonah) gun shot injury. Liv is the only one who still see’s Jonah for who he was before and can comfort him.This is a lot for anybody to deal with, but for a teenage girl to be dealing with this and trying to think about her future its even tougher. How can she plan for a future when she knows her older brother Jonah will never get one now? How can she focus on school when her mom is avoiding dealing with the new Jonah and she’s the only one left in the family to really be focusing on him?All these questions are hard ones to answer but they do get answered in this story, and tough lessons are also learned in the process. The toughest part of all of it though is the friendships lost and the invisible line drawn between people because of what happened to Jonah.I know how expensive it isto be helpless.How many things don’t countas necessary.A wheelchair rampA wheelchair vanclothes, air-conditioning, prayer cards.Everything has to be for my brother now.Jonah doesn’t ask for anything,but he needs everything.Overall this is a tough book to read. Liv’s life isn’t easy and its one that has her balancing school, helping take care of Jonah, try to keep a social life, and trying to not cause any trouble for her mom who can barely pay the bills. What I liked most about her though was how she never stopped caring about things, and putting herself out there for those that she loved. The care that she showed Jonah, and all of his nurses how she get to know them and see them for something outside of just being a nurse.I also really enjoyed Liv’s friends and the differences between her two best friends and how they treated what was happening. Raine while a little frustrating at times, had her heart in the right place and always made sure to be there when it was needed and I really liked her for that.The game that her and Clay have is one that I really liked and taught me things that I didn’t even know about. It also showed that how just being there and listening can help someone even if it’s not talking about what the problem is.
THREE THINGS I KNOW ARE TRUE is:-bursting with compassion.-driven by sheer narrative flow.-shattering in the best possible way.I tore through this arc in just a few days, and not because the subject matter is fluffy or easy; quite the opposite. Sophomore Liv’s life has been ripped out at the roots by the tragic accidental shooting of her brother, Jonah, the risk taker of the family. Now, Jonah is wheelchair bound, reliant on machines and nurses to keep him alive; Liv is devoted to his care, at the expense of her own; and her small Maine town is divided as to where to lay the blame.Betty’s spare, lyrical verse packs such a punch, you will find yourself weeping and laughing on the same page. I was swept away by the current of Liv’s grief, her intense love for Jonah, and her fearlessness as she refuses to deny the one boy who bore witness to what really happened to Jonah that day in the attic with the loaded gun. Don’t miss this one, guys. |
10 reviews