The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti Published by Sourcebooks Fire Pages: 400
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Hawthorn wasn't trying to insert herself into a missing person's investigation. Or maybe she was. But that's only because Lizzie Lovett's disappearance is the one fascinating mystery their sleepy town has ever had. Bad things don't happen to popular girls like Lizzie Lovett, and Hawthorn is convinced she'll turn up at any moment-which means the time for speculation is now. So Hawthorn comes up with her own theory for Lizzie's disappearance. A theory way too absurd to take seriously...at first. The more Hawthorn talks, the more she believes. And what better way to collect evidence than to immerse herself in Lizzie's life? Like getting a job at the diner where Lizzie worked and hanging out with Lizzie's boyfriend. After all, it's not as if he killed her-or did he? Told with a unique voice that is both hilarious and heart-wrenching, Hawthorn's quest for proof may uncover the greatest truth is within herself. "
Cocktails and Books received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect our opinion of the book or the content of our review.
As a high school teacher, I enjoy reading young adult books so that I can recommend them to students. I will definitely be recommending The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett to my kids once school starts again. Sedoti is spot on portraying how teens think & express themselves. She was able to capture her characters’ personalities and really give readers a sense of knowing the people of Griffin Mills.
From the first page, readers will appreciate Hawthorn. She is blunt, witty, sharp, but at the same time insecure in the ways that only the torture of the teenage years can bring. She acknowledges her feelings of awkwardness, of not fitting in, of NOT being Lizzie Lovett.
Lizzie is THE girl in Griffin Mills that every girl wants to be. She is beautiful and popular and the envy of all. Hawthorn compares herself to Lizzie and falls short every time. When Lizzie goes missing, it is the talk of the town. She is so beloved that citizens of Griffin Mills of all ages are worried, searching, mourning. Hawthorn reacts a little differently (typical for her).
Hawthorn embarks on solving the mystery of Lizzie’s disappearance. Did her boyfriend kill her? Is Lizzie really a werewolf? As farfetched as Hawthorn’s ideas may seem, she proceeds to put herself in Lizzie’s shoes as much as possible in order to figure out what may have happened to her.
Along the way, Hawthorn makes mistakes and as a result, matures. This is where I think teens will really identify with Hawthorn. She does things like sneak out of the house, get drunk, has issues with her family & fights with friends—some typical teenage behavior from which we learn valuable lessons. All along, Sedoti does a good job of “keeping it real” and not sugarcoating how these choices affect teens.
As I already mentioned, I will be recommending this book (I already told our school librarian about it at book club!). It was humorous, honest, and real. If you are a teen or remember being one, you will enjoy it!
