
The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart is a heart-wrenching story about a 12-year-old boy named Mark who is battling cancer. Tired of treatments and hospitals, Mark decides to run away with his loyal dog Beau to fulfill his dream of climbing Mt. Rainier. The novel alternates between Mark's perspective on his adventurous journey and the reactions of his best friend Jessie, who struggles with keeping Mark's secret. The story explores themes of friendship, courage, life, death, and the difficult choices one faces in life.
The writing style of The Honest Truth is raw, honest, and personal, presenting the realities of dealing with a terminal illness through the eyes of a brave young boy. The alternating chapters between Mark and Jessie offer a unique perspective on the emotional journey of the characters, creating a compelling and poignant narrative. The book is written for tweens and young adults, with short chapters and cliffhanger endings that make it a fast-paced and engaging read.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of cancer, suicidal ideation, and intense emotions regarding death and loss.
From The Publisher:
The debut of a phenomenal new middle-grade talent.
In all the ways that matter, Mark is a normal kid. He's got a dog named Beau 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 in one important way, Mark is not like other kids at all. Mark is sick. The kind of sick that means hospitals. And treatments. 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 to reach the top of Mount 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 the incredible journey of the human spirit.
Reader Stats (1):
Not Interested (1) |
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.