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The Honest Truth
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Middle Grade & Children's (2015)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.
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.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 27, 2015
559 people are currently reading
13873 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,400 reviews
September 14, 2015
A story of a boy on a journey to finding out the important things in life. A remarkable story with beautiful writing and heart wrenching moments.
August 27, 2015
A spare, beautiful story about the importance of love and life in the face of death. The friendship between Mark and Jess touched me, and Beau joins the Pantheon of unforgettable dogs in books. A must-own book.
December 12, 2019
O Sonho Comanda a Vida
Mark é um jovem de morte anunciada!
Que faz alguém que está prestes a encontrar-se com a Morte?
Faz o que se afigura mais lógico — procura, no pouco tempo que lhe resta, concretizar o Sonho da sua Vida.
E Mark não imagina nada melhor que escalar o Monte Rainier.
E por isso larga tudo, e parte!
De mochila às costas e cão no saco de viagem, lá vai ele.
Espezinha o relógio que lhe rouba a Vida e enfia-se no comboio...
É derrubado por Lobos e erguido por Anjos!
Capta momentos tirando fotos e escrevendo haikus. São os seus tesouros. Pequenos fragmentos de vida capturados — daquela vida que irá brevemente perder!
E no meio de peripécias, acidentes e incidentes lá vai calcorreando o Trilho do Sonho...
Será que Mark agiu egoisticamente? Afinal de contas, as escolhas que fez encurtaram-lhe ainda mais a sua já curta expectativa de vida! E a que preço?... Carregando os seus familiares e amigos de ansiedade e preocupações!
Qual seria a alternativa, então?...
Aguardar tranquilamente o Dia Final, preterindo o Sonho em benefício da tranquilidade dos seus?!
Quanto a mim, a resposta é só uma:
O Sonho Comanda a Vida!!!
"A Pura Verdade" é uma história ternurenta, que nos fala ao coração.
E vamos conhecer o Beau, mais um nome a adicionar à lista dos cães inesquecíveis da literatura!
É um 4+++ :)
Mark é um jovem de morte anunciada!
Que faz alguém que está prestes a encontrar-se com a Morte?
Faz o que se afigura mais lógico — procura, no pouco tempo que lhe resta, concretizar o Sonho da sua Vida.
E Mark não imagina nada melhor que escalar o Monte Rainier.
E por isso larga tudo, e parte!
De mochila às costas e cão no saco de viagem, lá vai ele.
Espezinha o relógio que lhe rouba a Vida e enfia-se no comboio...
É derrubado por Lobos e erguido por Anjos!
Capta momentos tirando fotos e escrevendo haikus. São os seus tesouros. Pequenos fragmentos de vida capturados — daquela vida que irá brevemente perder!
E no meio de peripécias, acidentes e incidentes lá vai calcorreando o Trilho do Sonho...
Será que Mark agiu egoisticamente? Afinal de contas, as escolhas que fez encurtaram-lhe ainda mais a sua já curta expectativa de vida! E a que preço?... Carregando os seus familiares e amigos de ansiedade e preocupações!
Qual seria a alternativa, então?...
Aguardar tranquilamente o Dia Final, preterindo o Sonho em benefício da tranquilidade dos seus?!
Quanto a mim, a resposta é só uma:
O Sonho Comanda a Vida!!!
"A Pura Verdade" é uma história ternurenta, que nos fala ao coração.
E vamos conhecer o Beau, mais um nome a adicionar à lista dos cães inesquecíveis da literatura!
É um 4+++ :)
September 1, 2015
I had an ARC of The Honest Truth by Dan Geimenhart and it isn't good. I was excited because The Honest Truth is an outdoorsy novel, like Halfway to the Sky, but the trouble with a kid alone in the wilderness is that things rarely happen when one is alone in the wilderness. Dan Gemeinhart circumvents this problem by spending 175 pages of the 229-page book getting Mark onto Mount Rainier, and only a few pages on mountaineering fail before Mark succumbs to exhaustion and hypothermia and nearly dies, which is what he came to Rainier to do (spoiler: he's rescued). Mark has cancer, and Mr. Geimenhart tries to build suspense... with cancer. Teasing your audience with glimpses of hospital rooms and bald children is creepy. It's also easy to quickly figure out that the author is hinting at cancer, so by the time the big reveal happens, everyone has understood for a while and they're really uncomfortable about it. But fortunately for Mark, he has a best friend called Jessica, who turns up in flashbacks and half-chapters of third-person inner-turmoil because she knows Mark probably ran away to die on Mount Rainier and she can't decide whether to let Mark die peacefully in a snowstorm or abet the kidhunt that started several hours after he bolted. The trouble with Jessica is that their relationship is too didactic, too forced. She's a girl!, she's brown!, they're best friends!; Gemeinhart can't show, he needs to tell you! that white boys and brown girls can be best friends. (The white boy is the main character.) Every encounter Mark has: the waitress, the thugs, the tortilla makers, the bus driver, and especially the Forest Service biologist who gives Mark a ride up the mountain, is suffused with overbearing life lessons. And Mark brings his dog along: he plans for Beau to find his way down the mountain with a goodbye note clipped to his collar. But he doesn't bring any dog food. You'd think that in the weeks he's been planning his escape, and the day of, when he throws some granola bars and and dog treats in his backpack, that he might have thrown some dog food in a baggie; that his dog might want to eat while they're climbing a mountain, but no. There are so many little things in this book that strain credibility. So many bizarre actions and big, throbbing omissions, along with the stilted dialogue and sloppy plot. I'm sorry.
http://surfeitofbooks.blogspot.com/20...
http://surfeitofbooks.blogspot.com/20...
March 5, 2016
Oh my god.
My heart.
And I still can't believe that I finished it in 1 sitting.
SO FREAKING GOOD!
GO READ THIS!
A brave boy.
A life goal.
Friendship.
My heart.
And I still can't believe that I finished it in 1 sitting.
SO FREAKING GOOD!
GO READ THIS!
A brave boy.
A life goal.
Friendship.
September 29, 2014
What a moving story. I suppose it could be described as THE FAULT IN OUR STARS for the middle grade reader. A boy fighting cancer is determined to achieve his goal of climbing Mt. Rainier. It's also a beautiful story about friendships. And for those who love a good "boy and his dog" tale, it is that too.
February 4, 2017
Reseña completa: http://anitavelabooks.blogspot.com.es...
Es una historia de lucha y de plantarle cara a la muerte. No os voy a mentir y es una historia triste pero a la vez es muy bonita. Había partes que me han partido el corazón, pero me ha encantado conocer a Mark y su historia. Y tiene un final que me ha dejado sin palabras…
La mayor parte de la historia esta narrada por Mark y en cada capítulo hay mini capítulos que te cuentan un poco como llevan la desaparición su familia y su amiga Jessie. Y me han gustado mucho porque aportan mucho a la historia de amistad de esos dos amigos, Mark y Jessie.
Mark ha parecido un niño valiente que no quiere dejar que su enfermedad le fastidie su sueño y sin mirar atrás… se adentra en la que posiblemente sea la mayor aventura de su vida. Y por supuesto, no duda en llevarse a Beau, su gran y fiel amigo (su perro). Tengo que añadir que he sufrido mucho por los dos, pero es muy bonita la amistad que tiene con su perro, es que los perros son eso, amigos fieles hasta el infinito y más allá. Me ha encantado esta amistad. Y la amistad que tiene con Jessie es admirable, una niña capaz de guardar un secreto que se le queda muy grande por ayudar a cumplir su sueño aunque sufra por ello.
En resumen, La pura verdad es una historia difícil de olvidar, de esas que te tocan directamente el corazón. Os la recomiendo muy mucho.
Es una historia de lucha y de plantarle cara a la muerte. No os voy a mentir y es una historia triste pero a la vez es muy bonita. Había partes que me han partido el corazón, pero me ha encantado conocer a Mark y su historia. Y tiene un final que me ha dejado sin palabras…
La mayor parte de la historia esta narrada por Mark y en cada capítulo hay mini capítulos que te cuentan un poco como llevan la desaparición su familia y su amiga Jessie. Y me han gustado mucho porque aportan mucho a la historia de amistad de esos dos amigos, Mark y Jessie.
Mark ha parecido un niño valiente que no quiere dejar que su enfermedad le fastidie su sueño y sin mirar atrás… se adentra en la que posiblemente sea la mayor aventura de su vida. Y por supuesto, no duda en llevarse a Beau, su gran y fiel amigo (su perro). Tengo que añadir que he sufrido mucho por los dos, pero es muy bonita la amistad que tiene con su perro, es que los perros son eso, amigos fieles hasta el infinito y más allá. Me ha encantado esta amistad. Y la amistad que tiene con Jessie es admirable, una niña capaz de guardar un secreto que se le queda muy grande por ayudar a cumplir su sueño aunque sufra por ello.
En resumen, La pura verdad es una historia difícil de olvidar, de esas que te tocan directamente el corazón. Os la recomiendo muy mucho.
May 24, 2016
Actual Rating: All the stars in the universe!
"All the world is dark. But together we build light; shared, it keeps us warm."
It was a beautiful story; about hope, angers. About friendships and promises. About trust and love. About a dying boy and his loyal dog.
I did not expect it to leave such impact to me. I was certainly did not expect myself to clutch the book and cried my heart out at how much feels it giving me.
Read this book please, share the feels with me. Let us all sit and think of all that matters, of the love and people who are always there for us, of kind strangers in this harsh world, of hopes that might seem dim but glow deep within us, of everything.
I just want to lay down and hug this book to sleep. :')
"All the world is dark. But together we build light; shared, it keeps us warm."
It was a beautiful story; about hope, angers. About friendships and promises. About trust and love. About a dying boy and his loyal dog.
I did not expect it to leave such impact to me. I was certainly did not expect myself to clutch the book and cried my heart out at how much feels it giving me.
Read this book please, share the feels with me. Let us all sit and think of all that matters, of the love and people who are always there for us, of kind strangers in this harsh world, of hopes that might seem dim but glow deep within us, of everything.
I just want to lay down and hug this book to sleep. :')
August 2, 2017
Reseña completa: http://elcaosliterario.blogspot.com.e...
Escribo esta reseña justo después de terminarlo y prefiero que sea en este momento porque tengo mil sensaciones diferentes. Es un libro que te retuerce varias veces el corazón y que lees lleno de dudas y con el temor de no saber lo que te vas a encontrar después. Es una historia de superación, de lucha, de coraje, de miedos, de buscar la luz en un momento oscuro y sobre todo de amistad y de aprecio a las personas que te quieren.
Mark es el personaje principal y desde el comienzo es evidente su personalidad arrolladora y lo rápido que te conquista. A pesar de ser solo un niño, el golpe tan duro en su vida lo ha hecho madurar muy deprisa. El libro no está narrado desde un punto de vista de sufrimiento, sino desde la esperanza, la superación y el espíritu de lucha para hacer los sueños realidad.
Lo recomiendo a los que os haya gustado Un monstruo viene a verme, en ese caso, es una lectura casi obligatoria ya que ambas caminan de la mano.
Escribo esta reseña justo después de terminarlo y prefiero que sea en este momento porque tengo mil sensaciones diferentes. Es un libro que te retuerce varias veces el corazón y que lees lleno de dudas y con el temor de no saber lo que te vas a encontrar después. Es una historia de superación, de lucha, de coraje, de miedos, de buscar la luz en un momento oscuro y sobre todo de amistad y de aprecio a las personas que te quieren.
Mark es el personaje principal y desde el comienzo es evidente su personalidad arrolladora y lo rápido que te conquista. A pesar de ser solo un niño, el golpe tan duro en su vida lo ha hecho madurar muy deprisa. El libro no está narrado desde un punto de vista de sufrimiento, sino desde la esperanza, la superación y el espíritu de lucha para hacer los sueños realidad.
Lo recomiendo a los que os haya gustado Un monstruo viene a verme, en ese caso, es una lectura casi obligatoria ya que ambas caminan de la mano.
February 6, 2017
Un libro juvenil pero con valores para todo tipo de público. Un libro sobre las metas y como a pesar de todo debemos luchar por conseguirlas. Sobre la amistad humana y animal y su apoyo incondicional. Sobre afrontar las adversidades a pesar de todo. Sobre como teniendo poco puedes conseguir mucho si te lo propones. Un libro donde querer es poder a pesar de todo. Un libro donde las promesas son ley.
Valoración: 7/10
Valoración: 7/10
July 10, 2016
I can't even begin to imagine how a person with terminal illness must feel like but I know for sure that it's one of the worst (if not THE worst) feelings one can ever encounter in life.
The Honest Truth tells the story of Mark, a young boy who is battling cancer and he is just tired of it all. Tired of being sick, tired of being pitied, tired of feeling like his time on Earth is running out. So, he decides to "claim" his life (which is the only thing he feels he has a claim of) and sets off on a journey to fulfill his only goal in life: to climb a mountain with his dog.
When I bought this, I knew immediately it will make me cry and boy, I was so right. It made me tear up more than once and I rarely get emotional when it comes to reading. There were a lot of heartbreaking moments in this book. So if you're planning to read this, be emotionally prepared.
The writing, although simple, is beautiful. It deals with some dark themes and I applaud how it's done so well in such a little book.
I loved the characters in this book. Friendship and family is a huge theme. I adore the relationship between Mark and his dog — Beau was so loyal until the end! He made the saying "A dog is a man's best friend" truer than ever. I just love dogs/animals playing pivotal roles in books. Jessie, Mark's best friend is a lovable character too. I really felt their closeness in words (and I love how they share a secret bond with Haiku poems). There were some "bad" characters too but if there's anything this book teaches is that there's more good people in the world than bad ones.
A tiny book with a powerful message about the important things in life.
Ending this review with this quote:
"All the world's a storm, I guess, and we all get lost sometimes. We look for mountains in the clouds to make it all seem like it's worth it, like it means something. And sometimes we see them. And we keep going."
The Honest Truth tells the story of Mark, a young boy who is battling cancer and he is just tired of it all. Tired of being sick, tired of being pitied, tired of feeling like his time on Earth is running out. So, he decides to "claim" his life (which is the only thing he feels he has a claim of) and sets off on a journey to fulfill his only goal in life: to climb a mountain with his dog.
When I bought this, I knew immediately it will make me cry and boy, I was so right. It made me tear up more than once and I rarely get emotional when it comes to reading. There were a lot of heartbreaking moments in this book. So if you're planning to read this, be emotionally prepared.
The writing, although simple, is beautiful. It deals with some dark themes and I applaud how it's done so well in such a little book.
I loved the characters in this book. Friendship and family is a huge theme. I adore the relationship between Mark and his dog — Beau was so loyal until the end! He made the saying "A dog is a man's best friend" truer than ever. I just love dogs/animals playing pivotal roles in books. Jessie, Mark's best friend is a lovable character too. I really felt their closeness in words (and I love how they share a secret bond with Haiku poems). There were some "bad" characters too but if there's anything this book teaches is that there's more good people in the world than bad ones.
A tiny book with a powerful message about the important things in life.
Ending this review with this quote:
"All the world's a storm, I guess, and we all get lost sometimes. We look for mountains in the clouds to make it all seem like it's worth it, like it means something. And sometimes we see them. And we keep going."
March 9, 2015
While this is ostensibly a middle-grade book (and is in fact entirely appropriate for young readers), I would not and do not hesitate for a moment to recommend this book to adults. It does all that children's literature should do and all that adult literature should do.
Gorgeous, luminous, guileless, spare, heartrending, and haunting are the adjectives that best describe this story of a young boy stricken with cancer who seeks to do something beautiful and magnificent before dying. To rage against the dying of the light.
There were so many transcendent bits of prose in this book that left me as breathless as if I were myself standing on the frozen slopes of Mount Rainier, clawing for breath in the thin air, battling my own body.
I loved this book because I love books about children seeking light in death's shadow. If those are the books that move you too, I cannot recommend this one highly enough.
Gorgeous, luminous, guileless, spare, heartrending, and haunting are the adjectives that best describe this story of a young boy stricken with cancer who seeks to do something beautiful and magnificent before dying. To rage against the dying of the light.
There were so many transcendent bits of prose in this book that left me as breathless as if I were myself standing on the frozen slopes of Mount Rainier, clawing for breath in the thin air, battling my own body.
I loved this book because I love books about children seeking light in death's shadow. If those are the books that move you too, I cannot recommend this one highly enough.
May 4, 2016
"The mountain was calling me. I had to run away. I had to."
Ein kleiner Junge mit Krebs. Ein treuer Hund, der ihm nicht von der Seite weicht. Eine beste Freundin, mit einem großen Herzen.
Ein Berg der bestiegen werden muss.
Diese Geschichte war so schön, so gefühlvoll, so mutig und leichtsinnig und richtig und herzzerreißend.
Ich werde Mark, Beau und Jessie nie vergessen, so sehr habe ich sie liebgewonnen
Ein kleiner Junge mit Krebs. Ein treuer Hund, der ihm nicht von der Seite weicht. Eine beste Freundin, mit einem großen Herzen.
Ein Berg der bestiegen werden muss.
Diese Geschichte war so schön, so gefühlvoll, so mutig und leichtsinnig und richtig und herzzerreißend.
Ich werde Mark, Beau und Jessie nie vergessen, so sehr habe ich sie liebgewonnen
December 14, 2015
it was really sad but it was beautiful. i really loved this book, it had a lot a meaning to it and i can relate somehow to this book. it was also one of my favorite books this year which i think is hard for me to find books i like, so this one is great.
December 26, 2015
Whoa. A start and don't put down until done book. Dog as hero. Boy with the weight of the world. Honest truths are the hardest because we don't often tell them.
October 23, 2019
“All the world is dark.
But together we build light;
shared, it keeps us warm.”
این یکی از زیباترین کتابهایی بود که خوندم.
But together we build light;
shared, it keeps us warm.”
این یکی از زیباترین کتابهایی بود که خوندم.
September 27, 2016
The Honest Truth is not a book I can recommend. The writing is good and the characters well-developed, but I object to the story and tone of the novel. Mark is a normal kid who has been battling cancer for years. When the cancer returns, he runs away with his faithful dog Beau. His goal is to reach the top of Mount Rainier. However, he lies to his parents and forces his best friend to choose between their friendship and telling everyone where he has gone. As a parent, this was painful to read. Kids may admire Mark’s tenacity, but I can’t see it as anything but stupidity. Mark does have a powerful coming of age and self-realization experience, but his story is not one I want to provide as an example for elementary readers. Although The Honest Truth is a Colorado Children’s Book Award nominee this year, I won’t be encouraging kids to read it.
October 6, 2014
This is a quick and easy, though gut-wrenching read with a plot that made me turn the pages for a straight-through-in-one-day read. I HAD to know what was going to happen. The main character, Mark is faced with sobering news about his fight with cancer and decides he wants to die alone on the mountain he's longer to conquer for years. So, he scoops up his dog and they set out on an unforgettable journey that leads Mark to come to terms with life and death, love and friendship, and hope over despair. While I just finished it today, I have a feeling I'll be thinking about it for a long time. And that's the honest truth.
November 7, 2016
This is a story about a kid on an adventure. An adventure to die.
This story is largely about dying, and the remarkable bravery of a young boy who is ready to die on his own terms, even if it means running away.
But what I took away was the amazing power of friendship. Jessie's devotion to Mark...Beau's devotion to Mark...it was moving.
A great book with small chapters for your reluctant readers. But a great book for everyone, as well.
This story is largely about dying, and the remarkable bravery of a young boy who is ready to die on his own terms, even if it means running away.
But what I took away was the amazing power of friendship. Jessie's devotion to Mark...Beau's devotion to Mark...it was moving.
A great book with small chapters for your reluctant readers. But a great book for everyone, as well.
June 22, 2016
*4.5 stars*
I wish I could find the words to write a perfect review about this book but honestly, my emotions are too much right now.
Just know that this book was beautiful and heart warming in every possible way. It gave me hope and also broke my heart.
That is all I can say.
Absolutely wonderful.
I wish I could find the words to write a perfect review about this book but honestly, my emotions are too much right now.
Just know that this book was beautiful and heart warming in every possible way. It gave me hope and also broke my heart.
That is all I can say.
Absolutely wonderful.
June 12, 2024
edit:changed to 4 stars, middle grade, mature themes handled well, i would give this book for my child to read one day.
original rating and review: 5 stars, extremely heartbreaking yet hopeful, read this over 6 times.
original rating and review: 5 stars, extremely heartbreaking yet hopeful, read this over 6 times.
May 24, 2016
4.5 stars. This review also appears on Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I live for sad books. I love them with a passion and the more that a book can make me ugly-cry, the better. So it wasn’t really a huge surprise that I absolutely fell in love with The Honest Truth.
This book is about 12-year-old Mark, who has been battling cancer on and off since he was 5. When he finds out that his cancer is back, he decides to leave his family and take a trip to Mount Rainier with only his dog, Beau. He doesn’t leave his parents any clues and only his best friend, Jessie, has any idea of where he might be. Along the way, Mark encounters multiple hardships and we slowly find out the reason why Mark is taking this trip. It was a really heart-wrenching and brutally honest story about a child who’s sick and tired of dealing with illness, and chooses instead to run away and disappear.
This book was quite dark and hard-hitting. Mark is an angry kid, and this anger at the world and how unfair everything is really came across to me in the story. During this trip, Mark goes through things that no child should ever have to go through and I was amazed by his determination and his resilience. The journey to Mount Rainier was by no means easy, physically and mentally, and I really felt how dark Mark’s thoughts were throughout the book. It was really difficult for me to watch a sick boy struggle through all the things he went through willingly, and I just wanted to wrap him up in bubble wrap and keep him safe from harm forever. His thoughts get progressively darker throughout the book and his suffering came through so clearly to me that it was hard to continue reading at times. The tone of the book was not only dark and sad, but also incredibly lonely. Even though Mark travels to Mount Rainier with the company of his dog, there were times when the book felt very solitary and cold. I think it’s a book that you need to be in the right headspace to read.
I really liked Mark’s character in this novel. He was a scared but angry child who doesn’t really know how to deal with his recurring illness. He’s so tired of being the cancer kid that he wants to escape and do something just for himself. Even though he was physically weak, the book really showcased how mentally strong he could be. He was determined to fight for what he wanted and push the boundaries, even though his ultimate goal was a terrifying place. I also absolutely loved Beau in this story. If you’ve read the Chaos Walking trilogy and loved the relationship between Todd and Manchee, you will love Mark and Beau in this book. The two go through so many things together and it was Beau’s companionship that really helped Mark survive when things got tough, and then really tough. Beau was such a loyal friend and it’s a relationship that I’ll remember for a long time.
The writing in this story was both simple and poetic. There were lots of beautiful haikus in this book and I thought they really added to the emotion of the story. I never felt like I was being overwhelmed by poetry though because the writing was so easy to read and understand. Having said that, I also thought that the writing was quite sophisticated for a middle grade book. The writing style was right up my alley and I highly enjoyed the reading experience. In this book, we not only get to read about Mark’s story from his first person perspective, but there are also chapters that feature Mark’s parents and his best friend as they worry about his whereabouts. I loved the addition of those chapters because they made the whole situation real for me; Mark’s not just a boy on a journey – he has a family who loves him and is worried about him. I also liked that we got to see Jessie’s struggle as she tries to decide whether or not to tell Mark’s parents about his whereabouts and as she comes to terms with what Mark’s illness means for their friendship.
This was honestly a truly beautiful story about strength and resilience in the face of adversity. Mark’s journey across Washington State was poignant and heartbreaking, and I felt like I was there with him every step of the way.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I live for sad books. I love them with a passion and the more that a book can make me ugly-cry, the better. So it wasn’t really a huge surprise that I absolutely fell in love with The Honest Truth.
This book is about 12-year-old Mark, who has been battling cancer on and off since he was 5. When he finds out that his cancer is back, he decides to leave his family and take a trip to Mount Rainier with only his dog, Beau. He doesn’t leave his parents any clues and only his best friend, Jessie, has any idea of where he might be. Along the way, Mark encounters multiple hardships and we slowly find out the reason why Mark is taking this trip. It was a really heart-wrenching and brutally honest story about a child who’s sick and tired of dealing with illness, and chooses instead to run away and disappear.
Dying and living. It’s all such a mess. That’s the truth. It made me mad. A sad kind of angry.
This book was quite dark and hard-hitting. Mark is an angry kid, and this anger at the world and how unfair everything is really came across to me in the story. During this trip, Mark goes through things that no child should ever have to go through and I was amazed by his determination and his resilience. The journey to Mount Rainier was by no means easy, physically and mentally, and I really felt how dark Mark’s thoughts were throughout the book. It was really difficult for me to watch a sick boy struggle through all the things he went through willingly, and I just wanted to wrap him up in bubble wrap and keep him safe from harm forever. His thoughts get progressively darker throughout the book and his suffering came through so clearly to me that it was hard to continue reading at times. The tone of the book was not only dark and sad, but also incredibly lonely. Even though Mark travels to Mount Rainier with the company of his dog, there were times when the book felt very solitary and cold. I think it’s a book that you need to be in the right headspace to read.
I really liked Mark’s character in this novel. He was a scared but angry child who doesn’t really know how to deal with his recurring illness. He’s so tired of being the cancer kid that he wants to escape and do something just for himself. Even though he was physically weak, the book really showcased how mentally strong he could be. He was determined to fight for what he wanted and push the boundaries, even though his ultimate goal was a terrifying place. I also absolutely loved Beau in this story. If you’ve read the Chaos Walking trilogy and loved the relationship between Todd and Manchee, you will love Mark and Beau in this book. The two go through so many things together and it was Beau’s companionship that really helped Mark survive when things got tough, and then really tough. Beau was such a loyal friend and it’s a relationship that I’ll remember for a long time.
“Look at Beau,” she said. “Do you think he’d let anything happen to you? Do you think he’d ever let you be by yourself or fight something alone?”
The writing in this story was both simple and poetic. There were lots of beautiful haikus in this book and I thought they really added to the emotion of the story. I never felt like I was being overwhelmed by poetry though because the writing was so easy to read and understand. Having said that, I also thought that the writing was quite sophisticated for a middle grade book. The writing style was right up my alley and I highly enjoyed the reading experience. In this book, we not only get to read about Mark’s story from his first person perspective, but there are also chapters that feature Mark’s parents and his best friend as they worry about his whereabouts. I loved the addition of those chapters because they made the whole situation real for me; Mark’s not just a boy on a journey – he has a family who loves him and is worried about him. I also liked that we got to see Jessie’s struggle as she tries to decide whether or not to tell Mark’s parents about his whereabouts and as she comes to terms with what Mark’s illness means for their friendship.
This was honestly a truly beautiful story about strength and resilience in the face of adversity. Mark’s journey across Washington State was poignant and heartbreaking, and I felt like I was there with him every step of the way.
March 12, 2017
I want a Beau.
It has a beautiful message. I liked it very much.
It has a beautiful message. I liked it very much.
November 11, 2014
Richie’s Picks: THE HONEST TRUTH by Dan Gemeinhart, Scholastic Press, January 2015, 240p., ISBN: 978-0-545-66573-5
“My dog he turned to me and he said
Let’s head back to Tennessee Jed.”
-- Garcia/Hunter (1971)
“She could feel where he was heading, and her body shivered at the thought. She reached out, through the miles and the storm that wetted and shook her window; she reached out with her heart to her friend, wandering wherever he was. She could feel him, she thought. That was the kind of friendship they had. She could feel his hurt.
“‘Why?’ she asked the darkness. She knew, she thought, where he was going. The question that growled in the darkness at her was ‘Why?’
“But there were two wolves growling in the darkness. The one that growled ‘Why’ was followed by a darker, quieter growl that answered. And she liked the answer even less than she liked the question. It chased all sleep out of the room.
“She loved her friend, And she didn’t know how to help him.”
Given the number of boy-and-his-dog books I’ve read over the past half-century, I can’t be blamed for feeling a bit jaded about encountering yet another one. That’s why it’s particularly exciting to find one as moving as THE HONEST TRUTH.
Mark is a twelve-year-old from Washington State who has repeatedly faced death since age five when he was diagnosed with cancer. After being in remission for a few years Mark inadvertently finds out that he will be facing another round of treatments that he may or may not survive.
Mark’s mountain climbing grandfather had told him that he should someday climb Mt. Rainier. Faced with the possibility that it’s his last chance, Mark decides that it’s time to go. He heads off with his dog Beau just as a major storm bears down on the state.
While Mark’s disappearance is headline news, only Jessica, Mark’s best friend, has the knowledge of where he is likely headed. The story of Jess’s internal struggle between maintaining her loyalty to Mark and wanting to save his life by revealing what she knows is as intense as the story of Mark and Beau’s struggle to climb Mt. Rainier in that horrific storm.
The story alternates between Mark’s first-person life-and-death ordeal and brief chapters in the third-person revealing Jess’s internal struggle. This double-dose of tension and adventure really sets THE HONEST TRUTH apart.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
[email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/richie.parti...
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
“My dog he turned to me and he said
Let’s head back to Tennessee Jed.”
-- Garcia/Hunter (1971)
“She could feel where he was heading, and her body shivered at the thought. She reached out, through the miles and the storm that wetted and shook her window; she reached out with her heart to her friend, wandering wherever he was. She could feel him, she thought. That was the kind of friendship they had. She could feel his hurt.
“‘Why?’ she asked the darkness. She knew, she thought, where he was going. The question that growled in the darkness at her was ‘Why?’
“But there were two wolves growling in the darkness. The one that growled ‘Why’ was followed by a darker, quieter growl that answered. And she liked the answer even less than she liked the question. It chased all sleep out of the room.
“She loved her friend, And she didn’t know how to help him.”
Given the number of boy-and-his-dog books I’ve read over the past half-century, I can’t be blamed for feeling a bit jaded about encountering yet another one. That’s why it’s particularly exciting to find one as moving as THE HONEST TRUTH.
Mark is a twelve-year-old from Washington State who has repeatedly faced death since age five when he was diagnosed with cancer. After being in remission for a few years Mark inadvertently finds out that he will be facing another round of treatments that he may or may not survive.
Mark’s mountain climbing grandfather had told him that he should someday climb Mt. Rainier. Faced with the possibility that it’s his last chance, Mark decides that it’s time to go. He heads off with his dog Beau just as a major storm bears down on the state.
While Mark’s disappearance is headline news, only Jessica, Mark’s best friend, has the knowledge of where he is likely headed. The story of Jess’s internal struggle between maintaining her loyalty to Mark and wanting to save his life by revealing what she knows is as intense as the story of Mark and Beau’s struggle to climb Mt. Rainier in that horrific storm.
The story alternates between Mark’s first-person life-and-death ordeal and brief chapters in the third-person revealing Jess’s internal struggle. This double-dose of tension and adventure really sets THE HONEST TRUTH apart.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
[email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/richie.parti...
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
November 29, 2016
The quote on the jacket reads, "A heartbreaking, moving novel that makes you want to embrace the boy at its center and hold him close." I agree with the heartbreaking, moving part. But what did I want to do to Mark? How about throw him over the side of a mountain myself?! Seriously, you have two loving parents, a great best friend, and a faithful dog and you're going to run away - risking not just your own life, but your dog's life, too? Am I supposed to cheer for you? Not happening. If the kid had had an awful home life I may have started off with some more compassion for his quest. But he was just being selfish and purposefully hurtful to those who love him most in the world. Completely disappointed in the ending. Sappy, sappy, sappy. Ending totally reminds me of my feelings about Wringer. In that case the boy should have killed the pigeon, in this case the boy should have caused his dog's death. He doesn't deserve such a good companion.
April 1, 2016
This story is powerful & emotional. While some parts were almost too emotional for me, the story and underlying themes of this book are important and remarkable.
June 9, 2015
Bom, vamos começar este comentário com um pequena confissão: Eu estava fugindo da leitura de "A Mais Pura Verdade". Deliberadamente. Quando a Nine e a Mah me chamaram para fazer a leitura em grupo dele, eu enrolei - e enrolei mais um pouco - e deixei passar. Eu olhava para ele na minha pilha de livros para ler e... Bem, pensava "hoje não". Pois, sim, eu sou um covarde. Mas venhamos e convenhamos - olhem para a sinopse do livro! Um menino de 12 anos, DOENTE, que foge de casa para subir uma montanha... Eu sentia que aquilo iria me destroçar. Até que, na segunda feira passada, o mundo desabou em forma de chuva. E a tarde estava tão escura quanto a noite. Então, foi quando eu pensei "Why not?!". E finalmente tomei coragem para pegá-lo.
.
Mas sabem o que é mais engraçado nisto tudo? Eu estava preparado para não gostar do livro. Pois, assim como vi muitas críticas bastante entusiastas, eu também vi opiniões ferrenhas e bastante coerentes. Mas... Por incrível que pareça, eu gostei. DE VERDADE. E mesmo, sim, concordando com alguns pontos levantados nas resenhas negativas (pois, acreditem, este não é um livro perfeito), eu olhei por um outro lado também... Para ser mais exato, o lado de um menino sem esperança. Como o fato do Mark já ter desistido de tudo, cansado da sua vida ser ditada pela doença. Sim, eu me coloquei nesta ideia. No fato do egoísmo dele falar mais alto. É claro, tinham vezes que queria dar um pescotapa nele, mas outras eu pensava no quão cansado ele estava daquilo tudo.
.
Talvez, o que tenha me conquistado tanto tenha sido a narrativa do Dan Gemenhart. Com capítulos curtos, divididos entre o ponto de vista em primeira pessoa do Mark e o ponto de vista em terceira pessoa da Jess (a melhor amiga do garoto, que fica em casa e vê o desespero dos pais deles ao verem que seu filho fugiu sem deixar qualquer recado), logo eu fui completamente tragado pela história. E não existe enrolação, nem mesmo paternalismo, por parte do autor - mesmo o livro podendo ser classificado como infanto juvenil. Mas... para mim, todo o politicamente incorreto da situação realmente fez toda a diferença. Tanto que, eu só abandonei a leitura algumas horas depois - quando eu cheguei na última página.
.
Não vou ser melindroso: Chorei em vários pontos do livro. Já pelo começo, em uma cena que demonstra toda a desesperança que Mark está sentindo com relação à vida, algumas lágrimas já brotaram em meus olhos. Mas, mesmo assim, não senti que Dan Gemenhart foi apelativo no fator emoção. O que me tocava eram pequenos detalhes. Coisas não ditas. Mensagens implícitas. E esta foi uma constante do início ao fim do romance.
.
Enfim, "A Mais Pura Verdade" foi - para mim - o exemplo máximo da expressão "menos é mais". Com um romance de estreia curto, que se comunica com um leitor de 11 anos até o leitor de 81, o autor escolheu um caminho bastante simples para o seu pequeno herói - mas que foi extremamente emocionante. Quando fechei o livro (com lágrimas nos olhos, é claro) não havia dúvidas de que ele era um 5 Estrelas. Não apenas isto: não havia dúvidas de que ele era um Bookcrush. E, mesmo com medo, e não esperando nada, o livro calmamente seguiu o rio e me deixou de joelhos. E, como diria o pequeno Mark: Esta é a mais pura verdade.
.
Mas sabem o que é mais engraçado nisto tudo? Eu estava preparado para não gostar do livro. Pois, assim como vi muitas críticas bastante entusiastas, eu também vi opiniões ferrenhas e bastante coerentes. Mas... Por incrível que pareça, eu gostei. DE VERDADE. E mesmo, sim, concordando com alguns pontos levantados nas resenhas negativas (pois, acreditem, este não é um livro perfeito), eu olhei por um outro lado também... Para ser mais exato, o lado de um menino sem esperança. Como o fato do Mark já ter desistido de tudo, cansado da sua vida ser ditada pela doença. Sim, eu me coloquei nesta ideia. No fato do egoísmo dele falar mais alto. É claro, tinham vezes que queria dar um pescotapa nele, mas outras eu pensava no quão cansado ele estava daquilo tudo.
.
Talvez, o que tenha me conquistado tanto tenha sido a narrativa do Dan Gemenhart. Com capítulos curtos, divididos entre o ponto de vista em primeira pessoa do Mark e o ponto de vista em terceira pessoa da Jess (a melhor amiga do garoto, que fica em casa e vê o desespero dos pais deles ao verem que seu filho fugiu sem deixar qualquer recado), logo eu fui completamente tragado pela história. E não existe enrolação, nem mesmo paternalismo, por parte do autor - mesmo o livro podendo ser classificado como infanto juvenil. Mas... para mim, todo o politicamente incorreto da situação realmente fez toda a diferença. Tanto que, eu só abandonei a leitura algumas horas depois - quando eu cheguei na última página.
.
Não vou ser melindroso: Chorei em vários pontos do livro. Já pelo começo, em uma cena que demonstra toda a desesperança que Mark está sentindo com relação à vida, algumas lágrimas já brotaram em meus olhos. Mas, mesmo assim, não senti que Dan Gemenhart foi apelativo no fator emoção. O que me tocava eram pequenos detalhes. Coisas não ditas. Mensagens implícitas. E esta foi uma constante do início ao fim do romance.
.
Enfim, "A Mais Pura Verdade" foi - para mim - o exemplo máximo da expressão "menos é mais". Com um romance de estreia curto, que se comunica com um leitor de 11 anos até o leitor de 81, o autor escolheu um caminho bastante simples para o seu pequeno herói - mas que foi extremamente emocionante. Quando fechei o livro (com lágrimas nos olhos, é claro) não havia dúvidas de que ele era um 5 Estrelas. Não apenas isto: não havia dúvidas de que ele era um Bookcrush. E, mesmo com medo, e não esperando nada, o livro calmamente seguiu o rio e me deixou de joelhos. E, como diria o pequeno Mark: Esta é a mais pura verdade.
July 22, 2016
The Honest Truth was one of those Scholastic Book Club books that managed to make its way from the box into kids' hands without me ever getting to read it. My students would read it, wipe away their tears, and tell me I HAD to read it! I brought it home this summer so I could finally do just that, but I ended up reading Some Kind of Courage first for our staff book club. I loved that one so much, I knew the time had come to read The Honest Truth. Now I know why my students loved it so much. Like Some Kind of Courage, Gemeinhart created a wonderful protagonist full of goodness and heart. Mark may be a little more flawed than Joseph in that he began a journey that could be considered selfish. However, his character developed so wonderfully and Mark learned what he needed to learn. I also thought Jessie was an amazing character, and her decisions were so heart-wrenching. And Wesley may be my favorite minor character of all time. SPOILER ALERT: Thank God the dog lived. I don't know if I could have taken it if he hadn't.
October 23, 2016
Hay libros que acabas con una mezcla de sentimientos. De esos que son duros, pero a la vez llenos de esperanza. De los que te hacen pensar y reflexionar sobre lo que realmente importa en la vida.
La pura verdad es uno de ellos. Una historia sobre el viaje que emprende un niño de 10 años con su fiel perro, en el que acabará enfrentándose a sus mayores miedos.
Mark sólo quiere hacer algo por sí mismo sin ayuda de nadie: subir a lo alto del monte Rainer.
Lógicamente, no es algo a lo que sus padres vayan a acceder de buen grado, así que después de idear un concienzudo plan, coge sus cosas y se va.
Durante el trayecto no serán pocos los problemas y obstáculos con los que se encontrará, pero también conocerá a buenas personas que le echarán un cable para ayudarle a conseguir llegar a su meta.
Reseña completa: http://beingsaray.blogspot.com.es/201...
La pura verdad es uno de ellos. Una historia sobre el viaje que emprende un niño de 10 años con su fiel perro, en el que acabará enfrentándose a sus mayores miedos.
Mark sólo quiere hacer algo por sí mismo sin ayuda de nadie: subir a lo alto del monte Rainer.
Lógicamente, no es algo a lo que sus padres vayan a acceder de buen grado, así que después de idear un concienzudo plan, coge sus cosas y se va.
Durante el trayecto no serán pocos los problemas y obstáculos con los que se encontrará, pero también conocerá a buenas personas que le echarán un cable para ayudarle a conseguir llegar a su meta.
Reseña completa: http://beingsaray.blogspot.com.es/201...
March 27, 2015
This book has such a strong hook. And you really feel for Mark--the stuff he is going through is completely unfair. So he takes a road trip of self-discovery with his trusty dog, scaring his family and best friend out of their minds. Maybe that's the part that caused me to not like this book as much as I expected--while Mark was going through such a horrible situation, it made me mad that he put his loved ones through such anguish when they had only done everything they could for him. On the other hand, it seems pretty realistic that a kid his age would do that.
This story was interesting and painful. It raises some great questions. But I kept thinking, when is this kid gonna eat enough to sustain this sort of activity? And later, how on earth is he going to climb a freakin' mountain when he hasn't had a decent meal in days and he's so sick? Clearly, I am very fixated on food.
This story was interesting and painful. It raises some great questions. But I kept thinking, when is this kid gonna eat enough to sustain this sort of activity? And later, how on earth is he going to climb a freakin' mountain when he hasn't had a decent meal in days and he's so sick? Clearly, I am very fixated on food.
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