Truth is the absence of discord, and at this story's beginning, the word is not even in Delly's vocabulary. All she knows is bad, wrong, and trouble. However, with her younger brother's gentle help and Ferris's silent, cautious friendship, Delly begins to blossom with self-control and an awareness that she is quite capable of good, right, and helpfulness. Soon, truth is a haven; it cannot coexist with fear and confusion. A completely enveloping tale that carefully touches sensitive issues with gentle, hopeful resolution. A masterpiece. Best for Middle Grade readers.

True: Delly Pattison likes surpresents (presents that are a surprise). The day the Boyds come to town, Delly's sure a special surpresent is on its way. But lately, everything that she thinks will be good and fun turns into trouble. She's never needed a surpresent more than now.

True: Brud Kinney wants to play basketball like nothing anybody's ever seen. When the Boyds arrive, though, Brud meets someone who plays like nothing he's ever seen.

True: Ferris Boyd isn't like anyone Delly or Brud have ever met. Ferris is a real mysturiosity (an extremely curious mystery).

True: Katherine Hannigan's first novel since her acclaimed Ida B is a compelling look at the ways friendships and truths are discovered.

It's all true ( . . . sort of).