How did I get the book? From Blogger Event

Genre: Dystopian

Previously reviewed: Red Ink

Synopsis: A startling coming-of-age novel set in a contemporary Nazi England.

Jessika Keller is a good girl: she obeys her father, does her best to impress Herr Fisher at the Bund Deutscher Mädel meetings and is set to be a world champion ice skater. Her neighbour Clementine is not so submissive. Outspoken and radical, Clem is delectably dangerous and rebellious. And the regime has noticed. Jess cannot keep both her perfect life and her dearest friend. But which can she live without?

THE BIG LIE is a thought-provoking and beautifully told story that explores ideas of loyalty, sexuality, protest and belief.

200words (or less) review: Having enjoyed Julie Mayhew debut so much I was excited to read her next book. I don’t tend to read many books about WW2. However the behind The Big Lie is a fascinating one and hearing Julie talk about the book at the blogger event I attended make this book even more compelling.

I wanted to know where this story would go. What Jessika would do. What would happen to Clementine. As the ‘good’ girl Jessika feels comes across passive at the beginning of the book. It’s Clementine who is the revolutionary. If Jessika is really as naïve to what is happening as she makes out I don’t know. However self-preservation plays a big part in Jessika’s actions, as does faith in your parents and adults/people in authority. If you grow up being taught to believe all these things, challenging that is incredibly hard, especially if it’s going against your own family. That is very much at the heart of The Big Lie.

I don’t think I can’t describe The Big Lie as enjoyable; it’s not that kind of book. What it is, is a gripping read.

Recommend it?

Absolutely