Books For Keeps
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Articles
  • Past Issues
  • Latest Issue
  • Authors and Artists
  • Latest News
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
March 5, 2015/in Fiction 10-14 Middle/Secondary /by Angie Hill
BfK Rating:
BfK 211 March 2015
Reviewer: Margaret Pemberton
ISBN: 978-1910002131
Price: £6.99
Publisher: Chicken House
Genre: Fiction
Age Range: 10-14 Middle/Secondary
Length: 240pp
Buy the Book

The Honest Truth

Author: Dan Gemeinhart

This is the story of an ordinary boy, aged 12, called Mark – except that he has been living with cancer since the age of five and this time the doctors are less optimistic about his treatment. So Mark decides that he is going to have one great adventure, something that he has wanted to do for a very long time. He sets off with his dog Beau in an attempt to climb Mount Rainier, without telling anyone where he is going; in fact he even lays a false trail for his family.  This is about the problems that he encounters, the fears of his parents and the real conflict that his best friend Jessie feels when she guesses where he has gone.

This is a truly inspiring story about overcoming almost insurmountable odds and about how we react to people with terminal illnesses. The story is told from two perspectives: that of Mark, and then of Jessie. Despite the seriousness of the subject we are still aware that these are only children and they have all the self-confidence of youth as well as an understanding that they can’t always succeed.

Over the last few years we have had a huge number of books which deal with young people and death and I was wary about reading yet another. However I really empathised with Mark; here is a young person who does not want to be defined by his illness but wants to be seen as a person still capable of achieving something. Quite rightly his parents had been protective but they had also given him a sense of adventure and determination. The story is sensitively written and you constantly will Mark to overcome the obstacles that he faces. It is a wonderful story for ages 10+ and will be a welcome addition to school libraries as well as general reading.

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png 0 0 Angie Hill http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png Angie Hill2015-03-05 15:01:252021-08-14 15:08:14The Honest Truth

Search for a specific review

Author Search

Search







Generic filters




Filter by Member Types


Book Author

Download BfK Issue Bfk 272 May 2025
Skip to an Issue:

About Us

Launched in 1980, we’ve reviewed hundreds of new children’s books each year and published articles on every aspect of writing for children.

Read More

Follow Us

Latest News

Margaret McDonald and her editors Alice Swan and Ama Badu win the 2025 Branford Boase Award

July 9, 2025

‘The magic of poetry by heart’ Champions of the 2025 National Poetry Speaking Competition Announced

July 8, 2025
IBC

New National Year of Reading launching January 2026

July 8, 2025

Contact Us

Books for Keeps,
30 Winton Avenue,
London,
N11 2AT

Telephone: 0780 789 3369

ISSN: 0143-909X (this is our International Standard Serial Number).

© Copyright 2025 - Books For Keeps | Proudly Built by Lemongrass Media - Web Design Buckinghamshire
The Astounding Broccoli Boy Would the Real Stanley Carrot Please Stand Up?
Scroll to top