Sometimes We Tell the Truth
Author: Kim Zarins
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: September 6, 2016
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Author: Kim Zarins
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: September 6, 2016
Synopsis from Goodreads:
In this contemporary retelling of The Canterbury Tales, a group of teens on a bus ride to Washington, DC, each tell a story—some fantastical, some realistic, some downright scandalous—in pursuit of the ultimate prize: a perfect score.
Jeff boards the bus for the Civics class trip to Washington, DC, with a few things on his mind:
-Six hours trapped with his classmates sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.
-He somehow ended up sitting next to his ex-best friend, who he hasn’t spoken to in years.
-He still feels guilty for the major part he played in pranking his teacher, and the trip’s chaperone, Mr. Bailey.
-And his best friend Cannon, never one to be trusted and banned from the trip, has something “big” planned for DC.
But Mr. Bailey has an idea to keep everyone in line: each person on the bus is going to have the chance to tell a story. It can be fact or fiction, realistic or fantastical, dark or funny or sad. It doesn’t matter. Each person gets a story, and whoever tells the best one will get an automatic A in the class.
But in the middle of all the storytelling, with secrets and confessions coming out, Jeff only has one thing on his mind—can he live up to the super successful story published in the school newspaper weeks ago that convinced everyone that he was someone smart, someone special, and someone with something to say.
In her debut novel, Kim Zarins breathes new life into Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales in a fresh and contemporary retelling that explores the dark realities of high school, and the subtle moments that bring us all together.
Jeff boards the bus for the Civics class trip to Washington, DC, with a few things on his mind:
-Six hours trapped with his classmates sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.
-He somehow ended up sitting next to his ex-best friend, who he hasn’t spoken to in years.
-He still feels guilty for the major part he played in pranking his teacher, and the trip’s chaperone, Mr. Bailey.
-And his best friend Cannon, never one to be trusted and banned from the trip, has something “big” planned for DC.
But Mr. Bailey has an idea to keep everyone in line: each person on the bus is going to have the chance to tell a story. It can be fact or fiction, realistic or fantastical, dark or funny or sad. It doesn’t matter. Each person gets a story, and whoever tells the best one will get an automatic A in the class.
But in the middle of all the storytelling, with secrets and confessions coming out, Jeff only has one thing on his mind—can he live up to the super successful story published in the school newspaper weeks ago that convinced everyone that he was someone smart, someone special, and someone with something to say.
In her debut novel, Kim Zarins breathes new life into Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales in a fresh and contemporary retelling that explores the dark realities of high school, and the subtle moments that bring us all together.
Why I'm excited:
There are a handful of books that you either adore or despise when you major in English. The Canterbury Tales is definitely one of those books. I happen to adore it. I was overjoyed when I got to teach it to my seniors during my student teaching semester (Oh how I wish there was a way to teach it to 6th graders, but the material is just way too esoteric...and risqué). I'm so very excited for a YA contemporary re-telling. Please don't let me down, book.
There are a handful of books that you either adore or despise when you major in English. The Canterbury Tales is definitely one of those books. I happen to adore it. I was overjoyed when I got to teach it to my seniors during my student teaching semester (Oh how I wish there was a way to teach it to 6th graders, but the material is just way too esoteric...and risqué). I'm so very excited for a YA contemporary re-telling. Please don't let me down, book.
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How fun! A retelling of Canterbury Tales ...has this even been done before? Such a good idea! Thanks for putting this book on my radar.
ReplyDeleteI'm not familiar with the Canterbury Tales, but I love the sound of this book so I definitely want to check it out. :)
ReplyDeleteOh Canterbury Tales. It's been ages! I hope you'll enjoy this one.
ReplyDeleteThis is new to me but I love that cover and the sound of it! Great pick!
ReplyDeletemy WoW
This one sounds very good, and original. I'll have to keep an eye out for it!
ReplyDeleteI don't know the Canterbury tales, but the thought of everyone together in a bus with nowhere to run sounds amazingly good and with potential for much goodness! here's mine http://editingeverything.com/blog/2016/03/08/wow-borderline/
ReplyDelete