The Best Liars in Riverview

by Lin Thompson (Author)

The Best Liars in Riverview
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

In the woods of a small Kentucky town, Aubrey sets off on a journey about growing up, self-discovery, and acceptance while searching for their missing best friend--perfect for fans of King and the Dragonflies and Three Times Lucky.

Aubrey and Joel are like two tomato vines that grew along the same crooked fence--weird, yet the same kind of weird. But lately, even their shared weirdness seems weird. Then Joel disappears. Vanishes. Poof. The whole town is looking for him, and Aubrey was the last person to see Joel. Aubrey can't say much, but since lies of omission are still lies, here's what they know for sure:

For the last two weeks of the school year, when sixth grade became too much, Aubrey and Joel have been building a raft in the woods.

The raft was supposed to be just another part of their running away game.

The raft is gone now, too.

Aubrey doesn't know where Joel is, but they might know how to find him. As Aubrey, their friend Mari, and sister Teagan search along the river, Aubrey has to fess up to who they really are, all the things they never said, and the word that bully Rudy Thomas used that set all this into motion.

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Hardcover
$16.99

ALA/Booklist

Starred Review
Thompson's debut is a heartfelt coming-of-age journey that explores identity, friendship, and learning to accept who you are, even if you don't quite understand it yet.

Kirkus

A gentle and genuine coming-out story.

Review quotes

The Best Liars in Riverview is a lyrically told tale about friendship, found family, belonging and hope. Thompson has crafted a gorgeous debut that will fill an important place on LGBTQ+ shelves, and Aubrey is a character that will stay with me for a long time.

Nicole Melleby, author of Hurricane Season

A beautifully written, nuanced exploration of identity, The Best Liars in Riverview is heartbreaking at times in the truths it reveals about growing up and feeling different in a rural community. It also offers so much comfort and hope. Thompson's debut is a lyrical, wonderfully queer story that will forever hold a special place in my heart.

 A. J. Sass, author of Ana on the Edge and Ellen Outside the Lines

Lin Thompson
Lin Thompson (they/them) grew up playing pretend games in the backyard and basement of their home in Kentucky. Now they get to write pretend stories in the backyard and basement of their home in Iowa, where they live with their wife and cat. Lin is the author of The Best Liars in Riverview and is a Lambda Literary Fellow of 2018.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780316276726
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date
March 20, 2022
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV039230 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Bullying
JUV039130 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Runaways
JUV060000 - Juvenile Fiction | LGBT
Library of Congress categories
Identity
Bullying
Runaways
Gender identity
Homosexuality
Forests and forestry

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