Customer Reviews

Circle the Truth (Exceptional Reading & Language Arts Titles for Upper Grades)

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Circle the Truth was so compelling that I stayed up the half the night I bought it just to finish it. The stairs will draw any reader in immediately. Schmatz creates the reader's dilemma of the perfect story -- the desperation for the resolution and simultaneous desire to read about the characters' lives forever. I'm in my thirties, but teenage Rith's search for identity and his complicated relationships with his family resonated with me anyway. Toby and Rith's friendship reminded me of the good parts of being an eighth grader, and I wanted Toby's parents to be real so I could have dinner with them too. As a former eighth grade teacher, I have read many young adult books, and I can say with confidence that Pat Schmatz is a master storyteller.

What a concept! Circle the Truth, a fabulous and compelling story, flows seamlessly between terrestrial and heightened realities. What is truth? Whose truth is the truest? What do religion and spirituality have to do with each other? Feeling different and out of place in his blended family, Rith navigates an uncharted landscape and pulls the reader along with him every step of the way. This beautifully written and powerful, heartfelt novel takes the reader into a blizzard where reality is questioned and far, far beyond.

Pat Schmatz is an author I discovered this year, and immediately she became one of my favorites. In under a week I read three of her four available books. She writes powerful stories that delve deeply into the questions of who we are and finding our place in the world. This book is about learning who you are. It part about learning to be, and to be good at being, no matter what life has thrown at you.

Rith is a young boy coming of age. He lives with his mother, his step father and his step sister who adores him. But strange things are happening to Rith. When he awakes one night and goes to the top of the stairs, he finds that the normal staircase has been replaced by a spiral staircase. This new staircase leads to a living room that is not his own. He is led to these stairs and to this room by a strange cat that again is not his own and yet seems to belong to him or at least has a plan for him. The cat leads him down the spiral stairs to a bizarre old man in an armchair sitting in front of a fire. This old man only speaks in quotes from the Bible. No matter what Rith asks or how much he persists, the Bible man only speaks in verses. Yet His words ring with truth to Rith and soon he starts looking up the verses and reading more. Rith shares this story with his new friend, Toby and soon Toby's father. As Rith circles the truth and tries to figure out what is going on he starts fighting more with his step father, causing tension with his mother. And soon even his little sister seems to be in danger. Can Rith figure out the cryptic quotes from Bible man? Can he find his place in his family and his world?

This was an amazing story. I find myself thinking about it often and know that I will reread it soon. This book will make you think. It was well worth reading and I give it the highest recommendation I can.