THE TRUTH ABOUT EVERYTHING

A young woman being raised by parents who are anti-government survivalists faces difficult decisions.

Lark’s father’s conspiracy theories and mistrust of the government have informed all of the limited home-school education she has received. As an undernourished 15-year-old, she struggles with reading comprehension, and she has no knowledge of basic facts of biology: When she begins her period, she is terrified it means she’s miscarrying (like her mother did with many pregnancies) though she’s never had sex. Set in rural Montana, this thoughtful novel sees Lark grapple with realistic fear and confusion as she secretly enrolls at a nearby Christian school and begins to learn that some of her father’s teachings—like 9/11’s being an inside job—are not true. She’s further horrified when she learns from her friend Alex Marshall that the Montana Freemen, a group her father has described to her as heroes, were in fact racists. The precarious path that stretches out before thoughtful, curious Lark is vividly described and will easily evoke readers’ sympathies. She recognizes that her parents love her but have neglected her education and health, and she wants more for herself. As her relationship with patient, kind Alex deepens into a romance, she also finds needed support. Lark and her family read as White; Alex is described as being part Native American, but there is no mention of his specific tribal affiliation.

An engrossing, poignant tale of a difficult journey.