Reviews for The Color of Lies
Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
Life is already unusual for 17-year-old Ella, who sees her world through the lens of synesthesia everyone around her has an aura that reveals certain emotions and truths. At least, until the mysterious Alec shows up on the scene with an invisible aura and a disturbing revelation about her parents' deaths. Was there foul play? Were they murdered? Why has nobody ever told her the truth? As Ella, her friends Rory and Max, and Alec work against the clock to uncover the truth, Ella's whole support system becomes suspect her grandmother, uncle, godfather, and of course Alec and her life may even be at risk. With a combination of subtle clues for readers and unexpected twists, Lyons (Broken , 2013) weaves a thrilling tale of deception, murder, and heartbreak. More critical audiences may see Ella's synesthesia as a magical disability, giving her an advantage within the realm of the novel, rather than exploring the difficulties more likely to be associated with the condition. It is, nevertheless, an intriguing novel that will likely appeal to mystery-lovers.--Rob Bittner Copyright 2018 Booklist
School Library Journal
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Gr 8 Up-Eighteen-year-old Ella Cleary can tell when you're lying. She is able to see colors that let her know the true emotions of any person she is talking to. That is, until she meets Alec. He makes Ella feel normal for the first time in her life and she finds herself drawn to him. However, Alec reveals that he is a fledgling journalist who has sought her out to solve the mystery of her parent's deaths in a fire 15 years earlier. Ella has always been told that their deaths were an accident. The only way for the protagonist to learn the truth is to find the killer. This is a well-constructed mystery and a quick read, taking place over the span of just a couple of days, with plenty of twists and turns to keep even the most distracted reader engaged. Where the story really shines, however, is in the development of its protagonists. The narrative is told from Ella's and Alec's alternating viewpoints. All the characters are fully developed. The chapters where Alec and his dad discuss Alec's actions, and potential consequences, play as genuine and honest conversations between a pragmatic father and his almost-but-not-quite-grown son. Even the members of Ella's ubiquitous best-friend Scooby Doo gang, which could have easily become derivative, are well-defined and multidimensional. This book will quickly take its place alongside Lyon's previous, well-crafted YA novels. VERDICT A tight and engaging mystery with well-defined characters make this excellent choice for libraries serving teens.-Erik Knapp, Davis Library, Plano, TX © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
