All The Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry

Title: All The Truth That's In Me
Author: Julie Berry
Availablity In School Library: Yes
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Blurb: Judith can't speak. Ever since the horrifying trauma that left her best friend dead and Judith without her tongue, she's been a pariah in her close-knit community of Roswell Station; even her own mother won't look her in the eye. All Judith can do is silently pour out her thoughts and feelings to the love of her life, the boy who's owned her heart as long as she can remember - even if he doesn't know it - her childhood friend, Lucas. But when Roswell Station is attacked by enemies, long-buried secrets come to light - the cruel become kind - and Judith's world starts to shift on its axis. Before she knows it, Judith is forced to choose: continue to live in silence, or recover her voice, even if what she has to say might change her world and the lives around her, forever.


At one point in my miserable life I started wondering: are there even good books written in second person's perspective? Somehow, I was in doubt. Then All The Truth That's In Me stumbled upon my way and the answer is yes. Yes there are. There are beautiful books written in second person's perspective.

Like I said just a second ago, this book is in second person's perspective, and while I thought it might get annoying, I needn't to worry. It is confusibng a bit in the beginning but it quickly sets the mood of the book. The reader is a bystander that recognizes Judith's soltitude and longing, precisely because of the narration. This makes the book an unique read and no worse than the best of books witten in the standard point of view.

The very important thing in this book is Judith's journey to feeling comfortable in her own skin. We meet her as a scared and lonely girl that watches the love of her life from afar, believing that because of her disability she lost the life she dreamt of. She gets out of everyone's way, doing whatever they ask of her, thinking that the least she can do is please them. But over the course of the book she tries to overcome that blockage of hers, she's discouraged on several occassions but she keeps moving forward. You steadily see her blooming, until at the end she has the courage and determination to stand up for herself and fight for what she believes. It's a journey I loved to experience.

While I think the big answer to the mystery was quite predictable, the little events that happen on the way to it are surprising. It's quite scary how easily people are ready to use and blame others that are in a way "weaker" and less able to defend themselves, than they do.

All The Truth That's In Me is an exceptionally original read, with a love story to die for. It's an enchanting journey of growing into yourself, and overcoming people and things that try to limit you. With a creepy, yet nostalgic atmosphere, it made me feel the cold of the winter time the book was set in, sending my skin crawling on several occasions. A favourite