Three things I know are true about THREE THINGS I KNOW ARE TRUE by Betty Culley, 1) it is written in verse, 2) it is about love and loss, and 3) it made me cry.
Liv's older brother's survival has been deemed a miracle. Clay warned him when he picked up the gun that it could be loaded, but Jonah still pressed it against his temple and pulled the trigger. Now he is being fed through a tube and cared for day and night by visiting nurses. He makes sounds that Liv has learned to interpret in a way that helps her comfort him when no one else can. She's about to turn sixteen and he'll be turning eighteen. Life will never be the same again.
Life is now about going through the motions. Liv goes to school but doesn't accomplish much so she may be repeating her sophomore year. Her mom goes to work at Tractor Barn, but her paycheck isn't going to be enough to pay for Jonah's care and keep a roof over their heads. Their small town in Maine is filled with people willing to drop off casseroles while at the same time criticize the lawsuit Liv's mom has filed in an attempt to pay Jonah's medical bills.
One bright spot for Liv is her continued friendship with Clay. Even though it was his father's gun that created the tragedy, they still meet along the river and find ways to carry on. As a way to honor Jonah, they play the "three things I know are true" game. It helps them each express the things that are too difficult to directly communicate in life's new version.
Author Betty Culley gives Liv a clear and direct voice that speaks to the stark reality that she is experiencing in daily life. Giving comfort and finding comfort aren't easy when what's familiar is crumbling around her. Readers won't regret the time spent reading this one.
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