THE SIZE OF THE TRUTH by Andrew Smith has been hanging out on my bookshelf for a while now. A few days ago, I pulled it off and decided it was high time I read it. Wow! What had I been waiting for? If you haven't read it, be sure to put it on your list ASAP. If you have read, let's talk!
Sam Abernathy is well-known in his small Texas town. When he was four years old, he fell down an abandoned well and was stuck there for days. It is a memory he has mainly because his story has been told repeatedly, but he isn't sure everything about it is true.
Now everyone knows Sam as the eleven-year-old sixth grader who was promoted to eighth grade the second week of school. Sam isn't sure which is worse - being stuck in a well or living through the hell of eighth grade PE with the likes of James Jenkins. According to the stories told, James Jenkins is the reason Sam fell in the well. Sam has always blamed James and now he is sure James is still out to get him.
When he isn't working at the family putt-putt golf course, attending meetings of the school science and math clubs, or survival camping with his father, Sam is worrying about how to live through eighth grade. His true love is cooking. It's not what his father has planned for his future, but Sam hopes to gather the courage to tell his father about his current fears and what he truly wants for the future.
All this seems like a lot to pile into a middle grade novel, but author Andrew Smith does it stupendously. With chapters alternating between past and present, he takes readers into the life of Sam Abernathy in a way that will stay with them long after they turn the last page. From the mind of an innocent four-year-old to the chaotic thoughts of an eleven-year-old wanting to find his truth, Smith proves his mastery of what it takes to create a fascinating tale. Don't let this one get lost on your bookshelf! It's one you don't want to miss!
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