I apologize that I did not submit this review sooner. I read the book, but did not feel like it would be a good addition to the library. While it is engaging and well written, I didn't get the sense that it would be a good fit for my students. Thank you for allowing me to screen it!

Honestly, this was disturbing. I am the first person to enjoy a good conspiracy theory, but this book took it too far. I hate how Muslims were portrayed in Truthers, as all being radical Islamic terrorists. That's toxic, and doing a huge disservice to both the religion and the people who practice peacefully. Teens do NOT need to be taught that Muslims as a whole are like this, and while the book does not specifically say this, it implies it. I hate how the victims of 9/11 were portrayed. Rather than making the story about mental illness, the author perpetuates the conspiracy theories in a way that feels irreverent and heartless to those still living who were impacted personally by 9/11. It's way too soon to make entertainment out of retelling a terrorist attack that devastated our country. Fictional Holocaust stories are told with more reverence than this book. It could have been done well. This was irresponsible.

Current high school students were either too young or not yet born when 9/11 happened. They are learning the event as history, and fiction is one way that we can reach them and help them connect with the human element of such an impactful event. Because we are living in a society where conspiracy theories abound, it is important to question their founding and impacts. Excerpts from this book would be a great foundation for exploring such a difficult, but important, topic. This book covers the young adult perspective of 9/11 from a post-9/11 generational perspective, which is a rare find when searching for appropriate texts to engage teens today.

If you like conspiracy stories--read this, if you don't--skip it.

An interesting collection of conspiracy stories revolving around the 9/11 terror attack that really make you think and questions everything.

Hey I liked the little mystery for teens. A daughters love, a fathers mental illness and just what all did happen back on the nightmare of 9-11. It is well written and will make kids THINK! I thought it was a huge step UP from the Dahlmer clone story line in Project Cain. Keep at it

TRUTHERS by Geoffrey Girard has been chosen as THE MARVELOUS DARETOPIAN BOOK OF THE MONTH for the month of February 2018 by The Marvelous Site (which only celebrates all things marvelous). The review below is a reviewaka based on an ancient Japanese poetry form.

Truthers (YA)
by Geoffrey Girard
c2017

dad’s unraveling
forces her to verify
muddied, muddled facts

thought-provoking mystery
takes nothing at face value

MM

A convincingly authentic lens on conspiracy theory --- expect Middle School readers to whole-heartedly buy-in.

"The vastness of the internet allows people - no matter what their views - to crawl into the world's smallest teapot of those exact same views. Visiting only the websites and people that agree completely with your take, everyone spouting the same stuff."

I really don't know what to make of this book. I picked it up because the premise was interesting, but halfway through it felt like it was pro-conspiracy theorist. Then the second half had logic and it felt like the conspiracy-part was going to be proven wrong but the ending was (spoiler alert!) sort of conspiracy theory-ish, although the conspiracy was (SPOILER ALERT) not about 911.

Let me start from the beginning. Katie's father is taken away after he made threats about Dick Cheney. When she goes to visit him in a mental hospital, he reveals the 'truth' that she is actually the lone survivor of 9/11, and that 9/11 was perpetuated by the American government so it could go to war. In order to prove that her father is sane (because apparently if she can prove that sane people can be truthers it means her father is sane), Katie starts to investigate his claims. And probably because it would make the book very short to just investigate and dismiss the claims, the reader is immediately informed that there is, in fact, a shadowy group of people following her, which lends credence to her father's claims.

I suppose that the good thing about the book is that it really goes into the conspiracy theorist culture. Katie falls for it (despite what she says by the time that the book hits the halfway mark, it's clear that she either believes it or she's very close to believing in it) and it shows that the internet age hasn't reduced information. If anything, it's spread it.

That said, it felt like the book was pro-conspiracy theorist/truther for most of the book. In fact, I deeply considered stopping the book because it didn't feel unbiased (I know that the author tried to be objective but at that point I just wasn't feeling it). If Max (the guy that helps Katie out - obviously you know where this is going) didn't start speaking up and countering all her 'facts' with logic, I probably would have just stopped reading.

Max, by the way, is my favourite character. He and Katie are the only two that felt real to me (I know she has friends but they didn't make much of an impression) and his level-headedness was what saved the book for me. It's a pity that his relationship with Katie was extremely predictable, although on the bright side, it wasn't insta-love.

On a completely random note, Max also speaks one line of really awkward Chinese. Luckily, they never claimed that he was fluent but just seeing it made me pause for a second.

As for the ending, I found it a little confusing. I think I've gotten it, but I was really confused at first. Which, come to think of it, probably mirrors what Katie felt. All in all, this is a confusing book to rate. I obviously liked it enough that I finished it (and I find that I'm giving up on books more easily nowadays - perhaps I'm finally becoming more ruthless/protective of my reading time?) but it did give me a lot of sighing and 'why on earth are you buying into that' moments while I was reading it.

Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.

I tried to get into this one but just couldn't get very far. It moved slowly and I couldn't relate to the characters.

When Katie's drug addict father is put into a mental institute after ranting about 9/11 conspiracies, threatening Vice President Dick Cheney and beating up a co-worker, Katie begins to research the 9/11 conspiracies in order to help get her father out of the mental institute. She is aided by a 17 year old boy genius who she meets at the law library where she is doing research. The more she learns about the Truthers, the conspiracy theorists, the more plausible some of their theories sound. Katie, however, is in danger and is not sure who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. I found it interesting that the book ties the belief in conspiracy theories in with PTSD. The story is captivating and intriguing.

Found this book really hard to get into...but I will still purchase it for my library because I want more books about 9/11 as we are getting students now who weren't even born yet when it occurred.

I consider myself rational. I'm skeptical of stuff online but inclined to believe major news media. Do I think we know the whole truth about 9/11? No. But neither do I believe the conspiracy theories. I knew getting into this book that it wouldn't be a comfortable read, but I also believe there is value in reading things that make us uncomfortable, that push the boundaries of our beliefs.
This is a story filled with twists, turns and intrigue. Some of those twists were excellent, others felt a little more forced. Approaching this from the perspective of a teen reader, this is not likely to be as uncomfortable a read. Instead it serves as a reminder of two truths: reality is subjective (so don't judge) and question the official report on everything. Pay attention and be discerning. Just because someone in charge said it doesn't make it truth. It's an important book, just don't expect to relax while reading it.

Well, I can honestly say this wasn't as bad as I was expecting it to be. A YA novel with 9/11 conspiracy theories at its heart is perhaps the least appealing concept I've come across in my years of reading this stuff, and I really don't like dragons, so consider that for a moment. That said, I didn't hate Truthers and I can even admit experiencing a certain perverse thrill while reading it, akin to reading a Wikipedia entry on the lunar landing being a hoax. It's almost taboo to dip your toe in these waters as a rational human being. At the end of the day, I think there's probably an audience for this book but it would have to be a pretty sophisticated teen who can separate Girard's bullshit from a relatively entertaining story that features a surprising bit of romance in addition to some thrills dabbled on top of all the inside job talk. There are attempts at balance, but I get the sense Girard's writing from a point of view. Given the limited appeal and the fact that it's really not even that good, it's definitely special, but it's not the total trash it could have been.

Truthers was definitely a surprise and I really enjoyed reading it. It's the first book I read by author Geoffrey Girard and it sure won't be the last. GREAT READ

My Review: 4.5/5

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started to read this book. All I knew going in was it was about the travesty of 9/11 and a possible cover-up. This book took me by surprise…a great surprise!

I am going to start of by saying I am a proud American. I’m a born and raised citizen, who has the utmost confidence in the country and those who run it. I proudly wave the American Flag and the 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays.

This book is about Katie, who tries to untangle the babble from her dad who has just been confined to a mental institution. He mutters ‘they killed them all’. She soon learns he is referring to 9/11 and starts her own investigation of the real truth that occurred on that day. Her research leads her to one conspiracy theory to the next. Was the government behind it? Were certain Americans aware the tragedy was going to happen?

I have to admit, I never looked into or have even ever heard of any conspiracies around 9/11. Call me naive, but I believe it is the evil work of terrorists. This book left me speechless and questioning. It is very thought-provoking. The author did an excellent job bringing light to a taboo subject in the telling of a fiction story. I applaud him for challenging my way of thinking. Great book, and one I recommend…especially if you want to be challenged.

***Thank you to the author and publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

The concept for this book is what drew me to it. I was curious about what theory Katie's father had about the true events of 9/11. After reading to the half way mark it was evident that this book was written more for the younger juvenile audience. Not that there is anything wrong with this. This just means for the older audience, like me, this book may not be appreciated. The theories being thrown around were unbelievable. Also, the intensity levels seemed to be muted for the younger crowd. Had these factors been improved on for all reading audiences, this might have been a pretty good book.

Good story about conspiracy theories and the dangers they can create. Some of the "research" she does is a bit far-fetched. Some of it is predictable (no details - not going to give spoilers here). But it's entertaining enough and there were enjoyable moments. I will purchase it for our library and suggest it to those I know will love it.

It was a very different and strange book, like nothing i've read before.

The nitty-gritty: A fun, fast-paced thriller about the conspiracy theories behind 9/11, this contemporary YA will give teens (and adults!) plenty to think about.

I don’t usually read YA thrillers, but when Geoffrey Girard asks you to read his book, you do! I have to admit I don’t know much about conspiracy theories—although my sixteen year old daughter tells me about plenty (I think it might be a teenager thing…)—but it sure was a blast reading about them, especially since Girard’s latest focuses on the conspiracy theories behind the events of 9/11. Truthers is definitely slanted toward the YA crowd—there’s some burgeoning romance and plenty of teen slang—but I can honestly say that it had some unexpected layers, and I ended up learning a lot. Add in some pulse-pounding action and you have a great mix.

Katie Wallace’s father has just been committed to Ventworth Hospital, after attacking a coworker. Coupled with his PTSD from his time in the military and his rantings about conspiracy theories, Scott Wallace is being heavily sedated and the administrators won’t let Katie see him. When she finally gets a few minutes to talk to him, though, he barely makes any sense, repeating over and over the cryptic words “They killed all of them.” Katie is taken into foster care, since she’s underage, but even this drastic life change won’t deter her from trying to help her father and discover the mystery behind his puzzling words.

A man from Veterans Affairs named Paul Cobb begins questioning Katie, trying to find out if her father has told her anything, and through these conversations Katie starts to realize that her father once worked for a company that may have had something to do with a 9/11 cover up. As she pieces together the confusing ramblings of her father and the suspicious actions of Paul Cobb, Katie begins to wonder if her dad might be telling the truth. Were hundreds of people who knew too much killed in order to hide the truth of what really happened that fateful day? How was her father involved? And even more unsettling, how does Katie herself fit into the picture? Her father mentioned something about a woman handing a baby to him in order to save her, and Katie suspects she might have been that child.

Before she knows it, Katie is knee-deep in conspiracy theories and trying to find a lawyer who will agree to help her father get out of Ventworth. Along with a young law student named Max, her best friend Gianna and even her new foster siblings, Katie doggedly looks for answers, stepping out of her comfort zone in order to discover the truth. But someone is watching her every move, someone who doesn’t want to leave any loose ends.

I personally have never paid much attention to conspiracy theories, and although I’ve heard the odd thing here or there about 9/11, I was never interested enough to read up on them. But it turns out there is a whole group of people who think that enough proof exists to present alternate stories of what might have actually happened, and I found it interesting that the title is based on a real group of people called “truthers” who literally spend their lives searching for the truth. Whether you believe it or not, it’s fascinating to read about, and Girard keeps a level head as he’s telling his story by presenting both sides and giving them equal page time. If you’re hoping for concrete answers by the end of the book, well I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. Nothing is really resolved, although the characters do learn plenty. The author also drops tantalizing hints about other conspiracies throughout our country’s history that seriously made me want to do some Googling to learn more!

I loved Katie as a character, she’s curious, loyal to her father, and determined to get to the bottom of what really happened during 9/11. She also dives headlong into dangerous situations, which made her character a bit less believable, but it certainly made for a fun story. While Katie is open-minded and prone to believe conspiracy theories in general, her friend Max is the opposite. He has a hard time believing that the U.S. government could ever lie to its people, especially when it comes to 9/11. Max jumps in and agrees to help Katie with her research, but he’s there mostly for moral support. He’s not buying the proclamations spouted by conspiracy nuts, and I liked that he balanced Katie out with his levelheaded attitude.

The other thing I really enjoyed was the fact that Katie has to stay with a foster family while her father is in Ventworth. I honestly can’t remember ever reading a story that dealt with foster care, and while it certainly isn’t the focus of this story, it felt very real and honest. While Katie isn’t thrilled with the rules and curfews her foster parents set for her, it worked much better than if she had just been able to stay at home by herself. Plus she becomes good friends with one of her foster sisters!

A couple of things didn’t work as well for me, but overall I consider them minor. As Katie is delving into the 9/11 conspiracies and trying to get her father released, we find out that someone seems to be watching her every move. Katie’s story is broken up by short scenes of “mystery” men talking about “stopping” Katie from finding out the truth, following her, and even using surveillance equipment to spy on her and Max. Although these scenes did add some suspense to the story, I found them a bit over-the-top for my taste. There is also something that happens to Katie’s cat that did not sit well with me. That whole scenario, although it did turn out better that I expected, just didn’t feel like it belonged in this story.

But despite those issues, Girard certainly knows how to pace his story. There’s plenty of excitement throughout, especially the last few chapters when everything comes to a head. Several things are resolved, but the bigger questions aren’t, leaving lots of room for readers to draw their own conclusions. I loved the way Girard was able to add serious themes like PTSD, mental illness, foster care and even drug use to a fast-paced story that never felt bogged down by those things. Truthers is both entertaining and educational, which for me is a winning combination.

Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.