Even though I did not read the first book The List (after I requested I found out this was the second book—oops), I think this was a good dystopian read. Since I merely read a basic summary of the first book, I can just assume that the first book focused more on the escape from Ark as this book focuses more on resolving the issues within Ark. Letta is the main character who teaches others, children and adults, words. Words that they have never known as they only knew 500 words known as "List". She is called the Wordsmith. Now the new ruler of Ark, Amelia, plans to wipe out all language. Letta decides it is time to act, and no longer sit and wait. She makes some irrational decisions (like many teens would) which lead her to some major problems. However, other freed rebels are there along the way to help. Readers will see how much strength and compassion Letta has to make the world a better place. Fighting evil is not an easy task, and wise decision making is a must. Lovers of dystopian fiction like The Giver, The Middler, Hunger Games, and Divergent will love this duology. Make sure you read the first book, The List, before reading this one though!

I wanted to love the sequel to The List, but I found it hard to read. I kept feeling as though I had missed key elements in the story and that perhaps there was another book in between The List and The Last Lie. For this reason, it was very hard to get into the book and become invested in the characters again. It was still a great story, but I didn't like that feeling of missing details. It would have been nice if perhaps more was explained or reviewed from the last book to this one. Overall it was still a good story, just not a great one. Thank you for the advanced copy!

I have read the other books in this series and I thought this was a perfect conclusion. Kids will love it!

Clarifying Editions and Order of the Series
This is Book 2 of the series that started with The List. This book has also been published under the titles The Last Word and Mother Tongue. The List was also published under title The Wordsmith.

Review Introduction
A solid follow-up to The List. We meet back up with our characters shortly after the high action ending of The List. You could read this without reading book 1 but the context and characters will have much more meaning if you begin with The List. As before the intriguing premise of having language rendered down to 500 English words remains. Although there is a lot less 'list speak' in this book, so if that bothered you in the first novel then you will likely enjoy the reprieve here. This is because our lead gal and her cohorts are now outside of Ark and looking for some sort of safety.

Romance
Those hoping for some sort of love triangle (or dreading it like I did) will be happy to know that the issue is resolved in this book. Succulently, although the actual drama of it all is down-played to the primary plot to take down the rules of Ark. Although the romance in the pages is short and sweet it's still quite sweet. Perfect for a younger young adult (easily good for a 12-13 year old); but the average older teen might be a bit disappointed.

Change
The Last Lie is really predicated around one idea or concept. That change is required. Interestingly Patricia Forde makes it clear that change can be really awful (civil war, climate change, etc.) but also that sometimes change is required in order to 'move forward'.
"Change is always possible. It happens with with or without us. I’d rather be the one making the change."
The quote above really resonated with me as it's relevant for almost any situation in any timeline or world. Change is inevitable and it will happen, whether we want it or not. I have often been someone to resist change myself. Generally I resist change out of fear. Given the year 2020 has been (written Nov 2020) the whole world has had to undergo a similar change to one another unlike any we've needed to adapt to in decades (at least in North America). Forde reminded me that it's always better to embrace the change, and (if possible) be a promoter or leader of said change. The reason? So you can be (or feel) in control of the change; instead of just reacting to it you can be pushing it.

Language
The intriguing premise of restricting language so that people cannot communicate continues in book 2. To the point that in one scene our lead gal makes a poor choice so she can save the words from pages of a dictionary. It's weird to think of a dictionary page being valuable given that currently I can know the definition of a word with a quick internet search.
Forde also does an excellent job of showing how important a single word can be. Imagine loosing words like: freedom, violence, human, spirit or soul, war, peace. Some of these words we might want to loose but others would create a void in being able to explain concepts to children. And this is where Forde will really impress upon you a question that is terrifying at it's core:
What happens if a child hears no language for years? Can they ever regain said language? Will they be dumber for it? Does it matter?

Overall
I really like this series because of it's clever use of language to create a dystopian world. The violence and romance is lesser here (making it suitable for younger children) than in other dystopian stories like Divergent or Hunger Games. And yet The List duology still has a lot to say about freedom and choice. As an avid reader and lover of any/all languages (I now get to code all day long for a job!) this story really draws me in. In Forde's world restricting words means that all grammar is removed and communication comes down to single words or short statements. Imagine explaining computers, physics, sex, love, or politics with a limited vocabulary; it would become impossible to teach complex concepts. Humans would loose much of their intelligence. The question that Forde tackles here is whether we, the human race, and the Earth would be better off if humans could say (and presumably do) less would it also result in less destruction?

While I received a free kindle copy of this book in exchange for a review, all opinions remain my own.

This is the conclusion to the "The List" by the same author. It is not as good as the first, but it is an amazing conclusion to the story. In a world where there are only 500 words, Letta is trying to save them and keep the world from becoming silent. The battle she has to forage is not an easy one but she finds that she isn't alone. Is that a good thing for her or not? Maybe it just makes it so she has more to loose.

Again, while I didn't think this was a good as the first, it was a compelling conclusion. It kept me going and I really did enjoy the story.

In a futuristic dystopia, Letta the wordsmith finds herself trying to navigate a world in upheaval. She finds herself at war with the leader of the Ark, who happens to be her aunt. Her aunt's henchmen are in constant pursuit of her, and she just wants to make sure the people don't lose their language.

This was my first P Forde book. I realized within the first few pages that there was a part one I missed out on. Thankfully the first several chapters hinted at enough that had previously occurred that I was able to be caught up. Thank goodness I did catch up. Forde's story was action packed and sucked me in right around the sixth chapter and I read the rest of the book in one sitting.

Forde's characters were well fleshed out and though they were numerous, I felt that they were easily distinguishable and made the plot easy to follow. I especially like how the author dealt with mankind's tendency to swing from one extreme to another. After the Melting, the ruling class of Ark treated its' citizens like children incapable of making educated decisions. Alluding to our current climate crisis makes this story seem timely and relevant.

I have some concerns about this one. First, I'm not sure about the audience. The vocabulary and general tone feel more middle grade. There's a straightforwardness to the narrative that skews young .But the themes - the pressures and responsibilities of leadership and romantic entanglements - feel more teen. And the whole thing is quite clearly a sequel. It does not stand on it's won, the plot repeatedly referencing the previous books' events and plot points that hinge on development from the first book. There isn't enough follow through on events, a bit too much randomness. While the conclusion is ultimately satisfying, the book on the whole is somewhat disappointing.

This was a good conclusion to "The List" and I enjoyed following up on the characters and having a satisfying conclusion to the story. With that said, I read the first book nearly two years ago and I didn't feel like there was enough clarification on who, why, what happened in book one to refresh my memory. If you're not reading the books back to back this book is confusing. All-in-all the duology is an interesting dystopian concept.

4.5 Stars

Going into The Last Lie, I was concerned that it had been too long since reading The List. The thing is about The List, though, is that it sticks with you. A quick glance at my previous review, and I was back in Forde’s world.

As a person who works with words professionally, The List was hugely impactful. And, as a parent, the idea of not speaking to my child at all is horrifying. I imagine the intended audience — ages 10-14 — will be equally as disturbed, especially because of current political and societal events. It’s what makes this duology ring true.

The Last Lie is a compelling read that moves at a compelling pace. The main characters — and most — supporting players are well fleshed out. Although there is one, who never feels fully realized. Obvious foretelling takes away from some of the drama, but some nice twists keep it fresh.

I read The Last Lie in less than 24 hours. And now that I’ve finished, I would like to reread both the books consecutively, because I’m sure I’ve missed some of the nuances. This is a strong duology that will appeal to a large cross-section of readers.

Even though I did not read the first book The List (after I requested I found out this was the second book—oops), I think this was an enticing dystopian read. Since I do not have any knowledge of the first book, I can just assume that the first book focused more on the escape from Ark as this book focuses more on resolving the issues within Ark. Letta is the main character who teaches others, children and adults, words. Words that they have never known as they only knew 500 words known as List. She is called the Wordsmith. She believes that humans should be free to express how they feel without repercussions. But, now the new ruler of Ark, Amelia, plans to wipe out all language. She has stolen people's babies and is holding them captive while captive nurses care for them, but have duct tape across their mouths so no language will ever be used in front of these babies. They will never learn. Letta decides it is time to act, and no longer sit and wait. She makes some irrational decisions which lead her to some major problems. However, other freed rebels are there along the way to help. Readers will see how much strength and compassion Letta has to make the world a better place. Fighting evil is not an easy task, and wise decision making is a must. Lovers of dystopian fiction like The Giver, The Middler, Hunger Games, and Divergent will love this duology. Make sure you read the first book, The List, before reading this one though!

Though I didn't think this title was as good as The List, it was interesting to see where the story went.

Having not read the first book – The List – I wasn’t sure that I should read this. However, I put my doubts aside and went for it! It made no difference, I got absorbed straight into the book and was whizzing through it, as I couldn’t wait to find out what was coming next.

The story is set in our post-apocalyptic world (global warming melted the ice caps) built around Letta who is the Wordsmith. She sees it as her mission to save all the words that are, and have ever been, used. The majority of the population only speak List (hence the first book) which is a language of only 500 words. Language is power and so without words people are powerless and therefore, the powerful remain dominant and tyrannical.

Based in and around the city of Ark, Letta spends her days secretly teaching words to the young children – words that they were never meant to know. One day, rumours emerge that babies are being kidnapped from their mothers. On discovering that these babies are being held in silence, the Creators set out to rescue them - if babies never hear a single word they will never learn to speak!

The book covers censorship and the freedom of speech, and how without this freedom you are unnoticed. Patricia Forde has an excellent writing style that intrigues the reader and builds so much emotion. I now need to read the first book to find out about what happened prior to ‘The Last Lie’ and ‘The Last Word’ the final book in the series, to discover what will become of Letta.

An excellent read for 9+.

I recently read The List, which is the predecessor to this book, with my teacher book group. Overall, we enjoyed that book, but most of us didn't love it. This sequel, however, I really enjoyed. It was much faster-paced than The List. The main characters were the same and this story picks up right where The List left off. Both of these factors made it easy to fall into right away. One of the things that frustrated me with The List was the fractured speech spoken by the people of Ark. I know it was necessary, but it still annoyed me. In this book, the majority of the text is written in the "old language" (i.e. modern English) so the story flowed much better for me. It's an action-packed, slightly futuristic and dystopian tale of good vs evil and what's best for society vs the desire for power and control. I would recommend it for chidren in grades 5 and up because there is a fair amount of violence in it. It's perfect for anyone who loves dystopian fiction. #thelastlie #NetGalley

This is the second in the duology that started with The List by Irish author Patricia Forde. The books have alternate titles in Ireland (The Wordsmith and The Mother Tongue). In these books The Melting has caused most of the world to flood. After the waters recede a little society is slowly reborn in a world that is much more difficult to inhabit. In a land that becomes known as Ark, the leaders decide that humans messed things up really badly with climate change. The answer for them is to simplify life so those mistakes are not repeated. So, they restrict language, art, and culture and create a society where obeying a totalitarian government is key. Letta worked for a Wordsmith in the first book, the person who gives out the language that each person is allowed to learn, on cards. Now, she fights against the ruling group and wants people's personal freedoms to return. Her companions tell her that the greatest mistake is to stop trying, and she feels that humans can be more careful with their words and actions to create a better life. Most of the book is Letta trying to persevere when she makes mistakes, when things seem hopeless in the struggle to bring down the oppressive ruling group. I enjoy the look at how our words and actions are important and need to be honest and true. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC to review.

First line: The ink was dark and slightly sticky.

Summary: This is the second book in a duology. It continues the story of Letta, once the wordsmith's apprentice now the wordsmith herself, as she continues to rebel against those who want to eliminate language. Children in Ark are only given a language of 500 words. As the wordsmith, it is her job to archive the words no longer used. Will the Creators overcome the leaders of the Ark?

My Thoughts: I read The List in 2018, so a bit of time has passed and I had to recall the storyline. I struggled to make some of the connections between the characters.

The character of Letta is the highlight of this book. The reader can really feel her struggle. She wants so badly to save everyone and return language to the people, but she doesn't see herself as the leader to do that.

My only complaint about this book is the vagueness of the dystopian twist of it. Global warming caused the Melting, but the author doesn't address why that caused language to be limited. And calling the community the Ark gives the book a biblical reference, but since there is no religion and no God, this seems a little off. Perhaps the author chose to do this since it's a juvenile fiction book, and not a young adult where she could delve more into topics such as religion and climate change.

FYI: My suggestion: read one book right after the other. Also...this book was published in Europe first under a different title, which was confusing when I was trying to figure out if it was a trilogy, stand alone, or duology.

The book is well-written, and I liked the concept of climate change being why the characters find themselves in this dystopian.
I think middle grade students will enjoy this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for a eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Last Lie by Patricia Forde was actually part of a series. I did not realize this until about halfway through. I was book talking with my students, virtually, and when I went to Goodreads, I noticed that there were books before this one! I felt so silly-this doesn't happen often! But, I did finish and did enjoy it. I think I enjoyed this the most because it was a science fiction/dystopian and there are just not enough of these books for middle grade readers! We have The Giver, The Maze Runner, Hunger Games, Divergent...and some others. But there need to be more! I will definitely look into this series to add to my classroom library. I know the kids would love it.

Patricia is an amazing writer. In The List we were sucked into the world of Ark and in The Last Lie she keeps the reader guessing to the end. The characters are ones you love, hate and have feelings in between. The imagery is fantastic and the story is hauntingly good.

I read The Last Lie. Now I have chills and I’ve teared up some.

But as you get older, it’s not easy to be brave. You think too much, imagine too much.

(Patricia Forde, The Last Lie)
Have any of you read The List? I read it a while back (in another time, when things were more complicated and yet much easier than now). I was captivated. People without language, people forced to only obey a small ruling class and never give voice to the inner self?

Horrifying things.

And yet, brilliant.

Also, it was… appropriate.

And the cover was gorgeous.

Anyways. That’s why, as I perused NetGalley, my eyes were caught by The Last Lie. I quickly realized it was the final installment in the duology. That’s the trendy artistic way to say, “the sequel.”

It did not disappoint.

The child in her wanted to go to Farlow and live in peace where everyone had an equal say, and people loved music and art and words of all colors.

(Patricia Forde, The Last Lie)
Plus, it was one of those where the title didn’t make sense until the very end of the book. That was great.

I love the whole concept of this. The importance of words, the importance of truth. Of course, this book wasn’t written from a Christian perspective, so their idea of truth isn’t Truth, though parts of it may be true. Truth is a complicated, dangerous subject matter.

I liked the characters pretty well. I liked the subject matter. It was well-written, and I found myself (my ADHD self, mind you) quite occupied.

I guess this is a review/recommendation. This is me saying, read this and remember the importance of freedom. This me saying, read this and choose your words wisely.

Also, that cover.

The Last Lie continues the story where Patricia Forde's first book in this duology, The List, left off. Letta now lives with The Creators, teaching hedge school (a secret school to ensure that young children learn more words than List) and working to secure freedom for Ark, now ruled by Noa's wife, Amelia. Amelia continues to shorten List and finds ever more brutal ways to control the people of Ark. When the safehouse is raided, Letta and Marlo flee to forest, where they meet another band of rebels and uncover a sinister plot to silence the people of Ark forever. Letta now faces another choice - flee to freedom or stand and fight for the community, and the words, she loves so much.

I loved both of these books, separately and together. Much of the world-building takes place in The List so I highly recommend starting there as the story arc and characters will make a lot more sense. Patricia Forde's writing style is gentle and beautiful, even while describing fights and kidnappings, which makes the book a great introduction to dystopian fiction for younger readers. Although The Last Lie was a bit slow to start, the action picks up quickly and continues right through to the end of the book (and I suspect that if I had read them back to back the start would not have seemed quite as slow). Letta is a wonderful young woman, full of spunk and indignation and I appreciate how Forde infuses her with a healthy dose of self-doubt, without her seeming annoying or whiny. The book's foundational ideas of climate-change, power and the importance of language are timely and provide many opportunities for rich discussion in the classroom and at home.

Thanks to @NetGalley for the The Last Lie ARC.

​Suitable for Gr 4 and up.