This was overall a good and entertaining read for YA readers. It was a bit slow in the beginning but picked up in the second half. I do think that the chapters from Heinz's point of view wasn't necessary and made the story drag a little.

The mixed media format with the newspaper extracts was excellent. It blended into the story brilliantly and added a lot of context/plot.

Gloria and Timor's relationship was adorable - really great dialogue between the two and you could really see their friendship grow. Myld was a very entertaining and surprising villain.

The book handles some really serious and important topics in an accessible way which makes it perfect for secondary school children.

In the fictional land of Afalia, the river is rising and the capital city of Praesto is in danger of flooding. Faced with death and destruction, and somewhat light on big ideas, the country's leader - the Suprema - jumps a train and flees the city, leaving her maid, her dog and her husband to work things out for themselves.

The Suprema's husband persuades Gloria, the maid, to impersonate his wife until she returns. Around them, the city is falling apart and the people are being lied to. In a desperate attempt to keep the city from flooding, the workers at the city's most important factories - one makes spoons, another makes knives, and so on - have been locked in and forced to pump out the rising waters to protect the production equipment. Dogs and other pets are rounded up, children are sent away, politicians lie to the people and come up with devious plots to bomb local towns to protect their city.

As an allegory for our recent lockdown conditions, it's a fascinating attempt to show how power corrupts and how easy it is to lie to people in the middle of a major disaster. As a way of showing how people will vote for anything if they think it's going to protect them no matter the cost to others, it's intriguing.

As a side plot, we have a dog in search of his boy and his family and a small cast of other animals behaving generally much better than the people do.

I enjoy a bit of Young Adult reading every now and then and this fits firmly in that category. I'm not sure I loved it, especially as it seemed a bit repetitive and overly long in places, but I did enjoy it. I couldn't really warm to any of the characters - with the exception of the dogs - but I enjoyed the situation that the author created and the various political power plays. I also laughed at the concept of a city that only made cutlery and still thought it was enormously important to keep on doing it - spoons before people, knives ahead of society, forks against the law.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my copy.

Floods are decimating the land of Afalia. Madam Suprema, the decision maker has disappeared leaving Gloria, a teenager, forced to imitate her and lead the country through dangerous times. Will Gloria lead in true Madame Suprema style, or will the information she learns mean Gloria needs to take a different path? A quirky story punctuated with newspaper headlines, anagrams and the thoughts of some very important dogs...

Gloria, a simple maid, finds herself impersonating Madame Suprema, the head of state during a major flood. Gloria and Timor, the suprema’s husband do not know where she is and panic when decisions need to be made over the state of emergency. Gloria tries to do her best for “her” people but she soon finds out that politics is both hard and corrupt.

This is not the usual sort of book I would pick up but I was really rather gripped by the whole story. I thoroughly enjoyed it, the world that was created and the story telling was so well done.

I was not sure what to expect from this book, but by the end I really enjoyed it.

Gloria is maid to the Head of State Madam Suprema, but when a flood comes which threatens the county Madam Suprema runs away and Gloria finds herself pretending to be her.

All areas of the country are affected but most of the action takes place in the main city.

The Supreme Lie looks at how people look at others that they see as different from them and how people of power can feed the fear.

A the end you are asking questioning what you know about what you hear and read and what the truth actually is.

The rain will not stop. Floodwaters are rising. Closing the gates to protect the capital city of Afalia will cut its citizens off from families in the country abandoning them to their fate. There are hard decisions to be made but Afalia’s Head of State Madame Suprema hurriedly takes the last train out of the city and vanishes. To cover for her, her husband pushes a naive 15 year old housemaid into her place, disguised behind Madame’s trademark veil and red lipstick. Gloria can’t see why people don’t do the obviously right things and discovers that as the Suprema she can make them happen. A duel narrative follows Heinz, a dog from up-river as he searches for his lost family. Through him we see the destruction and death. Heinz knows what he needs to do but things are harder for Gloria and the Suprema’s husband Timor and the more they find out about what is really happening the harder their choices become.

I loved kind hearted straightforward Gloria and it was a pleasure to see Timor come out from the shadow of his abusive wife and reclaim his own life and opinions.

Geraldine McCaughrean is a double Carnegie Medal winner for a good reason – the vivid similes, metaphors and thought provoking lines bring her fantasy country to convincing life. The twists and turns of the plot will keep you reading, eager to see what will happen next. I’m still annoyed with myself that I failed to spot a clue hidden in plain sight.

An eco-thriller, a fantasy and a fable for our times. It’s a reminder that when someone throws a dead cat on the table you should look for what they are hoping you won’t see. That newspapers are not there just to tell us facts. That we should ask awkward questions about who is behind the scenes and what they want. Natural disasters are nobody’s fault but how you respond and what you do is what really matters.

For young people of 12+ ( a natural disaster does mean some death and destruction) and this would be a great choice for a reading group discussion.

Fifteen-year-old Gloria is maid to Afalia's tyrannical Head of State, Madame Suprema. When the country is hit by unprecedented flooding, Madame Suprema runs away, fearing she will be blamed for the crisis. To cover up this cowardly act, Gloria is made to step into Madame Suprema's shoes and is thrust into a world of corrupt and desperate politicians. As Gloria becomes aware of the forces toying with her every move, she must make decisions that could save, or end, thousands of lives - including her own.

This is a brilliant piece of writing and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was hard to put the book down as at the end of every chapter I was left wondering what was going to happen next. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

A very original story that highlights the dangers of climate change, political corruption and fake news.

An adventure story of a fictional land, a flood, a fantastic dog, and some villainous , and some heroic characters. Totally and utterly bonkers, with some real page turning writing.

As always from Geraldine McCaughrean, this is an absolutely fantastic adventure. Set in a fictional country facing a disastrous flood, this is a story about power and corruption and the manipulation of the press to suit the needs of those in power, yet at the very heart it is a story about ordinary people (and dogs) becoming unlikely heroes.

I read this in one sitting and cannot wait to stock it in the school library - this is one to fly off the shelves

It took me a little while to get into this, but I love this author and soon found myself loving this book. She has a quirky style all of her own and I loved the way she builds her world and the people in it. I can see it being a brilliant film.

Madame Suprema, the head of Afalia runs away when the land is in danger of flooding, to avoid the consequences. To cover up her disappearance, Gloria her 15 year old maid takes her place, a feat accomplished since the leader hasn't shown her face in years, hiding behind a veil.

I adore fish out of water situations. Not only does Gloria have to impersonate someone else, but she has the fate of her country in her hands and shady politics to deal with. The antithesis of her small town roots with the powerful woman she must portray is depicted quite well. The evolution of the character and her eyes opening to 'how the world really works' is done quite well too. Her 'simple' questions spark your pondering of societal issues and how life should be.

The narrative is quirky and noir and at the same time with inventive flourishes like pages from the Afalian newspaper between chapters and the thoughts of dogs! Peppered with poignant descriptions and quite imaginative figurative speech for example, "she could feel herself shrinking as spinach does from cooking".

I began wishing the book would concentrate more on Gloria acting as Suprema and less on other stuff. The dog thing dragged a little in the 1st half of the book, even though it was an original way to see what was really happening in the rest of the country.

Commenting on the situation of there being haves and have-nots and the glaring differences between them. The 'powerful" and the 'powerless'. How we wield power says a lot about our character, what kind of people we are. How a crisis can bring out the best or the worst in people. How resilient people can be.

Shocking and twisty, this is a seemingly simple but actually multilayered examination of human nature and how dark it and politics can be, but still full of hopeful messages that people can and want to make a difference.

The country of Afalia has been hit by relentless rain leading to dangerous flooding. Gloria is a 15 year old maid to Madame Suprema, the secretive and dictatorial ruler of Afalia; she lives in the capital city Praesto and her only real friends are Daisy the dog, and Higgy, who works in a factory. When Madame Suprema runs away from the crisis, her husband world-weary husband Timor has to cover up her disappearance – and asks Gloria to pretend to be Madame Suprema. Much hilarity is the result, but with dark undercurrents of corruption, desperation, and most of all lies – which are supported and encouraged by the newspaper ‘The Voice’.

Meanwhile in the countryside, Heinz is a dog trying to find his Boy Clem, who has been flooded out of his home and is heading south as a refugee. In his search for his Boy, he travels with a dumb dog named MyCar, a pack of feral dogs and a horse. Heinz is desperate to avoid ‘Hound Death’ who because of the flooding is busy collecting souls of humans and animals.

These two narratives eventually weave together in this imaginative and highly original book. Gloria is a worthy heroine struggling to make the right decisions in her new position of power; her relationship with prickly Timor is comic gold but also complex. Heinz is everything a dog should be and more.

This is a thrilling adventure story with plenty of twists and turns, but it also has depth and breadth with an underlying social and political commentary on greed, corruption, manipulation, exploitation and mobs --- and also courage and the willingness to stand up for what is right and true.

I am a huge fan of Geraldine McCaughrean’s writing (Stop the Train is my family’s all-time favourite shared book – we listened to it as a family 12 years ago and it still regularly comes up in conversation). Her vivid imagery and clever use of unusual details creates unforgettable characters, and the understated and matter-of-fact narration of devastating events only increases the emotional punch they carry.

As I reached the last few pages of the book, I felt myself tearing up because the journey Geraldine McCaughrean was taking me on was coming to an end. The Supreme Lie is truly an extraordinary book which I will be recommending to students from Year 7 up – and to anyone else who enjoys a great read.

This cover had me clicking request quickly! The title is intriguing and begged reading.
Diving in, the book was a slow start, introducing the characters and fictional land known as Afalia. The Supreme Leader wears a veil to cover her face so no one knows what she looks like. She comes across as selfish and cruel. The land is in danger from the constant rain and other towns and cities are flooding and wanting help from Afalia. Determined to escape, she boards a train.

Left behind are her husband and maid Gloria. These two will need to work together, conspire and lie to ensure the safety of Afalia and its people.

The Supreme Lie comes in the form of a secret kept from everyone!

The unique and beautifully written tale is brilliant for older readers- full of drama, political intrigue, adventure and corruption, this is one to dive into. It kept me reading late into the night as I couldn't put it down. At times I was shocked, surprised, horrified and sad. At others I laughed, felt a happy ending was in sight and hopeful.

A brilliant book for Yr 6 and above- I wouldn't give it to anyone younger- there are some tricky scenes to navigate.

Fantastic book!

McCaughrean writes across the spectrum, for children, teens, young adults and those of us who no longer belong in this category; it's one of the many reasons I admire her as a seasoned and skilled writer. "The Supreme Lie" fits comfortably somewhere within the YA bracket. In terms of genre, however, I'm at a loss. Drama, certainly, with splashes of fantasy, dystopia, political intrigue and adventure. It feels art deco in period but simultaneously very modern. I've found this with McCaughrean in the past - she frequently straddles genres and styles with impressive grace.

In essence, the country's leader 'does a bunk' when unprecedented floods bring chaos to a region. To hide the leader's cowardice, her husband hatches a plot to pretend the leader is still present by dressing up the 15 year old maid, Gloria. As you can imagine, the situation gets pretty fraught. It's quite Shakespearean - think Twelfth Night" or "Measure for Measure."

Having read other reviews - after finishing the book - I can see some readers have criticised McCaughrean for being a little bizarre or far-fetched. First, the bizarre is a characteristic I always enjoy in McCaughrean's work. In "The Supreme Lie," we are often treated to the perspective of Heinz, a loyal dog. His adventure, trials and worries during the flood are expressed through his internal monologue. It's beautiful - not bizarre - to see canine loyalty given so much page. In terms of being far-fetched... pffft. I'd argue that having watched the last American administration coupled with having experienced the handling of 2020-2021 (stares hard at 10 Downing Street). McCaughrean has sculptured a plausible political landscape. Scheming public servants, environmental crisis, mass media scare-mongering, biased news reporting, power grabbiness and dis/mis-information: what's far-fetched about that?!

Overall, it's funny and dark. Often, for young people such as Gloria, the solutions to real world issues appear simple. McCaughrean illuminates that this isn't the case but that decisions made with a strong moral compass will always be preferable to those steered by corruption.

The Supreme Lie is a ripping adventure story that feels almost too real and not always in a good way. Set in a corrupt city, Gloria is the maid of the city's leader Madame Suprema, a natural disaster has led to the river flooding the surrounding farmland and it is against this event that the characters are set. Who will put their own needs above their neighbours, will the rich support those who are left with nothing and how will those outside and inside the city walls survive? Gloria is thrust into a world of policy and deception, but her underlying desire is to help the poorest people from the farmlands and the city. Setting out to support the poorest citizens, she means well but often ends up making the situation worse. With the water rising, hard decisions are made and their lives will change forever.

The writing in this was absolutely bonkers. Seriously, I've heard people rave about this author but until I'd read The Supreme Lie, I thought they were exaggerating. Spoiler alert, they weren*t.
I loved how this was mostly a story about dichotomies - friends and foes, truths and lies, and yet it was not afraid to walk the line between these topics.
The pacing was a bit off in the beginning but really got going toward the end and this will for sure not be my last novel by this author!

Thank you for the advance copy of this book. Once again, Geraldine McCaughrean delivers a fantastic novel. Her writing has a unique voice and I found myself at times concentrating more on the wonderful narrative voice than on the story, that's certainly not to say the story wasn't groping, it was. But in any book by this author the way she writes is as wonderful as the actual story. I shall certainly be recommending this book to our readers.

An interesting premise but I found myself wanting more. When Madame Suprema fails to stop the continuous rain and realises that her time in power is running out, she makes the decision to run away, leaving Gloria her maid to become the Afalia's tyrannical Head of State. Gloria is balancing on a razor edge as she has to pretends to be the Madame, while also attempting to make life better for those around her. A fun read for those interested in middle grade and Ya.

This review is for an advanced copy. It is a bit divided, but I have to be honest:

I so wanted to like this book. The premise intrigues, and I'd heard great things about the author. But the first third somewhat disappoints. It drags on, most of the characters and their actions feel false or even ridiculous, and the writing jumps around so much at times that I had to reread several parts more than once to find what I had missed, but I was none the wiser. And yet, I had to know what happened.

I am pleased to say that the book gets better the further you read. Particularly in the last third, the pace really picks up; the characters become much more rounded and real; and you become completely invested in the outcome and whether the loose ends are neatly tied up. There are moments of pure poetry, the plot works and the important messages of the book are made clear. It really rescues itself here.

Torn feelings aside, this is a story about truth and lies, about friends and foes, and about natural disasters and who really benefits (or suffers) from human action. It is based in the 20th century, but has important implications for our own: namely, that the press and politicians can't always be trusted and that people are still people, no matter where they come from. It's poignant, relevant and in turns funny and disturbing. If you can get past that first third, it really is worth it. A good YA read.