I'll be honest, for the first like 30% of this book I was not having a good time, for one very specific reason; I could not get past the fact that the book was seemingly ignoring the laws of interrogation and youth justice for the sake of plot. I have a criminal justice degree, so I'd like to think I have a pretty good idea of what's legal in an interrogation.

and then I remembered (about a third of the way through) that my degree is for CANADIAN criminal justice and perhaps America is not the same. So I googled it. Turns out you can interrogate a 16 year old without a legal guardian present??? After that point I spent the rest of the book absolutely horrified as I learned about the way youth justice works in America. Obviously it's not all 100% accurate, but it prompted me to research things and find out answers about how terrifying the American judicial system actually is.

As for the actual content of the book, I thought this was a very strong story. I'm not sure what I would classify it as genre wise- it had some mystery, some thriller, some contemporary. What I think it comes down to is that this is a book about six people and the way their lives change because of things they can't control. You learn about each of them, you watch them change and grow and make hard decisions. I think the character work in this book is really excellent for the most part. I think Qays in particular felt like more of a vessel for the story than a real character, but the rest of them really came through. Especially Abdullahi and Samia.

The two main problems I had with this book were
1. Favreau. She was SO cartoon villain vibes. It was honestly ridiculous. I think this book could've been so much stronger without her and her very genuinely evil intentions. The DA, the other lawyers, the police, everyone is kind of cowering to the billion dollar company and the way that the American justice system already works. This absolutely could've just been a story about the fact that even people who mean well or want to do good can and do get caught up in a corrupt system. I felt like her evilness really lessened the impact of the rest of the story. Seriously, she should've been twirling her moustache and tying a damsel to train tracks
2. I was SO SO confused for the first probably 40%. A lot of the writing in this (especially at the beginning) made no sense to me. For example, chapter 4. I had to read the chapter 4 times and I'm still not sure what happened. There were also some things I'd like to have more concrete answers on. Actually, really one thing: WAS MUZDHA A GHOST OR NOT??? We get her POV after the fourth and so many of the interactions feel real with her, so I'm inclined to believe she was an actual ghost and actually there, but also the story seems to come to the conclusion that she's not there??? Someone please tell me what was up with her.

Overall I think this is a really powerful and strong story about very pressing topics. (especially the way Qays is treated because he's Palestinian). It was engaging, heartbreaking, and taught me some very concerning things about youth justice in America.

Expected Publication Date: March 12, 2024

A Fourth of July bonfire party ends with an explosion and 6 muslin teens behind bars. A person is dead, a few others injured and the six stand accused of terrorism. The six teens are essentially strangers yet each of them carry their own secrets.

Each teen claims innocence however the police continue to question them over and over again. Will they turn against one another? In response to the six being accused of this heinous crime protests erupt making this political case all that much more true to real life.

Six Truths and a Life starts off with a bang and then slowly starts to go flat. I found myself skimming page and only slowing down to read passages that caught my attention. I almost DNF'd this book several times put pushed through as the story and message behind it was important and something that continues to happen.


* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Six Truths and a Lie by Ream Shukairy was a compelling an realistic story that was unputdownable from start to finish.
This was a really engaging, thought-provoking read—the characters were all well written and interesting, and the plot unraveled at a good pace, Shukairy did a good job holding the reader’s suspense. There are some hard topics that this books deal with but they were really sensitive and nuanced. It’s a unique and really well-written addition to YA suspense shelves.

Thank You NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

THOUGHTS

The biggest downside to this book, I think, is just how hyperbolic the villains end up feeling. Because otherwise, it's a really, really strong book. It's scary to read, because it feels too real in a lot of ways. It's the kind of story that we need to tell and tell again.


PROS
Chaotic: Watching this Fourth of July party get broken up by pure chaos was incredible. Because in a lot of ways, it did feel like watching it, like catching a news clip filmed on somebody's phone: jagged, uneven, and inexplicable. Fire, explosions, sand, and tangling wire: it's hard to tell what's happening in the moment, and it's absolutely terrifying. Because you know in a scene like this, you probably wouldn't not survive.

Fake News: There's something so remarkable about an author being able to write a newspaper clipping that sounds at once so realistic and, at the same time, makes you want to curse somebody out. I harp on a lot of authors who include newspaper clippings in their storytelling because these news clips don't feel right. They don't feel like they've been written in the correct style, because the conventions of journalism and creative writing are so different. Ream Shukairy really nails the tone of a journalist, however, and also nails the rhetoric--the rhetoric you see repeated again and again that isn't right, isn't true, and yet is so harmfully pervasive.

Horrifying Dehumanization: I kept wanting to say, "They're just kids! What are you doing?" But they're teenagers, too, and they're POC. They're Muslim in a country that hasn't recovered from 9/11--a country that is still happy to see brown faces as terrorist faces. So I wanted to not believe this could happen, and yet as horrifying as some of these scenes are, they feel... shockingly possible. Anyone who has spent anytime digging through a controversial comment section on social media could believe it. These kids might be minors, but that doesn't mean much when people are so willing to overlook it.


CONS
Hyperbolically Bad: As I said above, the one major drawback of this book is just how hyperbolic the ultimate "bad guys" end up being. Because this book is very much a cut-and-dry sort of realistic fiction piece, this hyperbole just doesn't mesh. The addition of Favreau and her unscrupulous motives just felt a tad too much--a bit too conspiracy in a book that doesn't need it.

Surprisingly Small: With how hyperbolic the ultimate villains are, however, the actual "conspiracy" at play here... is surprisingly small. I won't spoil anything, but let me tell you, all the build up just left me asking, "What, that's it?" at the end. Which is never a good thing, is it?

Nobody's Listening: Look, I get it. This is kind of the point. These kids have been accused, and nobody seems to be on their side--at least nobody they can talk to. It makes sense that their respective attorneys would want them to put themselves first. It's a tricky case. Any time you've got "terrorism" thrown in the mix, the judge and jury won't be taking the accusations lightly. But these attorneys--all of them--felt disinclined to listen to their clients, and that doesn't ring quite true. Wouldn't at least one of them want to know all the facts and have everything at their disposal? Why would they shut down questions, inquiries, and insights from the clients they're trying to have acquitted?


Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
7/10
Fans of Brittney Morris's The Jump will like the insidious twists and turns of these behind-the-scenes powers-that-be. Those who enjoyed Sheba Karim's The Marvelous Mirza Girls will like this new group of diverse Muslim teens trying to make their lives make sense.

DNF @23%

I might revisit this at some point, but honestly the amount of characters makes me dizzy. I really think 6 POV characters is too much for me and my ADHD. I couldn't focus on what was going on because I was always trying to figure out who's who. Also every one of them mentions very ominous how many secrets they have and honestly it got on my nerves, because yes is a mistery you all have secrets and there are twists and stuff, but you really don't have to remind me at the end of every chapter.

I have a lot of good things to say about this outspoken and thoughtful novel. The characters and the situations all felt very plausible. The extent to which the "plot" was determined felt pushed, but I can see how an agenda might be formed with this as the result. I also enjoyed the sometimes complicatedness of the six kids themselves. Being young, they rely on artificial constructs to give themselves a sense of untouchability. This might be a good wake up call for some readers! But I did feel for the kids trying to balance so many things and deal with their families and the situation they somehow found themselves in. I will admit that at parts it felt a little bogged down and not sure where to go, but then it picked back up. I was sideswiped by one of the twists and had to go back to see if I missed something. I didn't! That kept me turning the pages until the end.

Thank you to the author and publisher for a gifted copy of Six Truths and a Lie! Where do I even begin? If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be *necessary* in the age we are living in. America is still in the throes of Islamophobia and prejudices, and Shukairy’s book is truly an eye-opener.

I was very impressed by the author’s ability to create such distinct voices among her characters. All of these characters are multi-dimensional, and that is a stark reminder that people are truly unique individuals, regardless of race/ethnicity/religious affiliation. As the mother of a tween, I so appreciate authors like Ream Shukairy who take the time to educate young readers on culture and acceptance.

Don’t walk — run to get this book!

Finishing this book you need to take a deep breath! Oh my god. My heart was in throat for so much of this.
Intense, kind of confusing but overall such an important read.

6 Muslim teens are accused of terrorism-blowing up an oil rig. Using many POV to examine the US justice system and the ethics of those who uphold the systems.

This may be one of the most intensely powerful YA books I have read in a while. Using as many characters and POV as they did really created a well rounded story even if it was a little confusing at first figuring out who everyone was and what was true. Things not quite adding up and then as it unfolds the confusion is replaced by so many emotions.

Another top read for me this year.

Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for an eARC.

Thank you @tbrbeyondtours & @ream_shu for the chance to read this book and share my Top 6 Reasons to Read!
Book Info:
Six Truths and a Lie by Ream Shukairy
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Publishing Date: March 14, 2024
Six Muslim-American teenagers living their lives with hopes, dreams, family, and fears.
Six teens’ lives come to a halt when they are arrested by the LAPD while celebrating the Fourth of July holiday.
Six teenagers unfairly learn the hard way that they are judged by their skin color and religious beliefs.
Six innocent arrests that spark an outrage.
Six lives that will never be the same.
One bold and powerful story that will leave a lasting impact.
5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Will be posted on 3/27 on scheduled book tour date.

An explosion at an oil rig caused six Muslim teens to be suspected as terrorists.

This should be a required reading for high schoolers. It shows how bias and discrimination exist within even the highest of authorities, as well as the media. The entire story was an outrage and I loved that we saw it through Muslim teen’s perspectives. There was a twist that I was not expecting, that made the story even more powerful and heartbreaking.

“What would our lives have looked like if I hadn’t run that night?”

Six Truths and a Lie comes out 3/12.

Six Truths and a Lie
Written By Ream Shukairy
Published By Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date March 12, 2024


“Six Muslim teens are falsely accused of a deadly attack in this timely and harrowing examination of America’s justice system, perfect for fans of Angie Thomas and Samira Ahmed”


Ok, when I read the blurb for this book, I had no idea at the time that this book was for YA readers. This book had a mature subject matter and so I thought that I would read it. I am so glad that I did. This was certainly an edge of your seat nail biting novel by an author that did an amazing job of keeping the reader entertained. The chapters were a perfect length and flowed perfectly with each other.

Six people all muslim are out on the Fourth of July enjoying a bonfire on the beach. Each with their own backstories and future plans never expecting what is about to happen to them. Then there was a huge explosion off the coast of California on an oil rig……….by the end of the night all six are being arrested on terrorism charges . But why….. because they are Muslim? This is told by alternating protagonists and the more that is told, the more we learn about what happened. Unfortunately, it brought Islamophobia to the forefront of the story and made me mad, then sad, and back to mad again. My emotions were all over the place to the point that I needed to stop reading for awhile. If you have a strong backbone then you should have no trouble with this book. The problem is that what is inside is also on the outside. It happens more than we are aware. These teenagers had to fight for their freedom. What ended up happening to them? Were they able to ensure that their names were cleared? Certainly a book that everyone needs to read. America is supposed to be a place of freedom and a great justice system where if you are innocent…….you will be found innocent.

5 stars

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgallet for giving me a copy to read in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

I loved the central plotline of this book and how it discussed Islamophobia, the prison industry, grief and racism within the police. The characterisation was stellar, as were the twists. However, I just didn’t love it as much as I wanted to.

When I say this is one of the best books I have read in my life, know that it is not said lightly or with exaggeration. The way this story had me a choke hold was insane.

I smiled, I laughed, I held my breath, I got mad, big mad, I cried. And then at 85% I had to take a break and just breath and reflect because thoughts of the Panter 21 and the Central Park 5 were racing through my mind, and I had to process.

This was beautifully written, the author takes us through the events leading up to an explosion that is deemed domestic terrorism and the arrest, incarceration, trail, and aftermath of 6 teens who were attending their respective Muslin Student Association event and targeted as scapegoats for a massive coverup.

If you read this and at any point, think that this is unbelievable then you truly are living in a bubble and are not aware of the corruption in our legal system and the ability to buy a cover up. Let's not forget major corporations have gotten away with poisoning entire towns.

It was a privilege to read this story and I hope that once it releases that it catches the eyes and hears of Hollywood because an adaptation be it a series or movie would be impactful.

This is a complex and complicated story of six Muslim teens who are pulled into a police station after being falsely accused of a deadly attack.

The six are diverse and have big backstories and even bigger future plans. The entire story will break your heart but this might be one of the most important books you read this year!

For me it was harrowing and thrilling but a little hard to keep track of the massive group of characters. I do recommend it to anyone interested in Muslim voices - you will learn a lot!
#littlebrown #reamshukalry #sixtruthsandalie

This is my first book by Shukairy, but it definitely won’t be my last. Six Truths and a Lie is about six Muslim teens from various backgrounds and circumstances who are falsely accused of a terrorist attack in their community on the 4th of July. The police and federal authorities are doing everything they can to connect the dots between these six mostly strangers in order to shift the blame from who was REALLY responsible and honestly it was infuriating to watch. I loved the six different POVs, but Abdullahi, Qays and Samia were the ones I really connected to. The action starts right away, but once we’re in the aftermath, the pacing does slow down quite a bit, but I think it worked because we really got to know the kids and feel their fear, frustration and sometimes hope. I thought this was a really well written story that is sure to spark a lot of emotions while reading.
CW: islamophobia, terror attack, death, mentions of animal death and animal attack, deportation, incarceration

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly I feel like this book could have been done much better. It didn’t really get super clear and good until about 80% through the book.

This book was hard to read at times. The subject matter is heavy and scarily realistic. It was also difficult for me to keep the characters straight at first. I had to keep flipping backwards to make sure I knew exactly who I was reading about.

Everything became clear eventually though and I definitely thought this was worth reading. I feel like I may have to reread it someday to make sure I picked up on everything. There is a twist that actually made me pause and wonder how I'd missed something so big.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this. I am rating it higher because the subject matter is very important but unfortunately, it was very hard to keep track of all the characters and the jumping around.

It’s the Fourth of July, and the Muslim Student Associations from several Southern California high schools are gathering for a beach bonfire. Samia, Abdullahi, Nasreen, Qays, Muzhda, and Zamzam come from wildly different backgrounds and life experiences, and most of them don’t even know each other, but by the end of the night, they’re being arrested on terrorism charges after an oil rig explodes off the coast, followed by the nearby pier.

Told in alternating chapters from the six teenagers’ perspectives, the novel follows their journey through the legal system as they fight against the prosecutor’s story about how they conspired to set off the explosion, a story based on thin, purely circumstantial, evidence but believed because they are Muslim.

The novel kept us flipping back to re-read as new pieces of information came to light—it’s pretty clear that the six teens are innocent (and who the guilty party is), but there are moments where the teens’ secrets make us question their innocence . . . and a twist that made us wonder if we missed something.

Shukairy tells a good story, and we were invested in what happened to the six teenagers. But the novel is also troubling: as much as we wanted to say it was wildly implausible, the stuff of compelling fiction, it also rang a little too true at moments, and we were sad to admit that something like this could, in fact, happen in a country that often plays fast and loose with its ideals of freedom and justice.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are our own.

*Review will be posted at https://threeheads.works/ on February 26.

This was a powerful and interesting book. The characters seemed to be well developed and I really felt for them. They were truly in a horrible situation. Some of the events in this book seem like they could happen in real life which makes the book even more important.

I got this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.