- Hardcover: 144 pages
- Publisher: Clarion Books; 1 edition (Feb 22 1999)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0395906970
- ISBN-13: 978-0395906972
- Product Dimensions: 20.7 x 14.5 x 1.7 cm
- Shipping Weight: 295 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,668,102 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Neither saint nor hero nor villain, Fat Marcel endures the WWII German occupation of his rural French village with boyish spirits. He and his older brothers are hungrier than usual and they don't especially like the Jewish woman and her daughter who are staying at their home, but they continue their pranks, especially their favorite game of trying to con one another into believing elaborate lies. Nothing is black-and-white: Maman has her prejudices ("The Jews... are different"), and Marcel has to use his skills at lying to cover up his friendship with a young German soldier, which he continues even after the family's Jewish guests disappear in a roundup. Maguire (Oasis) develops his characters and setting with such insight and vigor that readers will not see just how carefully he sets up the monumental surprise in store for MarcelAeven though there's clearly a lesson about heroism in the offing, the story gives few hints of where it will be found. A frame story, in which some Florida schoolgirls write to the now-grown Marcel as part of a homework assignment, gets the book off to a jangly, slang-filled start (and serves as a self-congratulatory conclusion), but it doesn't interfere with the otherwise robust narrative. Ages 9-up.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7-Three girls doing a school assignment on World War II write a letter to an artist they've seen on TV when they learn he grew up in the Loire Valley of France during the war. Marcel Delarue responds to their questions by telling his family's story, which is the basis of this novel. Marcel, his two brothers, and his mother lead ordinary rural lives, enlivened by the boys' favorite game-telling outrageous lies. The German occupation has only a minimal impact on them, at least at first. The major disruption for them is the arrival of their Uncle Anton and two of his friends. Madame Cauverian and her daughter are Jews who are trying to get out of the country, but are delayed by the girl's illness. While nothing overt has yet happened to France's Jewish population, the woman is convinced they are in danger. When a rabbi and his followers are rounded up, this fear is confirmed. Later, when Marcel and his brother Ren? are told that the guests have left, their mother makes a scene in the local market, storming at the soldiers about taking them away, when in reality she is hiding them. In the meantime, the boys have secretly befriended a German soldier. The lies mount up, until finally the best liar of all is revealed. The strength of this book is its portrayal of the quiet heroism of ordinary citizens during the war. It is, by turns, amusing and gripping, and told in an engaging manner.
Linda Greengrass, Bank Street College Library, New York City
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Linda Greengrass, Bank Street College Library, New York City
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Our class is studying World War II in Europe. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Our class is studying World War II in Europe. Read the first page
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Concordance
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Good Liar a review by Alec,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Good Liar (Hardcover)
Picture yourself in WWII. Would you think you could havea friend that was a German solider? In The Good Liar by Gregory Maguire, not only can you have a German friend, but even lying can be a good thing. One event that happens in this adventurous story is that the boys always lie and get in trouble for it. One time they lie to their mother and tell her that they are going to play, but they really go and meet up with their German friend, who they are not supposed to be around. René, the protagonist, tries to jump into the lake and ends up breaking his leg. The German solider has to carry him home. The mother stood in shock when she recognized the new playmate. The boys were in a lot of hot water then! A second event that happens in the story is when their mom hides some Jewish friends in the attic of their house. Life goes on as usual, because the boys think the Germans had killed these friends. There does seem to be less food around the house, but the boys think it's just because the war has created hard times for everyone in France. They never heard a sound from upstairs in all the time the family was hiding out. When the mom finally brings them out of the attic, the boys are so shocked they are like statues. It takes them awhile to put the pieces of the puzzle together and realize what has really happened. In conclusion, this story is very exciting and keeps the reader guessing what will happen next. You will enjoy reading this book and finding out who is the best liar.
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Good Liar,
By Ryan (NY) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Good Liar (Hardcover)
This book was ok. It could be better . There was a lot of things happining at the same time but it was good. So over all it is a good book.
5.0 out of 5 stars
French occupation told from child's point of view,
By Bibliotekaria (Northern California) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Good Liar (Hardcover)
Heads up: The Booklist review above reveals far too much of the plot! Written in short chapters, this is a World War II novel that will be accessible to young (9-12) readers. In response to a request by some girls who are doing research for a school project, the narrator recalls his life as a boy under the Nazi occupation in France. He details the ordinary mischief young boys get into, especially his and his brothers' talent for telling outrageous lies, and the consequences imposed by their strict mother. Living under conditions of war, the boys' basic values are shaken as they develop a tentative friendship with a young German soldier. They must face the complexities of truth and honesty, loyalty and friendship. The characters are portrayed as ordinary, imperfect people whose humanity elevates them to the level of extraordinary heroes. For even younger readers, see The Butterfly, a picture book by Patricia Polacco which also depicts the French occupation.
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