THE GIRL WHO COULDN'T LIE

A special bangle from her grandmother leads a 12-year-old to authenticity.

Priya Shah’s life is a pressure cooker. Her parents constantly fight, her little sister Pinkie’s ADHD can be intense, she can’t talk to Dan Zhang, her crush, and her elite gymnastics training rarely allows her to see her best friends, Sami (who’s Jewish) and Mei (who’s Chinese). School bully Katie Wong is also forcing Priya to do her math homework. To keep everyone happy, Priya, who is of Indian descent, simply lies. One day, as she’s grieving for her late grandmother, who was her sole confidant, Priya decides to try on the gold bangle, encrusted in rubies and diamonds, that Ba left her. The next day, she can’t remove the bangle from her wrist—and to her horror, she can only speak the truth. This straightforward and accessible narrative shows Priya’s journey from initially trying to avoid everyone to blurting out the truth to her family, friends, and coach. Although her predicament is stressful, Priya is pleasantly surprised to see how many people share her insecurities and want to help. Sanghani deftly balances Priya’s growing pains, relationship blunders, and eventual realization that she has a community supporting her. Although the resolution feels rushed and too perfect, Priya is a relatable and sincere character who will win readers over.

A delightful emotional journey enhanced with a touch of magic.