Praise for Robin Talley
‘The main characters are terrific in what is a moving YA novel. And an important one’ – The Daily Telegraph
‘This is so thought-provoking it almost hurts to read it, yet every word is needed, is necessary and consequently this is a novel that lingers long after you’ve finished it’ – Lovereading
‘This is an emotional and compelling read that I did not want to put down. It is […]beautifully written and the tension just simmers on the pages’ – Bookbabblers
‘This book packs a very powerful punch’ – Historical Novel Society
‘With great characterisation, tough issues covered, and a plot which had me guessing right up until the last pages, this is a must-read. Massively recommended!’ – The Bookbag
‘This exceptional novel of first love and sexual awakenings is set against a backdrop of shocking racism and prejudice. It is incredibly well written as the tense, riveting story seamlessly combines fiction with historical fact’ – Booktrust
‘Every now and then a Young Adult book comes along that I want to push into every reader’s hands both young and old and Lies We Tell Ourselves is that book for 2014’ – Jess Hearts Books
‘Talley has mixed two controversial topics together to create a firecracker of a story’ – Cheryl M-M’s Book Blog
Winner of the Amnesty CILIP Honour Award 2016 for Lies We Tell Ourselves.
ROBIN TALLEY’S first novel, Lies We Tell Ourselves, about two girls on the front lines of the school desegregation battle in 1959 Virginia, was on the short list for the CILIP Carnegie Medal and a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award.
Robin lives in Washington, D.C., with her wife and their daughter, plus an antisocial cat and a goofy hound dog. You can find her on the web at www.robintalley.com or on Twitter at @robin_talley.
Contents
3. HOURS DREADFUL AND THINGS STRANGE
6. THE ATTEMPT AND NOT THE DEED CONFOUNDS US
7. PRESENT FEARS ARE LESS THAN HORRIBLE IMAGININGS
9. A THING MOST STRANGE AND CERTAIN
10. I FEAR YOU PLAYED MOST FOULLY FOR IT
14. TERRIBLE DREAMS THAT SHAKE US NIGHTLY
15. THE VERY PAINTING OF YOUR FEAR
ACT 4: when the hurly-hurly’s done
16. FOUL WHISPERINGS ARE ABROAD
17. COME LIKE SHADOWS, SO DEPART
18. THEN THE CHARM IS FIRM AND GOOD
ACT 5: when the battle’s lost and won
19. HERE’S THE SMELL OF THE BLOOD STILL
20. WHAT’S DONE CANNOT BE UNDONE
21. SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES
22. FAIR IS FOUL, AND FOUL IS FAIR
Epilogue: TOMORROW AND TOMORROW AND TOMORROW
The Ouija board was Lily’s idea.
Maria warned her not to go through with it, but Lily didn’t listen. She went onto eBay while Maria was at soccer practice and bought the prettiest board she could find. A “genuine antique,” she called it.
Only when she showed it to Maria