One of Us Is lying is a young adult, mystery/suspense novel by author Karen M. McManus. The story revolves around the gossips, secrets, and lies of high school students in Bayview High. There are issues in the book that I want to elaborate on that is relatable to the youth. Also, I want to warn you all that there are spoilers ahead. This book is not for weak-minded people, I’ll tell you why.
1. Gossips, Secrets, and Lies
The story revolves around the infamous app called About That and the student behind this is none other than Simon. What Simon does is terrifying, he reveals secrets and gossips about students in Bayview High and most of it is accurate. Students hold their breaths as to whose life next is Simon ruining. The book is told in alternating first-person points of view by the four main characters. This approach helps the reader to see how each character sees the others and provides insight into what is being hidden by the character.
Simon died while he was with the other four main characters in detention. He drank water with peanut oil on it, to which he is severely allergic. According to the investigators, his death wasn’t an accident. Simon died on Monday, but he planned to post the devastating secrets of the four involved, thus leading to them becoming suspects of killing Simon. Or were the four accomplices?
2. Stereotyping
At the beginning of the story, Simon called himself an omniscient reader. He labeled the other four main characters as teen stereotypes. Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule. Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess. Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing. Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher. And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High's notorious gossip app.
Does Bronwyn never break a rule? She in fact has broken the rules and what’s worst? It involves her grades. Addy's picture-perfect? She’s not, turns out she cheated on her boyfriend. Nate’s a bad boy on probation? Well, turns out his mother abandoned him and his father is an alcoholic. He needed quick money and turned to dealing to survive. Cooper's, the All-American, golden-boy athlete? He’s having a hard time coming out. Simon’s, the outcast? Turns out, he’s depressed and has hated everything in his life.
3. Mental Illness
Simon was depressed and he’s way past helping. The truth about his death is that no one killed him, he committed suicide. Investigators found out about a forum on 4chan, Simon was talking to people who think grandly committing suicide is normal. He sympathized with school shooters but said that it’s too common for people to do that. Instead, he planned his death creatively and uniquely, so suicidal people will try to imitate him.
He was utterly cruel, as he thought the school bombing was an easy way out, not letting his peers suffer enough. Instead, he decided to frame the students he hated for his murder, hoping to ruin their lives forever. Before Simon killed himself, he has accomplices helping him. Janae, his friend was also depressed, and Jake, Addy's boyfriend. Janae was the one who told the truth, that Simon also planned to reveal the truth a year after his death. So, people will talk about it. As to why Jake was an accomplice too, he found out Addy was cheating and wanted revenge, that is why he wanted to ruin Addy’s life.
One of Us Is Lying is a good book, all in all. Despite the clichés in it, I recommend you all to read it. The author just released a sequel to it this year, it’s entitled ‘One of Us Is Next'. I haven’t read it yet, but I’m sure it’s as good as this one!
Click the highlighted texts to know more information.
留言