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One of Us Is Lying
Book (2017)
The international bestselling YA thriller by acclaimed author Karen M. McManus - now available in a bold new cover look complete with a blood red background and matching sprayed edges.
Five students walk into detention. Only four come out alive.
Yale hopeful Bronwyn has never publicly broken a rule.
Sports star Cooper only knows what he's doing in the baseball diamond.
Bad boy Nate is one misstep away from a life of crime.
Prom queen Addy is holding together the cracks in her perfect life.
And outsider Simon, creator of the notorious gossip app at Bayview High, won't ever talk about any of them again.
He dies 24 hours before he could post their deepest secrets online. Investigators conclude it's no accident. All of them are suspects.
Everyone has secrets, right?
What really matters is how far you'll go to protect them.
'Tightly plotted and brilliantly written, with sharp, believable characters, this whodunit is utterly irresistible' - HEAT
'Twisty plotting, breakneck pacing and intriguing characterisation add up to an exciting single-sitting thrillerish treat' -THE GUARDIAN
'A fantastic murder mystery, packed with cryptic clues and countless plot twists. I could not put this book down' - THE SUN
'Pretty Little Liars meets The Breakfast Club' - ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
But the story doesn't end here, it continues with One of Us Is Next. . .
Book (2017)
The international bestselling YA thriller by acclaimed author Karen M. McManus - now available in a bold new cover look complete with a blood red background and matching sprayed edges.
Five students walk into detention. Only four come out alive.
Yale hopeful Bronwyn has never publicly broken a rule.
Sports star Cooper only knows what he's doing in the baseball diamond.
Bad boy Nate is one misstep away from a life of crime.
Prom queen Addy is holding together the cracks in her perfect life.
And outsider Simon, creator of the notorious gossip app at Bayview High, won't ever talk about any of them again.
He dies 24 hours before he could post their deepest secrets online. Investigators conclude it's no accident. All of them are suspects.
Everyone has secrets, right?
What really matters is how far you'll go to protect them.
'Tightly plotted and brilliantly written, with sharp, believable characters, this whodunit is utterly irresistible' - HEAT
'Twisty plotting, breakneck pacing and intriguing characterisation add up to an exciting single-sitting thrillerish treat' -THE GUARDIAN
'A fantastic murder mystery, packed with cryptic clues and countless plot twists. I could not put this book down' - THE SUN
'Pretty Little Liars meets The Breakfast Club' - ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
But the story doesn't end here, it continues with One of Us Is Next. . .
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Content at a glance
More filled segments mean stronger content.
Sex & Nudity
The story includes teenage romantic subplots, some sexual tension between characters, and occasional references to sexual encounters or relationships.
Violence & Gore
The plot centers on a suspicious death, including depictions of a medical emergency and descriptions of the aftermath, though it avoids excessive gore.
Profanity
The dialogue contains moderate language typical of young adult thrillers, including uses of "sh*t" (frequent), "f*ck" (infrequent), "d*mn", and "b*tch", generally used during emotional confrontations.
Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking
Characters are occasionally depicted at parties involving alcohol consumption, and there are plot-relevant references to illicit drug use and possession.
Frightening Scenes
A teenager dies, and the mystery includes suicide themes, bullying and a threatening physical assault.
Key Insights
Quick summary and important considerations
A teenager’s death, suicide themes, bullying and a violent assault make this school mystery unsettling. Sexual references, strong swearing, teen drinking and drug use also feature. These notes concern Karen M. McManus’s novel, not its TV adaptation.
Content Warnings
Bullying
Death
Substance use
Detailed Analysis
In-depth insights for parents and educators
What Parents Need to Know
A teenager’s death, suicide themes, bullying and a violent assault make this school mystery unsettling. Sexual references, strong swearing, teen drinking and drug use also feature. These notes concern Karen M. McManus’s novel, not its TV adaptation.
What Kids Can Learn
Developing skills in empathy, discerning truth from gossip, and understanding the consequences of keeping destructive secrets.
Key Topics Discussed
Mystery
Adolescent pressure
Integrity
Why Parents Might Like It
It offers a modern, fast-paced take on the 'high school noir' genre that encourages deeper conversation about modern social pressures.
Positives & learning
More filled segments mean stronger positive content or learning value.
Positive messages
The narrative highlights the importance of empathy over judgment and underscores the danger of defining individuals solely by their social status or perceived mistakes.
Role models
Characters evolve from archetypes into nuanced individuals who take responsibility for their choices and learn to support one another in challenging circumstances.
Representation
The cast features a variety of personalities and backgrounds that provide a more realistic look at high school dynamics than traditional one-dimensional tropes.
Learning
Engages readers in critical thinking, logic, and the evaluation of bias through the lens of a classic whodunit mystery.
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