All About Middle Grade Review: Two Truths and a Lie: It's Alive

Two Truths and a Lie: It's Alive! by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson, June 27, 2017. 176 pages. Published by Walden Pond Press. Source: ARC from Publisher

Two Truths and a Lie is the first book in a fascinating new series that presents some of the most crazy-but-true stories about the living world as well as a handful of stories that are too crazy to be true—and asks readers to separate facts from the fakes!

Did you know that there is a fungus that can control the mind of an ant and make it do its bidding? Would you believe there is such a thing as a corpse flower—a ten-foot-tall plant with a blossom that smells like a zombie? How about a species of octopus that doesn’t live in water but rather lurks in trees in the Pacific Northwest?

Every story in this book is strange and astounding. But not all of them are real. Just like the old game in this book’s title, two out of every three stories are completely true and one is an outright lie. Can you guess which? It’s not going to be easy. Some false stories are based on truth, and some of the true stories are just plain unbelievable. And they’re all accompanied by dozens of photos, maps, and illustrations. Amaze yourself and trick your friends as you sort out the fakes from the facts!

Two Truths and a Lie: It's Alive, was quite fascinating definitely a book that readers are going to love. Not only will they learn something, they'll also get to work on their reasoning skills to discover the lie hidden with the two truths, it was also a fun and engaging read.

• I readily admit that I spent most of this book cackling; do I even know why I found it so funny, not really. It could have been the names of the chapters, or the crazy and odd things that were included in each "Two Truths and a Lie" sections. There were definitely some odd things, like the "Miracle Underground Root" and "Discovering Prehistoric Bambi" just to name a couple, that was both fascinating and something that will intrigue readers of all ages.

• I loved how the chapters covered a wide variety of things, from crazy, creepy, and cool plants, all the way to Humans-yes, no, maybe. First off, I would like to know how Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson, the authors, came across some of these things. But the fact that some of the subjects were so off-the-wall was what made it fun; along with the art, and activity suggestions.

• Why will readers love it, because they'll enjoy the challenge of trying to decipher the truths from the lies, and there are some things included in here that are so strange that it'll capture their attention.  

• I am officially out of words. Two Truths and a Lie: It's Alive, was an excellent start to a new series. I am 100% looking forward to seeing what ground the authors will conquer in their next installment. Can you discern the truths from the lies, without looking at the answers, from the clues within the book? 

Final Verdict: Two Truths and a Lie: It's Alive- A fun and entertaining book that will help kids thinking during their summer break. Fun and challenging!!

Two Truths and a Lie: It's Alive earns

An advanced copy of this book was received for consideration for review. All thoughts are my own.