The Truth And Lies Of Ella Black

Emily Barr

Emily Barr already proved she could hit all the right teen-fiction notes in last year’s The One Memory Of Flora Banks, and The Truth And Lies Of Ella Black taps the same vein. Ella’s parents are doting, to the point of smothering, but they don’t know about the dark and twisty part of her that drives Ella to crouch in her wardrobe, trying to block the world out. Compounded by having to pretend she’s normal at school, and somehow find a way to fit in with girls that look at her like she’s some bizarre imposter, Ella’s just about getting by, and then her parents put her on a plane to Rio. Tackling mental health issues, teen anxiety and the pressure and confusion that comes with having secret-keeping parents, it’s covering all the right ground, but it lacks pace, and is a touch predictable.

6/10