The Size of the Truth

The Size of the Truth
Andrew Smith
Simon & Schuster, March, 2019 263 pages
Grades 5-8
Realistic Fiction

Alternating sections and first person narration relate two parts of Sam's life: the life-changing instance of when he was stuck in a well for three days at the age of four and his present as an eleven year old in eighth grade. The past sections in the well give the account of an older boy named James being responsible for the devastating tumble and Sam's friendship with an unreliable talking armadillo named Bartleby once inside. Now as the smallest boy in eighth grade Sam is in classes with his nemesis, James, and forced to join the science club, wear a kilt, and go on survival weekends by his over-bearing father. What Sam really wants to do is cook and enroll in a culinary arts high school. Encounters with James are scary and land him in detention. Being the smallest and youngest kid makes Sam the target of bullies and an instance where he is trapped in a locker brings back his old friend Bartleby as the claustrophobia kicks in. The action climaxes at the small Texas town's Blue Creek Days, as Sam has to decide whether or not to enter the cooking contest or to help a surprising new friend, when he discovers that the time in the well was not exactly as he remembers.

Andrew Smith is a Printz winning author and one of the most respected for teens. His book The Marbury Lens gave me nightmares and it’s a book that I still think about and the critically acclaimed Winger series features Sam as a teen. Middle grade has become "hot" and many teen authors are jumping into the fray, writing for a younger audience. I was very skeptical, especially since Smith is extremely edgy. He is an author that relies a lot on strong language. Because this is middle grade, the language had to be scaled down, but he uses "excuse me" quite liberally to indicate that there should be a swear word. At first I thought it unnecessary and distracting, but upon further reflection I think that cursing is a vehicle used by middle school boys (and girls) to feel more powerful and in control of a world that they do not feel in control of. Certainly Sam is in not in control of his life. His father has expectations that are based on his own ideals and not on Sam's. I found this so frustrating and breathed a sigh as relief as Sam confesses to his father who he really is. I love how Smith shows multiple sides of the fearful James, who also is under misguided parental expectations. At first readers will be unclear whether Bartleby is real, but when the armadillo shows up again in the locker there can be no doubt that he is a coping mechanism for Sam, who finally gets a handle on the devastating accident that has shaped his life. I did not believe the narration of Sam at four in the well for most of the novel because the voice does not sound like a four year old. As I read on and realized that it was Sam's unreliable memory, the penny dropped and I got it.  As in his older works, this younger story by Smith is reminiscent of Kurt Vonnegut with the characteristically absurd coincidences and clever plot twists. Smart kids will find much to savor with this story. Give it to fans of Holes. So far, this is my favorite book of 2019, although it’s also only my second book of 2019, so we'll see how I feel in December.