The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle

The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle
Leslie Connor
HarperCollins, 2018 326 pages
Grades 4-7
Realistic Fiction

First person narration relates the story of Mason Buttle, who has lost his best friend, Benny, in a freak accident two years prior and is still processing the incident. It doesn't help that Benny's dads no longer talk to him, his mother is dead and he lives with extended family who have fallen on hard financial times, a police investigator keeps paying him unwanted visits, a strange teenage girl has taken over his room, he has an unusual condition that makes him sweat profusely, he is the biggest kid in his grade, and suffers from a sever leaning disability. To make matters even worse, Mason is the victim of a nasty bully, who is also a neighbor who tortures him daily. Relief comes in the form of the school counselor, who provides a much needed sanctuary, a listening ear, and a way for Mason to get his story heard, as well as a neighboring dog, and a new friend. Calvin is new to town and the opposite of Mason in every way. The two boys find a hideout/club house in the old root cellar and create a place to both escape the bullies and be themselves. Mason slowly realizes that the town thinks he might be responsible for Benny's accident and this makes him feel even worse. Eventually through a terrible tragedy the truth is revealed and Mason and his family begin to pick up the pieces of their lives and start healing.

Connor may have created one of my favorite characters in children's literature in Mason. He is not only richly drawn, but is someone you would like to get to know: extensive sweating and all. The way Mason must suffer was for me hard to read at times, but it makes the end that much more glorious once he receives redemption. We experience the chain of events entirely through Mason's eyes and unique perspective. Another layer to the book is that Mason has the condition called synesthesia, where he see emotion in the form of color, which allows for the narration to be that much richer. Readers will realize who is responsible for Benny's death way before Mason gets there, which will help young readers to feel smart and root the hero on as he slowly figures it out. Educators will find inspiration in the school counselor, who is both wise and loving and leads Mason in the right direction, all while balancing other students and giving everyone much needed respect and care. Even though Mason does not seem at first glance to have much going for him, his great attributes emerge as the novel goes on and by book's end readers will see him for the wonderful, kind, and talented individual that he is. Mason and his family find themselves on the road to healing by the end of the story and the true culprit behind the accident is revealed, as well as other positive surprises. Still, lingering problems still exist, demonstrating to readers that happy endings aren't always perfect. A beautifully crafted story and well deserving of the National Book Award nomination for which it received.