The Girl Who Couldn’t Lie

Eighth grader Priya Shah dreams of competing in the Teen Olympics as a gymnast. But her parents’ fighting and her younger sister Pinkie’s antics often make her late for practice, halting her progress. When juggling training, friendship, school, and family takes a toll on Priya, she lies to make up for any responsibilities or interactions she feels she’s let slide or messed up. While grieving her late ba, Priya recalls her grandmother’s wisdom (“Loneliness comes when we can’t be honest with people”) and dons the bangle Ba gave her before her death. The next day, she realizes she can’t remove the jewelry. Worse, apparently no longer capable of lying, she ends up revealing her crush on a boy in her gymnastics class, confiding in her friends that she still hasn’t gotten her first period, and speaking her mind to her parents. While Priya’s desperation to remove the bangle drives this rollicking read by Sanghani (I Wish We Weren’t Related, for adults), the protagonist’s loved ones’ understanding of her feelings and willingness to offer their own truths adds a layer of introspection and warmth. Ages 10–14. (Feb.)