Little Red Lies by Julie Johnston (review)

Adolescence isn’t sitting well with Rachel, whose drama-queen propensities amplify her reaction to every perceived trouble or slight—and life isn’t particularly trouble-free in her family at the moment. Her beloved brother Jamie is just home from World War II, recovering well from his physical injuries, but he’s jobless, at odds with his girlfriend, and now diagnosed with leukemia. While the family turns the lion’s share of attention to Jamie, Rachel tries to establish herself in the school drama department, where she proves to be ineffectual as an actress. She does, however, catch the attention of the young teacher/director, Mr. Tomkins, who seems to know just which girls are in distress and preys on their vulnerabilities. Although this Canadian import is a work of historical fiction, readers who favor domestic drama will be the audience most appreciative of Rachel’s social missteps. Driven by her own over-emotional nature and casual attitude toward deceit, Rachel is often as shameless as the Little Red Lies crimson lipstick she sports to make herself appear sophisticated. Her mistakes have a way of making her sympathetic, though, and by the end, she’s a bit more self aware; her growth—and potential for further wising up—is credibly portrayed. Secondary characters are robustly drawn, and the unpredictability of the plotline should keep readers engrossed through each of Rachel’s cringe-worthy blunders.