The debut of a phenomenal new middle-grade talent.
In all the ways that matter, Mark is a normal kid. He's got a dog named Beau and a best friend, Jessie. He likes to take photos and write haiku poems in his notebook. He dreams of climbing a mountain one day.
But in one important way, Mark is not like other kids at all. Mark is sick. The kind of sick that means hospitals. And treatments. The kind of sick some people never get better from.
So Mark runs away. He leaves home with his camera, his notebook, his dog, and a plan to reach the top of Mount Rainier—even if it's the last thing he ever does.
The Honest Truth is a rare and extraordinary novel about big questions, small moments, and the incredible journey of the human spirit.
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“Narrator Nick Podehl expresses the complex feelings of young protagonist Mark as he attempts to climb a mountain, his final wish before surrendering to a fatal illness…Podehl switches smoothly from the frustrated voice of Mark to the concerned voices of his family and friend. The characters Mark meets along the way are each given a unique voice—from the annoyed gift shop cashier to the tired but well-meaning bus driver.”
— AudioFile
“A heartbreaking, moving novel that makes you want to embrace the boy at its center and hold him close.”
— Holly Goldberg Sloan, New York Times bestselling author“An extraordinary story about savoring life and exploring the meanings of strength.”
— Alaska Airlines Magazine“An emotionally hard-hitting survival story about twelve-year-old Mark…The many moments of heart-racing suspense, as well as the underlying gravity, may overwhelm fainthearted readers; hardier ones will find it a gripping page-turner.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)“A rousingly riveting two-hanky read.”
— Kirkus Reviews“A believable and poignant tale of steely resolve and undying friendship. Reluctant readers will especially enjoy the forward-moving adventure, and dog lovers will be thrilled with this truly magnificent tale of ‘boy loves dog’…an outstanding debut novel.”
— BookPage“An impressive combination of suspenseful adventure thriller and cancer narrative… Touching but unsentimental, this is a deeply moving adventure.”
— BooklistBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Dan Gemeinhart is a teacher, librarian, and the author of The Honest Truth and Some Kind of Courage.