The Truth of Things (4) – Lark

I wasn't sure what to expect from this short book but chose it due to its excellent reviews. I loved the relationship between the brothers. I also loved how most of the story took place within a few hours but you felt like you knew the characters so well. It's a moving and really well written story.

Wow - Beautiful story with a heartbreaking end. Not sure suitable for primary due to language

I wasn't entirely sure about this book at first, but I'm so happy I kept reading. It's absolutely wonderful - such a poignant tale, and I cried my eyes out reading it. The ending is beautiful and touching.

Lark was the winner of the 2020 Carnegie Medal. It is the final adventure for Nicky and Kenny as they go on a day trip to the Yorkshire moors to distract them from thoughts about their Mum's impending visit. Having missed a couple of buses, they arrive on the moors much later than planned and with little in the way of maps and preparation, they become lost as the daylight begins to fade. They encounter freezing conditions and become disorientated as they try to find their way to the next village to catch a bus home. I enjoyed this book very much as it covers many different themes including tension, humour, nature, loss and empathy. Recommended for anyone wanting a quick read during an afternoon/evening.

A very moving tale of two brothers from a challenging home getting lost walking on the Yorkshire Moors. A fantastic book for looking at families and the love and difficulties that they can face.

My rating is 3 because of personal tastes but this is a very well-written and accessible book for teens. Humour is used well to develop characters and keep reluctant readers engaged. The book explores real themes of family, health and mental health amongst others. The epilogue (set 40 years later) seemed out of place but as this is the fourth in the series, it wraps up the story of the two brothers well. This would be a great text to share with a group of students who need further support in English, with scope for some in depth discussion (e.g. why is the story called Lark?) of an accessible text.

The only book ever that I just couldn't put down! I cried, I laughed. Excellent. A must read, but not for primary...

This book is written in a straightforward style for maximum accessibility to reluctant young adult readers. It is a slim volume, but it packs in plenty of emotional impact. This is the fourth story in the series about Nicky and Kenny, but not having read the other three did not spoil it for me at all. They were such likeable characters that I felt involved with them right away and grew steadily more worried as their fun day out went from bad to worse. All the more upsetting as they had obviously had a lot to put up with at home. It is not all dark, there is humour - a joke at the beginning made me laugh out loud - courage and lots of brotherly support. A very satisfying read.

A compulsive, exciting read. Had to finish it in one sitting.

A good story, but I think I would have been more invested had I read the first 2. I’ve marked it down a star for that and the fact I can’t really recommend it to my class due to the swearing.

Bloody brilliant. But definitely a teen read. 12+

Breathtakingly good. Authentic, visceral writing. Not for primary.

Absolutely exquisite. This book reminds me of so many other greats but is also completely unique. There are hints of Where the World Ends (Geraldine McCaughrean), The Fire Eaters (David Almond) and even Of Mice and Men (John Steinbeck). But only hints - it's not really like them at all! Its a wonderful adventure story with such clear characterisation: I was gripped throughout.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is an incredibly touching story which shows the power of family bonds and shared experiences in life.

Beautifully written with some great Yorkshire expressions, this book features the most realist child characters that I've come across recently. This book is part of quartet but can be read as a standalone story.

A very 'real' book, following the relationship between the brothers ( main protagonists). I felt captured within the storyline and endured their journey with them.
I'd recommend this as an easy , quick read, packed with emotion and realistic turmoil.

Brilliant!
I cried - alot.
Beautiful description and real characters.

This was a really powerful read which I felt compelled to complete in one sitting. The writing was direct and concise and really drew me in to the cold and isolation of the boys' walk. In places it was quite hard to read and the images have lingered long after reading it. I liked the fact that I thought initially that it would be about the brothers meeting their mother, but in fact this was peripheral to the story: the ending, where they are waiting for her at the airport, was in a sense another beginning. It reminded me that often the most compelling experiences for children are not the ones we adults might imagine. The missing star is because I felt that the story had already started so I am going to read the other two in the series.

Absolutely loved this book. Immediately I was moved by the story of the two brothers and really cared about what was happening to them. It is a story that will stay with me for a long time and I think that the short text will encourage older reluctant readers.

I liked it was filled with sorrow amazment and relief my favourite character was a dog called Tina i would definently recommend too you

I've heard much about this novella. I thought it would last me a day or so but it barely lasted 2 hours, I couldn't read it quick enough. It made me smile. It made me laugh out loud. It made me weep. McGowan deserves all the praise and prizes he can be accorded for this beautiful story.

An astonishing read, that was totally worthy of the reward. McGowan brings the boys to life with such ease and you are carried along with them on their adventure. It is hard to write without giving too much away; the simplicity of the journey they set out on and the reality of how quickly landscape and elements can turn on you is vividly brought home. The ending made me cry and I now want to go back to the beginning and read the earlier stories of Nicky and Kenny.
I would be careful of recommending this before year 7, though a mature year 6 would also find this captures the imagination.

Devoured in one sitting. Some parts I almost wanted to look away I couldn’t bear it. Encapsulates so much in such a succinct way.

Really enjoyed this for its simplicity and character portrayals. A story about family, courage and love it’s a great book to recommend for reluctant readers and students with dyslexia.

Absolutely glorious. Not a wasted word. Beautiful description and very convincing dialogue. Love the characters (in The Truth of Things too).

I LOVED this book. Read it in one sitting and ended with tears streaming down my face. Wonderful characters and language - KS3.

A gorgeous book about the relationship of two brothers, who go off on a mini adventure. A great mix of excitement and despair as tragedy unfolds. You are left on the edge of your seat - wanting to know what happens next.
A must read book - I couldn’t put it down.

Excellent book from Barrington Stoke (so dyslexia friendly and just 110 pages). Tells the story of two brothers who get lost on the moors. Beautifully written - moments of almost poetic tenderness mixed with the everyday voices of two teen boys and their tough life experiences so far as they struggle to survive when a blizzard catches them unprepared.

I didn't finish this book, as I didn't find the storyline intriguing enough and the characters relatable enough. The story also seemed a bit rushed.

The book is about 2 brothers - Kenny and Nicky. They are about to meet their long-lost mum, to distract themselves they go for a walk-in the moors. It’s snowing and they get lost.
Their walk turns into an adventure and rescue story.
I really enjoyed reading this book.