Honesty and Lies is a wonderful journey back in time to Queen Elizabeth I’s court. Readers have the chance to see London through the dual point of view of two young girls who are doing all they can to survive and perhaps even make their way up the almost impossible social ladder.
It’s 1601 and Honesty has just arrived from Wales. Wide-eyed and ambitious, she dreams of a new life in London. She has never seen anything like it! The hustle and bustle of the people, the harshness of Elizabethan life, the power of the Thames – every detail jumps off the page. When Honesty runs into Alice who works at the palace, she is determined to be friends with her (whether Alice wants to or not). Alice has her own story, made up mostly of secrets. Despite her initial suspicions about Honesty, she can’t help but like her.
Contrary to her name, Honesty has a knack for made-up stories and a natural charm that makes her popular with others. A chance encounter with the queen leads to opportunities she could never begin to hope for. The girls learn that every opportunity comes with a price and a secure life is never guaranteed. All they can do is trust each other and hope to hold onto any good fortune that comes their way.
Deadly secrets, revenge and desperation turn this story of friendship into a gripping adventure. People are never quite as they seem. The girls must decide if what they’re faced with is honesty or lies.
This is the perfect story for children who enjoy realistic historical fiction. My own daughter loves to learn about life in the past through the stories she reads and can’t wait to jump into Honesty and Lies. As an Eloise Williams fan, she spotted it right away. I agree that it is just her kind of book – a heart-warming story of friendship, vivid descriptions of the time period, links to Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre and a plot that will keep the pages turning.
Thank you to Firefly Press for this fantastic book!
Books by Kate Heap:
Scope for Imagination 