All The Truth That’s In Me review

All the Truth That's in Me by Julie Berry
Narrator: Kathleen McInerney
Published by Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated on 2013-09-26
Length: 7 hours 50 minutes
Genres: Historical Fiction, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Young Adult
Pages: 288
Format: Audiobook
Goodreads

Four years ago, Judith and her best friend disappeared from their small town of Roswell Station. Two years ago, only Judith returned, permanently mutilated, reviled and ignored by those who were once her friends and family. Unable to speak, Judith lives like a ghost in her own home, silently pouring out her thoughts to the boy who's owned her heart as long as she can remember--even if he doesn't know it--her childhood friend, Lucas. But when Roswell Station is attacked, long-buried secrets come to light, and Judith is forced to choose: continue to live in silence, or recover her voice, even if it means changing her world, and the lives around her, forever. This startlingly original novel will shock and disturb you; it will fill you with Judith's passion and longing; and its mysteries will keep you feverishly turning the pages until the very last.

Julie’s Review:

I’m not really sure what to make of All The Truth That’s In Me. I definitely did not find it “riveting” as the audiobook cover quote says, and based on the other reviews I see on Goodreads, it might just be me. The narrator did a good job, and the writing was very good, but the story itself didn’t grip me and the characters weren’t likeable.

I did really like how our MC Judith called her love interest Lucas “you” in her entire narration. She was “I” and he was “you” and everyone else had a name. I thought that was unique and worked kind of well, since she was stream of consciousness narrating what she couldn’t speak.

The only characters I liked in this book were Judith’s friend Maria, who made her learn to speak again by practicing sounds with her, and the old lady who convinced Judith to tell the truth. The other characters were just meh. The mother was a B and a half! Judith herself, well she was just weak. Lucas, the love interest, he was kind of annoying because he kept chasing after other girls and even after deciding that is has been Judith all along, still didn’t completely believe her story at first. That is just not ok.

I kind of liked how Judith’s kidnapper turned out to be the good guy, sort of, even if a bit deranged. As it turns out, he really was trying to help her and keep her safe, but in the most creepy and abusive way. (I mean, he cut her tongue!) I didn’t like how the story dragged and didn’t really go anywhere until the very end when Judith finally stood up and told everything. 

So overall I found the plot and the characters a bit weak, but the writing was really unique and interesting. The audio narration was good, but I did find all the scenes where Judith was practicing her sounds annoying. Otherwise, the narrator did a great job with everyone’s voices.

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