The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle

The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle

Authors

Leslie Connor

Publisher

Katherine Tegan Books

Publication Year

2018

ISBN

9780062491435

Pages

352 pages

Genre

realism

Format

chapter book

Item Type

Fiction

Annotation

Mason Buttle is the biggest, sweatiest kid in his grade, and everyone knows he can barely read or write. Mason’s learning disabilities are compounded by grief. Fifteen months ago, Mason’s best friend, Benny Kilmartin, turned up dead in the Buttle family’s orchard. An investigation drags on, and Mason, honest as the day is long, can’t understand why Lieutenant Baird won’t believe the story Mason has told about that day. Both Mason and his new friend, tiny Calvin Chumsky, are relentlessly bullied by the other boys in their neighborhood, so they create an underground haven for themselves. When Calvin goes missing, Mason finds himself in trouble again. He’s desperate to figure out what happened to Calvin and, eventually, Benny. But will anyone believe him?

Grade Level

3-5

Lexile Measure

310L

Diversity Topics

Family Relationships; Health & Disability; Family member death; Legal guardianship / Kinship care; Learning disability; Physical disability; death of a grandparent; grandparents raising grandchildren; relatives raising relative; dyslexia; Hyperhidrosis; excessive sweating

Main Character

male child

Race/Ethnicities

White / Caucasian

Awards

Connecticut Book Awards, 2019, Finalist, Young Readers - Fiction
Cybils Awards, 2018, Nominee, Middle Grade Fiction
National Book Award, 2018, Finalist, Young People's Literature
New England Book Award, 2018, Nominee, Children's Book
Schneider Family Book Award, 2019, Winner, Middle School

Keywords

bullying; grief; death of friend; murder; middle school; friendship

Diversity Impact

direct

The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle

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