The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle
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
STARS Citation
Connor, Leslie, "The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle" (2018). Diverse Families. 2242.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/diversefamilies/2242