One Speck of Truth

A heartwarming and poignant story that explores the bonds of family and the importance of knowing your own history, from the critically acclaimed author of My Life with the Liars and the ALA Notable Book Forever, or a Long, Long Time

Alma has everything she needs, except answers to her questions. Her mother won’t tell her why her beloved stepfather, Adam, is suddenly gone this summer. Or about life in Portugal, where her parents met. Not even about her father, who Alma cannot find, no matter how many graveyards she searches with her best friend, Julia.

Then Alma’s mother shocks her by moving them both to Lisbon so Alma can fall in love with the vibrant city where her father grew up. There she discovers she has more family than she could have imagined.

She hopes Portugal holds the answers she’s been desperately searching for, but it turns out finding the truth may be more complicated than she, or her mother, bargained for.

• Family Secrets: Alma’s mom is a vault of secrets about her past in Portugal, her stepfather’s sudden departure, and the father Alma has never known.
• A Lisbon Adventure: From the winding stone streets to the beautiful, mysterious cemeteries, Alma explores the city her father once called home, hoping it holds the key to her identity.
• Mother-Daughter Story: A poignant look at a complex bond, as Alma tries to understand the woman who loves her fiercely but won’t give her the one thing she needs: the truth.
• Finding Your Roots: Just when she feels most alone, Alma discovers a grandmother and cousin in Portugal, revealing a family tree with deeper and more complicated roots than she ever imagined.

“Crafted from vulnerable and introspective prose. An absorbing tale that illustrates that knowing one’s ancestry can be an avenue to self-discovery.” - Kirkus Reviews

“This is a touching story about the importance of understanding as well as having family, and readers will appreciate Alma’s hard-won new knowledge and peace.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Things work well here: Alma’s realistic fury about being lied to her entire life; the tangled relationship with Faith’s now-divorced husband, Alma’s stepfather, who wanted to adopt Alma; and Alma’s relationship with Julia. The story moves quickly, and readers will eagerly read to the last page.” - Booklist

“A compelling portrait of family and all its flaws, and the freeing power of the truth.” - Publishers Weekly

“Well-written, emotionally evocative. Strongly recommended for middle grade collections and for any reader who has tried to find truth in the complexities of the past.” - School Library Journal