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Harmless
Harmless
Author: Dana Reinhardt
There was a man. He had a knife. He attacked us down by the river. — It was just a harmless little lie. — Anna, Emma and Mariah concoct a story about why they're late getting home one night—a story that will replace their parents' anger with — concern. They just have to stand by it. No matter what. Suddenly the police are involved, and...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780385746991
ISBN-10: 0385746997
Publication Date: 2/13/2007
Pages: 240
Reading Level: Young Adult
Rating:
  • Currently 3.3/5 Stars.
 5

3.3 stars, based on 5 ratings
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

GeniusJen avatar reviewed Harmless on + 5322 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Reviewed by Amber Gibson for TeensReadToo.com

Everyone's told lies. Most lies aren't even that bad. They don't hurt anyone...they're just harmless.

One night, Mariah, Anna, and Emma are off at an older boy's house, instead of at the movies like they said they would be. But when their parents show up at the movies and can't find them anywhere, they are caught in their lie. They're okay, but they don't want to be grounded for life. Telling a little lie would be a lot easier than telling the truth, and nobody would get in trouble.

So for fear of getting in huge trouble with their parents, the girls concoct a simple story. They were on their way to the movie, walking along the river, when a man attacked Emma. They didn't get a chance to see his face, and they don't remember what he looked like because they were scared. Luckily for Emma, Mariah and Anna threw a rock at the man's head and they were able to get away. The three best friends vow to stick by this story, but they have no idea how much this one lie will envelop their lives.

They didn't count on their parents involving the police. They didn't count on everyone at school finding out. They didn't count on the entire community rallying around the girls and calling them "heroes." And they definitely didn't count on anyone being arrested for their imaginary crime. The girls are in too deep, buried in their lie. The lie that was supposed to be their savior now nags their conscious with every waking moment. But will they be able to find the courage to tell the truth?

I could really relate to the characters in this book, and see how under a pressure situation, I might have made the wrong decision, too. HARMLESS by Dana Renihardt is the story of how a seemingly small lie can take on a life of its own. But, more importantly, it shows how anyone can make a stupid mistake, and that everyone deserves forgiveness.
Read All 2 Book Reviews of "Harmless"


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