Time Will Tell

Starred review from July 12, 2021
Lyga (I Hunt Killers) grips readers at every turn in this layered and provoking mystery that tackles sexual assault, mental illness, bullying, homophobia, and racism. When Elayah (who is Black and known as El), Liam, Marcie, and Jorja (who default to white) open their parents’ 1986 high school time capsule, they find analog-age relics along with a note wrapped around a bloodied knife that reads, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to kill anyone.” Convinced that the knife may be connected to her uncle Antoine, who disappeared just after homecoming that year, El is determined to investigate, even after being wounded by an unknown attacker. As they enter new relationships and engage in dangerous acts of kidnapping and subterfuge, the Maryland foursome come to question everything they know about their parents. Switching perspectives between the present-day and 1986, Lyga’s novel is packed with unexpected twists and red herrings. Though the introduction of a podcaster brings unrealistic advantages to the case, razor-sharp descriptions engage throughout as Lyga demonstrates the tragic way that past actions can affect future generations. Ages 14–up. Agent: Kathleen Anderson, Anderson Literary.

September 1, 2021

Gr 10 Up-Liam, Elayah, Marcie, and Jorja, who grew up together in a rural town, have decided to unearth a time capsule that was buried over 30 years ago by their parents. The teens hope to find some cool 1980s treasures and a link to their parents' pasts, but they also discover an item that leads to a lot of questions: a bloody knife with a note attached that reads, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to kill anyone." Now, the teens are faced with the idea that one of their parents may have killed someone or may be covering for someone who did, so they band together to uncover what exactly happened. The story shifts from present day to 1986 to reveal troubles from the past that resurface in the present. What starts out as a great suspenseful mystery turns into a convoluted narrative with confusing character identities and arbitrary romantic relationships from all different angles. There's an uneven balance of the romance and thriller genres, and the novel isn't quite succesful at either. Teens will find the threads about the story's glimpse at the 1980s amusing. Details about individual characters are omitted to build up the mystery, but it only serves as a detriment to characters' development. VERDICT Consider this an additional purchase.-Lacey Webster, Acadia Parish Library, Crowley, LA

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 15, 2021
Four teens try to piece together a 35-year-old mystery. In Canterstown in the present day, four close friends--Liam, Elayah, Marcie, and Jorja--dig up a time capsule that their parents buried decades ago and find, among a few harmless keepsakes, a bloodied knife and a note that reads, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to kill anyone." Not long after, Elayah is attacked in her own home and almost dies. Though Liam's dad is the sheriff and he says he's on the case, the four friends begin harboring suspicions against their own parents when their excuses and backstories just don't add up. Meanwhile, in 1986, the stories of Dean, Jay, and twins Marcus and Antoine unfurl, chronicling the lead-up to the burial of the capsule (and its murder weapon). As the contemporary amateur sleuths try to find answers, they risk endangering themselves further for a truth they might not want to hear. Though the novel is a bit bloated with its long list of characters and hefty page count, the central mystery and various twists will keep readers turning pages. Lyga does an excellent job of portraying a racially and sexually diverse cast, not shying away from the realities of having a marginalized identity but rather braiding those elements into the plot itself. A twisty thriller that asks: How much do you really know about your parents? (Thriller. 14-18)

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September 1, 2021
Grades 9-12 After four teens, Elayah, Marcie, Liam, and Jorja, dig up a time capsule their parents buried in high school in 1986, they discover a treasure trove of 1980s souvenirs that give a glimpse into their parents' lives. They get more than they bargained for, however, when they find a hunting knife stained with traces of blood, along with a confession. Stunned, they turn the knife over to the town sheriff, Liam's dad, in hopes of solving a long--forgotten murder case. The sheriff, along with some other parents, questions the alleged crime, and it's not until Elayah is attacked that the parents take the kids seriously. Sensing their parents are hiding secrets, the teens investigate and uncover a chilling truth. Lyga's latest will keep readers on the edge of their seats as it alternates between the voices of the past (the parents) and the present (the four teens), giving readers a glimpse into both parties as the truth unfolds. A combination of romance and mystery will grip readers in this thrilling offering from Lyga.

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