Find Another Book

Book details

Lying About Last Summer

Sue Wallman - Author

Skye’s search for the sender turns a bereavement-camp story into a mystery about trust, grief and what she knows about her sister’s death.

Add to Compare Explore

Book Analysis

At a Glance

Discover

Suspense· ExplainedTrust· Explained

Consider

Grief and lossViolence and harmBereavement· Explained

Personalised Fit

Beyond the Cover

bereavementsuspensetrust

FictionNovel

Themes in Context

Grief and the mystery

Skye attends a bereavement camp after her sister’s death, then receives messages appearing to come from her sister and investigates who sent them.Exploratory / explanatory

How the book presents it: The mystery is structured around Skye’s loss and uncertainty; flashbacks to the sisters’ relationship deepen the intrigue.

Talk about: How does the mystery affect the way you understand Skye’s grief and her relationships at camp?

Why It May Be Worth Reading

The interwoven timelines build intrigue around Skye and Luisa’s relationship, while Skye’s investigation also brings the other campers’ experiences into view.

What Deserves Attention

The story centres on a sister’s death and grief. It also includes references to drug dealing, minimal drug use and suicide; these heavier subjects may merit a check-in.

A Conversation Worth Having

What makes Skye feel she can trust—or cannot trust—the people around her, and how does what she learns affect your view of her relationships?

Reading Approach

Try reading together or checking in afterwards if the themes feel close to home. The two timelines offer a natural pause to compare what Skye knows in each.

Confidence & Basis

Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.

What remains unconfirmed

Grief and the mystery: The exact circumstances of the death and the final resolution are not established here.

LYING ABOUT LAST SUMMER

Limited information

Checked: 11 October 2026.

Relevant to: Grief and the mystery

ysbookreviews.wordpress.com

Limited information

Checked: 11 October 2026.

Relevant to: Grief and the mystery

Lying About Last Summer

Limited information

Checked: 11 October 2026.

Relevant to: General book context

Benefits, discussion questions and reading approaches are suggestions. Your knowledge of your child remains part of the decision.

Heidi

Heidi

Lying About Last Summer

At a Glance

Discover

Consider

Personalised Fit

Beyond the Cover

Themes in Context

Grief and the mystery

Why It May Be Worth Reading

What Deserves Attention

A Conversation Worth Having

Reading Approach

What remains unconfirmed