Silence Is Also a Lie

"Silence Is Also a Lie" is a gripping dystopian novel that follows Zara, a teenager living under an oppressive government's "British Born policy," which labels her an illegal and threatens her with deportation. The core of the story revolves around Zara's struggle to keep her identity a secret and her knowledge of the truth behind her friend Sophie's mysterious death. This book explores powerful themes of justice, freedom, identity, and the courage to speak out against injustice. While the provided data lists an age range of 4-11, the content, length (448 pages), and "YA debut" classification clearly indicate it is suitable for middle school and early high school readers, approximately ages 12-16. Parents should be prepared for discussions around discrimination, government oppression, and the moral complexities of truth-telling.

"A furious dystopian shoulder-shake ... Mathias's YA debut is a hundred-decibel alarm call" - The Guardian "A thrilling story with terrifying real-world resonance" -Irish Times What should you do with a dangerous truth? Zara keeps secrets. It's the only way she can stay safe, now that the hard right Party is in power. Because under the government's British Born policy, Zara is an illegal, at risk of immediate arrest and deportation. She can't tell anyone who she is. And she can't tell anyone what she knows: the truth about how her friend Sophie died. Stay silent. Stay secret. Stay safe. They're such simple rules. Until she meets Ash... Previously published in 2018 as Night of the Party(9781407188003)