You can tell that it's supposed to be one of those books to coax non-readers out of their shell based on the material and length, but honestly, this is a plain story with "meh" inducing twists and not much else to speak for it other than the fact that I was lucky enough to pick it up out of a plastic bin at a garage sale for five cents. ( )

*SPOILER* David’s stepfather Phil has been murdered in an apparent street robbery. David has never gotten along well with Phil but he swears to the detective that he didn’t do it, was nowhere near the place where it happened. But David’s image is seen on a convenience store security video which places him in the vicinity and he is brought in for more questioning. David finally admits he was in the area but insists on giving the detective some background about Phil, including the fact that Phil allowed David’s younger brother to drown several summers ago. David knows this because Phil had on his winning poker face and David has just learned what Phil’s winning poker face looks like thanks to a revelation by family friend Jack. A random stranger was the one who killed Phil, but there’s enough suspense and doubt about David’s innocence to hold the intended audience.

I would recommend this, but only to those who really like to read. The book keeps your attention; it's rather short. It gets off track and ends too soon.
4Q, 3P; Cover Art: Okay.
This book is best suited for middleschoolers on up.
It was selected due to recommendation.
Grade (of reviewer): 11th
(TF-AHS-NC)

It has (a) good mystery, I love the eye for an eye they had. Q5P4 AHS/Juan A.

Reviewed by Holly for TeensReadToo.com

Where did you get the gun? Where did you hide it after you murdered him? How did you even do it?

These are all questions that Detective Antonelli asked David, the main character of TELL, after his stepfather, Phil, was shot and killed.

All signs pointed to David when the police found out that he was only a block away from the crime scene. Not to mention that he was there with Phil just moments before his stepfather's death. David has no way of talking himself out of this one, because no one else was there when Phil was shot.

David stretches the truth and ends up making it harder to claim himself innocent. He has nowhere else to turn but the TRUTH. In the end, which will he choose--juvenile hall, or telling what really happened?

Ms. McClintock tells the tale of an amazingly thrilling murder mystery in this beautifully-written book. She can definitely keep the reader attached and interested. A great read! ( )

Davids Stiefvater Phil wurde erschossen. Seine Mutter ist fassungslos, starb doch schon der erste Mann und der jüngere Bruder Jamie ertrank...Davids Mutter ist sicher, sie können den Lebensstandard nicht halten und werden wieder ins Elend absinken, in dem sie gelebt haben, bevor Phil in ihr Leben trat. Als David unter Verdacht gerät, den Stiefvater getötet zu haben, bröckelt die Lebenslüge der Mutter. Phil war keineswegs so ein führsorglicher Mann. Er war ungedudig, reizbar, hat alles Geld verspielt und eine Hypothek auf das Haus aufgenommen. Er hinterlässt nichts als Schulden. Und Jamie, dessen Bild er immer bei sich trug, den hat er eigentlich absichtlich ertrinken lassen - damals. David erzählt die Familiengeschichte dem Kommissar- teilweise im Beisein der Mutter- aufrichtig und authentisch. So entsteht ein Psychogramm dieser Familie ind der David tatsächlich unschuldig ist. Spannende Lektüre in der Reihe "Leichter Lesen. ( )