In response to three girls working on a class assignment about World War II, Marcel Delarue recounts his childhood in the French village of Mont-Saint-Martin, beginning in 1940 when France had just fallen to the Germans. At first, the war seems of little consequence to Marcel and his older brothers, Pierre and René, and they continue to play boyish pranks and make up outrageous stories, in an attempt to rate as the best liar. But then it becomes clear that French Jews are suffering when some Jewish friends of the boys’ uncle come to stay with them for a while and the boys are asked to keep some things secret. Then there’s the German soldier Marcel befriends. He’s not evil, as Marcel has been led to believe. Suddenly, it seems, no one is telling the truth anymore. Gregory Maguire uses an innocent child’s voice to tell a gripping story that deals with the nature of heroism and truth. (Ages 8-11)

The year is 1940 and France has fallen to the German army. In the village of Mont-Saint-Martin, brothers Pierre, Ren�, and Fat Marcel enjoy an idyllic childhood-stealing berry tarts, playing soldiers, and holding contests to determine who of the three is the biggest and best liar. As the small community, especially its Jewish members, begins to feel the effects of the war, Ren� and Marcel form a warm but secret friendship with one of the German soldiers occupying their village. The boys know no good can come of this friendship, but they don't realize the extent to which they have put the lives of their family and friends in jeopardy . . . until they discover that they are not the only experts at lying. In this poignant, thoughtful, and charming story, told in the form of letters to a group of schoolchildren by the now-adult Marcel, Gregory Maguire again proves his range and depth as a storyteller. First published in Ireland, "The Good Liar" was short-listed for the 1997Reading Association of Ireland book award and selected as one of the hundred best books of 1996 by the Young Book Trust, England.