White Lies by J.C Burke

“White lies” is a great fiction story written by J.C Burke. This book was published in August 2002, and the book was notable in 2003. This book took me on journey through a very sad, tragic and hurtful part of young Mitch’s life.


This novel is about a student in high school called Mitch Davies who is struggling to understand his life and the people in it. Through little flashbacks in the chapters, I learned about Mitch's close relationship with his grandfather, Paul, since he was a young boy.


Mitch grew up sharing his passion of surfing with Paul and Paul, who was a professional surfer, was able to teach his grandson everything he knew. They have a special bond and Paul is the only father figure that Mitch has ever had. However, Mitch finds out his grandfather is suffering from leukemia but swallows the lies that he is told by his aunt and mother that Paul will fully recover. Of course, it wasn't long until Mitch discovers that the one reliable man that has helped bring him up won't live to see Mitch compete in an important surfing competition. Mitch began to lose faith in life and the meaning in surfing, viewing it as useless and such a minor thing, which is the last thing that Paul wanted. However, Diana, a girl that Mitch has been in a relationship with teaches him the importance of pursuing the gift that he has and forgiving his family.


I really enjoyed this book because this book related to me a lot, because I have been in many situations like Mitch. Mitch didn’t have a father and his grandfather was his father figure, and yet I had a father and my mother had to be my father figure. I was told many white lies as well: when my parents were divorced I was in China and I didn’t know until a year later. After knowing the shocking news I was shattered thinking everything will never be the same. But after going to church and year of face the facts and the help of my mother everything went back to normal. The only thing that wasn’t the same was that my father is living with someone else.

White Lies is an enjoyable book for all students in high school that involves important issues that teenagers experience today. It is a book that can make readers look at their lives in new perspectives and learn how difficulties and problems should be faced. I would recommend this novel to anyone and thought it was a well-written and interesting read. A book I could read over and over again.

Jono Xu