The Truth About Riley
by Sinéad Moriarty
Interest age: 9 to 12
Reading age: 8+
Published by Gill Books, 2022
About this book
Twelve-year-old Riley’s life has been turned upside down. Not only did her dad die recently, but to their shock, Riley and her mum discovered that he’d left them with no money and a lot of debt. With no way to pay the rent, soon they are sleeping in the car while Riley’s mum works all hours to try to cover basics like food. Riley hates it – she can’t sleep for stress that the car will be broken into, she’s always hungry and she has to shower at school. But the worst part is worrying that her friends might find out. She couldn’t bear the humiliation. And the suspicious Vanessa keeps asking awkward questions...
Sinead Moriarty is a much-loved Irish author and here she explores homelessness with great sensitivity. Riley’s story is very moving, and it could lead to discussions about empathy, privilege and friendship. The kindness of strangers – one from Poland, one from Moldova – shows that it’s not difficult to put yourself in the shoes of others. A gripping contemporary story.
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