Narrator Andrew Eiden's slow pace and soft tone perfectly depict the character of 12-year-old Mason Buttle. The rhythm in Eiden's narration captures Mason's storytelling voice, which is punctuated with the periodic refrain, "I'll tell you what." Listeners will be captivated by Mason's sincerity and gentleness. Eiden's low-key inflections suggest these shining qualities as Mason adopts an attitude that minimizes his learning disabilities, the death of his mother, his grandparents' unspoken grief, and the bullying of a neighbor. All these take a back seat to his frustration with his profuse sweating and his confusion about the police lieutenant who believes he's responsible for the death of his best friend. Eiden deftly portrays Mason's bewilderment and his gradual understanding of how he is perceived by the world, as well as the humanity of those who support his tender spirit. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

★ 11/06/2017
In this sensitively written novel, Connor (All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook) introduces a learning-disabled 12-year-old who will warm readers’ hearts and earn their respect with his honesty and compassion. Mason Buttle may have trouble spelling words and be slow to understand some things, but he knows how to be a good friend. Ever since his best friend and neighbor Benny died in an accident in the Buttles’ apple orchard, Lieutenant Baird of the police department has been badgering Mason with questions. Writing from Mason’s point of view (including journal entries he composes using a speak-and-write computer program), Connor paints a vivid picture of Mason’s world and the people who inhabit it: the grief-stricken grandmother and uncle who raise him, the neighborhood boys who torment him, and social worker Ms. Blinny, who provides a safe haven in her office. When Mason’s new friend Calvin goes missing, Lieutenant Baird returns with more questions for Mason. Poignant and suspenseful, Mason’s story crystallizes an adolescent boy’s joys and fears as he comes into his own. Ages 8–12. Agent: Miriam Altshuler, DeFiore and Co. (Jan.)

In this sensitively written novel, Connor introduces a learning-disabled 12-year-old who will warm readers’ hearts and earn their respect with his honesty and compassion. Poignant and suspenseful, Mason’s story crystalizes an adolescent boy’s joys and fears as he comes into his own.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Connor expertly captures the camaraderie of Calvin and Mason. A poignant underdog tale that will resonate with many young readers.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

“In a moving first-person narrative, Connor reveals a remarkably distinct and memorable character. [T]he author weaves the back story into a narrative of redemption chronicling his growing friendships. Connor’s gift for creating complex characters extends to the supporting characters and makes this a compelling read.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Connor’s portrayal of Mason is spot-on, and the seventh-grader’s honesty shines through as his greatest attribute. Laced throughout the story, and evident at the end, is hope for a brighter future, both for the entire family and the community. A thoughtful look at human nature, resilience, and love.”   — Booklist

“Mason’s voice is honest and true, and the multifaceted characters both enrich and propel the narrative.” — Horn Book Magazine

“Could I love a character more than I love Mason Buttle? Nope. Could this book have captured my heart any more? Impossible.” — Barbara O’Connor, author of How to Steal a Dog and Wish

“A book that breaks your heart and heals it—all in one. Mason’s story is brilliantly told. This is an astonishing book!” — Kirby Larson, author of Newbery Honor title, Hattie Big Sky and the Audacity Jones series

“Mason’s astonishing voice will grab you from the first page, as he demonstrates how children with learning disabilities who ‘think outside the box’ can find brilliant ways to survive bullying, be a good friend, and save their families.” — Cammie McGovern, author of Just My Luck and Chester and Gus

"Rich, moving, and redemptive, The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle will immerse readers from the first page to the last and is certain to linger with them for a long time to come." — Books to Borrow . . . Books to Buy

Could I love a character more than I love Mason Buttle? Nope. Could this book have captured my heart any more? Impossible.

Mason’s astonishing voice will grab you from the first page, as he demonstrates how children with learning disabilities who ‘think outside the box’ can find brilliant ways to survive bullying, be a good friend, and save their families.

A book that breaks your heart and heals it—all in one. Mason’s story is brilliantly told. This is an astonishing book!”

Mason’s voice is honest and true, and the multifaceted characters both enrich and propel the narrative.

"Rich, moving, and redemptive, The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle will immerse readers from the first page to the last and is certain to linger with them for a long time to come."

Connor’s portrayal of Mason is spot-on, and the seventh-grader’s honesty shines through as his greatest attribute. Laced throughout the story, and evident at the end, is hope for a brighter future, both for the entire family and the community. A thoughtful look at human nature, resilience, and love.”  

Connor’s portrayal of Mason is spot-on, and the seventh-grader’s honesty shines through as his greatest attribute. Laced throughout the story, and evident at the end, is hope for a brighter future, both for the entire family and the community. A thoughtful look at human nature, resilience, and love.”  

"Rich, moving, and redemptive, The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle will immerse readers from the first page to the last and is certain to linger with them for a long time to come."

Could I love a character more than I love Mason Buttle? Nope. Could this book have captured my heart any more? Impossible.

★ 11/01/2017
Gr 5–7—Calvin Chumsky, a brilliant seventh grader and the only friend of Mason Buttle, says, "The Universe is amazing. It knows what we want. And sometimes… it hands it over like a gift." Maybe so, but the Universe isn't kind to Mason Buttle. He is a large boy who has severe dyslexia and overactive sweat glands. He is plagued by two neighborhood boys who call Mason stupid and pelt him with lacrosse balls and mushy apples. One boy, Matt, not only mistreats Mason but beats up his own dog, who prefers Mason. Worse than the constant ragging is the memory of a tragedy that happened two years ago: Mason's best friend fell off a broken ladder to his death. Lieutenant Laird has hounded Mason ever since to remember more about the accident. Mason finds his comfort in his broken-down house, the secret hideout he and Calvin create, and a school room monitored by a caring social worker. Mason's family and friends have their own misdeeds and insecurities. Uncle Drum has sold off many acres of the family's apple orchards. Instead of working, he spends his days in a diner. Shayleen, a runaway, tries to fill her life with stuff bought on a shopping network. Connor expertly captures the camaraderie of Calvin and Mason, the overly permissive parenting of Matt's mother, and the suspicious attitudes of the townspeople toward Matt after the accident. The final line in the books says it all: "Knowing what you love is smart." VERDICT A poignant underdog tale that will resonate with many young readers.—Lillian Hecker, Town of Pelham Public Library, NY

Narrator Andrew Eiden's slow pace and soft tone perfectly depict the character of 12-year-old Mason Buttle. The rhythm in Eiden's narration captures Mason's storytelling voice, which is punctuated with the periodic refrain, "I'll tell you what." Listeners will be captivated by Mason's sincerity and gentleness. Eiden's low-key inflections suggest these shining qualities as Mason adopts an attitude that minimizes his learning disabilities, the death of his mother, his grandparents' unspoken grief, and the bullying of a neighbor. All these take a back seat to his frustration with his profuse sweating and his confusion about the police lieutenant who believes he's responsible for the death of his best friend. Eiden deftly portrays Mason's bewilderment and his gradual understanding of how he is perceived by the world, as well as the humanity of those who support his tender spirit. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

★ 2017-10-01
Under a cloud of suspicion after the death of his best friend, a boy with a "trifecta of troubles" continues as best he can.Lt. Baird is sure seventh-grader Mason Buttle knows more about the death of Benny Kilmartin than the story he's told over and over. Now he's writing it, with the help of speech-recognition software in the school social worker's office (a process that is reproduced with unlikely accuracy). In a moving first-person narrative, Connor reveals a remarkably distinct and memorable character. Loyal and good-natured, Mason is large for his age, highly dyslexic, abnormally sweaty, and the regular target of bullying neighbor boys. He feels his emotions as colors—green for stress, shades of pink for happiness. There hasn't been much pink in Mason's life in the 16 months since Benny's accidental death, but now there's a new friend, tiny Calvin Chumsky, and the bullying neighbor's dog, Moonie, who prefers Mason. Using Mason's conversations with the detective and his voice-to-text storytelling, the author weaves the back story into a narrative of redemption chronicling his growing friendships. The climactic revelation reveals the gaps in everyone's understanding of the event and propels his struggling, white, apple-farming family—grandmother, unemployed uncle, and the stray, shopping-addicted young woman his uncle brought home—to make some needed changes. Connor's gift for creating complex characters extends to the supporting characters and makes this a compelling read. (Fiction. 9-14)