Author Donna Gephart
“Put aside the other books on your shelf. Read this one. Now. It will pierce your heart in the best possible way and linger there, changing you bit by bit.”
about “The True History of Lyndie B. Hawkins”
Lyndie
A one-of-a-kind voice lights up this witty, heartwarming southern debut set in 1985 Tennessee about Lyndie B. Hawkins, daughter of a veteran, whose love of history, especially family history, puts her in direct opposition to her fusspot grandmother who’d rather keep secrets than get her son the help he needs.
Q&A With The Author
Q: The description for “The True History of Lyndie B. Hawkins” suggests it tackles some pretty big questions. Can you talk about what inspired you to write a novel (especially one for a Middle Grade audience) about the difference between truth and appearances?
Gail: I come from a journalism background, so I have a lot of respect for the kind of vetting of information that reporters have to do.
In this book, Lyndie is trying to figure out what is true about her family while her grandmother is working just as hard to keep secrets.
I hope that kids will grow up to be the kinds of citizens who question and interrogate received wisdom. I hope this book will help them learn to do that.