Book Review: Tru Confessions by Janet Tashjian

Title: Tru Confessions

Author: Janet Tashjian

Genre: Realistic Middle Grade Fiction

Number of Pages: 176

Rating: B

Recommended?: Yes

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I’ve been curious about this book for years, but I probably wouldn’t have actually read it if I hadn’t found it on a ‘for free’ discard cart outside one of my local libraries. I didn’t like the only other book I read by Janet Tashjian (Multiple Choice) that much, but I thought Tru Confessions was super cute and had an endearing main character.

 

The protagonist is a bright pre-teen girl who aspires to have her own TV show, and she records her day-to-day life on a computer diary (since this book was published in 1997, the computers that are portrayed are extremely rudimentary and quaint.) Tru has a twin brother named Eddie who’s developmentally disabled, and she wants to find a cure for him because she thinks being of normal intelligence would make his life better.

 

Despite her occasional feelings of frustration and embarrassment, the story makes it abundantly clear how much she loves Eddie and how she would do anything for him. Their relationship is really sweet and I loved how she genuinely loved spending time with him, as his playmate and not just as a reluctant ‘caregiver.’

 

Some readers might be offended that Tru wants to ‘cure’ Eddie but I thought it was very normal considering her age and maturity level. The author’s unique format (which incorporates, among other things, lists and doodles ‘drawn’ by Tru’s brother. Despite the unfortunate title (based on my long-standing hatred of everything pun-related,) this book ended up winning me over.

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