By Geraldine McCaughrean (author)
"Corruption, fake news and environmental disaster are at the centre of this darkly comic adventure"
Paperback Not Available
View All Editions (1)
Longlisted for the UKLA Book Award 2022 ages 11-14 | May 2021 Book of the Month
Despite being set in the 1920’s in the imaginary country of Afalia, this stunning and inventive story, from twice Carnegie medal winning author McCaughrean, has powerful messages about the current state of politics, big business and environmental exploitation in our world and most loudly of all about the need for reliable and independent news sources.
The story is partly revealed by facsimile newspaper cuttings and it is fascinating to see the progression from real information to manipulation of popular opinion by ruthless and deadly corrupt officials. Gloria, a naive 15-year-old maid to the Suprema, Alfalia’s ruler, is at the heart of the story.
As flooding and disaster threaten to overwhelm the country, the Suprema runs away, and Gloria is inveigled by the Suprema’s husband into temporarily impersonating her. As they discover the full extent of the corruption and misinformation, they face an uphill battle to save lives and stand up for what is right.
Meanwhile a second narrative follows the fate of people in the neglected North (in another real life parallel) and a dog’s epic quest to find his boy. The canine conversations are just one of the pleasures provided in this multi-layered narrative populated by such a vivid cast of characters and with so many twists and turns keeping the reader enthralled.
Ultimately the novel demonstrates the resilience of man and nature and the ability of people to do the right thing given half a chance. This really is vintage McCaughrean and highly recommended.
As our Guest Editor on LoveReading4Kids, Geraldine McCaughrean tells us more about The Supreme Lie and her other brilliant novels.
Multi award-winning author Geraldine McCaughrean has written her most timely and acutely prescient novel to date. The Supreme Lie, set in a world paralysed by natural disaster and dangerous politics, tackles contemporary themes about governments lying in the face of a disaster, how easily ordinary people can be manipulated through fear and how the media can be controlled to suit those in power.
Read the full description
Fifteen-year-old Gloria is maid to Afalia's tyrannical Head of State, Madame Suprema. When the country is hit by unprecedented flooding, Madame Suprema runs away, fearing she will be blamed for the crisis. To cover up this cowardly act, Gloria is made to step into Madame Suprema's shoes and is thrust into a world of corrupt and desperate politicians.
As Gloria becomes aware of the forces toying with her every move, she must take decisions that could save, or end, thousands of lives - including her own...
The mind of Geraldine McCaughrean is one of the great natural wonders of our universe. - Philip Reeve, author of Mortal Engines
A stunning new novel by one of our finest writers for the young. - Tim Bowler, author of River Boy
Unusual, compelling, ambitious; a visual feast of the imagination. - John McLay, Literary Scout
A vintage McCaughrean to savour! - Joy Court, UKLA & The School Librarian
Extraordinary, rich and wonderful! - Julia Green, author of The Children of Swallow Fell
Geraldine McCaughrean is one of today's most successful and highly regarded children's authors. She has won the Carnegie Medal, the Whitbread Children's Book Award (three times), the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, the Smarties Bronze Award (four times) and the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award. Geraldine lives in Berkshire with her husband, daughter and golden retriever, Daisy. Read more about the author here .
Anne Fine on Geraldine McCaughrean:
'I reckon Geraldine McCaughrean knocks the socks off every other children's writer today. Everything she does is different and everything works – look at her list of prizes. She must write in tremendous bursts. Some years, she's so prolific the rest of us start joking that the fairies come in at night to do her work for her. Then she'll go quiet, so unlike all those writers who are persuaded by their publishers to come up with something every year, no matter how tired or drab. If Geraldine has nothing fresh to write, she doesn't write it.' ( The Guardian )
We've got some great stuff related to this book in our KidsZone. Head over there and check it out now.
Best Children's Books of 2021
UKLA Book Awards - 2022
Geraldine McCaughrean - our Guest Editor of the Month
UKLA Book Awards 2022
the best books for 9-12 year olds · the best books for teenagers
Stranger Things: The Dustin Experiment
We Do Not Welcome Our Ten-Year-Old Overlord
The Girl Who Broke the Sea
An epic and twisting read set in a fictional world where disaster waits just outside the city walls. A smart, moving book with characters you can root for.
Set in the fictional world of Afalia, this book is an epic tale following the adventures of a maid, Gloria, as she steps into the shoes of the region’s leader Madame Suprema. The story flicks between Gloria’s point of view and the inhabitants of The Wetlands, often seen through the eyes of Heinz the dog.
When Afalia begins to flood, tensions rise and loyalties are tested. There are so many twists and turns in The Supreme Lie and you never quite know who you can trust. There are some funny elements amongst the drama and the characters are likeable, particularly those of the canine variety.
The world that McCaughrean has built is wholly believable and the issues that are brought up are relevant to our society today.... Read Full Review
This is a YA novel that defies description being a mix of adventure, dystopia and fantasy, and like many of McCaughrean’s novels is slightly bizarre and multifaceted; lots for the reader to think about and discuss with issues relevant to society today.
When Afalia’s ruler, Madame Suprema, disappears after unprecedented floods threaten not only the country but also the capital, Praesto, her husband decides to pass off her maid, 15-year old Gloria, as the leader. There ensures a tale of political corruptness full of twists and turns, not to mention biased reporting, misinformation and mass media scare-mongering – a familiar landscape given the world in 2021 – and throughout all this meandering is the sub-plot of a rather endearing dog searching for his family.... Read Full Review
A brilliant book that made me chuckle and made me cry, and made me, more than ever, wish I owned a dog.
Geraldine McCaughrean is an expert story spinner, and The Supreme Lie is no exception. Although the world she has created is not our own, the people in it are affected by many of the same issues we are, most notably climate change and media misinformation.
When the protagonist, Gloria, is suddenly and unceremoniously ‘promoted’ from maid to Suprema (the Afalian equivalent of Prime Minister), she finds herself plunged into a world of danger, lies and intrigue. As the book progresses her character develops from a naïve girl to a young adult with an awareness that people are not always kind and that politicians and newspapers don’t always tell the truth.... Read Full Review
Multi award-winning author Geraldine McCaughrean has written her most timely and acutely prescient novel to date. The Supreme Lie, set in a world paralysed by natural disaster and dangerous politics, tackles contemporary themes about governments lying in the face of a disaster, how easily ordinary people can be manipulated through fear and how the media can be controlled to suit those in power. Fifteen-year-old Gloria is maid to Afalia's tyrannical Head of State, Madame Suprema.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Supreme Lie and determined it is suitable for children aged 11-14 years old
The Supreme Lie features in the following genres: Adventure Stories, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Books of the Month, Recommendations, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Politics, Law, Philosophy & Ethics, Work / Industry, Children’s / Teenage: General interest, Books Reviewed by our Reader Review Panels, Science Fiction, Star Books, Featured Books for 13+ readers
Paperback. £8.09, down from the £8.99 cover price. Not Available.
The Supreme Lie was written by Geraldine McCaughrean and published by Usborne Publishing Ltd
The Supreme Lie has 406 pages
£8.09, reduced from £8.99. Not Available.
©PTC International Ltd T/A LoveReading is registered in England. Company number: 10193437. VAT number: 270 4538 09. Registered address: 157 Shooters Hill, London, SE18 3HP. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer
The National Year of Reading starts here. Join thousands of families and schools supporting reading for pleasure across the UK.