Liar, Liar

In the final section of the narrative, Kevin finds himself at a crossroads in which Paulsen suggests that transformation requires full commitment—it can’t be done performatively or by halves. The crossroads archetype is a scenario in which a character must make a decision about an epiphany that results in change or penance. After his conversation with Markie, he decides to dial back the lying slightly, starting with coming clean to Katie. When that goes poorly, Kevin goes to the library and begins to list the ways he’s messed up or hurt those around him. The list sparks a realization about what he needs to do: admit everything, apologize, accept the consequences, and change his ways. Even in this crossroads moment, he doesn’t yet feel the full emotional weight of the lesson he’s learned about The Selfish Motives and Rationalizations of Lying. He’s confident enough to state: “I wasn’t going to panic just because things looked bad so bad so very very bad. Like the good general I knew I could be, I would take bold action, I would show no fear, I would stride, godlike, straight into the jaws of adversity” (96). It isn’t until his family confronts him in the final scene of the climax that Kevin truly understands The Consequences of Lying and the Importance of Honesty, evidenced by his sincere remorse for the ways in which he’s caused his family and friends pain. Paulsen’s descriptions of Kevin’s emotional vulnerability demonstrate how much guilt and anguish he’s experiencing.

The commitments Kevin makes in his crossroads moment—coming clean, accepting the consequences, changing his behavior—reveal the outcome of the story’s overarching conflict. While Kevin once prioritized his selfish interests over the needs of others, altruism has ultimately won out over selfishness. Based on Kevin’s past arrogance and tendency to rationalize his choices, Kevin will need more than words to truly transform. He must also act, accepting whatever consequences he faces when he admits all his lies. Kevin puts aside his pride to make amends with those he’s hurt. He also looks for silver linings—ways in which doing the right thing provides additional benefits for him—like when Coach Gifford makes him run laps every day as punishment and he thinks, “[W]ell, at least I’ll get really buff” (117). Kevin’s actions prove that he not only accepts the consequences of his actions but does so with humility and a positive attitude. Through his transformation, the novel offers a portrayal of Personal Growth and the Development of Integrity.

Kevin’s approach to his crossroads moment and his subsequent “Apology Tour” underscore his complexity as a round character and reinforce the traits that define him. He starts by making a written list of all the ways he’s messed up in the past week. He also gives his apology plan a name—the “Kevin Spencer Apology Tour” (101)—as if it’s a military operation. He conceptualizes the plan, or operation, in distinct phases; one phase for apologizing and a second phase for winning back trust and respect from his friends, teachers, and family. These details portray Kevin as logical and methodical. In general, when facing challenges, he’s guided by practicality rather than emotion or impulse. This fact lends extra weight and nuance to the times he does act impulsively and emotionally, like when he becomes infatuated with Tina and focuses all his attention on impressing her. A week of behaving out of character like this takes a toll on Kevin, along with the stress of dishonesty and the consequences of his lies. This toll helps explain why he feels such relief after making his list and writing all his apology letters, and it taps into the anxiety many teenagers feel during periods in which hormonal changes wreak havoc on their emotions.

In the story’s resolution, Paulsen uses a motif of books to symbolize the Spencer family’s sense of love and connection. Kevin’s mom finishes reading To Kill a Mockingbird to the family and starts a new book: The Source, by James Michener, which she tells the kids is a “watershed book” (118). It carries symbolic meaning on multiple levels. First, the kids remark that the book is “a bazillion pages” (119), yet they’re happy she chose it because it means spending more time together as a family. They’ve grown so accustomed to living separate lives and they miss shared activities and connectedness. The lengthy book symbolizes that renewed connection. The comment about it being a watershed book is also symbolic. A watershed moment describes a major turning point in a person’s life, which often provides new insights about themselves and humanity. For Kevin, the week of this story represents a watershed moment. He might have become a very different person if he never learned these lessons about honesty. He might have forever been a liar, instead of someone with integrity—someone trustworthy.