Reimagining Young Adult Literature: Bishhal Paull's "The Liar Among Us" Set to Reshape the Youth Literature Landscape
The much-anticipated young adult novel, "The Liar Among Us," by Bishhal Paull, is set to be released this Diwali. Published by Bloomsbury and represented by Preeti Chaturvedi's The Sunflower Seeds, this intriguing book promises to delve into themes that resonate with teenagers worldwide.
Set in a fictional elite boarding school in the Sikkim valleys, "The Liar Among Us" revolves around the tension between truth and lie, courage and conformity, and the blurry line between honesty and survival. The novel follows students navigating ambition, loyalty, and fear while a darker current drawn from regional lore rises around them.
Bishhal Paull, a well-known marketing wizard, has spent years collecting stories and translating them into living, contemporary narratives. The author's focus is not on long readings or boring book signings but on creating an arena for teenagers to experiment, question, and make choices.
The book includes collaborations with BookTok/Bookstagram voices and offers classroom-ready micro-prompts, making it an engaging read for both students and educators. Shareable artifacts from the school labs are also included, adding an extra layer of immersion.
Paull's aim is to help a generation of Indian teens see themselves in a mythic mirror that reflects home. "The Liar Among Us" marks a rare mainstream platform for North-Eastern storytelling, with references gathered from the region's oral traditions, landscapes, and everyday speech.
As for the clues for Book 2, according to the author, they are "in plain sight, just not where you're looking." The seeds for Book 2 are hinted to be planted inside the first book, adding an element of mystery and intrigue for eager readers.
To further engage readers, Paull will start an extensive book tour in India and select international markets in November 2025, visiting schools with interactive, classroom-friendly experiences. These experiences include folklore therapy sessions, improv storytelling gigs, theatrical debates, writing labs, and more.
The aesthetic of the book's campaign art incorporates thangka-inspired motifs, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the region.
While there is no publicly available information about which schools have registered to participate in the interactive exams starting November 2025 in India and selected international markets, it's clear that "The Liar Among Us" is set to be more than just a book—it's an experience.
So, get ready to immerse yourself in the Himalayan stories and moral questions that teenagers wrestle with every day. "The Liar Among Us" officially hits shelves on October 14, 2025.
