When It's Time to Tell the Truth

There's one more thing this book is really about, but it's more of a side issue. Remember Gertrude's kindly uncle Dake? Yeah, Gertrude kind of put him into a bind. Because, see, she is kind of plain. But to tell her so would be cruel.

And here we have an interesting ethical dilemma all kids will inevitably face: when do you tell the truth because something is true, and when do you hold back to spare someone's feelings?