What does the story have to say about secrets? About the truth?

Over the course of the novel, Ben struggles with his decision to keep his coming death a secret. Keeping the secret is intended to protect the people he loves, but over time, he comes to understand that the secret might just be doing more damage than good. When Dallas opens up to Ben and tells him her own secret, she also addresses the fact that she hates lies above all else. She notes that truth goes hand in hand with trust, and that secrets eat people up inside.

Ben comes to understand that his secrecy is, in fact, depriving others of their chance to say goodbye to him. His conversation with Coach further confirms this feeling, as Coach shares that the most difficult part of dealing with his former girlfriend's death was the lack of closure.

Hey-Soos later makes a point of telling Ben that there is only one thing that's universal...... the truth. When Ben finally shares his secret, he learns that though life isn't easier...... it is much clearer. Truth brought Ben a sense of freedom. He no longer had to worry about remembering what he'd already said in order to keep his lies straight.

The quest for truth also becomes apparent in Ben's passion for academia. He stands up to his teacher and demands that they be taught the truth...... not a political agenda, and he points out that learning the truth of the past is the only true way to fix problems of the past and face the future.