All of This Is True
on Goodreads (3,927)
What’s inside...
Miri Tan, Soleil Johnston, and Penny Panzarella are friends who share a deep admiration for the author Fatima Ro. Each girl has her own personal connection and aspirations related to Fatima. Miri sees Fatima as an idol, Soleil hopes to learn from her as a budding writer, and Penny seeks validation beyond her party girl persona. When they begin spending time with Fatima and Jonah Nicholls, another fan, the lines between reality and fiction blur. Fatima manipulates their relationships and personal secrets for her own gain, leading to unforeseen consequences. The girls eventually realize the complexities of their entanglements with Fatima, and the impact of her deception on their lives.
Age
12-13
Length
432 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Miri Tan
Jonah Nicholls
Penny Panzarella
Soleil Johnston
Fatima Ro
Discussion points
How did the relationship between the characters affect their decisions throughout the story?
What are your thoughts on the consequences faced by the characters due to their actions?
Can you think of a time when a secret or truth affected your relationships? How did it make you feel?
What lessons can we learn about trust and friendship from this book?
How might the story have changed if the characters made different choices?
Tip: Role play these questions
Begin by sharing your interpretation of the book’s themes, and encourage your child to express their understanding.
Connect the book’s scenarios with real-life situations your child might encounter, making the discussion more relatable.
Ask your child to think about how they would have reacted in similar situations as the characters, fostering empathy and critical thinking.
Highlight the impact of each character's decisions to help your child understand cause and effect in relationships.
Encourage your child to discuss possible alternative endings to the story, stimulating their creativity and problem-solving skills.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The consequences of idolizing others
Explanation: In 'All of This Is True', the characters experience negative consequences from putting a celebrity author on a pedestal, leading them to compromise their own morals.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the importance of thinking critically about whom they admire and understanding that everyone has flaws, helping them form healthier, realistic relationships.
Example Lesson: Importance of honesty
Explanation: As the story unfolds, deceit among friends leads to betrayal and loss, highlighting how lies can destroy trust.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the value of honesty in building and maintaining trust in their personal relationships, promoting integrity in their actions.
Example Lesson: Impact of peer influence
Explanation: The teens in the book are heavily influenced by their peers and the author they adore, which affects their decision making.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children understand the importance of making independent choices and not being swayed by others, fostering a sense of personal responsibility and decision-making skills.
Example Lesson: Repercussions of sharing personal information
Explanation: Characters in the book suffer from sharing personal details with someone they trust, who then uses it against them.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to be cautious about sharing private information and the importance of discerning trust, which is crucial in the age of social media and digital communication.