The Truth About My Success
on Goodreads (235)
What’s inside...
The Prince and the Pauper meets Trading Places, but with modern teenagers and Dyan Sheldon's unique deadpan humour! Paloma Rose is a 16-year-old TV star whose bad behavior threatens to end her show and the lavish lifestyle it supports for her family and agent. In a twist of fate, her agent replaces her with Oona Giness, a lookalike from a run-down neighborhood. While Paloma is sent to a desert boot camp, Oona tries to handle the pressures of Hollywood. However, once Paloma discovers the switch, she escapes and seeks revenge, leading to unexpected outcomes for both girls.
Age
12-17
Length
352 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Paloma Rose
Oona Ginness
Discussion points
What do you think are the biggest challenges Paloma faces when she switches lives with her assistant? How would you handle similar situations?
How do the characters in the book learn to understand and appreciate each other's differences? Can you think of a time when you learned something important from someone who was different from you?
The book explores the idea of success. What does success mean to you? Do you think it's the same for everyone?
How do the characters change by the end of the story? What do you think caused these changes?
If you could switch lives with someone for a day, who would it be and why? What do you think you would learn from the experience?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think about the characters' perspectives and the choices they make. Ask them how they might feel or act if they were in a similar situation.
Discuss the concept of success and what it means in different contexts. This can be a great way to understand your child's aspirations and fears.
Use examples from the book to talk about empathy and understanding. Highlight moments where characters learn from each other.
After reading, ask your child to imagine a continuation of the story or an alternate ending. This encourages creative thinking and deeper engagement with the story’s themes.
Focus on the character development throughout the book to help your child analyze behavior and motivations, enhancing their analytical skills.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of honesty
Explanation: The protagonist in the story learns the hard way that deception and lying only lead to more complications. By impersonating someone else, she faces numerous challenges that could have been avoided with honesty.
Real-World Application: Children can learn from this narrative to always be truthful in their actions and words, thereby building trust and respect in their personal relationships and at school.
Example Lesson: Understanding true friendship
Explanation: Throughout the book, the main character discovers who her real friends are – not the ones attracted to fame and fortune, but those who support and care for her no matter the circumstances.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children assess their own friendships and encourage them to value and nurture relationships that are supportive and genuine.
Example Lesson: The value of hard work and determination
Explanation: The story showcases how the protagonist's success is directly correlated with her efforts and perseverance, despite the initial glitz and glamor that may seem appealing.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply this understanding to their studies, hobbies, or any tasks, learning that success often follows dedication and labor, rather than taking shortcuts.
Example Lesson: Self-acceptance and the dangers of envy
Explanation: The character's journey includes learning to be comfortable and confident in her own skin, rather than envying others and seeking validation through disguise.
Real-World Application: This lesson is crucial for children in developing healthy self-esteem and learning to appreciate their unique qualities without comparing themselves to others.
Example Lesson: Consequences of stereotyping and judging others
Explanation: In the book, the protagonist is often judged by her appearance and the persona she adopts, which leads to misunderstandings and misplaced trust.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the importance of not judging others based on appearances or hearsay, promoting inclusivity and understanding in their interactions.