This Time It's Real
on Goodreads (22,974)
What’s inside...
This Time It's Real by Ann Liang explores themes of love, trust, and human relationships through the story of a protagonist trying to navigate a new relationship that feels different from past ones. As they encounter emotional and practical challenges, they must decide if they can trust this new love to be real. Alongside, When 16-year-old Eliza Lin fabricates a viral personal essay about her love life, she gains fame and opportunities but struggles to maintain her facade when she asks a classmate, Caz, to pose as her boyfriend. As their fake relationship becomes more real, Eliza faces a crisis of conscience about her dreams and her heart.
Age
11-12
Length
337 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Eliza Lin
Caz Song
Discussion points
How did the characters' emotions change throughout the story and what caused these changes?
When has there been a time in your own life that felt similar to what the characters experienced?
What do you think the main message or lesson of the story was, and why is it important?
If you could give advice to one of the characters, what would you tell them and why?
How do you think the story would change if it happened in our town?
Tip: Role play these questions
Show genuine interest in their thoughts and feelings about the book to encourage open communication.
Use the characters’ experiences to relate to your child’s own life, helping them connect personally with the story.
Discuss the moral or lesson of the story and why it matters, emphasizing its relevance to everyday life.
Encourage your child to think critically by asking what they might have done differently if they were in the characters’ shoes.
Create a fun and relaxed reading environment that makes discussing the book something your child looks forward to.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding emotions
Explanation: The book explores the protagonist's journey through various emotional challenges, helping the reader identify and understand different feelings.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to recognize and articulate their own emotions, leading to better emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.
Example Lesson: Value of honesty
Explanation: Characters in the story face consequences for dishonesty, while truthful actions lead to positive outcomes, underscoring the importance of being honest.
Real-World Application: Kids are encouraged to practice honesty in their daily interactions, which helps build trust with peers and adults.
Example Lesson: Importance of friendship
Explanation: The story portrays strong bonds between characters, showing how true friends support and uplift each other.
Real-World Application: Children learn to value and nurture friendships, which is essential for social development and emotional support.
Example Lesson: Resilience in adversity
Explanation: The protagonist overcomes obstacles and learns from failures, highlighting resilience.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to persevere in difficult situations, fostering a growth mindset and problem-solving skills.
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding
Explanation: Characters learn to see situations from others’ perspectives, promoting empathy.
Real-World Application: Children can apply empathy in real life, improving their ability to understand and interact with others differently.