Best Friends…Forever? Reading Guide: Session 3

       This week we read chapters 7-9 for next time. (The previous sessions can be found here: www.krystenlindsay.com/reading-guide.html.)

     In chapter 7, Landry goes to the bus stop and is eager to tell her friends Ericka and Tori about getting to hang out with the guy she likes at the basketball game. How does she feel after talking to them? Then she sits with Ashanti on the bus who has a different reaction to Landry’s news as well as how Tori and Ericka reacted to her news. What do you notice about the different ways the girls react? Have you ever been in a situation where you were excited to share news with a friend, but they made you feel like it wasn’t a big deal and maybe even made you doubt yourself? Think back to when your friends share things with you. Do you always listen and show enthusiasm? How do your friends react to your good news?

            In chapter 8, Landry and Devon are talking about Devon’s night at the next basketball game. How does Landry react when she hears Vladi asked about her? Does she listen to Devon and ask how she was feeling?

        Later, Landry talks to her mom about relationship as she wonders how often guys who like you get in contact. How does she react to hearing her Dad still messages her mom every day? Did that surprise you or not and why? Ashanti also gets a call or message every day from Jay. What does that tell you about their relationships?

            At the end of the chapter Landry, India, Peyton, and Devon go shopping and find the crystal butterfly necklaces. The girls talk about all getting one together and Landry immediately says she’s going to save up and get Ashanti one, too, for her birthday. If you read the first book, True Colors, what does this necklace scene have in common with the best friend bracelet scene and what is different about it? Have you ever had a best friend accessory with someone? Write about your experience as we’ll talk more about it in the upcoming sessions.

            In chapter 9, Landry gets put in a difficult position when she and Peyton run into India who is hanging out with the boy that Devon likes. India asks her not to say anything about it to Devon, but Landry feels Devon deserves the truth…and then it all backfires. How did you feel reading the scene where Landry overhears Devon and India turning Peyton against her? Landry did what she felt was right, but now it’s being turned and used against her.

      Have you ever been in a situation like this? Maybe a friend asked you to keep a secret, but you didn’t think it was right to keep that info from someone it could hurt. Write about a time you went through something like that. Would you do anything different if you could do it all over again?

            At the end of the chapter Landry has Thalia over to spend the night. How is this different from when she hangs out with her other friends? Why do you think she picked Thalia and why do you think they played with her old doll from when she was younger?

Behind the scenes: I felt sick when I wrote the scene where Landry overhears Devon and India talking to Peyton because I lived through something similar. The situation was different, but I brought all those emotions to the scene and you know what? I even felt ill rereading it! There were a few times where people have put me in an uncomfortable position by asking me to keep information to myself that could potentially hurt someone. When I was in school, I overheard that there were some people talking about a friend. I wasn’t there, but the people who told me were honest people and what they heard was pretty mean-spirited stuff. So later, when that friend asked if I heard those friends talked about her, I told her the truth. And just like with Landry the very people doing the wrong thing twisted it to make me look like I was trying to cause trouble. It went very badly for me and when I made the mistake of saying there were witnesses…hoo boy did that make it worse!

I wrote all those cringe-y feelings into that scene because I want you to know I have been there and you know what? I wouldn’t do anything different. I told the truth and I stuck to it. Recently someone asked me not to tell someone and I said that they should tell the person themselves. There are times when there are little secrets that aren’t a big deal, but in cases where people’s feelings could get hurt then what do you do? Always look to the truth because when you look back on it, you won’t regret doing the right thing.

Years ago, I admit I did wish I had kept my mouth shut and then people wouldn’t have gotten mad at me. It was pretty awful and it left scars—I mean, I remembered it well enough to use those emotions in a book! But I now look back and wonder if the girl in question didn’t go along with the other ones pretending I was trying to cause trouble because it was easier to go along with them saying I had made it up to cause trouble than to admit the truth—that people she trusted were talking badly about her. Looking back on it, I can see how painful that must have been for her to find out the truth.  So yes, I have been there, and it didn’t go well for me back then, but I can safely tell you to hold onto your integrity and you won’t regret it.

Read chapters 10-13 for next time. The previous sessions can be found here: www.krystenlindsay.com/reading-guide.html

 
   

Pick up the Books Here