True Colors Reading Activity: Session 8

           This past week we read chapters 21-23.  You can find the previous sessions all here: www.krystenlindsay.com/reading-guide.html

         In Chapter 21, Landry gets to be in a fashion show for a kiddie store called, Wee Fashions, which she thought was a fancy store called, Oui Fashions—whoops! But being in the show has brought out some different behavior in Devon. The next school day, Devon notices Landry not wearing the BFF bracelet and has something to say about it. Write about your reaction to that scene. How do you think Landry should have handled it?

            Thalia gets bullied in this chapter, but there’s also the way she’s treated by others that is more subtle, but still hurtful. Write or discuss your feelings on what happens to Thalia in the hallway.

            Chapter 22 features Landry’s birthday party and sleepover. There seems to be a clash of the old friends, the new friends, and also between the new friends. What do you notice about the way the girls all act at the party? Write down how you feel each one comes across and who you think is being a true friend in this scene.

              Notice the gifts Landry gets for her birthday and which person gave them to her. Who do you think knows her best based on the gift they give her for her birthday? 

            The final scene in chapter 22 between Devon and Landry has a lot of emotions going on in it. What do you think is really going on with Devon and why she is acting the way she is? How do you feel toward her? Does she remind you of any friends you have or had in the past?

            In chapter 23, Landry hangs out with Peyton and spends the night at her house. The situation is very different from the sleepover and her time at Tori’s as she’s able to talk to Peyton about her concerns with her parents and other things going on. What do you think of Landry’s friendship with Peyton?

            Landry deals with what feels like friendship wars between her new and old friends as well as between the new girls. Landry is changing and her friendships are, too. Based on what you’ve read in the book so far, which of the girls would you want to be friends with and why?

Behind the scenes: I used a lot of my own experiences for these chapters from that fashion show (I was thirteen at the time), to that birthday party (in 6th grade), to many of the other situations. At the time I was confused and worried about stepping on someone's toes and getting them mad at me. I look back at that time as the years I spent walking on eggshells. Yup, I said years. It makes me cringe now to think how I held back because people got mad at me when I did speak out. Have you ever felt that way?

                 Although I did hold a lot of things inside from that period, it did help me to learn how I did and did not want to be treated and I used those experiences to write this book to help others going through the same (or similar) experiences. Those experiences helped me to recognize how a true friend acts and how to be a better friend myself. If you are going through something like that, please find a trusted adult you can talk to and share your experience. You might want to journal about it and then show them what you wrote if that's easier for you than talking about it. 

       Read chapters 24-27 for next time! We're getting close to the end of book 1! The previous sessions can be found here: www.krystenlindsay.com/reading-guide.html

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