No Filter and Other Lies
Thoughtful novel about social media, family, authenticity.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Crystal Maldonado's No Filter and Other Lies tackles complicated family relationships, social media obsession, and authenticity. Seventeen-year-old Kat Sanchez is a fat, bisexual, Puerto Rican American girl who loves social media and constantly looks at the number of followers she and her friends have. She creates a fake Instagram profile and catfishes a girl she meets online. Characters get into a fistfight at a party. There's also one use of a gun emoji. Strong language includes variations of "s--t," "f--k," "stupid," "ass," "idiot," "bitch," and "douchebag." Characters also use Spanish swear words. There are a few instances of underage characters drinking beer and Tito's. Diverse representations include Puerto Rican American, African American, bisexual, and lesbian characters.
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What's the Story?
NO FILTER AND OTHER LIES tells the story of 17-year-old Kat Sanchez, a fat, Puerto Rican American girl who loves social media and constantly compares her and her friends' number of followers. Kat is a talented photographer but doesn't understand why her art isn't appreciated online until she creates a fake identity on Instagram using photos of her thin, White friend, which Kat knows will go viral. However, things get complicated when Kat's alter ego befriends a follower named Elena. Can Kat keep up with all the lies, or will she come clean before it's too late?
Is It Any Good?
Crystal Maldonado's thoughtful tale tackles complicated family relationships, social media obsession, and authenticity. Kat is a flawed character, and many of her actions throughout No Filter and Other Lies come off as selfish. But Kat isn't just lying online to fit in; she also has to lie every day and pretend she's part of the picture-perfect family on her mom's social media accounts. It's heart-wrenching to see how her mom's actions online and IRL hurt Kat, but it's even more frustrating that Kat thought it would be OK to use someone else's face to keep catfishing another. However, readers will be satisfied with the resolution, which proves that there are consequences for your actions. As Kat tries to make sense of the mess she's made, teens will realize that social media doesn't define their self-worth and understand the importance of communication, honesty, integrity, and staying true to themselves.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how social media and body image are represented in No Filter and Other Lies. What effect do they have on Kat's self-esteem and self-identity?
Are you or other teens you know social media-obsessed? Find out how to manage media use and ease social media anxiety.
Talk about the various kinds of diversity in the novel. Why are diverse representations important in children's and young adult literature?
How do the characters demonstrate communication and integrity? Why are these important character strengths?
Book Details
- Author: Crystal Maldonado
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
- Topics: High School
- Character Strengths: Communication, Integrity
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Holiday House
- Publication date: February 8, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 17
- Number of pages: 336
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: May 6, 2022
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