The characters in The Fallen Star don't always tell each other the truth, though this doesn't necessarily signal bad intentions. Alex and Aislin are keeping Gemma's mother's disappearance when she was four and the fact that her emotions were taken away a secret, and Sophia and Marco don't tell Gemma anything about her past, not even the fact that she has a star lodged inside of her.
Gemma isn't the only one being lied to, though, and for her part, she isn't entirely forthcoming with Alex about her emotions and visions. Even though she trusts him for the most part, she still feels like there are some mysteries that she needs to sort through alone.
Now that we think about it, we're not sure anyone tells the whole truth and nothing but the truth in this book. Well, except Laylen. He's the straightest shooter, we're thinking.
Questions About Lies and Deceit
- Why won't Alex and Aislin tell Gemma about when her mother disappeared? Do they have the same reasons or do they have different motives in some ways?
- Why do you think Laylen is so much more willing to tell Gemma the truth? Are there things they have in common that inspire him? If so, what?
- Do you think that Gemma forgives Sophia and Marco for lying to her all these years? Why or why not?
- Do you think that Gemma can trust Alex even though he's Stephan's son? Why or why not?
Chew on This
Alex thinks that he's protecting Gemma by not telling her the whole truth about her past, but she feels like he's being an untrustworthy traitor by keeping stuff from her.
Gemma resents Sophia and Marco for not being more loving with her, but she resents them even more for lying to her about her past and refusing to talk about her parents. If they're not going to love her, she should at least know more about the people who did love and care about her.