The Truth Game

The Dirt Diary #4

by Anna Staniszewski

The truth is more than just a game.

1.Do you have a best friend? That's one easy. Yes!
2. Have you ever had a fight with your BF? Ugh. Yes.
3. Have you ever told your BF a major lie? Ugh again. Yes. (More than I'd like to count)
4. Do you ever wish you were best friends with someone else? No! Well, um...

Rachel Lee thought that ninth grade would be different. That she would be different. Holding hands with Evan in the hallway, future president of the baking club... but it feels like she and BFF Marisol are drifting apart. At first, Rachel thought the Truth Game app would be a great way to do a little anonymous confessing, to see how others handle their friendship fails. But when her painful truths become public, Rachel's in danger of losing her best friend – permanently.

Praise for award-winning Author Anna Staniszewski's The Dirt Diary series:
"Staniszewski keeps the focus on comedy... Gentle fun laced with equally gentle wisdom." –Kirkus
"Rachel's situation and feelings ring true...This realistic read is likely to appeal to middle schoolers and reluctant readers." -School Library Journal
"I LOVED it...sweet, sensitive, and delicious!" -Erin Dionne, author of Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies

Don't miss the other books in this hilarious series about friendship, first crushes and sweet treats: The Dirt Diary, The Prank List, and The Gossip File.

Genres: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Teen, Childrens, Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 3, 2016

About the author

Anna Staniszewski lives in the Boston area and teaches in the MFA Writing for Children Program at Simmons University. She's the author of over twenty books for young readers, including the The Dirt Diary series and Clique Here series, the picture books DOGOSAURUS REX and BEAST IN SHOW, and the Once Upon a Fairy Tale chapter book series. You can visit Anna at www.annastan.com or follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/annastanisz.

Reviews

[Ravenclaw251 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick cute read. :)

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay. I am not going to lie. I just adore these cheesy little books. They remind me of sitting on the coach in my pjs with my Fosters on Netflix...lighthearted drama fun.

Rachel makes some teen mistakes that are good lessons for kids in this one. They are pretty PG but still teach a great lesson in how sometimes things can blow up without us thinking about it. I like that we are growing up with Rachel and the issues are growing up with her in each book. I enjoy these.

[blaize ! · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

okay so when i first started i really thought it could be a contender for the best in the series. but just like the first one, the ending fell a bit flat. i still had fun and it’s a quick read but this just solidifies the prank list as required reading <3

[Nick Pes]

The book follows the miserable life of Rachel Lee. When she thought everything was going smooth, bam! The cooking club turns upside down, everybody doubting her. She doesn't even know if Evan, her boyfriend, still likes her. And worst of all, her only friend, Marisol, breaks up with her. Can she piece her life back together?

This book was very easy to read, but very enjoyable. I would give this to a 5th grader or a 6th grader.

[•abigail• · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! It was so interesting from start to finish and I’m surprised that I finished it this quick!

[Edilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this book is about Rachel. She works at a bakery. Her boyfriend's twin sister, Briana works also at the bakery. While Rachel is working, Briana was just playing on her phone. After that, Rachel found out that Briana was playing a game called The Truth Game. It's a game where you could do a little anonymous confessing. So, Rachel also tried to play The Truth Game. Rachel has been posting bad things about her best friend, Marisol and her boyfriend Evan. She wrote how Marisol wasn't been there for her and how she doesn't have time for her. Rachel also wrote how bad the kissed she had with Evan. After what Rachel posted, Evan and Marisol were mad at Rachel. Her life change because of The Truth Game app. I like this book a lot because it teaches me a lesson that you have to think before you do something because there can be consequences when you make the wrong choice.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

this plot would have been made imposible if it started out with the teenagers watching a documentary about Big Tech in Silicon Valley and realizing that nothing is ever private online

[Jayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book The Truth Game was a great read. This book has a lot of things that some teens today can relate to. Rachel Lee goes through lots of problems, some being that there's no cooking clubs, she doesn't know if her boyfriend still likes her, just gets suked into the things that other people are doing, and her only friends stops being friends with her. I know as a teen that most of these things in the book can be very relatable which for me makes it even more interesting to read. Once I started reading it was hard to find a stopping point and put the book down. While Rachel works at the bakery her coworker introduced her to the game called The Truth Game. This game had her answering questions which made her put bad things out there about her friends and even her boyfriend. Although it was anonymous people can narrow it down and start to find out that it was her and about her friends and the people who cared for her. This book was an awesome read and I would definitely read another book written by Anna Staniszewski again.

[Aleta · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars.

[lotus ✧˚ · . · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a High Schooler who battles through her way of drama. {SPOILER ALERT}- The main character is Rachel Lee, who gets into an app where you have to type in the the answers to specific questions (like "Have you ever argued with your friend). Everyone can see her answers but she uses a screen name so no one would know it was her when she answered a big question (like "Do you wish you could have a new friend?"). Suddenly, the app gets hacked and her true name is displayed, and people start becoming against each other. Rachel realizes that she could lose her best friend forever.

[Hailee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about Rachel going to 9thgrade and she thought it would be all great but it doesn't go the way she wanted it to go. Her best friend and she drifted apart. Also Rachel and her boyfriend Evan isn't doing well with each other . I like this book because I can relate to it, I drifted apart with one of my best friends when we got to seventh grade and I thought everything was going to go great in seventh grade but not everything went the way I thought it was going to go.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had a slow start so i wasn't into it at first. But about half way through it got more interesting.

[Ella K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a satisfying conclusion to the Dirt Diary series, and while I enjoyed it, the book differed from most of the books in the series. It was definitely a book that was set in high school, and some parts of the book were very relatable, especially when her dad embarrasses her in front of the entire school (my parents are pros at that) .
The book was very cringe-worthy in some parts, not because the writing was bad, but the things that happened were weird. I don't know if the entire book was completely realistic, but the writing and the way the story escalated was very satisfying and conclusive.
I'm sad that the book has to end because I've really enjoyed reading from Rachel's perspective. She's definitely a social outcast (sorry Rachel :}), which makes the book very entertaining. She's just grown so much throughout these books, and I can't believe that the book series is really over.
This book is slightly more mature than the others, so if you're a younger reader, I don't suggest that you read it unless you feel that you are mature enough. The first 3 books are okay for 9-11 (that's sorta a stretch- book 1 for sure is though), and 12 and older should be fine though.
Honestly, it's just a really good book series and I think that if you feel like you can read it, then you should just read it because that's what you feel like you can handle and read!
I love the ending scene a lot and I also love how her love of baking has always been an important factor in the book series, and especially this one.
thank you for reading, and be sure to check out this book!

[Kaleah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I gave "The truth game" a 4/5 stars, because I get bored super easily with books, but this one kept my attention the entire book! I loved the main character in this book, she was super relatable, especially with her being in high school, and going through a lot of the same things I am going through, and a lot of other high schoolers are too, I imagine. I love how this book also includes drama with friends, bullies, and boys. I think a lot of us can really relate to that stuff, no matter what grade or age you are. I also found this book really entertaining because Rachel, the main character, loves to cook, and I really enjoy cooking as well! I can totally 100% recommend this book to any other teenager/tweenager! The only reason I didn't give it a 5/5 was because i didn't love the best friends character and I sometimes had a hard time visualizing what was happening in the book, but that's probably my fault. I have really enjoyed reading this book, and i plan to read it again in the future! I really hope more people get the opportunity to read this amazing book full of creativity, relatable drama, and passion.

[Abby D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts out as the main chararcter (Rachel) is working at her bakery and school is starting for her soon. On her first day of school her dad shows up and with a little kid lunch box and she haven't seen her dad in years. In the book her boyfriends sister works at the same bakery but she never works, she is on her phone the whole time she is there. Rachel wanted to know what she was doing on her phone. She found out she was playing a game called the truth game. Rachel tried it out and Brianna said it was anonymous but someone hacked into the game and then some on Rachel's friends found out some bad things that Rachel said about them. The theme would be, don't do something that you think in the end will turn into something bad. I would recommend this book to anyone because this isn't just for certain people, it can be for many people.

[Logan Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book over the summer has been the only one I have wanted to read. Now I am doing a Independent Book Reading Project I am so excited because this book is on my reading level. This book is a good and realistic book because it talks about loosing your friends your significant other and your job. I haven't gone through most of those things but I have seen it happen. I love the author Anna Staniszewski.
I am going to go read the rest of her books. Hopefully I can get a hand copy because I read better that way. If you have not read this book yet go ahead. It is a really good book. ( as in obviously) But hopefully you read the book.
-Logan

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is advertised as "What happens when your 'anonymous' tell-all is leaked?" but it actually plays so little part of the book it's like clickbait (and also, apparently, the "anonymous " part is a lie, because how else would it cause drama unless you tagged your real name to it like a CHUMP).

It also read like the sequel of one or more books I missed, with lots of references to past shenanigans, which then makes sense when the author's note says, "I was done with the trilogy but y'all talked me into another!" ...that answers that, then!

Not a BAD book, but I don't know... it's unbelievable that even as a hobbyist baker she and two other inexperienced teens can throw together a tiered wedding cake in a couple of hours under the influence of panic, but whatever gets the Good Ending I guess?

[Lenea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book looked interesting. The main character was a little annoying. She thought she was more skilled/advanced than she was. She plays the truth game and all of the players' answers get leaked. I wish it would have been resolved, told who leaked them or how they got leaked. Theleaked answers caused problems between boyfriends and friends. All of the characters learn lessons which I guess is the point but I found a few of the characters annoying. I have to remember the target audience for this book and remember those are lessons we all have to learn. Decent read for a younger audience.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rachel seems more stuck up especially with baking, I did not like how rude she was to a professional baker. The Truth Game was a little dumb and quite frankly could be better without. Her in the end still getting to bake a cake and being on TV, yet still think the baker’s cake who has more experience and a professional due to actually owning a bakery is just a little stuck up. I understand it was her realizing it’s okay to make mistakes. She still felt like she already knew more basics but she did understand why she needed to improve. A great series this one was probably my least favorite

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good book…no cursing nothing bad at all (coming from a sheltered 15 year old who HATES spice) now…SPOILER ALERT…but it’s important to note the book does have kissing but it wasn’t described in a disturbing tummy wrenching (this is how the girls who get sick from reading spice feel) at all. It was actually juvenile so good on Anna. Wish she would make a 5th book but I don’t think it would feel good to her.

- That reader

Ps: I read this book non stop from 11:00pm to 2:00am so it’s not hard to read and it’s really short.

[Alexandria T · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very corny, but it was also very enjoyable. It was about this girl who was having major issues with her parents. Through out the book I really felt her emotions whenever something major happened. It was a quick and easy read which is not all that bad once and a while. Otherwise I recommend reading this book and the other ones that are before that.

[Rylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the book "The Truth Game." I would recommend this to you if you like books with lots of problems. The main character, Rachel, is going through a tough time. Her parents are divorced and her dad moved to Florida. Her mom wants to live with a new man named Robert. Rachel loves to bake and she wants to be on the show "Pastry Wars." I hope I have convinced you to read this book!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that this book was very entertaining. It really tells about what technology can do to our lives and proves that we can't always tell if we are anonymous. It also teaches us to follow our dreams like Rachel does for her cooking career. I thought this was an awesome book and would definitely recommend for others to read.

[Gianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty cute book. I enjoyed Rachel's character, and the supporting cast was pretty sweet too. It's your typical middle-grade, fluffy book, and it's an easy read if you want something quick and easy to pass the time.

[Nicole Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Truth Game is really good for teenage girls especially if you love drama. Rachel faces a lot of drama with her boyfriend, best friend, and her own family. Rachel works at a bakery in her home town and dreams of being a pastry chef. This book will definitely keep you on your toes!

[Callie]

I love this book. This series has been one of my favorites so far. I love all of the books in the Dirt Diary series. I just wish there were more books in the series, because took me 10 days to read the whole series so it was over to fast!

[Theresa Maiden · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute story. doesn't dig into the depths of revealing info on the supposedly anonymous web, but I enjoyed it. it would be a good recommendation to a lower level middle schooler

[Susan Reyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. it was much better than the first one in the series.

[Rhonda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok story for teens. Everything ended to nicely for me. I also was not happy to realize that this is a series and this is book 4

[Reni Krafft · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't even finish -- too full of tropes for me to complete.