93 pages • 3 hours read
One of Us is Lying
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Essay Topics
At the beginning of the book, Simon labels the four students in detention with him, then tells them they are “all walking teen-movie stereotypes” (3). In what ways does each character transcend that stereotype over the course of the novel? Use at least one specific example for each student in your discussion.
Mr. Avery complains that “technology is ruining American high schools” (7). Discuss whether you agree or disagree, using specific examples from One of Us is Lying as evidence.
Explore how family dynamics impact the way the four narrators see themselves, using at least one specific example from the text for each narrator.
Bronwyn points out that Simon’s gossip “was never wrong” (28). Jake takes the accuracy of Simon’s information to mean that gossip would not be a problem if his friends stopped “doing sneaky shit” (44). What is the novel’s message about what constitutes gossip and how to combat it?
Describe McManus’s use of foreshadowing and misdirection to create suspense and uncertainty about the identity of Simon’s murderer.
When Bronwyn first claims to feel remorse for having cheated in chemistry, Nate challenges her, saying, “Reality’s messier than that” (120). At what point does Bronwyn’s remorse become genuine, and what prompts it?
Explain Addy’s decision to cut off her hair after she and Jake break up. What does her hair, both long and short, represent to her?
When Addy admits that she was never popular for herself but because of her boyfriend, Janae is surprised that Addy is able to see and acknowledge that. Addy quotes Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself,” saying, “I am large, I contain multitudes” (171). What is the significance of Whitman’s poem for each of the novel’s narrators?
At various points throughout the novel, each of the narrators makes assumptions about the others. Discuss the evolution of their beliefs about each other as the novel progresses. What is the novel saying about the impact of stereotypes?
At the end of the book, Cooper is lauded as a hero for saving Addy. He observes, “Funny how this accidental-fame thing works. First people supported me even though I’d been accused of cheating and murder. Then they hated me because of who I turned out to be. Now they love me again because I was in the right place at the right time and managed to flatten Jake with a well-aimed punch” (336). How does Cooper’s observation reflect what he learned about the importance of being himself, even when others mock or belittle him?
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By Karen M. McManus
