Lies to friends. Lies to teachers. Lies to oneself. Jumped is full of half-truths, lies of omission, and straight up lies. Most difficult of all to untangle are the lies the narrators tell themselves, though. Dominique believes she doesn't have a temper, Leticia thinks she bears no responsibility in pretty much anything, and Trina prances about like she's the queen bee of the school. None of these are totally true, but all have a grain of truth in them. It's a scary thing to be frank with oneself, and none of our characters are mature enough to really do so.
Questions About Lies and Deceit
- Is lying necessary to survive in high school in Jumped?
- Which is the worst lie someone tells themselves in the novel, and why?
- Do you think the adults in the school are aware of the teens' antics, or are they, too, deceiving themselves about what really happens in high school?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
The biggest liar in the novel is Trina.
The most honest character of the three leading ladies is Dominique—and by a long shot, too.