The Real Real
Book Club Choices

Book Club Choices: The Real Real

Unsuspecting high school students get the surprise of their lives when XTV decides to create a reality show around a few of the students. The Real Hampton Beach will focus on the lives of a chosen few and follow their every move so that the rest of the world can follow them too.

Jesse O'Rourke would never have imagined being chosen as a star for this show, but she is. Her best friend isn't selected but she can't turn down the $40,000 scholarship that goes with the publicity. The popular girls and guys are also chosen. Jesse and Drew are the only two that really don't fit in, but the producer of The Real Hampton Beach is there to fix all that. As the episodes are being filmed, the cast soon comes to realize that this reality show really isn't based on reality. Everything is staged, planned out, and filmed multiple times until it looks right, no matter who is hurt in the process.

What will XTV make them do? How many friendships and relationships will be ruined in the process?

Book Club Choices: The Real Real Opinion

Ok, I admit it. I sometimes watch reality TV shows and gasp! I even enjoy them. I really enjoyed this book too. It was a fun read and made me think about the reality shows I do watch. I knew that some of the show's scenes were scripted, but after reading this I have to believe that the majority of "reality" TV is fake.

The real, fake lives of the stars of The Real Hampton Beach are broadcasted worldwide. They have fan websites and hate mail. The casts' actual reality turns out to be not so glamorous. This is a great book club pick because it offers an abundance of discussion possibilities, namely, the current impact that reality TV has on our teens.

Discussion Questions

1. If you had the opportunity to be on a reality show after reading this book, would you?
2. What is you favorite reality show and why?
3. Who was your favorite character in this story?

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