Lone Star Legend
by Gwendolyn Zepeda

List Price: $13.99
Pages: 352
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780446539609
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

If she can find the time, Sandy Saavedra will stop to breathe. New management has turned work upside down and her father's upcoming marriage --- something he forgot to mention to Sandy --- means there's no peace at home, either. But it's okay. No matter what's thrown her way, Sandy can deal. Because Sandy has a secret, and his name is Tío Jaime.

A short drive out of Austin delivers Sandy into the wide-open spaces of the Hill Country, to the front porch of grandfatherly hermit Tío Jaime. There, in the company of pepper plants, a shaggy dog and fresh-squeezed lemonade, the old man imparts down-to-earth advice. Overbearing boss? Work smarter; she'll leave you alone. Disrespectful boyfriend? Pack your bags; a real woman tolerates only a real man. His simple perspective reminds Sandy she can make her own choices-something she's been forgetting lately. Feeling inspired, Sandy posts their chats online. But as she introduces the world to her personal Eden, her own life heads straight to hell…

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1. Sandy gives various reasons --- to her friends, to her fans, to herself --- for keeping a blog online. What do you think her real reasons are?

2. What do you think of the practice of keeping a “journal” online for everyone to see? Do you have a blog? If so, are there limits on what you’ll discuss in your blog, or on what you think others should discuss in theirs? Did Sandy make mistakes with what she chose to say in hers?

3. Do you enjoy celebrity gossip? Does it ever go too far? Is it wrong to criticize celebrities’ personal lives? Or is that the price they pay for wanting to be famous?

4. What is a celebrity? Do you have to be a movie star or pop star? Are authors and journalists celebrities? What about bloggers? Sandy gossiped about celebrities for her living. Was it okay for her readers to begin gossiping about her? Why or why not?

5. Among Sandy and her co-workers, did you see differing levels in what they were willing to do for fame? Do you notice that among journalists or entertainment writers in real life?

6. What do you think about Sandy’s relationship with Daniel? What happens when two people in a relationship have similar ambitions? Can it work out?

7. Sandy is obviously affected by her parents’ divorce even though it takes place when she is an adult. How did it affect her?

8. What do you think of Sandy’s boss, Angelica? Angelica says Sandy reminds her of a younger version of herself. Is Angelica a good role model for Sandy?

9. What is Sandy’s relationship to Tío Jaime? Is it realistic for someone her age to befriend someone his age? Do you think their friendship was genuine? On what was it based?

10. Tío Jaime talks about “crabs in a bucket,” meaning people who drag each other down instead of helping each other achieve success. Do you know that expression? Do you have any crabs in your bucket? Why do people do that, anyway?

11. What does Sandy’s mother want for her in life? What does Sandy think her mother wants? With which one do you sympathize?

12. Tío Jaime says he doesn’t want to be famous and talks about “false idols.” What does he mean? Sandy doesn’t understand him. Why not?

13. Have you ever been embarrassed by someone exposing personal details of your life to public scrutiny? How did you handle it? Did Sandy handle it well?

14. Do you want to be famous? Why or why not?

15. How does Sandy see herself at the beginning of the book? At the middle? At the end?

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