What happens when the person you pretend to be online starts pulling the strings of your real life?
Britnee Meiser’s “Jane Stays Dreaming,” published by the Aladdin imprint of Simon & Schuster, is a contemporary young adult novel that dives into the chaotic intersection of social media and teenage reality. The story follows Jane, a shy writer who hides behind an anonymous blog where she portrays a version of herself that is far more polished and confident than she feels in person. The tension ramps up when Jane’s friend Leo starts hanging out with Brynn, a new girl who also happens to follow Jane’s online persona. Instead of being honest about her identity, Jane begins using her digital influence to pull strings and tilt real-life situations in her favor. This Junior Library Guild selection has earned praise from Kirkus Reviews and School Library Journal for its grounded look at how easily the lines between fiction and fact can blur for a teenager trying to find her place. It is a relatable look at the pressure to be perfect and the dire consequences of letting a persona take over.
This story is an excellent choice for any collection focused on how young people interact with the digital world responsibly. It aligns with SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions by exploring the need for honest communication and accountability within our own social circles. From an IB perspective, Jane’s struggle is a perfect case study for what it means to be principled. Teachers can use Jane’s choices to spark a project where students build their own “digital code of ethics” for the classroom, analyzing the specific turning points where Jane’s choices went wrong. By looking at how Jane’s online manipulation affects her real-world friends, students can move past abstract talks about “online safety” and start thinking about the actual impact their digital words have on human hearts. It pushes students to own their actions and realize that being authentic is more important than being liked, providing a clear path for them to take charge of their own online reputations and act with integrity.
