Customer Reviews

Nothing But The Truth

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It seems simple. Tell the truth. But what is the truth? NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH by Avi is a book that will have you questioning what is true at every turn.

Philip Malloy is a 9th-grader who learns about truth the hard way. An avid track runner, he is hoping to try out for the high school track team. He knows he has the support of his parents and is even hoping they will chip in to help him purchase some new shoes to start the season.

Unfortunately, Philip is about to receive some bad news - his English grade. It doesn't surprise him when the coach calls him into his office for a little talk. Word of his excellent performance on the middle school team must have made its way to the high school coach. What he isn't expecting is the lecture he gets about his English grade. He has a D in Miss Narwin's class, and according to the school handbook, that makes him ineligible. He can't even try out for the team.

What happens next involves Philip's misguided attempt to fix the problem. The solution is simple. Just find a way to get out of Miss Narwin's class, hopefully get a better grade with a different teacher, all before his parents and even his friends find out. Instead, Philip ends up creating a situation that involves the teacher, the administration, his parents, a neighbor, the local newspaper, and eventually people from across the country.

Written in script form, with bits and pieces from Philip's diary, as well as letters and memos written by staff members at the high school, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH explores what happens if one person manipulates the truth. The far-reaching consequences will amaze readers and remind them that our actions impact the lives of others. What begins as a harmless attempt to withhold information ends up changing an entire community.

I use this novel in my 8th-grade classroom. Given the script format, students are able to take parts and read it aloud. It provides subject matter for some intense discussions not only about truth, but also about the ethical behavior of many of the characters. I would recommend this book for classroom use, book discussions, or general reading pleasure.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

I found AVI's Nothing But The Truth to be an entertaining satirical criticism of today's societal institutions, stereotypes, personal assumptions and societal ideologies. There were several times when I could not hold back my giggles, especially when Philip Malloy's spitefulness escalated out of control and the educational bureaucracy was ineffective in finding solutions for the situation it had found itself in and with dealing with a problem child. The latter being the more important issue I believe. This reminded me of a time when my parents blamed the school for my missing (cutting) school for six months without school being able to account for me and the school's principals scrambling to find a answer that would satisfy my parents along with the school board. I'll save the details of that personal experience for another time.
The story created an image of what I perceive to be an honest snapshot of how society ignores the truth. AVI was able to show me how easily we (society) let our emotions, bias and our need to be politically correct trump the truth. On any given day we can pick up a newspaper, magazine, watch a news program, sitcom or reality TV show and see what the latest bandwagon society and our political leaders are jumping on. Don't get me wrong, I am all for free speech, however the damage that can be done by jumping on a bandwagon without fully investigating the issue can kill thousands. Like the "nutty" pastor in Florida who recently burnt a pile of Korans, directly causing the death of a number of people. I agree that he had the right to express himself, however I have to say it was not the right thing to do. The same way Philip has the right to express him self, however what he did was wrong. The teacher had the right to send Philip to the office, but she was wrong not to find out why Philip was doing what he was doing. Personal assumption was a prevalent theme throughout the story that led to policy making; just like it our society does today.
The incident in this story was how one example can escalate and effect so many people and situations. At any given point the truth could have been easily identified, but once it was, so much was at stake that the lies compounded the unreality of the entire situation, creating an entirely new, false reality. And even when the truth is exposed, because it had taken on such a life of it's own, the truth becomes unbelievable. Much like the Donald's ongoing search for the presumed non-existent birth certificate, and then once presented with the previously published proof, the forger conspiracy theorists come out of the woodwork. At least some are wiling to be held accountable in the end, though, giving us a little hope, even if it is a politician saying his claim of 90% of Planned Parenthood's business was performing abortions were not meant to be taken as factual. It offers a little bit of hope, but a little bit is not much to hang your hat on.

When Avi's novel, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, was published in 1991, it won a number of awards --- and, more importantly, sparked conversation among parents, teachers, school administrators and kids. Now, nearly 20 years later, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH is being reissued by Scholastic in a new paperback format --- just in time for a new generation of children and adults to consider in light of long-standing and more contemporary concerns.

In an author's introduction, Avi notes that the most common responses he has received from readers of all ages have been those questioning the book's status as fiction. For some, the issues Avi raises strike a little too close to home to be fabricated; for others, the "documentary" style of the novel seems to give it the tone of a nonfiction account.

And no wonder --- as Avi tells his story, he includes not only "transcripts" of conversations among all the major and minor players but also pages from the central characters' diaries and letters, memos from school administrators, and newspaper clippings, all of which seem completely genuine and convincing. They combine to create a reading experience that is not only unusual and compelling but that, in its very format, encourages readers to reflect on the meaning of "truth" in similar documents they might encounter in their real lives.

At the center of NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH is ninth-grader Philip Malloy, who loves to run and wants more than anything to get on the high school track team. Thanks to a failing grade in Miss Narwin's English class, however, Philip has to put his dreams of Olympic-level stardom on hold --- athletes need to receive all passing grades. Philip is convinced that Miss Narwin "has it in for me," as he says. She chooses stupid books (like CALL OF THE WILD) for English class and doesn't appreciate his answers to essay questions.

So when Philip is transferred to Miss Narwin's homeroom, he tries hard to come up with some way to get himself transferred right back out again --- and out of her English class, too. But Philip's chosen method --- humming along with the National Anthem instead of maintaining "respectful, silent attention" --- not only catches Miss Narwin's notice but also the attention of local and national news outlets, radio talk show hosts, and the whole school district. Is Philip being suspended for just being patriotic, or does he have an ulterior motive? Does Miss Narwin resent him and other athletes? Who does the school district support and why? These are just a few of the questions raised by Philip's story.

The documentary style of the novel --- particularly the numerous transcripts of conversations --- definitely lends itself to classroom discussion and dramatization. More importantly, though, this book is one of the best for sparking genuine cross-generational discussion. Parents and teachers who read it might find their sympathies drawn toward different characters and situations than younger readers do. And this difference of opinion can result in provocative, stimulating discussions about the fluidity of "truth," the values of free speech and patriotism, and the structure and politics of public education.

In this reissued edition, Scholastic has packaged the novel's text with numerous resources that will help guide and promote discussion even further. The full text of "The Star-Spangled Banner," a bio of and an interview with the author, a fact vs. fiction quiz, and a series of writing prompts all encourage readers to engage with the novel in fresh and exciting ways, furthering its place in contemporary discussions of issues --- from patriotism to family's involvement in school affairs to the role of the media in disseminating and defining truth.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

I enjoy this book a lot because the book is not ordinary. The book is only mostly dialogue style unlike any other book. Also there was a twist a plot and get more challenging at the end

This easy-reading tale describes educational and social absurdity caused by rumor, foolishness, and people acting on assumptions and half-truths. Young Phillip Malloy is a high school student denied entry onto the track team because of a failing grade in Ms. Narwin's English class. Like many teens, Malloy blames the teacher for his low grade. When he is transferred into her homeroom class, he plots an escape. Phillip disobeys a school rule requiring silence during the playing of the pledge of allegiance, and hums along disrespectfully. Soon, a local radio station is reporting that a student was suspended for singing the national anthem, drawing the ire of patriots and others who fail to deduce that there may well be more to the story than meets the eye. Matters continue to spin out of control, and a minor discipline issue transforms into a combination of frustration, hilarity, and absurdity. Readers see how half-truths and misperceptions can lead to big problems, not to mention flaws in no-tolerance policies that ignore context, extenuating circumstances, and common sense.

We read this story in an education class. NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH contains many lessons for educators, parents, students, and anybody who has been misled by half-truths, foolishness, and misperceptions.

I ordered this book to teach to our 8th grade students next school year. I have taught it previously in another state and found that the kids thought it was enjoyable. I'm excited for them to read it.

I first had to read this book in college, and I didn't understand why. Now, over 20 years later, I do. It shows how determinig the factual truth about an event can be difficult to do, when the people involved don't tell the truth entirely, are not observant or just want to focus on part of the truth. The truth is that Philip Malloy is a clown and school jerk who gets what he deserves, and poor Miss Narwin is forced to retire from a career she has loved for 21 years. Philip's disaster could have been avoided if he told his parents the truth and tried to do extra work to bring his grade up.

Normally, I do not read Young Adult (YA) literature, but as a teacher I do delve into it from time to time just to see what's out there. In this case, I picked out this book for purely personal reasons.

"Nothing But The Truth" is all about a misunderstanding and mindless application of a zero tolerance rule in school.

The premise is we have a popular, respected and excellent English teacher (Miss Narwin) and a bright student (Phillip Malloy) who does not really apply himself too much. Malloy has been re-assigned to Narwin's homeroom. His previous homeroom had been rather loosely run, but Miss Narwin expects the rules to be followed and the school's written rule is absolute silence during the playing of the National Anthem. Malloy hums loudly during the Anthem (which causes and is directed to stop - something he was allowed to do in his other homeroom. He does not stop. Why not? He thinks Narwin is a hard-case teacher that is picking on him.

Malloy is removed to the office twice during the week for humming loudly during the anthem. The administrator ignores Malloy's real complaint - he dislikes Narwin for "giving" him bad grades in English class. Those grades are keeping him from joining the track team. Instead, the administrator follows a zero tolerance rule that says if you are sent to the office twice in one week you receive a three day suspension from school.

Soon, Malloy's neighbor, who happens to be running for the school board, picks up on this story and starts to campaign to reform the schools that suspend a boy who wants to display his patriotism by singing the National Anthem. Soon, the story spins out of control, rumors fly, careers are ruined and Malloy and his family have no idea how to deal with the situation.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I would encourage any teacher to read this book as a cautionary tale. I would encourage everyone else to read it as a demonstration of how media tales get a life of their own and the truth is not always brought out. I used to teach in a middle school that was caught up in a milder version of this sprt of event. A young thug (a serious bully) was audiotaping classes and editing the tape to make his teachers sound bad. His tape was confiscated and a local TV station was brought in ("Call 6 for Help!") and the overblown reporter told a slanted version of the story in an effort to help this poor disabled child get his audio recorder back from the bully of an assistant principal so that this young scholar could finally take his notes. Except - he was not disabled, he took notes just fine without it and there was no mention of the disruption that occurred while he played his edited versions during class time.

Our situation blew over fairly quickly, but it was intense enough.

So, the long and the short of it is, "Nothing But The Truth" is a great piece of fiction that explores what happens when politics, media sensationalism, mindless policies and failure to have a face-to-face discussion with all parties involved rips a school apart.

Phil, a combination class clown and coddled baby, likes to ruffle teachers' feathers. His parents think he can do no wrong and add gasoline to a fire. The teacher on the other end of this fiasco is a stick in the mud who just happened to get caught up in a flood. Phil deserves to be embarrassed and afraid to go back to school after he wouldn't finish standing up for himself. Smug and arrogant, it's good to see that he gets taken down a few notches by the end of this mess. The entire book is an ode to cocky American hearing/believing only the bits they find the juiciest, and it wasn't even presented that well. The script format took a lot of the soul of of what could have been an outstanding book.