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Nothing But the Truth: A Documentary Novel
This Newbery Honor Book by acclaimed author Avi joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus content!
In this thought-provoking examination of freedom, patriotism, and respect, ninth grader Philip Malloy is kept from joining the track team by his failing grades in English class. Convinced that the teacher just doesn't like him, Philip concocts a plan to get transferred out of her class. Breaking the school's policy of silence during the national anthem, he hums along, and ends up in a crisis at the center of the nation's attention.
In this thought-provoking examination of freedom, patriotism, and respect, ninth grader Philip Malloy is kept from joining the track team by his failing grades in English class. Convinced that the teacher just doesn't like him, Philip concocts a plan to get transferred out of her class. Breaking the school's policy of silence during the national anthem, he hums along, and ends up in a crisis at the center of the nation's attention.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1984
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About the author
Avi
178 books1,720 followersAvi is a pen name for Edward Irving Wortis, but he says, "The fact is, Avi is the only name I use." Born in 1937, Avi has created many fictional favorites such as
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle,
Nothing but the Truth,
and the Crispin series. His work is popular among readers young and old.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,751 reviews
June 16, 2009
The Story of Some Asshole Kid who fucks up some poor teacher's life
I gave this two stars, and then decided it's not worth two stars. The book would be crappy but innocent if it wasn't for it's Newberry Award and the blurb from the New York Times, about the story of the main character needing to be shouted out. This story doesn't need to be shouted out, it's a bullshit story, and if I had read this book with some of the patriotic covers I would have probably thrown the thing across the room about half way through it.
The title of this review sums up the story. The story is about some jock asshole who doesn't like to have to do any work. He thinks the world owes him something because he can run fast, and if he doesn't like something he has an unfunny little comment to make about it. He believes people should enjoy these unfunny and unintelligent things he says and let him slide through life only having to do what he wants and have everything else given to him. One teacher takes offense at his moronic ways, and when he decides to get her goat by being a nuisance by humming along with the National Anthem: this all blows up to a national thing about him being picked on for being patriotic, he lies a lot and the poor teacher's life is made a living hell. He becomes a poster child for right wing values, and then on the last page we learn that he doesn't know the words to the National Anthem.
This is the cliff notes version of the story. It's dumb. It would be harmless if it wasn't an award winning book. It basically tells kids that it's ok to stand up for yourself in any situation, especially when you're being an asshole. Every couple of weeks I get to interact with kids that have the same level of witty remarks as the narrator, I've learned the best way to deal with their middling wit is to turn around really quickly at them, glare and ask them, what did you fucking say to me? The witty one usually looks really scared and sometimes mutters some kind of really dumb apology. I don't know how people deal with teenagers everyday and not kill them. But I'm getting off the point.
This kid should have had the shit beaten out of him by someone. If anything this book is a good example of why teachers should be allowed to smack kids around.
Besides not liking the whole premise of the book, I also thought it was written like shit. I got an idea Avi, if you're going to write a book entirely with dialog why don't you go listen to how people talk in the real world. The dialog is stilted, but not in the cool David Mamet way. It's all written as if there is no difference between characters, and every character happened to have the speaking ability of a narcissistic ninth grader with the intelligence of a fourth grader. How this won an award is beyond me. I told Karen when I was about thirty pages into this that I want to be a Newberry Award Winning author, it seems like the big criteria is to come up with a eye catchy and edgy format, get a half-baked controversial topic and then just knock that shit out as fast as you can, and you'll be sitting pretty with a book being used in classes all over the country. I've said it already, but it can't hurt to say again, what a load of semi-literate shit.
I gave this two stars, and then decided it's not worth two stars. The book would be crappy but innocent if it wasn't for it's Newberry Award and the blurb from the New York Times, about the story of the main character needing to be shouted out. This story doesn't need to be shouted out, it's a bullshit story, and if I had read this book with some of the patriotic covers I would have probably thrown the thing across the room about half way through it.
The title of this review sums up the story. The story is about some jock asshole who doesn't like to have to do any work. He thinks the world owes him something because he can run fast, and if he doesn't like something he has an unfunny little comment to make about it. He believes people should enjoy these unfunny and unintelligent things he says and let him slide through life only having to do what he wants and have everything else given to him. One teacher takes offense at his moronic ways, and when he decides to get her goat by being a nuisance by humming along with the National Anthem: this all blows up to a national thing about him being picked on for being patriotic, he lies a lot and the poor teacher's life is made a living hell. He becomes a poster child for right wing values, and then on the last page we learn that he doesn't know the words to the National Anthem.
This is the cliff notes version of the story. It's dumb. It would be harmless if it wasn't an award winning book. It basically tells kids that it's ok to stand up for yourself in any situation, especially when you're being an asshole. Every couple of weeks I get to interact with kids that have the same level of witty remarks as the narrator, I've learned the best way to deal with their middling wit is to turn around really quickly at them, glare and ask them, what did you fucking say to me? The witty one usually looks really scared and sometimes mutters some kind of really dumb apology. I don't know how people deal with teenagers everyday and not kill them. But I'm getting off the point.
This kid should have had the shit beaten out of him by someone. If anything this book is a good example of why teachers should be allowed to smack kids around.
Besides not liking the whole premise of the book, I also thought it was written like shit. I got an idea Avi, if you're going to write a book entirely with dialog why don't you go listen to how people talk in the real world. The dialog is stilted, but not in the cool David Mamet way. It's all written as if there is no difference between characters, and every character happened to have the speaking ability of a narcissistic ninth grader with the intelligence of a fourth grader. How this won an award is beyond me. I told Karen when I was about thirty pages into this that I want to be a Newberry Award Winning author, it seems like the big criteria is to come up with a eye catchy and edgy format, get a half-baked controversial topic and then just knock that shit out as fast as you can, and you'll be sitting pretty with a book being used in classes all over the country. I've said it already, but it can't hurt to say again, what a load of semi-literate shit.
December 26, 2013
DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND READ THIS BOOK! If you want to try your luck and see if you like it, by all means. But from someone who was forced to read this book, and I love reading all types of books so that's not the issue, I am personally suggesting you do not. The different styles of writing can leave you confused, it would go by fast if it were not so boring and over all it really has not point. It does teach you a lesson about lying but in my personal opinion it is the fact that Philips dad pushed him into going to that reporter that things got out of hands. Plus, the reporter made every thing seem bigger than it was. This book is mostly based on exaggeration.
January 26, 2012
My 13 year old daughter was given this book as a Christmas present. She read it in 2 days (a clue that she liked it). I picked it up a few days ago and finished it quickly as well.
We had an interesting discussion about the book at dinner tonight. I was surprised by her support of the teacher character (I expected her to side with the student). We talked about how one incident can escalate into a huge problem, and how gossip can destroy people.
I admit that I didn't like Phillip very much, but I also disliked his parents and some of the school board members and administrators. But I kept reading because the situation was so real to me--I have seen people exactly like this firsthand.
Although I didn't read every review of this book, I found the negative ones interesting, especially those folks who didn't like the characters. Maybe they don't want to admit that there ARE people like that out there (all too many of them)? And since when do you have to like a character for a book to make a point? Maybe you aren't supposed to like them. To me, their flaws are what makes them real.
This was a great book for discussion with my daughter, and I'm grateful that there are writers like Avi who will write thought provoking material for this age group.
We had an interesting discussion about the book at dinner tonight. I was surprised by her support of the teacher character (I expected her to side with the student). We talked about how one incident can escalate into a huge problem, and how gossip can destroy people.
I admit that I didn't like Phillip very much, but I also disliked his parents and some of the school board members and administrators. But I kept reading because the situation was so real to me--I have seen people exactly like this firsthand.
Although I didn't read every review of this book, I found the negative ones interesting, especially those folks who didn't like the characters. Maybe they don't want to admit that there ARE people like that out there (all too many of them)? And since when do you have to like a character for a book to make a point? Maybe you aren't supposed to like them. To me, their flaws are what makes them real.
This was a great book for discussion with my daughter, and I'm grateful that there are writers like Avi who will write thought provoking material for this age group.
August 2, 2018
A teacher's perspective * vague spoilers*
This book was way too real for comfort. This is exactly how things go down- a student is uncomfortable about their academic performance, so they manufacture a fight about something unrelated. The next thing you know, the parents are screaming at administrators and you get called into the office to apologize to the family. It feels unfair, but "it's unfair" is the wrong lesson to take from this story.
At some point in my 16 years of teaching, I learned that reading students and communicating proactively are essential survival skills. It is part of my job to call a student's parents when they get less than a C in my class. It is part of my job to call home if a student seems upset about my class. If I expect the school administrators to represent my perspective when talking to parents, then I will probably be disappointed. People only know what you tell them, so the parents are going to assume I'm insane unless I speak directly to them.
Also: Never engage in a battle of wills in front of a full classroom. Problem solve in the hallway or between classes.
Lastly, what kind of English teacher requires The Call of the Wild but not The Outsiders? The more experience I get, the less eager I am to force students to read a particular book, no matter how good it is.
This book should be required reading for anyone earning a Bachelor's in Education.
This book was way too real for comfort. This is exactly how things go down- a student is uncomfortable about their academic performance, so they manufacture a fight about something unrelated. The next thing you know, the parents are screaming at administrators and you get called into the office to apologize to the family. It feels unfair, but "it's unfair" is the wrong lesson to take from this story.
At some point in my 16 years of teaching, I learned that reading students and communicating proactively are essential survival skills. It is part of my job to call a student's parents when they get less than a C in my class. It is part of my job to call home if a student seems upset about my class. If I expect the school administrators to represent my perspective when talking to parents, then I will probably be disappointed. People only know what you tell them, so the parents are going to assume I'm insane unless I speak directly to them.
Also: Never engage in a battle of wills in front of a full classroom. Problem solve in the hallway or between classes.
Lastly, what kind of English teacher requires The Call of the Wild but not The Outsiders? The more experience I get, the less eager I am to force students to read a particular book, no matter how good it is.
This book should be required reading for anyone earning a Bachelor's in Education.
May 27, 2010
This book is complete shit. When I finished it, I just threw it across my room and picked up another book. There is absolutely nothing redeeming about this novel. First of all, for a book that's really all dialogue, why can't Avi write dialogue well at all? Everybody talks exactly the same and when they talk they sound so ridiculous. There's nothing realistic about it. He's no Elmore Leonard or David Mamet, that's for sure.
Also, the ending. One of the worst endings I've ever read simply because it doesn't make sense. Are we supposed to feel bad for the kid? Or is it supposed to be funny? Personally, I thought it just sucked major shit. That's why I threw it across my room.
Also, the ending. One of the worst endings I've ever read simply because it doesn't make sense. Are we supposed to feel bad for the kid? Or is it supposed to be funny? Personally, I thought it just sucked major shit. That's why I threw it across my room.
January 28, 2013
Absolutely terrible. I haven't even finished the book yet and it's just bad. It's basically about a snotty kid who doesn't like English or the teacher that teaches English and thinks she's so mean and terrible to him while everyone seems to like her. He thinks she has something against him which is not the case, she finds him to be nice and just wishes he'd try better, but he makes rude comments and class. When he not only has her for English but homeroom too, he is outraged. When the morning announcements come over the school intercom and the song, "The Star Spangled Banner" plays like it does every morning, he hums it to himself and the teacher tells him to stop because the school rules require a moment of silence while its playing. This happens 3 times and she sends him to the office twice. He gets suspended for disrupting the class, not singing or humming the song but that's what he thinks to be true and what he tells everyone until it turns into a huge mess becomes national news.
May 28, 2010
Nothing but the Truth is a subversive little Young Adult novel that takes on educational hypocrisy, personal accountability, and freedom of speech. 9th grade Phillip Malloy, banned from the track team for his poor grade in English, decides to get booted from class in order to transfer to another teacher and improve his grade. Defying the school's rule of respectful silence during the morning playing of "The Star Spangled Banner," Phillip hums along, only to find himself suspended from school for disruptive behavior. What follows is a national firestorm, with Phillip being held aloft as a martyr for free speech, and his teacher, Miss Narwin, accused of anti-patriotism.
Writer Avi weaves together multiple genres, incorporating memos, letters, interview transcripts, dialogue, and journal entries to provide the reader with a multi-faceted, Rashomon-like version of the story, and by the end, he has somehow managed to convince us that everyone involved in the scandal is simultaneously guilty and innocent. It's a subtle, nuanced, sophisticated tale that doesn't have an easy – or clear – moral, and which gracefully and convincingly transcends its Young Adult label.
Writer Avi weaves together multiple genres, incorporating memos, letters, interview transcripts, dialogue, and journal entries to provide the reader with a multi-faceted, Rashomon-like version of the story, and by the end, he has somehow managed to convince us that everyone involved in the scandal is simultaneously guilty and innocent. It's a subtle, nuanced, sophisticated tale that doesn't have an easy – or clear – moral, and which gracefully and convincingly transcends its Young Adult label.
August 2, 2008
I had a very large mixture of feelings about this book. I liked the plot, I didn't like the main character. I hated the end although it probably is the best end it could have and still be realistic. What made this book awesome was its complexity. The way it made you think and the way it challenges the concept of truth. Phil told what he knew as the truth but Miss Narwin also told what she knew as the truth. Neither were wrong yet neither was right. Then of course the principal just told everything in a way that it favored him. Another interesting thing was how this one tiny occurrence spread into something larger than it was through media. I also thought it was cool how this book was told mainly through conversation.
August 31, 2007
Nothing But The Truth This book honestly, is good for that kid who believes that school is no good and the adults are out to bring down kids. Honestly. The objective exposition of information and surprise ending makes this a good read for the younger set. I found it annoying, but I think that's because as a faculty member, it really bugged me how everyone failed to research the facts and the administration was all about covering its tracks.
August 29, 2009
UGH!!! I hated this book so so so much. My least favorite book I've ever read. I just wanted to throw it across the room. The main character is completely unsympathetic, I just hated him through the whole book. Just everything about this book made me angry, I didn't enjoy any part of it.
November 23, 2015
I had to read this book for summer reading. I heard from others who read it before that it is really, really bad and confusing. This was the only book that the teachers had for us, so I started reading it. This book really bored me and I hated how the poor teacher had to resign because of one student who just kept on exaggerating and partly lying to make other people dislike her. I feel that this is just a waste of my time reading and for other students to read.
August 4, 2022
I have loved this book since it first arrived in my Alaskan classroom via a Scholastic Book Order. The year was 1991, and this was hot off the presses. I had to have it. While I was always a reader, Avi made me fall in love with reading. Books such as The Man who was Poe, Blue Heron, and my favorite The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle brought more to my life than just a way to pass the time on a freezing island in the middle of the Bering Sea. It brought adventure, love, laughter. So much so that in 2018, I can still remember my first time cracking this book’s spine and reading it through in one sitting.
This book is about patriotism and the right to sing the national anthem in school. Or at least that is what you think it’s about. It has so much more between the pages. It’s about a boys relationship with his teacher. It’s about miscommunication, and that there is never just one or two sides to any story. It’s how even the smallest thing can get blown out of proportion and become something it was never meant to be.
This is at least my fourth reading of this book. I have read it with my kids book clubs twice. I have also had parents try to ban the reading of this book for being to political for children to handle. But it’s not. Its true and it’s real. Event today 27 years later it is relevant. Now as an adult I can see the sliding of history and the changing way we see things. Both from a childhood to an adulthood read, and a societal change.
There was this cartoon in some newspaper or journal that I wish I would have kept. It’s in two frames. In both frames there is a classroom, a teacher, a student, and a set of parents. In frame one the parents are standing behind the teacher talking to the child about what is going on at school and that things better shape up. In frame two, which is supposed to represent a new generation, the parents are standing behind the child and placing the blame on the teacher for bad grades,discipline problems, or whatever was happening. I was raised this way. Get in trouble in school, get it twice as bad at home. To me Nothing But The Truth shows how far back this switch between ideologies begins. A lot further back then I would have thought.
My favorite question to ask kids to think about as we read this book is “Who is to blame?” Is our main student Phillip to blame? Is it Miss Narwin? Is it the parents? Is it the lack of money at the school. So much to talk about. So much that is still true today. Schools still do not have enough money. People rally around news media stories that may only have one side. People do not always think to look at the other side, or when they do, it isn’t considered important. We live in the era of “fake news”. What is fake news. Is this book full of “fake news”?
There are parts of this book that ages the story. For example I’m not sure you can send an actual telegram anymore. But what would change today. Instead of a teleram, it would play out on social media. Maybe there would be Go Fund Me accounts set up for the parents, or the teacher to fight their side of the fight. The story and the themes found in this book are what make it current today. It’s “Documentary Novel” style seems odd to students, or a new fad if you have picked up Illuminae, or the Emoji stories. Without know how truely futuristic he was, Avi was writing a story of importance that resonates. If I was ever again to run into (literally) Avi in Wash Park (true story), I would love to pick his brain. How would he update his novel. How would he see this story 27 years later. Would he want to think about a modernization, or would it be just too depressing.
Luckily for the current generation of kids, Avi continues to write. He continues to spin tales tall and outrageous. Tales from history, that make you want to know more. And tales that will become classics that you are ecstatic to share and pass on for generations.
#beatthebacklist
#LitsyAtoZ
#AviChallenge
8.4.22
I have loved this book since I was a child. And it remains relevant today. I love that it has a new audiobook that is full cast for more people to discover and enjoy. When this book came out, I remember thinking this stuff never happens, but as an adult in Trump loving America, not only does this happen, but it has also gotten worse. One of the things I love most about this book is you see the event from multiple sides. The sullen teenager who just thinks his teacher hates him, the teacher who knows her student can be/do better, the parents who want to stand up for their kid and their freedom, and the community who only hears part of the story. This plays so much into our current nation and the ongoing teacher story. This should be mandatory reading!
This book is about patriotism and the right to sing the national anthem in school. Or at least that is what you think it’s about. It has so much more between the pages. It’s about a boys relationship with his teacher. It’s about miscommunication, and that there is never just one or two sides to any story. It’s how even the smallest thing can get blown out of proportion and become something it was never meant to be.
This is at least my fourth reading of this book. I have read it with my kids book clubs twice. I have also had parents try to ban the reading of this book for being to political for children to handle. But it’s not. Its true and it’s real. Event today 27 years later it is relevant. Now as an adult I can see the sliding of history and the changing way we see things. Both from a childhood to an adulthood read, and a societal change.
There was this cartoon in some newspaper or journal that I wish I would have kept. It’s in two frames. In both frames there is a classroom, a teacher, a student, and a set of parents. In frame one the parents are standing behind the teacher talking to the child about what is going on at school and that things better shape up. In frame two, which is supposed to represent a new generation, the parents are standing behind the child and placing the blame on the teacher for bad grades,discipline problems, or whatever was happening. I was raised this way. Get in trouble in school, get it twice as bad at home. To me Nothing But The Truth shows how far back this switch between ideologies begins. A lot further back then I would have thought.
My favorite question to ask kids to think about as we read this book is “Who is to blame?” Is our main student Phillip to blame? Is it Miss Narwin? Is it the parents? Is it the lack of money at the school. So much to talk about. So much that is still true today. Schools still do not have enough money. People rally around news media stories that may only have one side. People do not always think to look at the other side, or when they do, it isn’t considered important. We live in the era of “fake news”. What is fake news. Is this book full of “fake news”?
There are parts of this book that ages the story. For example I’m not sure you can send an actual telegram anymore. But what would change today. Instead of a teleram, it would play out on social media. Maybe there would be Go Fund Me accounts set up for the parents, or the teacher to fight their side of the fight. The story and the themes found in this book are what make it current today. It’s “Documentary Novel” style seems odd to students, or a new fad if you have picked up Illuminae, or the Emoji stories. Without know how truely futuristic he was, Avi was writing a story of importance that resonates. If I was ever again to run into (literally) Avi in Wash Park (true story), I would love to pick his brain. How would he update his novel. How would he see this story 27 years later. Would he want to think about a modernization, or would it be just too depressing.
Luckily for the current generation of kids, Avi continues to write. He continues to spin tales tall and outrageous. Tales from history, that make you want to know more. And tales that will become classics that you are ecstatic to share and pass on for generations.
#beatthebacklist
#LitsyAtoZ
#AviChallenge
8.4.22
I have loved this book since I was a child. And it remains relevant today. I love that it has a new audiobook that is full cast for more people to discover and enjoy. When this book came out, I remember thinking this stuff never happens, but as an adult in Trump loving America, not only does this happen, but it has also gotten worse. One of the things I love most about this book is you see the event from multiple sides. The sullen teenager who just thinks his teacher hates him, the teacher who knows her student can be/do better, the parents who want to stand up for their kid and their freedom, and the community who only hears part of the story. This plays so much into our current nation and the ongoing teacher story. This should be mandatory reading!
September 28, 2016
Nothing But the Truth by Avi is a realistic fiction novel pointed at several characters, rules,
or documents perspective. The author displays a stronger message than patriotism. He shows through a realistic scenario how little lies can spiral out of control.
In the book, Harrison High School plays a recorded tape of the national anthem each
morning. It is requested that all students stand in silent and respectful attention. But when Philip Malloy decides to hum along in Ms Narwins homeroom, he receives a contradicting two day suspension. The author encourages the reader to explore the truth in his motives for getting kicked out; whether it was patriotism or a result from his hatred against the teacher. An interview from Philip Malloy was published, exploding the situation across the nation, ending in angry americans, economic damage towards the school, and personal difficulties for both Philip and Ms Narwin.
Personally, I enjoyed the book because of its format. Nothing But The Truth was written in
a documentary form. I have to admit though, I got extremely frustrated when I witnessed how the story changed throughout each person's perspective because I knew it was purposefully. The characters would not bluntly fib, but not reveal the whole truth. The author really displayed how individuals perspective of the truth can be used to their advantage. If you're a person who loves books with narration, Nothing But The Truth isn't for you. Although you can assume there's a main character, the story isn't told from that perspective. In fact, the book isn't told in just one, but multiple perspectives and scenarios. This book is also for readers who enjoy putting the pieces of the story together themselves.
or documents perspective. The author displays a stronger message than patriotism. He shows through a realistic scenario how little lies can spiral out of control.
In the book, Harrison High School plays a recorded tape of the national anthem each
morning. It is requested that all students stand in silent and respectful attention. But when Philip Malloy decides to hum along in Ms Narwins homeroom, he receives a contradicting two day suspension. The author encourages the reader to explore the truth in his motives for getting kicked out; whether it was patriotism or a result from his hatred against the teacher. An interview from Philip Malloy was published, exploding the situation across the nation, ending in angry americans, economic damage towards the school, and personal difficulties for both Philip and Ms Narwin.
Personally, I enjoyed the book because of its format. Nothing But The Truth was written in
a documentary form. I have to admit though, I got extremely frustrated when I witnessed how the story changed throughout each person's perspective because I knew it was purposefully. The characters would not bluntly fib, but not reveal the whole truth. The author really displayed how individuals perspective of the truth can be used to their advantage. If you're a person who loves books with narration, Nothing But The Truth isn't for you. Although you can assume there's a main character, the story isn't told from that perspective. In fact, the book isn't told in just one, but multiple perspectives and scenarios. This book is also for readers who enjoy putting the pieces of the story together themselves.
August 22, 2019
I read this because I had to... if I had any freedom of choice I would have cut it into tiny little pieces and burned it, but that's only my personal opinion. I actually know many people who loved this book and recommended it to everyone willing to listen to them. So, read it if you will, but honestly don't expect too much...
November 11, 2009
Wow. I can't believe how much this book bothered me. I never have liked Avi much; I guess our styles clash. But I had heard about this title for years, so today I picked it up and starting reading. I don't yet know if I'm glad I did, or wish I hadn't.
The problem is that this scenario is more realistic than I would like to believe. In fact, an author's note at the beginning reveals that similar situations have taken place all over the country. And that is just... disturbing. So many characters only looked at the events from one point of view, squashing the "truth" into the mold they preferred. Reaction without intelligent thought. So frustrating....
The major reason I disliked this book is that the main character, Philip, is an entirely self-centered, whiny, and unlikeable smart-alec who feels entitled and thinks he's funny when he's not. I don't understand why anyone who actually spoke to Philip himself would believe his version of the "truth". And that's the trouble--not enough people in authority actually speak to Philip. They don't read his body language or hear his snarky comments. They don't hear how his answers to questions change depending on the answer he thinks will keep him "in the clear". Was he humming, or was he singing? He can't even keep that straight.
Then those that do speak with him don't bother to speak to Miss Narwin about her motivation for sending Philip out of the room. They listen to what comes out of Philip's mouth and take that for the whole story. There are two characters who question the version of events they're being fed, though, a reporter and a radio caller: there must be more to this story, they think. If only the other adults would have been struck with such common sense.
It is never stated anywhere in the book that Philip has sung along with Star Spangled Banner before. He does it in Miss Narwin's class solely as an attempt to get moved out of her classes. He baits Miss Narwin from Day 1, and the other students know it. Philip has no sense of "patriotism"--our first encounter with him shows him reading during the Anthem, and on the last page he admits he doesn't even know the words to the Anthem. And yet he is hailed as a martyr for his patriotism by people ignorant of the facts. Made me wish there'd been a security camera rolling in the classroom, so the real truth could be revealed to everyone who felt so free to spew hatred to the teacher.
I can see how this book could make for some mighty lively classroom discussions. Honestly, I really hated it. It gets 1 star on the "How Much Did I Like It?" scale. But it is compelling, so it gets 4 stars on the "Interesting" scale. (If Avi has gotten me this riled up I must have taken it just the way he intended.) So, I'll slap 3 stars on it--and that's my version of "the truth".
The problem is that this scenario is more realistic than I would like to believe. In fact, an author's note at the beginning reveals that similar situations have taken place all over the country. And that is just... disturbing. So many characters only looked at the events from one point of view, squashing the "truth" into the mold they preferred. Reaction without intelligent thought. So frustrating....
The major reason I disliked this book is that the main character, Philip, is an entirely self-centered, whiny, and unlikeable smart-alec who feels entitled and thinks he's funny when he's not. I don't understand why anyone who actually spoke to Philip himself would believe his version of the "truth". And that's the trouble--not enough people in authority actually speak to Philip. They don't read his body language or hear his snarky comments. They don't hear how his answers to questions change depending on the answer he thinks will keep him "in the clear". Was he humming, or was he singing? He can't even keep that straight.
Then those that do speak with him don't bother to speak to Miss Narwin about her motivation for sending Philip out of the room. They listen to what comes out of Philip's mouth and take that for the whole story. There are two characters who question the version of events they're being fed, though, a reporter and a radio caller: there must be more to this story, they think. If only the other adults would have been struck with such common sense.
It is never stated anywhere in the book that Philip has sung along with Star Spangled Banner before. He does it in Miss Narwin's class solely as an attempt to get moved out of her classes. He baits Miss Narwin from Day 1, and the other students know it. Philip has no sense of "patriotism"--our first encounter with him shows him reading during the Anthem, and on the last page he admits he doesn't even know the words to the Anthem. And yet he is hailed as a martyr for his patriotism by people ignorant of the facts. Made me wish there'd been a security camera rolling in the classroom, so the real truth could be revealed to everyone who felt so free to spew hatred to the teacher.
I can see how this book could make for some mighty lively classroom discussions. Honestly, I really hated it. It gets 1 star on the "How Much Did I Like It?" scale. But it is compelling, so it gets 4 stars on the "Interesting" scale. (If Avi has gotten me this riled up I must have taken it just the way he intended.) So, I'll slap 3 stars on it--and that's my version of "the truth".
August 11, 2011
As a teacher myself who has had students like Philip in my classes, I found this story an interesting and frustrating example of how easily things can get blown out of proportion. The student hummed during the anthem; the school rule said students were to listen in silence; the teacher tells the student to be quiet. What else is a teacher supposed to do? Well, bring in a resentful student with a bad attitude, defensive parents, unsupportive adminsitration, and sensationalist media and see what a disgusting mess results. Some topics to discuss in the Christian school classroom - living with the consequences of your bad choices, the power of the tongue, the foolishness of judging too hastily before you hear the whole story, listening to the news with discernment and caution. I found the format of the book unusual and interesting. I did not like the last discussion. *Spoiler* I know it's supposed to be powerfully ironic, but it's a little too pat and would he really cry in his new classroom?
March 26, 2009
I was assigned this book in 6th grade and hated it. Then in 7th grade I had a different teacher who also assigned it. I hated it more that time.
November 23, 2008
The main character, Philip Mallory, is entering high school. He wants desperately to be on the track team, but he's not so interested in studying -- especially literature. And
he's not about to read The Call of the Wild. Kid stuff. ('What can you say about a dog?') He's somewhat interested in girls, and strikes me as the typically unmotivated learner who lives for sports.
Philip has a habit that his homeroom teacher, Mr. Lunser, has tolerated in spite of the school directive that when the national anthem is played over the PA system, students will stand at respectful quiet attention. Philip likes to hum along to it. Mr. Lunser has never made an issue of it. In
fact, Mr. Lunser reminds me of some teachers I've had who like to joke around a lot. He makes jokes between the principal's Today in History comments that immediately precede the playing of the national anthem. In fact, Mr. Lunser actually talks to Phillip during the national anthem,
telling him to put his book away.
The book flips back and forth between the school directives as published,letters Philip's English teacher Miss Narwin writes to her sister, and conversations between Philip and his coach, Philip and his friends, and Philip and his teachers and parents. The real thorn in Philip's side
is Miss Narwin. He's sure she has it in for him because he doesn't do any work for her class. She is constantly trying to find a way to motivate him. She is conscientious, but she is compelled to give him a D in English. And then Philip finds out that will keep him from trying out for the track
team. Then the homeroom classes all change teachers, and Philip winds up in Mrs. Narwin's homeroom.
Mrs. Narwin is not anything like Mr. Lunser. When Philip begins to hum to the national anthem instead of standing in respectful silence, she calls him on it and tells him to stop. They argue about it. Philip finally stops humming. When he goes home he tells his parents Mrs. Narwin would not let him sing the Star Spangled Banner, which he claimed to do from patriotic feeling. His parents say he should stand up for his right to express his patriotism in this way. So the scene repeats itself the next day in homeroom, except Philip doesn't stop this time and Miss Narwin sends him to
the principal. This happens again the next day, and over Mrs. Narwin's protest, the principal suspends Philip for two days, and his mother has to leave work to come get him.
In the background you have school politics. The budget is inadequate, and an election is coming soon for a new school board and to vote on the budget. Teachers are being urged to talk up the need for the funds with their neighbors and others. Administration is uptight. Then Philip is
suspended, as he explains it, because he sang along, or hummed, to the national anthem. Philip's father's neighbor is running for the school board, and Mr. Mallory complains to him. This becomes an issue in the school board election. The newspaper reports on it. It gets onto the nationwide talk shows. Philip is transferred back to Mr. Lunser's homeroom and finally out of Mrs. Narwin's English class. Mrs. Narwin is put on administrative leave. Administrators keep passing the buck. It becomes a national issue.
The conflict appears to be that Miss Narwin believed Philip's humming was disrespectful and was out of line with the school rules about standing quietly at attention. She considered his humming a disruption. Philip told his parents and everyone else he was humming from patriotic feeling. By the principal's admission, Miss Narwin is one of the school's best teachers, and we see from her letters to her sister that this is true, and she's trying to find a way to reach Philip. When Miss Narwin is put on administrative leave for political reasons, even the coach and Philip's
friends turn against him, because they all like Mrs. Narwin. Philip's parents finally put him in a private school where they sing the national anthem every morning. And on Philip's first day there, when he's asked to lead it, he says he can't. And if you haven't read the book, I'm not going
to tell you why. But you might want to read the book. The edition I have has study questions at the back which go pretty deep. But for those of you who have read the book, I have a question. Do you think Philip was humming from patriotic feeling? Or was he trying to be disruptive?
he's not about to read The Call of the Wild. Kid stuff. ('What can you say about a dog?') He's somewhat interested in girls, and strikes me as the typically unmotivated learner who lives for sports.
Philip has a habit that his homeroom teacher, Mr. Lunser, has tolerated in spite of the school directive that when the national anthem is played over the PA system, students will stand at respectful quiet attention. Philip likes to hum along to it. Mr. Lunser has never made an issue of it. In
fact, Mr. Lunser reminds me of some teachers I've had who like to joke around a lot. He makes jokes between the principal's Today in History comments that immediately precede the playing of the national anthem. In fact, Mr. Lunser actually talks to Phillip during the national anthem,
telling him to put his book away.
The book flips back and forth between the school directives as published,letters Philip's English teacher Miss Narwin writes to her sister, and conversations between Philip and his coach, Philip and his friends, and Philip and his teachers and parents. The real thorn in Philip's side
is Miss Narwin. He's sure she has it in for him because he doesn't do any work for her class. She is constantly trying to find a way to motivate him. She is conscientious, but she is compelled to give him a D in English. And then Philip finds out that will keep him from trying out for the track
team. Then the homeroom classes all change teachers, and Philip winds up in Mrs. Narwin's homeroom.
Mrs. Narwin is not anything like Mr. Lunser. When Philip begins to hum to the national anthem instead of standing in respectful silence, she calls him on it and tells him to stop. They argue about it. Philip finally stops humming. When he goes home he tells his parents Mrs. Narwin would not let him sing the Star Spangled Banner, which he claimed to do from patriotic feeling. His parents say he should stand up for his right to express his patriotism in this way. So the scene repeats itself the next day in homeroom, except Philip doesn't stop this time and Miss Narwin sends him to
the principal. This happens again the next day, and over Mrs. Narwin's protest, the principal suspends Philip for two days, and his mother has to leave work to come get him.
In the background you have school politics. The budget is inadequate, and an election is coming soon for a new school board and to vote on the budget. Teachers are being urged to talk up the need for the funds with their neighbors and others. Administration is uptight. Then Philip is
suspended, as he explains it, because he sang along, or hummed, to the national anthem. Philip's father's neighbor is running for the school board, and Mr. Mallory complains to him. This becomes an issue in the school board election. The newspaper reports on it. It gets onto the nationwide talk shows. Philip is transferred back to Mr. Lunser's homeroom and finally out of Mrs. Narwin's English class. Mrs. Narwin is put on administrative leave. Administrators keep passing the buck. It becomes a national issue.
The conflict appears to be that Miss Narwin believed Philip's humming was disrespectful and was out of line with the school rules about standing quietly at attention. She considered his humming a disruption. Philip told his parents and everyone else he was humming from patriotic feeling. By the principal's admission, Miss Narwin is one of the school's best teachers, and we see from her letters to her sister that this is true, and she's trying to find a way to reach Philip. When Miss Narwin is put on administrative leave for political reasons, even the coach and Philip's
friends turn against him, because they all like Mrs. Narwin. Philip's parents finally put him in a private school where they sing the national anthem every morning. And on Philip's first day there, when he's asked to lead it, he says he can't. And if you haven't read the book, I'm not going
to tell you why. But you might want to read the book. The edition I have has study questions at the back which go pretty deep. But for those of you who have read the book, I have a question. Do you think Philip was humming from patriotic feeling? Or was he trying to be disruptive?
January 5, 2011
1.5 stars
OVERALL IMPRESSION: I did not enjoy this book at all. The only reason I finished it was because it was short and a very quick read. The plot angered me and the story never really went anywhere. I just feel like more could have been done with the storyline. It was boring and nothing got accomplished.
COVER: I do like the cover of the book. I love that it's simple and that they used the word to The Star Spangled Banner in the form of a flag; I think that's pretty clever.
CHARACTERS: Philip was an okay character. I understand that he is young and doesn't fully grasp the severity of the situation, but I feel like he could have spoke up at the end of the story. I did not like Philip's dad. It seems like this whole situation could have been avoided if Philip's dad did not push him so hard to talk to their neighbor when obviously Philip was reluctant to do so. I also did not really enjoy the character of Miss Narwin. I feel like she should have tried a little harder to stand up for herself instead of just rolling over and taking it.
*I won this book in a contest at www.teenreads.com
OVERALL IMPRESSION: I did not enjoy this book at all. The only reason I finished it was because it was short and a very quick read. The plot angered me and the story never really went anywhere. I just feel like more could have been done with the storyline. It was boring and nothing got accomplished.
COVER: I do like the cover of the book. I love that it's simple and that they used the word to The Star Spangled Banner in the form of a flag; I think that's pretty clever.
CHARACTERS: Philip was an okay character. I understand that he is young and doesn't fully grasp the severity of the situation, but I feel like he could have spoke up at the end of the story. I did not like Philip's dad. It seems like this whole situation could have been avoided if Philip's dad did not push him so hard to talk to their neighbor when obviously Philip was reluctant to do so. I also did not really enjoy the character of Miss Narwin. I feel like she should have tried a little harder to stand up for herself instead of just rolling over and taking it.
*I won this book in a contest at www.teenreads.com
October 12, 2016
TERRIBLE BOOK! DO NOT READ! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! IF YOU READ, DO NOT READ ENDING! THE ENDING RUINS THE BOOK. OTHERWISE OKAY.
July 15, 2019
PIECE OF CRAP KID RUINS TEACHER'S LIFE, CLUELESS PARENTS ENABLE HIM
From the review of Megan:
This book's sole redeeming aspect is its unique format of conversation transcripts, letters, memos, and telegrams (not that my kids know what telegrams are). I think this book is meant to be a universal cautionary tale. A too-cool-for-school jock decides to deliberately irritate his homeroom/English teacher to punish her for his grade keeping him off the track team. The teacher overreacts and sends him to the principal. The principal suspends him. He talks to the neighbor, who gets a reporter, and like a game of telephone, the story transmitted across the country is KID EXPELLED FOR SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM. His completely clueless parents, who are pretty clearly projecting their failed Olympic dreams onto him and pressuring him re: track, egg him on and never question that the story they're hearing might not be true. The teacher, who knows she's out of touch with her students and did not condone the kid's suspension, ends up getting "offered" the chance to "take a sabbatical." The kid is reluctant to see that this thing has massively spiraled out of control and never actually like, says this, or apologizes. He transfers to a new school without a track team and the teacher resigns and now nobody is happy.
Honestly, the only takeaway I have from this as a teacher is to be very cautious about disciplining my students, because God knows what could happen to me.
From the review of Megan:
This book's sole redeeming aspect is its unique format of conversation transcripts, letters, memos, and telegrams (not that my kids know what telegrams are). I think this book is meant to be a universal cautionary tale. A too-cool-for-school jock decides to deliberately irritate his homeroom/English teacher to punish her for his grade keeping him off the track team. The teacher overreacts and sends him to the principal. The principal suspends him. He talks to the neighbor, who gets a reporter, and like a game of telephone, the story transmitted across the country is KID EXPELLED FOR SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM. His completely clueless parents, who are pretty clearly projecting their failed Olympic dreams onto him and pressuring him re: track, egg him on and never question that the story they're hearing might not be true. The teacher, who knows she's out of touch with her students and did not condone the kid's suspension, ends up getting "offered" the chance to "take a sabbatical." The kid is reluctant to see that this thing has massively spiraled out of control and never actually like, says this, or apologizes. He transfers to a new school without a track team and the teacher resigns and now nobody is happy.
Honestly, the only takeaway I have from this as a teacher is to be very cautious about disciplining my students, because God knows what could happen to me.
November 15, 2017
Ok so heres my review. woohoo
WARNING LANGUAGE CHILDREN
Ok so first off this book was not written well at the fuck all. It seriously was the shittiest book I have ever read. I would rather read the twilight series 3 times then read this shit again. Avi you have written dialogue before, correct? Well I never would have guessed that by the way this book has been going.
Now lets go on to Phillip. This kid is such a fucking cocky little dick. Seriously I may be exaggerating but even if I am exaggerating that does not make him any less cocky. He thinks the world owes him everything sorry to burst your big ass bubble BUT IT DOESNT OK. The shit this dude put Narwin through just because he got a well deserved D for being a smart ass. She obviously wanted to like him if this shitty little kid was making these comments I would have to be held the fuck back so I would slap the shit outta him. And then when everyone hates him he wonders why I just cant even with this kid
Then the shit these people go through without even just setting the facts straight with maybe their own review but you know fuck that lets just let it go on. You know its all good man
Ok I don't even wanna go on with this review because. I just cant
WARNING LANGUAGE CHILDREN
Ok so first off this book was not written well at the fuck all. It seriously was the shittiest book I have ever read. I would rather read the twilight series 3 times then read this shit again. Avi you have written dialogue before, correct? Well I never would have guessed that by the way this book has been going.
Now lets go on to Phillip. This kid is such a fucking cocky little dick. Seriously I may be exaggerating but even if I am exaggerating that does not make him any less cocky. He thinks the world owes him everything sorry to burst your big ass bubble BUT IT DOESNT OK. The shit this dude put Narwin through just because he got a well deserved D for being a smart ass. She obviously wanted to like him if this shitty little kid was making these comments I would have to be held the fuck back so I would slap the shit outta him. And then when everyone hates him he wonders why I just cant even with this kid
Then the shit these people go through without even just setting the facts straight with maybe their own review but you know fuck that lets just let it go on. You know its all good man
Ok I don't even wanna go on with this review because. I just cant
Read
December 9, 2019Nothing but the truth, a book that featured Philip Malloy, a boy that is in ninth grade and hates his English teacher, Margaret Darwin because his English teacher didn't give him a pass to go to his beloved sport, track. Later in the year, he got transferred to miss Darwin's home-bass, and matters got worst. one day, he starts humming "The National Anthem" in home-base (when they are supposed to pray when the music starts), he got called to the principle office. Later, matters got worse when the parents got involved in it. Philip Malloy relates to me because after reading this book, I thought how before, I thought that my points were right, but there is a two way street to everything. After reading Nothing but the Truth, I think that both of the characters have no mistake, it's just that there are always two ways or two perspectives of thinking.
August 8, 2014
Its good to finally find a fast-paced novel. I have gotten sick of authors dragging out the plot sequence page after page. I liked how the format is like a script, telling you who is talking and how the people are communicating for a better visual. I think that "Nothing But The Truth" is mostly about how if one person does something (like overreact over something silly) for there own benefit, it can make a big commotion and get people in trouble. This book once again shows how powerful today's media is, and how it can change a story around and get the whole country furious. I know all this sounds eery and sketchy, but I really hope that you will read this.
April 12, 2015
Upon completion, I felt compelled to eat this book, regurgitate into a neat ball, and use it to play fetch with a dog.
Philip is everything I despise in a person, and I'm not sure what message this book was trying to put across. It paints itself to be a story of patriotism, but it's just the story of a selfish teenager who does something because he doesn't want to apply himself in school and justifies it with a lie. Then it turns into a national news story and he ruins a teacher's life, as well as his own. *slow, condescending clap*
Philip is everything I despise in a person, and I'm not sure what message this book was trying to put across. It paints itself to be a story of patriotism, but it's just the story of a selfish teenager who does something because he doesn't want to apply himself in school and justifies it with a lie. Then it turns into a national news story and he ruins a teacher's life, as well as his own. *slow, condescending clap*
November 10, 2008
This was such a great, though provoking book. I read it right before the election, which seemed appropriate. It just goes to show how easily the truth can get twisted. It's a sad story, but I am still thinking about it. I can't wait to discuss it with someone. It just goes to show why I love children's literature.
March 23, 2017
It was a good book but at the end it was like the story didn't finish.
February 25, 2017
First read 2005
I got this book from the reading club in fifth grade. They blacked out the curse words with marker and even then, I found that completely hilarious.
3/3/16
This book was just as bizarre and disappointing as I remember when I first read this more than 10 years ago. I loved the way the book was set up through memos, phone conversations, and morning announcements. The epistolary framework was the only redeeming feature of this confusing book. The main character was a rotten teenager who is insolent towards his teacher and it eventually blows up into an unnecessary scandal. This story is not about politics or patriotism, just a snobby punk who won't behave. It was a short read and I needed it towards my reading goal. Hopefully, Avi's other publications are less ridiculous.
I got this book from the reading club in fifth grade. They blacked out the curse words with marker and even then, I found that completely hilarious.
3/3/16
This book was just as bizarre and disappointing as I remember when I first read this more than 10 years ago. I loved the way the book was set up through memos, phone conversations, and morning announcements. The epistolary framework was the only redeeming feature of this confusing book. The main character was a rotten teenager who is insolent towards his teacher and it eventually blows up into an unnecessary scandal. This story is not about politics or patriotism, just a snobby punk who won't behave. It was a short read and I needed it towards my reading goal. Hopefully, Avi's other publications are less ridiculous.
July 22, 2016
This thing is just so clever. It's sort of a mystery, but mostly it reads a LOT like one of those "docudrama" reality shows, which makes the subtitle oh-so-fitting. There's lots of humor that's subtly presented and that younger readers won't get. Definitely one for the older kids who are able to follow the various dialogues, journal entries, newspaper articles, and the such. I would almost classify it as satire, what with its hilarious depictions of public schools and patriotism. What I really love about it is that it isn’t an all-out attack against either the school or the protagonist; it clearly draws out the faults in both in a really entertaining way, and nobody makes it to the end without being declared guilty in some way. Surprised it isn't more of a controversial entry in Avi's selection of great middle grade/young adult novels. Whatever it is, I absolutely loved it and devoured it in one sitting.
June 1, 2020
read in 6th grade for english in 2016-2017 — no idea if i actually read it but ...
2nd time reading. — honestly, the only way i could summarize this book is its about a young, entitled, and arrogant kid. it was a good read i suppose but i didn't really enjoy the story too much and it wasn't really going anywhere? hard to explain
2nd time reading. — honestly, the only way i could summarize this book is its about a young, entitled, and arrogant kid. it was a good read i suppose but i didn't really enjoy the story too much and it wasn't really going anywhere? hard to explain
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