Nothing But the Truth by Avi

This realistic fiction documentary novel is formatted in the form of a play with several different conversations between characters. This format presents as a unique reading experience for the reader, and it invites reader's theater opportunities within the classroom. An adolescent named Philip Malloy is charged with showing disrespectful singing through the National Anthem played during morning announcements at school. As the plot thickens the blame against Philip for breaking a school rule escalates to opposing views about a huge allegation involving a student charged for showing patriotism in school that is circulated nation-wide with the media. Philip's grades decline, and his chances to participate in track are in jeopardy along with his relationships with his parents and friends. Philip has been chastised by his father, his track coach, his teacher Miss Narwin, and the school administrators; and he has even been suspended from school for declining the choice to apologize to Miss Narwin. Even through this Philip appears cool, calm, and collected except for his woe about missing track and not impressing a girl friend. The irony of the book seems to be his nonchalance amid the hubbub of media attention and heated arguments and rifts among parents, teachers, school administrators, school board members, and radio, TV and newspaper reporters concerning who is to blame about Philip getting in trouble for singing to the National Anthem in school. The novel is a viable springboard for teaching persuasion both in written and debate form in middle school. The book reads easily and invites reluctant readers to give it a try. The topic and content relates well to current issues in school, and middle schoolers can quickly relate and connect the contents of the novel to their own experiences. This book is a must-read for every middle school English teacher.