Access Full Guide Download Save. Featured Collections. Epigraph-Chapter 6. Chapters Character Analysis. Important Quotes. Essay Topics. Overview Nothing but the Truth is a Newbery-Award-winning documentary novel published by Avi in Unlock this Study Guide! Join SuperSummary to gain instant access to all 48 pages of this Study Guide and thousands of other learning resources. Get Started.
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 So many characters o Wow. 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. 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". Jan 02, Stacey B. 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. 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. 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.
Mar 09, Catherine Daou rated it did not like it. I read this because I had to 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 Oct 12, Jackson rated it did not like it. Nov 22, Barbara Radisavljevic rated it it was amazing Shelves: fiction-children , fiction-teen. 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. Philip has a habit that his homeroom teacher, Mr. Lunser, has tolerated in spite of the school directive that when the national The main character, Philip Mallory, is entering high school.
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. 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.
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. Narwin is not anything like Mr.
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. 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. 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? Nov 14, Madi Licious rated it did not like it. Ok so heres my review. 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. As is typical of Avi, the writing is riveting and revealing. Website copyright - Avi. All rights reserved. Privacy policy.
Site designed by Winding Oak. His arch nemesis and least favorited teacher, Miss Narwin, thinks poorly of Philip, especially after he is switched to her homeroom. The day is always begun with the playing of the national anthem, but when Phil starts to "sing" along, Miss Narwin starts to lose it.
After suspensions, interviews with newspapers, and nation wide fame, Philip must not only figure out how to deal with his newly renowned fame, but also how to deal with being honest about what is really going on. This book was a great, quick read.
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