Nothing but the Truth Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal
3.4 out of 5, (7 ratings on Open Library)
Nothing but the Truth has 19 chapters · 208 pages
(From Scholastic (publisher) website): 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.
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Inside the journal: 19 chapter pages, one question each · 3 example answers · a cover for your reader’s name
Chapter by chapter Each question is about its own chapter.
What do the first documents and diary entries show you about Philip Malloy, Miss Narwin, and Harrison High School?See all 19 questions ↓
About the book
(From Scholastic (publisher) website): 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.
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Nothing but the Truth questions by chapter
We know this book well. Every question asks about something that happens in its chapter, a moment, a choice or a character, without giving away what comes next. One question per chapter, across all 19 chapters, and every one is editable before you print. The example answers under 3 of the chapters are the ones printed at the front of the booklet.
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Chapter 1
What do the first documents and diary entries show you about Philip Malloy, Miss Narwin, and Harrison High School?
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Chapter 2
Based on Philip's words and actions in this chapter, what kind of student does he seem to be? Use details from the chapter to support your thinking.
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Chapter 3
Why is being on the track team so important to Philip, and how does his English grade affect his plans?
Example answer: I think track is important to Philip because it is something he feels good at and excited about. He wants to be on the team, but his English grade is too low, which means he might not be allowed to join. This makes him feel angry at Miss Narwin instead of thinking about how his own work affected the grade.
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Chapter 4
Early in the story, what does the word "truth" seem to mean to Philip? What does it seem to mean to Miss Narwin?
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Chapter 5
How does Miss Narwin try to be a good teacher, even when her students may not understand or appreciate her?
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Chapter 6
When the rule about standing quietly for the national anthem becomes important, how do you predict Philip will react? Why?
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Chapter 7
What happens when Philip hums during the national anthem, and why does Miss Narwin see it as a problem?
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Chapter 8
Do you think Miss Narwin handles Philip's behavior fairly in this chapter? Explain your opinion with reasons.
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Chapter 9
How do Philip's parents respond to the way Philip tells the story? What do their reactions show about them?
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Chapter 10
How do the school leaders' decisions make the problem bigger instead of smaller?
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Chapter 11
How can leaving out important details change the way people understand what happened in this chapter?
Example answer: Leaving out details can make a story sound very different from the truth. If someone only hears that Philip got in trouble for the national anthem, they might think the school was being unfair. But the reader knows more details, like the classroom rules and Philip's earlier behavior. Those details matter because they help us understand the whole situation.
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Chapter 12
The word "patriotism" means love for one's country. How do different people in this chapter use ideas about patriotism?
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Chapter 13
As reporters and other adults get involved, what new problems do you predict will happen for Philip, Miss Narwin, or the school?
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Chapter 14
What choices do the adults in charge make in this chapter, and how do those choices affect Philip and Miss Narwin?
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Chapter 15
If you were one of Philip's classmates, what would you think about his actions? Explain why.
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Chapter 16
How is the news story different from what you, as the reader, know really happened?
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Chapter 17
What does this chapter show about how rumors or news can spread quickly and become hard to control?
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Chapter 18
By this point in the story, do you think Philip has taken responsibility for his part in the problem? Use evidence from the book.
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Chapter 19
What does the final chapter reveal about truth, and what lesson do you think Avi wants readers to learn?
Example answer: The final chapter shows that the truth is not always the same as the story people choose to tell. Philip becomes famous for standing up for the anthem, but the ending shows he does not even know all the words. I think Avi wants readers to ask questions and look for facts before believing one side. The book teaches that small lies or half-truths can hurt many people.
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How to use this Nothing but the Truth reading journal
At home, as a discussion guide
After each chapter your reader writes a few lines on that chapter’s question. Read the answer together at bedtime: it shows what they understood and gives you something real to talk about, without a quiz.
In class, as a novel study
Print a class set (booklets fold from plain letter paper) and use one question per chapter as the reading-response or literature-circle prompt. The example answers at the front show what a full answer looks like.
Homeschool
One booklet covers the whole book, 19 chapters, so it doubles as the reading log for Nothing but the Truth. Reword any question before printing to match your reader.
Printing
The booklet PDF prints on ordinary 8.5 × 11 paper: print double-sided (flip on the short edge) at 100%, fold the stack in half and staple on the fold. There is also a one-page-per-sheet PDF and A5 binder pages.
Where the questions come from
Each question is about its own chapter. We know this book well. Every question asks about something that happens in its chapter, a moment, a choice or a character, without giving away what comes next. The questions were drafted with AI from what is known about the book and checked before publishing; every one is editable before you print.
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