Nothing but the Truth

The questions inside

One per chapter, across all 19 chapters — every question is editable before you print.

1. What do the first documents and diary entries show you about Philip Malloy, Miss Narwin, and Harrison High School?
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.
3. Why is being on the track team so important to Philip, and how does his English grade affect his plans?
4. Early in the story, what does the word "truth" seem to mean to Philip? What does it seem to mean to Miss Narwin?
5. How does Miss Narwin try to be a good teacher, even when her students may not understand or appreciate her?
6. When the rule about standing quietly for the national anthem becomes important, how do you predict Philip will react? Why?
7. What happens when Philip hums during the national anthem, and why does Miss Narwin see it as a problem?
8. Do you think Miss Narwin handles Philip's behavior fairly in this chapter? Explain your opinion with reasons.
9. How do Philip's parents respond to the way Philip tells the story? What do their reactions show about them?
10. How do the school leaders' decisions make the problem bigger instead of smaller?
11. How can leaving out important details change the way people understand what happened in this chapter?
12. The word "patriotism" means love for one's country. How do different people in this chapter use ideas about patriotism?
13. As reporters and other adults get involved, what new problems do you predict will happen for Philip, Miss Narwin, or the school?
14. What choices do the adults in charge make in this chapter, and how do those choices affect Philip and Miss Narwin?
15. If you were one of Philip's classmates, what would you think about his actions? Explain why.
16. How is the news story different from what you, as the reader, know really happened?
17. What does this chapter show about how rumors or news can spread quickly and become hard to control?
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.
19. What does the final chapter reveal about truth, and what lesson do you think Avi wants readers to learn?

Example answers

Printed at the front of the booklet, so your reader can see what a strong answer looks like.

Why is being on the track team so important to Philip, and how does his English grade affect his plans?

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.

How can leaving out important details change the way people understand what happened in this chapter?

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.

What does the final chapter reveal about truth, and what lesson do you think Avi wants readers to learn?

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.