The Truth About Truman School
- Do You Know the Monkey Man
- Yes, I Know the Monkey Man
- Sliding Into Home
- The Truth About Truman School
- Trading Places with Tank Talbott
- Tank Talbott’s Guide to Girls
- Alexandra Hopewell, Labor Coach
They just wanted to tell the truth.
When Zebby and Amr create the website thetruthabouttruman.com, they want it to be honest. They want it to be about the real Truman Middle School, to say things that the school newspaper would never say, and to give everyone a chance to say what they want to say, too.
But given the chance, some people will say anything—anything to hurt someone else. And when rumors about one popular student escalate to cruel new levels, it’s clear the truth about Truman School is more harrowing than anyone ever imagined.
Available in Hardcover, Paperback, & Scholastic Book Club Edition
170 pages
Albert Whitman & Co 2008
Hardcover ISBN: 0807580953; Paperback ISBN: 0807580961; Scholastic Book Club ISBN: 978054533870
Reviews
“Small icons, such as a crown for social queen Hayley and a reporter’s notebook for Zebby, appear at the beginning of each narrative, helping to keep the multiple voices distinct…particularly timely and relevant…” —Booklist
“Told from multiple perspectives as a compilation of the points of view of all involved, this is an exercise in ethics and morality, particularly pertinent given the power of the Internet….this is a realistic portrayal of the negative influence of bullying, cliques, and peer pressure as they might affect tweens inside and outside the online world.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Butler empowers the young by giving them voices. While at the end some of the teens fail to grasp how their own actions contributed to the problem, others–like Zebby, Amr, and even Lilly–understand all to well and consequently learn and grow from the experience.” —Children’s Literature
“The story moves at a good pace and the timely subject of cyberbullying will be relevant to readers. The language is accessible and the students’ voices ring true. This thought-provoking read is sure to initiate discussion.” —School Library Journal
Awards
- Volunteer State (Tennessee) Book Award Intermediate Master Reading List 2011
- Volunteer State (Tennessee) Book Award Nominee in 2011.
- Rhode Island Teen Book Award Nominee 2011
- Iowa Teen Award Nominee 2013
Fan Mail
Extras
Photos from the first One School One Book Program I did with The Truth About Truman School:
This was truly one of the best author visits I’ve ever had. Everyone in the whole school read my book, and I had some really good conversations about bullying with students and staff. But that’s not what made this such an awesome visit. This was a school for the arts. What made this visit special was the fact that a 12-year-old student at this school adapted my book into a script and students performed it for the community the night before my visit and for the whole school the day of my visit. Seeing my story come to life on the stage was a highlight of my career.
Click HERE to see a book trailer.
Download a Page-by-Page Teacher’s Guide for The Truth About Truman School HERE.
Download a General Discussion Guide for The Truth About Truman School HERE.
Click HERE to read a guest blog I wrote about a student I met at a school visit.