The Truth about Truman School

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 imagine

The Truth About Truman School is a timely look at how "cyber bullying" can take on a life of its own. Two middle school students are feeling censored by the school newspaper advisor, so they create a website where all students can report the "truth" about the happenings at their school. An anonymous poster targets one of the popular girls, and soon other students join in the bullying, and it spirals out of control.

The story is told in first person, through quite a few viewpoints. It's a great way to see how the developing situation affects everyone - from the well-meaning students, to the targeted girl, to the popular clique, and the traditionally-bullied members of the school body. The characters are sort of cliché - but it works show more well. I particularly enjoyed the viewpoints of the popular students. It was clear that popularity isn't necessarily a great thing - the popular kids must constantly worrying about maintaining their status.

This book is targeted at the middle school readers, but it's not inappropriate for about 10 years and up. The bullying in the book centers around weight, and accusations of homosexuality. The accusations of homosexuality are very middle-school (Ewww! She's so gay!), and not at all explicit. There are some boyfriend-girlfriend issues, but they are very mild and innocent.

The reading level is about fourth grade. The story is interesting enough that stronger readers will eat it up, but it's very accessible to the more struggling readers. show less

At Truman Middle School there are the jocks, the queen's, and everyone else. Everyone else includes Zebby, who wants to write for the school newspaper but finds herself blocked when she wants to cover the serious issues around the school instead of just simple fluff pieces. To fight back, Zebby and her best friend Amr start a web page devoted to "the truth" about the school. To combat the censorship Zebby feels she suffered, the two make the decision that anyone can post anything - no restrictions, no editing. Big mistake. Before you can blink an eye the web page is being used to insult, threaten, and bully one of the most popular girls in school. Faster than the kids could imagine, the popular girls' "friends" turn on her, the student show more body piles on, and things go from bad to worse.

Quote: "But Mrs. Jonstone still said no. She actually looked Amr in the eye and said, "We don't have a problem with bullying here at Truman, and an article like that would just get the administration all riled up."

The issue of bullying is certainly one that is a problem with students, and cyberbullying a problem that is getting a growing amount of attention. However, I hesitate to leave this book in my classroom library because to me it doesn't give enough of a warning - I could see it providing way more ideas than cautions to young teens. The writing was fine except for the awkward, painful texting of an adult replicating the way a preteen emails or texts. show less

Tired of being told what to write by the school newspaper's advisor, Zibby and her friend Amr start an underground newspaper online where everyone is free to post anything, but things spiral out of control when a cyberbully starts using the site to harrass one popular girl.

The Truth about Truman School is a realistic fiction novel addressing the issues of bullying and gossip at school. The prevalence of cyber bullying and use of social networking has taken bullying to a whole new degree in today’s youth as hinted in this book. Zebby and Amr, the nerdy creators of The Truth about Truman, had the intentions of creating an underground online school newspaper for students at their middle school. With only two rules of operation: work posted must be original and whatever is posted must be truth, the website becomes a thriving site for the middle school. Intended for topics like curriculum and school lunch quality, the site quickly transforms into a gossip column that eventually spirals into hateful posts and show more links (about appearances and sexual orientation) that not only damage a popular girl’s reputation, but humiliates her to the point where she becomes isolated.

The issues addressed are relevant to middle school readers, however the characters are flat, stereotypical and predictable. Hillestad Bulter ‘s writing in this book is mediocre and only peaked my interest in last 15 pages. This book bundles every bad aspect of education, middle school and social youth into one book fueling a dramatic ending. Regardless, this book does truthfully address what cyber bullying looks like, the dangers for all parties involved, legal obligations and personal ownership of the power of one’s words. Overall, a bit of a yawn.

Age Recommendations: 6-8th graders show less

Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

Disenchanted with the censorship of their school paper, Zebby resigns as editor. Complaining to her best friend, Amr, the two decide to create a web page. If the school paper won't print the hard-hitting articles that Zebby wants written, then they will create an Internet paper.

And so, www.thetruthabouttruman.com is born.

They soon realize that unless the popular kids start talking about it, no one will bother with the web site. So with some creativity, Zebby gets the ball rolling, and before too long, they have over 400 hits to the site. And people are posting, as well. Zebby and Amr want the site to be truthful and allow anyone to post and add to it.

When a vicious poll, "Who is the biggest show more poseur?" is posted, Zebby and Amr debate about removing it, but instead, decide to leave it up. Little do the two realize that one simple poll will create a snowball effect.

Lilly, one of the most popular girls in school, becomes the target of the cyber-bullying. Though some of the information is true, most is false, but the kids at school start to believe it. Soon, Zebby and Amr are fighting with each other, accusing the other of being the perpetrator.

When Lilly disappears, everything comes crashing down. The police are called in, and the web site is revealed.

THE TRUTH ABOUT TRUMAN SCHOOL is a scary look at how cyber-bullying can occur. News reports make it all too clear that such things can happen in real life. By reading THE TRUTH ABOUT TRUMAN SCHOOL, it's easy to see how one simple web site can hurt an innocent person. The story makes the reader realize that anyone can be hurt, even if the information is false. show less

Fourth grade reading level, but better suited for middle school readers.