Nothing but the Truth: A Documentary Novel

Philip Malloy is a track-obsessed ninth grader at Harrison High School in New Hampshire. After receiving a D grade on his English test, Phillip Malloy blames it on his English teacher, Margaret Narwin. Since he is no longer eligible to try out for the track team, he avoids telling his parents and instead pretends that he no longer has an interest in trying out. Throughout his time in school, his number of class time disturbances increases.

One day, he begins humming the national anthem when he's meant to be at silent respectful attention. Ms. Narwin asks him to stop multiple times.

After three days of this behavior, he is suspended and given the chance to apologize to Narwin for his disrespect towards her. After Philip refuses to express regret, Vice Principal Dr. Joseph Palleni is called by district mandated procedure to suspend him.

Philip then tells his parents that he was suspended for 'singing' the National Anthem. Mr. Malloy (Philip's father), shares this with their neighbor, Ted Griffen, who is running for the school board. He arranges an interview between Philip and a local journalist named Jennifer Stewart.

Ms. Stewart pursues Philip's story about suspension, going on to speak to many of the adults involved: the school superintendent, Dr. Albert Seymour (who says adamantly that there is no policy against singing the national anthem but is not aware of the context), the principal Dr. Gertrude Doane (who received a short memo on the subject), the assistant principal Dr. Joseph Palleni (who is defensive about his level of involvement), and Ms. Narwin, who does not give her any comment on the situation.

Ms. Stewart's slanted newspaper article quickly garners national attention when it is picked up by the Associated Press. Philip and his 'anthem singing' controversy are soon elevated into the national media spotlight; leading many to laud him for his patriotism and condemn the school's (alleged) attempts to stymie it. Meanwhile, Harrison School District faces a critical school board election bearing significant implications over the school's finances. With funding already in shortage, there is an urgent concern that the school could suffer greatly from further budget cuts. A reporter attempts to cover Ms. Narwin's side of the story, but her article is buried during an international crisis. In the midst of the controversy, Ms. Narwin is asked to 'take a break from teaching,' and she reluctantly agrees. This is soon followed by her resignation and she leaves to visit her sister in Florida.

After using Philip's story as a platform, Ted Griffen is elected to the Harrison School district school board. At this point, he declines to extend much-needed funding to Harrison High School in a demonstration of disapproval for their handling of the incident.

When Philip returns to school, he has trouble adjusting to his dubious notoriety and becomes an outcast. He also learns that he was transferred out of Ms. Narwin's English class.

His role in the dismissal of Ms. Narwin and his invitation of a media firestorm on the Harrison community fuel feelings of resentment toward him from his peers. He is harassed by other students both on the bus and in the classroom while his crush, Allison, openly resents him for the removal of her favorite teacher, Ms. Narwin.

Matters decline further as Philip is informed by a friend that the student body has begun drafting a petition with the intention to compel him into revealing the truth about the incident (an idea that originated from the track coach, Coach Jamison). This propels Philip into a breaking point and he begins skipping school, causing concern from his parents.

Philip ultimately decides to transfer to a private school, Washington Academy (despite protests from his father, as the tuition would use up all of his college funds and savings).

At Philip's new school, he is asked to lead his classmates in singing "The National Anthem" At that moment, he starts to cry and admits, "I don't know the words", ending the book.