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.
"Frustrated with the censorship she encounters writing for the school newspaper, Zebby collaborates with friend, Amr, to launch an underground, online newspaper that will expose the truth about Truman School. Zebby envisions a site where students can discuss the new math curriculum, but the newspaper quickly morphs into online gossip when someone posts a malicious photo of Lilly, a popular eighth- grader. Determined to respect free speech and make the site 'everyone's newspaper,' Zebby and Amr decide not to delete the post because 'It isn't any big deal.'
"Told in shifting first-person narratives, the ramifications of cyber bullying become clear as the story unfolds. 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
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