The Truth About Alice

by Jennifer Mathieu
Roaring Brook Press, $16.99

The Truth About Alice tackles the topic of slut-shaming, the most recent twist on a practice that’s at least as old as recorded history. Jennifer Mathieu, a high school English teacher, tells her story from the alternating points of view of “super crazy popular” Elaine, insecure wannabe Kelsie, dumb jock Josh, loner genius Kurt, and, finally, Alice herself. Alice has been ostracized by her classmates and the rest of the tiny town of Healy, Texas, ever since the star quarterback told everyone that he and another boy took turns having sex with her at a party. After Brandon is killed in a car accident, the town blames Alice – Josh, who was also in the car, claims Alice was texting him, which caused him to become distracted and crash. The book slowly reveals what really happened, why, and how Alice manages to rise above her cruel treatment. Alice is entertaining and funny, but its characters never quite manage to escape their stereotypes. Teenagers who are struggling with some of the problems on offer here – and Mathieu is careful to include a variety of those afflicting today’s middle-class, small town teenager – may take some comfort in the book, but overall, Alice fails to make a lasting impact.

Jennifer Mathieu will appear on the panel “Growing Up and Other Natural Disasters” with Andrew Smith (100 Sideways Miles), Julie Murphy (Side Effects May Vary), and Jandy Nelson (I’ll Give You the Sun); Saturday, Oct. 18, 12:25pm, in Jones Auditorium (Ragsdale Rm. 101).

This article appears in October 17 • 2014.

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