Initial Impressions 6/12/14: This was really good! I thought it was handled nicely and I felt like it was fairly realistic... Some of the kids for a bit too nicely into stereotypical boxes BUT at the story goes on, we really get to know that they really don't... Much like Alice's story, there are so many things that are assumed or that can be perceived one way when there's so much more lying beneath the surface or that people don't know about. 
 It was a very quick read and I really enjoyed getting to know each character. 
 Full review posted HERE on The Book Addict's Guide 8/1/14: THE TRUTH ABOUT ALICE was a really interesting story. Instead of being told from the title character's POV, the book is told by four different characters, each with a unique point of view regarding Alice's personal character and the events that occurred the night of the big party -- or basically, the beginning of the end of Alice's reputation. 
 Immediately when I started reading, I knew there was more to the story. Wild rumors were flying all around school (and even the community) about Alice Franklin and immediately I felt sorry for the girl. I wasn't exactly sure yet what had happened myself but it was clear that the rumors had escalated to a horrific level and poor Alice was somehow not only responsible for sleeping with two guys in one night, but also for the death of popular football player Brandon after he died in a car accident, supposedly because Alice was texting him something inappropriate. 
 Books like these just make me sad because I think of all of the people whose reputations have been destroyed by rumors either spreading with no credibility whatsoever or because of partial truths that somehow escalate out of control. Although it's left to the reader to figure out exactly what happened between her and Brandon and what went down at the party, the characters also reveal that Alice didn't have the most innocent reputation (though not terrible) which led to the mild credibility of those rumors once they got going... and I think that's what upset me the most. Yes, it's awful no matter who it happens to but it's also so sad that people will readily assume worse things about someone if they already know some less than favorite facts beforehand. It's almost a sort of prejudice or stereotype and people get one idea stuck in their head and allow new ideas along the same path of what they already know - whether true or not - to blend into on giant assumption. Unfortunately I think this is something that happens to almost all of us. It's so hard not to operate on what we already know and allow our brains to fill in the gaps to "logical" explanations once a situation is presented. 
 I think it was a fantastic idea for Jennifer Mathieu to write this book from every perspective except for Alice's (which actually does appear at the very end). I feel like the norm is to see books like this from the rumor victim's point of view and I think for me, that tugged at the heartstrings even more. Each person essentially knew the rumors weren't true -- at least, if they assumed part of the rumors were true, they knew that the truth wasn't as exaggerated as what had been flying around the school and neighborhood and THAT was the worst thing to witness. No one wanted to stand up for Alice and the "oh well, she probably deserves it anyway" attitude from some absolutely killed me. 
 THE TRUTH ABOUT ALICE was a really good read. I think it really opened my eyes to situations like these -- not necessarily specifically involving rumors but just standing up for someone or speaking up in situations that you know are wrong. It's hard to take the risk and possible put yourself in the line of fire as well, but hopefully books like these will continue to keep that reminder in the back of people's minds and may end up influencing someone to speak up the next time they're in a situation like this.