The Truth about Alice

by Jennifer Mathieu

[Kelly]

Told from several points of view, from genius Kurt, popular girl Elaine, former best friend Kelsie and Brandon's best friend Josh, The Truth About Alice is heartbreaking. Each tell their own story about Alice, from the rumours they've heard or each started. How Alice slept with two guys at the one party, that she played a hand in Brandon's death, all except Kurt. Kurt had always watched Alice from afar, but is the only one who comes to her rescue and becomes her only friend. The rumours have destroyed the Alice she once was, the sassy girl now drowns herself in oversized sweatshirts, trying to blend into the background. But still the rumours run rife.

How much did it hurt? It was like a million paper cuts on my heart.

My heart broke for Alice. I was so incredibly sad reading what she had to endure at the hands of others. The girls who she once called friends, how quickly they turned on her and chose to believe the life destroying rumours, rather than asking Alice. Regardless whether they were true or not, they simply didn't care. Brandon was promiscuous, often boasting about all the girls he's been with, but it always seems it's the girl who is labelled the slut. Brandon died never being held accountable for destroying Alice's reputation and is seen as the boy who simply could do no wrong. I was so engrossed in the story of Alice, that I was fuming. How dare these girls label this girl as anything when clearly they've all been in the same situation. The only difference is that no one started a rumour about them.

First time author Jennifer Mathieu is incredible. The storyline was so compelling, and written with care and conviction. Her story has many voices, but when it finally reached Alice, I broke down. It was absolutely heartbreaking. Alice is a representation of girls all over the world that have fallen victim to a vicious lie, a rumour spread and a vendetta forged just because they can. If you're a parent, a teen, teacher or guardian, The Truth About Alice needs to become compulsory reading. This isn't fiction, Alice may be just one character or part of a storyline, but she's real and I applaud Jennifer Mathieu for telling us her story.