{"id":37359,"date":"2020-04-28T14:40:23","date_gmt":"2020-04-28T18:40:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=37359"},"modified":"2020-04-28T14:40:23","modified_gmt":"2020-04-28T18:40:23","slug":"review-of-truly-devious-by-maureen-johnson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=37359","title":{"rendered":"Review of Truly Devious, by Maureen Johnson"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Truly Devious<\/em><\/p>\n

by Maureen Johnson<\/p>\n

Katherine Tegen Books (HarperCollins), 2018. 420 pages.
\nStarred Review
\n2018 Sonderbooks Stand-out<\/a>:
\n#5 General Teen Fiction<\/p>\n

This book is a little unfair. There\u2019s no Book One<\/strong> printed in bold on the cover \u2013 so how dare it finish up with those dreaded three words, \u201cto be continued\u201d? Well, it does.<\/p>\n

Stevie Bell is a junior in high school, and she\u2019s been invited to attend Ellingham Academy, where an eccentric millionaire established a school for bright kids and gives them a unique education \u2013 for free.<\/p>\n

But Ellingham has a mystery associated with it. 80 years ago, the wife and child of the eccentric founder were kidnapped, and the wife\u2019s body was found. One of the students as well was found dead \u2013 but the daughter was never recovered. The kidnapper sent a note signed \u201cTruly, Devious.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the present day, Stevie is obsessed with true crime \u2013 and she wants to solve the mystery of Ellingham Academy. <\/p>\n

The mystery and the story is woven well. Every few chapters, we\u2019ve got a flashback to a scene that happened in 1936, when the kidnapping took place.<\/p>\n

Stevie\u2019s obsessed with the old mystery \u2013 so she\u2019s not exactly prepared to find the body of one of her fellow students.<\/p>\n

Now, there\u2019s a fun surprise at the end, but I can\u2019t exactly tell you if the clues are helpful or how well the mystery is woven \u2013 because of those dread words, \u201cto be continued.\u201d I am very annoyed that I can\u2019t read the second volume right now. [Reader, the good news is that since I couldn’t post this in 2018 when I read it as part of my Newbery reading, now all three volumes are published, and you can read them all together!]<\/p>\n

But I will say that I enjoyed every minute leading up to those dread words. (The surprise at the end is perfect!) The characters are quirky. The setting is well-drawn. Stevie even gets to look at some papers and other items from the time of the kidnapping.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the letter from Truly Devious:<\/p>\n

Look! A riddle! Time for fun!
\nShould we use a rope or gun
\nKnives are sharp and gleam so pretty
\nPoison\u2019s slow, which is a pity
\nFire is festive, drowning\u2019s slow
\nHanging\u2019s a ropy way to go
\nA broken head, a nasty fall
\nA car colliding with a wall
\nBombs make a very jolly noise
\nSuch ways to punish naughty boys!
\nWhat shall we use? We can\u2019t decide.
\nJust like you cannot run or hide.
\nHa ha.
\nTruly,
\nDevious<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I can\u2019t wait to get more clues in the next book!<\/p>\n

maureenjohnsonbooks.com<\/a>
\nepicreads.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Teens\/truly_devious.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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