Truly Devious

I don't know if I've ever read a YA mystery, but I really enjoyed this one—honestly, more than I thought I would. It was suspenseful and entertaining. Stevie is an interesting protagonist—a clinically anxious aspiring detective. Janelle is a delightful reminder that you can be passionate about fashion, pop culture, and STEM all at once. Nate is kind of an Eeyore, showing how cynics sometimes make the best friends. I like how Johnson integrated diversity and normalized mental illness. She did it in a matter-of-fact “different kinds of people exist” way. None of it was integral to major plot developments, but it was refreshing and provided a richer backdrop. I also think Johnson did a good job keeping this YA, despite high stakes. A good deal of the YA I read can feel more like new adult, to the point where initially Truly Devious read almost middle grade to me. It soon gets more intense, though, with funny lines and common tropes to level things out. Johnson doesn't tie up much at the end, but I liked this well enough that I'm just eager to read more. [b:Vanishing Stair 39893545 The Vanishing Stair (Truly Devious, #2) Maureen Johnson https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1529970325s/39893545.jpg 49916464] soon!