Book Review: Truly Devious

Photo Source// https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29589074-truly-devious

By Patrick O’Neill, Staff Writer

Truly, Devious—where oh where to begin? This is quite an interesting book series to say the least. The first book is simply entitled Truly, Devious and contains a plethora of riddles, intricately weaved together to form an engaging YA story that keeps the page turning from beginning to end. I think I read all 416 pages of the novel in the course of one long and murder-mystery filled evening. Does that make me crazy? Perhaps.

Regardless, Truly, Devious is a must-read for all you fans of murder mystery, romance, and teen drama out there—and if you want some pop-culture throwbacks and serious Harry Potter vibes then this is a stellar book for you.

The premise of the novel is that gifted and talented senior high school students are sent to Ellingham Academy—a private school deep in the mountains of Vermont where the quirky, geniuses of the world get to study what they want and prepare themselves for higher academia. One teen, Stevie, is wound up in the world of criminology—obsessing over the murder and kidnapping of the founder of school’s wife and daughter. She pours over crime stories and evidence, riddles and clues—leading her down the road of the novel. Her friends help along the way and of course there’s some spicy drama but that’s for you to find out about.  

This novel is compulsively readable according to John Green and I agree—the openness of the format makes it a quick and entertaining book that goes well with a blanket and a mug of hot cocoa. So curl up and give Truly, Devious a try. And don’t forget the thrilling sequel, The Vanishing Stair.

The novel starts with a poem signed Truly, Devious—the poem is a mysterious piece of work made of letters pasted together from magazines and newspapers and reads:

Photo Source// https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwbooks/article/BWW-Review-TRULY-DEVIOUS-by-Maureen-Johnson-20180129

Book Review: Circe

Photo Credit: Melissa Pashby

By Patrick O’Neill, Staff Writer

Let me start by saying that Circe by Madeline Miller is a stellar novel. And if I haven’t convinced you to read it by the end of this article, then sue me.

1)      As a middle schooler or elementary schooler, did you read the Percy Jackson series? Well, Circe can bring some of that Percy Jackson nostalgia back to you, and better than before. Madeline Miller has an incredibly strong command of classical imagery and a background in classics so you can almost guarantee that her myths are strong and accurate, with that charming dramatic spin she puts on her characters.

2)      If you’ve read Homer’s Odyssey and wanted a little more information about the mysterious witch, Circe well Miller provides. She brings a rich background and her own vivid imagination to the tale of the Odyssey—creating scenes to extend the plot of that classic mythos and making it her own romantic, and tragic tale of love and death.

3)      Circe isn’t just a history of a famous Greek witch from thousands year old mythology—it’s a tale of love, death, and sacrifice with a steady, vibrant beginning, dramatic tension building throughout, and culminating with a wholly unexpected ending.

Miller’s command of images, stylistic writing choices, and vibrant language make this read even more worth your while. My advice? Grab a copy of Circe before it gets too popular because the only downside to this book is that you haven’t read it yet.