Author: ladeena

What I liked most about this novel was how intense it felt. The suspense builds steadily as Stevie starts connecting the final clues. Johnson’s writing is sharp but still easy to follow, and the dialogue between the characters feels realistic. I also liked that Stevie isn’t portrayed as a perfect genius she struggles with anxiety and self-doubt, which makes her feel more relatable.

The pacing is fast but not rushed, and there are several moments where you truly don’t know who to trust. One challenge is that the book relies heavily on details from the first two novels, so readers need to pay attention. However, that complexity make the mystery more satisfying in the end. 

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy contemporary YA mixed with suspense and detective-style storytelling. It’s especially great for teens who like true crime, boarding school settings, and strong female leads. Overall, it’s a suspenseful and engaging ending to the Truly Devious mystery that kept readers guessing until the end.

I absolutely loved this book. Maureen Johnson’s writing keeps the reader constantly guessing, and the plot twists are completely unexpected. Just when I thought I understood what was happening, the story took another surprising turn. The suspense builds slowly but intensely, which made it impossible for me to stop reading. I especially appreciated how the mystery becomes more complex instead of predictable. Nothing felt obvious, and every clue seemed meaningful.

One of the strongest elements of the novel is Johnson’s pacing. She balances character development with suspense, giving the readers time to understand Stevie’s personality while still pushing the mystery forward. Stevie feels realistic she is intelligent and determined, but also anxious and unsure of herself at times. The dual timeline structure, switching between the 1930s case and the present-day investigation, adds depth and tension. The ending is particularly powerful and leaves readers eager to continue the series.

I would highly recommend the Vanishing Stair to anyone who enjoys mysteries that keep them on the edge of their seat. Readers who like smart female characters, plot twists, and layered storylines will especially enjoy this book. Also fans of suspenseful young adult fiction or series like A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder would likely love this novel. Even readers who are new to Maureen Johnson’s work will appreciate the gripping mystery and well-developed characters.

Overall, the Vanishing Stair is a thrilling continuation of the Truly Devious series. With its unexpected twists, strong characters, and suspense, it is a must-read for mystery lovers.

For most of her life, Christine believes that returning to Japan will finally make her feel whole instead of just “half”. Since she was born in Tokyo, she assumes that living there again will help her reconnect with a part of herself that feels missing, However, once she arrives, the reality is very different from what she imagined. Instead of fitting in, she feels like an outsider all over again. The language barriers, social expectations, and cultural differences make her feel even more isolated. This made her realize that belonging is not guaranteed just because you share a background with a place. 

One of the most important parts of this memoir is how Mari uses the graphic format o show emotion. The muted colors, repeated images of crowded places, and Christine’s body language all emphasize her loneliness and anxiety. Even when surrounded by people, she often appears small and disconnected, this reinforced the idea that feeling “half” is more emotional than physical. The visuals help the reader understand her inner struggle without needing long explanations.
By the end of the memoir, Christine begins to realize that being “half” does not mean being incomplete. Instead of choosing one identity over the other, she learns that it is okay to exist in between. Halfway There ultimately shows that self-acceptance comes from understanding yourself, not from trying to fit perfectly into a single culture. Mari’s story is relatable, thoughtful, and comforting for anyone who has ever felt like they did not fully belong.

One of the novel’s strengths is its use of two timelines, switching between the past and the present. This keeps the story interesting and slowly reveals important clues. Stevie is a relatable main character who struggles with anxiety and fitting in, which makes her feel realistic and easy to connect with. The setting of Ellingham Academy adds to the suspense, with its isolated location and secretive atmosphere.

Although the mystery is engaging, the book does not fully solve the case by the end since it is the first in a series. Overall, Truly Devious is an exiting and well-written YA mystery that would really appeal to readers who enjoy suspense, mysteries, and crime stories.

I really enjoyed this book because the mystery kept me interested and made me want to continue reading, especially since the answers were revealed slowly instead of all at once. I also liked how Marlowe’s relationships with the other teenagers felt realistic, because at times they were tense and uncertain, showing that not everyone trusted each other right away, which added to the mystery and made they’re interactions more interesting. The writing is descriptive, particularly when describing the settling, which makes Morning House feel eerie and important to the story. The pacing is steady, with sometimes short chapters that make the book easy to follow, and Marlowe feels like a realistic main character because she is curious and determined. I discovered this book during community meeting on a Friday when it was announced, and though I have never really been a reader and usually cannot get past the first twenty pages of a book, I decided to give this one a chance and I’m really glad I did, because to my surprise, I kept reading past that point and actually wanted to continue, and because of this book I realized that reading can be fun.

This book would be a really good choice for teen readers who enjoy mystery stories with dark themes, suspense, and an unsettling atmosphere.