Let's just say I haven't had very good luck with review
books of late. Whether it's a new inability to pick
winners, I'm getting older and fussier or authors just
don't have it like they once did, I found myself once again
with high expectations for WE KNOW IT WAS YOU, the first
book in Maggie Thrash's YA series called Strange Truth. It
started out with promise with a cheerleader jumping over
the railing of a bridge into the Chattahoochee River in the
school's mascot suit of a wildcat.
Benny Flax and Virginia Leeds, the only two members of the
school's mystery club, set out to investigate. Benny is
Jewish and a control freak while Virginia tries not to
worry about her looks but does just the same. My problem
here is their characters never develop. The mystery turns
out to be something different, but Benny wants to own
the "solving of a mystery" and refuses to talk to the
police.
All of the "bad guys" in this book are non-whites while
the "good guys" (Benny and Virginia) are white and all of
the cheerleading squad are characterized as vapid and
brainless. I have some serious issues with stereotyping
here.
Thrash has some good ideas of working hypnosis into the
story and what is truth and for whom. Her plot doesn't live
up to the description of Twin Peaks meets Pretty Little
Liars as the back of the book implies though.
Don't worry, I have the same expectations of adult books as
I do for those more tailored to a young adult audience. I
think it's even more important that a YA book not fall into
stereotypes as those reading them could end up being our
future leaders. Perhaps I take this too seriously. This is
the first book in a series. I haven't a clue where it will
go from here, but I may take a chance and try the next one
if only to look for growth in the characters.
Twin Peaks meets Pretty Little Liars in
acclaimed author Maggie Thrash’s new Strange Truth
series.
It’s better to know the truth. At least
sometimes.
Halfway through Friday night’s
football game, beautiful cheerleader Brittany
Montague—dressed as the giant Winship Wildcat mascot—hurls
herself off a bridge into Atlanta’s surging Chattahoochee
River.
Just like that, she’s gone.
Eight
days later, Benny Flax and Virginia Leeds will be the only
ones who know why.
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