In the novel truly devious, Maureen Johnson repeatedly emphasizes the importance of a sufficient search for truth and justice, regardless of the circumstances. Stevie is offered her courses for the year after transferring schools to the notorious Ellingham Academy, and she explains to her councillor that she is there to solve the cold case of the historic murders that happened to the Ellingham family. The councillor responds with “This is about real people, not figures from fiction. Crime has a human face. If you’re going to study crime, you have to remember the people involved” (Johnson 139). This quote highlights the need to prioritize truth-seeking efforts. It successfully emphasizes the importance of understanding how crimes affect people involved by informing …show more content…
In another section of the book, a conversation of purpose strikes with Stevie and her new peers. Everyone went around explaining why they are at the academy. When it was Stevie’s’ turn, she explained why she was there and, in the process, mentioned that Mr. Ellingham’s search for the truth about his family cost him a great deal. "Ellingham himself, a genius, had tried to find out what happened, and the search had killed him"(Johnson 112) There is an immense personal sacrifice that is often associated with the pursuit of truth and justice. It requires a lot of dedication and persistence to find truth, but this quote shares the unsettling side of searching for truth. In the case of Ellingham, Stevie mentions that the search is what had become the end of him. This creates an emphasis on the danger of relentless pursuit of truth and justice, making it important to find balance in selfcare. Later in the book, a murder incident happens that leads to the questioning of students remotely involved around the crime scene. Stevie being one of