The main character, Truthful Newington, or as some call her, Newt, goes on an adventure to rescue her family’s beloved emerald, which someone steals on the night it is presented to her for the first time. Truthful worries for her father because the emerald not only holds their wealth, but the well-being of their family. Truthful’s three cousins, the Newington-Lacys, volunteer to assist her in finding the emerald and punishing the person who took it. Along the way, Truthful falls in love with a man, but everyone wonders what Truthful can’t answer herself– will they ever be together?
Although this book is in high demand and I wanted to enjoy it, I didn’t take pleasure in reading it at all. Because the book is a mystery, the author briefly introduces many characters to make the process of selecting the criminal much more difficult– this was very confusing for me. Once I finally understood the aspect I didn’t understand, something else would come up and puzzle me again. I also didn’t like Truthful; I found her prestigious and high-maintenance. The ending of the book was abrupt, I didn’t realize I had finished, and many questions were left unanswered.
I liked seeing Truthful break out of her shell towards the middle of the book. She began to share her opinions and show the talents she possessed.
Reviewed by Abby, Grade 9, Tuckahoe Area Library
HCPL TeenScene's Read + Review 