The Vanishing Stair
The Vanishing Stair is the second installment in Maureen Johnson's "Truly Devious" young adult mystery series. The story follows Stevie Bell, a true-crime enthusiast attending the prestigious Ellingham Academy, as she delves deeper into a decades-old cold case involving a mysterious kidnapping and triple murder, alongside more recent fatalities at the school. This book builds on the suspense of the first, with Stevie investigating the disappearance of a fellow student and uncovering more secrets about the academy's founder. The narrative weaves between the present-day investigation and flashbacks to the 1930s, offering a complex and engaging puzzle. Targeted at young adult readers, the book explores themes of mystery, psychological suspense, and personal relationships within an elite boarding school setting.
Concerns
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe book features an intense, suspenseful atmosphere driven by ongoing murder mysteries and psychological elements. Characters face perilous situations, and themes of anxiety and death are prevalent.
The plot is centered on an unsolved kidnapping and triple murder, along with new deaths, creating a consistently high-stakes environment. The protagonist, Stevie Bell, experiences anxiety and panic attacks, with the story detailing her struggles and coping mechanisms, including medication. The unexpected discovery of Ellie Walker's dead body within the school grounds is a significant, intense moment.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumThe book features representation of LGBTQ characters, including a nonbinary character and a lesbian couple. This representation is woven into the fabric of the supporting cast without being the central plot point.
Vi Harper-Tomo is explicitly identified as a nonbinary character, using they/them pronouns, and is in a relationship with Janelle, another student at Ellingham Academy. A review mentions "I loved reading about Janelle and her girlfriend, they were so cute together."
Violence
MediumThe narrative centers around a historical triple murder and kidnapping, with additional deaths occurring in the present timeline, making violence a core element of the mystery. While not overtly graphic, the discussions and discoveries of death are frequent.
The book's premise involves an unsolved triple murder and kidnapping from 1936. In the present-day storyline, Stevie Bell discovers the dead body of Ellie Walker. Later, Dr. Fenton dies in a house fire, which Stevie suspects is not an accident despite police assumptions of alcoholism being the cause.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumRomantic relationships are present, primarily involving kissing and implied adult affairs in the historical context. Teenage sexuality is noted as a theme, but without explicit details.
The protagonist, Stevie, shares a kiss with her classmate David. The historical storyline reveals an implied affair between Albert Ellingham and Miss Nelson, the housemistress, who are observed embracing.
Profanity
MediumThe book contains instances of mild to moderate profanity used by characters in dialogue, reflecting teenage angst and frustration.
In a dialogue exchange, a character tells Stevie, "Don't be a dick." Another scene includes the exclamation "Holy HELL" in response to unfolding events.
Substance Use
MediumAlcoholism is a noted trigger warning and plays a role in the plot through a character's actions and eventual death. Smoking is also mentioned.
Trigger warnings for the book include 'alcoholism' and 'smoking.' Dr. Fenton is depicted as drunk when Stevie calls her, and later dies in a house fire that police attribute to her alcoholism.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThe protagonist, Stevie, exhibits rebellious behavior by defying her parents' decision to keep her away from Ellingham Academy and making a secret deal to return. Some characters display sarcastic or defiant attitudes.
Stevie's parents pull her out of Ellingham Academy for her safety, but she makes a secret deal with Senator Edward King, David's father, to return to the school against her parents' wishes. David is characterized as having a "bad attitude" and being "broody, evasive, and bossy."
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThere is no active depiction or central theme of witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, or magic rituals. The school houses are named after Roman gods/goddesses, which is a literary and architectural detail, not an endorsement of occult practices.
The search results did not yield any specific examples of witchcraft, occult rituals, or supernatural occurrences being practiced or serving as plot devices within the story. The mention of Ellingham Academy's houses being named after Roman gods or goddesses is a background detail about the school's setting.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe research did not uncover any explicit anti-Christian themes, mockery of Christian beliefs, or sacrilegious content within "The Vanishing Stair."
No specific instances or discussions were found in the provided search results that indicate anti-Christian themes, characters expressing negative opinions about Christianity, or any acts of disrespect towards Christian practices or symbols.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Age 14+ (Grades 9+) is recommended for "The Vanishing Stair." This recommendation is based on the book's complex mystery plot involving multiple murders, kidnappings, and themes of anxiety. It also includes elements of romance, mild profanity, and discussions of alcoholism, which are more appropriate for mature young adult readers. The suspenseful nature and psychological intensity of the ongoing murder investigation contribute to this age rating.
Additional Notes
The book is part of a series (Truly Devious #2) and ends on a cliffhanger, meaning resolution for many plot points is deferred to later volumes. Parents should be aware that the overall series intensifies in complexity and stakes. The book explores mental health themes through the protagonist's anxiety. The historical mystery involves elements of crime and investigation that might be unsettling for younger readers.
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