A Review of Kristen Simmons’s The Deceivers (TorTeen, 2019).

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A Review of Kristen Simmons’s The Deceivers (TorTeen, 2019).
By Stephen Hong Sohn

The spring quarter brings with it some real relief. I have a little bit more time to read! One of the first things I picked up was Kristen Simmons’s The Deceivers (TorTeen, 2019), which looks as though it may be a series (though I’m not entirely sure). As B&N notes,

“Welcome to Vale Hall, the school for aspiring con artists. When Brynn Hilder is recruited to Vale, it seems like the elite academy is her chance to start over, away from her mom’s loser boyfriend and her rundown neighborhood. But she soon learns that Vale chooses students not so much for their scholastic talent as for their extracurricular activities, such as her time spent conning rich North Shore kids out of their extravagant allowances. At first, Brynn jumps at the chance to help the school in its mission to rid the city of corrupt officials—because what could be better than giving entitled jerks what they deserve? But that’s before she meets her mark—a senator’s son—and before she discovers the school’s headmaster has secrets he’ll stop at nothing to protect. As the lines between right and wrong blur, Brynn begins to realize she’s in way over head.”

This description doesn’t do a really good job of giving us the main characters besides Brynn who will be involved in Simmons’s twisty plot, but right off the bat: readers must praise Simmons for stretching her representational wings. After the Article 5 series and Glass Arrow, this type of work, which is firmly rooted in realist terrains, is far removed from the fantasy and dystopian fictions that she’s published in the past. I’m not entirely caught up, as I still have to read Metaltown and Pacifica, but basic jacket descriptions suggest that those are speculative fictions, too. Thus, this particular work, which focuses on Brynn’s impoverished background, and her desire to find some measure of economic stability, certainly strikes a unique and original tone. Brynn’s mother works at the local retail store, while her mother’s boyfriend is a kind of drug pusher. It seems as though Brynn may be set for the same world, so once she gets on the radar of those who work at and attend Vale Hall, she’s offered entry into hallowed realms, which promise the possibility of a future college scholarship. Her performance evaluation is primarily based upon her ability to gain intel on the son of a political luminary, but complications obviously arise. First of all, she starts to gain affections for another classmate, which makes her ability to focus on her quest a little bit more challenging. And second, it’s unclear why Brynn must gain the information she is tasked with procuring. In this sense, there is a noir-ish tone to the work that only resolves as Simmons patiently reveals key plot points and the motivations of major characters. Simmons always understands pacing and resolution, so you can expect an action-packed mad dash to the novel’s finish!

Buy the Book Here:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-deceivers-kristen-simmons/1128533655#/

Review Author: Stephen Hong Sohn
Review Editor: Nicholas Clark
Web Posting: Xiomara Forbez

If you have any questions or want us to consider your book for review, please don't hesitate to contact us via email!
Prof. Stephen Hong Sohn at sohnucr@gmail.com  
Nicholas Clark, PhD Student in English, at nclar004@ucr.edu