Devious (novel)

Devious is the ninth book in The It Girl series created by Cecily von Ziegesar. It was released 1 November 2009.

Plot introduction

It's January, and a new semester at Waverly Academy means one thing: new students. Make that hot new students. A gorgeous brother-sister pair is hooking up and taking Waverly by storm, and the campus is abuzz with fresh gossip and even fresher crushes. But while all the girls are busy drooling over the new it-guy, they'd better watch their backs-because his sister is going to give them all a run for their money. After all, there can only be the one It Girl.

Plot

Everyone at elite Waverly Academy actually looks forward to the freezing month of January: it's Jan Plan, four blissful weeks when cool independent projects replace hectic schedules and boring classes. Wild weeknight parties, late-night trips to the crater, and plenty of time to gossip about it all? Yes, please!

Jenny Humphrey can't wait to start her solo art project. But the real masterpiece is Isaac Dresden, the new dean's gorgeous son, who's taken an interest in Jenny's painting... and her. Tinsley Carmichael has a new friend, too: Isaac's out-of-control sister, Isla. The two girls are a match made in hell, and their racy photo project has the whole school talking. Too bad Tinsley's boyfriend, Julian McCafferty, disapproves of their kind of "art." Exes Callie Vernon and Brandon Buchanan are thrown together on a psychology experiment about the origins of true love. And they might just be the best subjects...

Without the structure of regular classes, the Waverly Owls are bound to find crazy ways to entertain themselves. Now who said school wasn't fun?

Synopsis

It's January and everyone is back from break. Waverly gets a new dean, Dr. Dresden, and two new students, Isla and Isaac Dresden. Instead of a new semester commencing, Jan Plan takes effect. It is a four-week course where students work on their own independent projects. Junior's and Seniors tend to work on solo projects while everyone else are encouraged to work together.

With permission from the dean (via help from Issac) Jenny starts an independent art project based on the two art classes she took the previous semester. Her goal is to experiment with motion, drawing people instead of taking a picture of them with a manual camera. She spends most of her time in the cafe drawing people coming and going.

Heath and Brandon's project is based on Man vs. Wild. Heath plans to live outside for three-weeks on basic essentials and camping skills. No tent, basic sleeping bags, no electricity, not contact with the outside world, hunting their own food, gathering fire wood, and taking notes. They take up camp in Waverly's woods. Bradon leaves after a few days, and Heath stays until the night of the party when he is unexpectedly found by Easy.

Brandon did not exactly agree to Heath's project. He was conned into it having just returned from Switzerland. During his break, which was paid for by Heath, he visited his girlfriend Hellie Dunderdorf with whom he lost his virginity. After quitting Heath's project he ends up working with Callie due to no other options.

Callie and Brandon's project looks into the psychology of love. Callie selected this project to find more information about true love. Is there such a thing? Do you get over your first love? Can you love again? They do research and take a video survey with some of the Waverly girls. During the project Callie finds herself becoming attracted to Brandon (along with most of the other girls), who has more of a sexy unshaven look going on. At one point they end up kissing in his dorm room. Unfortunately, Brandon's webcam was on. Hellie saw the whole thing and promptly breaks up with him.

Brett's project, like Brandon's, changes. Originally she was going to intern at Vogue thanks to her sister, Brianna. However, Leslie ends up not needing a new intern due to a promotion to Italian Vogue.She ends up returning to Waverly and joining Sebastian's "friend" Christine Bosley's Jan Plan project.