Review: The Trouble With Secrets
The Trouble with Secrets
by Naomi Milliner
Quill Tree Books (imprint of HarperCollins), 2025
Category: Middle Grade
Reviewer: Jacqueline Jules
The Trouble With Secrets begins with a short chapter called NOW. Becky, the twelve-year-old narrator, is looking for a dress to wear to a funeral, so the reader knows from the first page that someone who appears to be a family member has died. The following section begins a series of chapters from BEFORE. In this part, we meet Becky’s family, especially her older sister Sara, who Becky describes as someone “who would be there for me, no matter what.”
Sara is a vivacious high school senior looking forward to studying musical theater in college. When Sara obtains a lead role in her high school production of Les Misérables, Becky is thrilled. In turn, Sara is delighted when Becky is offered a chance to try out for the All-County Honors Band as a flutist. Unfortunately, Becky’s father objects to an extra activity for Becky because she needs to prepare for her Bat Mitzvah. Unwilling to lose this opportunity, Becky forges the permission slip, creating the first secret from their parents. Later, Becky learns that Sara is keeping a secret from their parents, too. The tension of these deceptions is overshadowed by brief chapters called NOW when the reader is reminded that someone Becky loves has died. As the novel progresses and Becky continues to describe the close relationship she shares with her adored older sister, foreboding grows.
Judaism plays an important role in the family dynamics of this novel. Becky’s father is a rabbi and her mother is very active in the synagogue community. Since both her parents are often busy, the four siblings in Becky’s family often rely on each other. Becky compares herself to her two oldest siblings and worries that her Bat Mitzvah will not measure up. In addition, Becky finds Bat Mitzvah preparation boring. Overall, Becky is far more interested in music than in Judaism.
While there is significant Jewish content in this novel, the denomination is unclear. The sisters use cell phones during the Rosh Hashanah holiday. And while Becky was not allowed to attend sporting events on Shabbat, there was no discussion of any Shabbat conflict for public school musical performances which typically include Friday nights. All the adults in the novel have strong negative feelings about interfaith marriages. Becky’s aunt and uncle become estranged from their daughter when she elopes with a non-Jew and both Becky and Sara find that situation upsetting.
Both Becky and Sara are strong, fully developed personalities whom readers will care deeply about. Resolution after the tragedy is handled thoughtfully. The Trouble With Secrets is a tender story of sibling relationships and the consequences of secrets.
Judaism plays an important role in the family dynamics of this novel. Becky’s father is a rabbi and her mother is very active in the synagogue community. Since both her parents are often busy, the four siblings in Becky’s family often rely on each other. Becky compares herself to her two oldest siblings and worries that her Bat Mitzvah will not measure up. In addition, Becky finds Bat Mitzvah preparation boring. Overall, Becky is far more interested in music than in Judaism.
While there is significant Jewish content in this novel, the denomination is unclear. The sisters use cell phones during the Rosh Hashanah holiday. And while Becky was not allowed to attend sporting events on Shabbat, there was no discussion of any Shabbat conflict for public school musical performances which typically include Friday nights. All the adults in the novel have strong negative feelings about interfaith marriages. Becky’s aunt and uncle become estranged from their daughter when she elopes with a non-Jew and both Becky and Sara find that situation upsetting.
Both Becky and Sara are strong, fully developed personalities whom readers will care deeply about. Resolution after the tragedy is handled thoughtfully. The Trouble With Secrets is a tender story of sibling relationships and the consequences of secrets.
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Reviewer Jacqueline Jules is the author of fifty books for young readers including The Porridge-Pot Goblin, The Hardest Word, Picnic at Camp Shalom, Drop by Drop: A Story of Rabbi Akiva, Light the Menorah: A Hanukkah Handbook, and Never Say a Mean Word Again. Her middle grade verse novel, My Name is Hamburger, was a PJ Our Way selection. And her picture book, Moses and the Runaway Lamb, was a Junior Library Guild selection. She lives on Long Island and enjoys talking long walks along the water. Visit her online www.jacquelinejules.com.
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