A Jewish girl preparing for her upcoming bat mitzvah tries to keep a secret—along with one of her sister’s—in this beautiful coming-of-age contemporary novel that explores change, grief, and the...
A Jewish girl preparing for her upcoming bat mitzvah tries to keep a secret—along with one of her sister’s—in this beautiful coming-of-age contemporary novel that explores change, grief, and the complexities of sibling relationships.
Twelve-year-old Becky has great expectations placed upon her. Not only does she need to be as perfect as her older brother and sister, but her upcoming bat mitzvah needs to be perfect, too. She is the rabbi’s daughter, after all. The trouble is, Becky’s intentions often lead her astray. At least when she plays the flute, she feels like th... Read More
A Jewish girl preparing for her upcoming bat mitzvah tries to keep a secret—along with one of her sister’s—in this beautiful coming-of-age contemporary novel that explores change, grief, and the...
A Jewish girl preparing for her upcoming bat mitzvah tries to keep a secret—along with one of her sister’s—in this beautiful coming-of-age contemporary novel that explores change, grief, and the complexities of sibling relationships.
Twelve-year-old Becky has great expectations placed upon her. Not only does she need to be as perfect as her older brother and sister, but her upcoming bat mitzvah needs to be perfect, too. She is the rabbi’s daughter, after all. The trouble is, Becky’s intentions often lead her astray. At least when she plays the flute, she feels like th... Read More
Description
A Jewish girl preparing for her upcoming bat mitzvah tries to keep a secret—along with one of her sister’s—in this beautiful coming-of-age contemporary novel that explores change, grief, and the complexities of sibling relationships.
Twelve-year-old Becky has great expectations placed upon her. Not only does she need to be as perfect as her older brother and sister, but her upcoming bat mitzvah needs to be perfect, too. She is the rabbi’s daughter, after all. The trouble is, Becky’s intentions often lead her astray. At least when she plays the flute, she feels like the best version of herself. Until playing the flute causes Becky to do something not so perfect: keep a secret from her parents.
Then Becky discovers that Sara, her "perfect" sister, has an even bigger secret. One that could turn the family upside down. The sisters couldn’t be more ready to keep each other’s secret safe…until the excitement turns to guilt, and Becky is forced to make an impossible choice.
When secrets are shared and choices are made, doing the right thing can feel so wrong. And Becky will learn that actions, no matter how well intended, always have consequences.
Details
Pages: 336
Publisher: HarperCollins
Imprint: Quill Tree Books
Publication Date: 8th April 2025
ISBN: 9780063311664
Reviews
“Heart-wrenching, emotional, compulsively readable. A touching, intimate exploration of universal themes of trust, conformity, and the impact of family dynamics.” — Kirkus Reviews(starred review)
“A moving, gorgeous, and life-affirming exploration of grief, faith, and how we can build ourselves a joyous life after everything seems to have fallen to pieces. This book will leave a handprint on your heart.” — Jeff Zentner, award-winning author of In the Wild Light
“I was swept away by Naomi Milliner’s The Trouble With Secrets. A moving and heart-opening book, its story and characters are unforgettable. Milliner's intimate focus on love and loss in a close-knit Jewish family makes this a very universal story, written with tremendous grace. It is a beautiful novel that will appeal to readers of all backgrounds who have borne the weight of carrying secrets for too long.” — Ruth Behar, author of Pura Belpre Award winner Lucky Broken Girl and Across So Many Seas
“The Trouble With Secrets immediately captures the reader with a vivid, engaging cast of characters who will make their way into your heart and stay there. Becky is a protagonist to root for — flawed but goodhearted and full of love. Her journey to understand what is right and what matters is one that will resonate with readers and keep them turning pages all the way to the bittersweet finale.” — Mari Lowe, author of National Jewish Book Award and Sydney Taylor Book Award winner The Dubious Pranks of Shaindy Goodman and Sydney Taylor Book Award winner Aviva vs. the Dybbuk
Author Bio
Naomi Milliner is the author of Super Jake and the King of Chaos and coeditor and contributor to On All Other Nights, a Passover anthology for middle grade readers. She created the Authors Book Club for her SCBWI chapter and has served on the Women’s National Book Association’s Great Group Reads committee since 2009. Naomi enjoys mentoring children and adults, visiting schools (virtually or in-person), and reading everything she can get her hands on. She lives in Maryland with her family, countless books, and one very fuzzy cat. Visit her on Facebook and Twitter under Naomi Milliner and her blog at naomimilliner.wordpress.com.
A Jewish girl preparing for her upcoming bat mitzvah tries to keep a secret—along with one of her sister’s—in this beautiful coming-of-age contemporary novel that explores change, grief, and the complexities of sibling relationships.
Twelve-year-old Becky has great expectations placed upon her. Not only does she need to be as perfect as her older brother and sister, but her upcoming bat mitzvah needs to be perfect, too. She is the rabbi’s daughter, after all. The trouble is, Becky’s intentions often lead her astray. At least when she plays the flute, she feels like the best version of herself. Until playing the flute causes Becky to do something not so perfect: keep a secret from her parents.
Then Becky discovers that Sara, her "perfect" sister, has an even bigger secret. One that could turn the family upside down. The sisters couldn’t be more ready to keep each other’s secret safe…until the excitement turns to guilt, and Becky is forced to make an impossible choice.
When secrets are shared and choices are made, doing the right thing can feel so wrong. And Becky will learn that actions, no matter how well intended, always have consequences.
Pages: 336
Publisher: HarperCollins
Imprint: Quill Tree Books
Publication Date: 8th April 2025
ISBN: 9780063311664
“Heart-wrenching, emotional, compulsively readable. A touching, intimate exploration of universal themes of trust, conformity, and the impact of family dynamics.” — Kirkus Reviews(starred review)
“A moving, gorgeous, and life-affirming exploration of grief, faith, and how we can build ourselves a joyous life after everything seems to have fallen to pieces. This book will leave a handprint on your heart.” — Jeff Zentner, award-winning author of In the Wild Light
“I was swept away by Naomi Milliner’s The Trouble With Secrets. A moving and heart-opening book, its story and characters are unforgettable. Milliner's intimate focus on love and loss in a close-knit Jewish family makes this a very universal story, written with tremendous grace. It is a beautiful novel that will appeal to readers of all backgrounds who have borne the weight of carrying secrets for too long.” — Ruth Behar, author of Pura Belpre Award winner Lucky Broken Girl and Across So Many Seas
“The Trouble With Secrets immediately captures the reader with a vivid, engaging cast of characters who will make their way into your heart and stay there. Becky is a protagonist to root for — flawed but goodhearted and full of love. Her journey to understand what is right and what matters is one that will resonate with readers and keep them turning pages all the way to the bittersweet finale.” — Mari Lowe, author of National Jewish Book Award and Sydney Taylor Book Award winner The Dubious Pranks of Shaindy Goodman and Sydney Taylor Book Award winner Aviva vs. the Dybbuk
Naomi Milliner is the author of Super Jake and the King of Chaos and coeditor and contributor to On All Other Nights, a Passover anthology for middle grade readers. She created the Authors Book Club for her SCBWI chapter and has served on the Women’s National Book Association’s Great Group Reads committee since 2009. Naomi enjoys mentoring children and adults, visiting schools (virtually or in-person), and reading everything she can get her hands on. She lives in Maryland with her family, countless books, and one very fuzzy cat. Visit her on Facebook and Twitter under Naomi Milliner and her blog at naomimilliner.wordpress.com.
