Secrets: Stories Selected by Marthe Jocelyn

The twelve stories in this collection invite readers to think about the myriad different secrets that people keep and why we keep them. Several of them focus on family secrets: a drunken father whom a girl pretends is dead; a story from an elderly great-aunt about the gift of the second sight; a mother and daughter who enact an ongoing deception of their neighbours. Other entries, such as “Uncle Cory’s Smile” and “Can You Keep a Secret?,” involve soul-searching and self-discovery. Most of them feel very personal and some are very poignant as they portray a significant realization that comes to the character, either about herself or others. Some remind us that there can be a fine line between a secret and a lie, and they all testify to the fact that there is often more beneath the surface than one might ever imagine.

This will be a very valuable book for classroom libraries since so many of its stories will undoubtedly raise questions and prompt interesting discussions and debates. The stories are not as obvious or straightforward as I had anticipated; they give readers much to think about. I was surprised that there weren’t more stories that dealt with “good” secrets (i.e. special or treasured secrets that are savoured). However, guilty secrets, shameful secrets, the secret parts of oneself that one chooses to keep hidden deep inside... all of these and more are examined here in this thoughtful compilation.

Funny secrets, heartbreaking secrets, shocking secrets… A collection of 12 unforgettable stories about secrets, by several of North America’s best authors.