Walker Books for Young Readers – February 2, 2010
Lucy lives in conditions many people can’t even imagine. The kitchen is unusable, there isn’t any hot water in the house, and the furnace is broken. There are piles and piles of papers, plastic bags, and boxes littering every corner of the house. In order to maneuver, Lucy and her mother have to navigate through a maze of cleared paths just wide enough for a person.
Lucy feels her life is made up of lies and secrets. She lies to her friends about why they can’t come over. She avoids any topic of conversation that will bring attention to her or her family. Lucy is scared to death when she hears a knock at the door – knowing she could never allow someone to come inside to see what her house looks like. This is the reason her mother can’t call a repairman to fix the heater.
After another one of their usual fights where her mother accuses Lucy of moving something, Lucy packs an overnight bag and leaves to go to the movies and spend the night with her best and only friend. She doesn’t know it yet, but life is about to get a lot more complicated for her. When Lucy comes home the next morning, she discovers something horrible. Will she be able to deal with the tragedy and keep her secrets in tact?
DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS is a book that will suck you into the story. Your heart will hurt for Lucy as she reveals memories from her past with the reader. This book will certainly cause you to take a look at the clutter around your house and ask, “Do I really need those old magazines?”
I couldn’t give DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS 5 glasses simply because of the implausibility of the way Lucy handled the situation – it seemed more like denial than a plan. However, this didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story.
Leave a comment and let me know what you thought of the book.
Looks really really intense. I have been seeing rave reviews all over for this one but you made me want to read it NOW . I am adding it to my wishlist.
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