Keep It Like a Secret
By John Anderson
It's always a pleasure to write a review of anything Anderson writes. I have been a fan of his since reading Ms. Bixby's Day Off in 2016. Although labeled as a middle- grade fiction author, I've seen many upper elementary students enjoy his work, as well as teachers who use his books for both book clubs and read-alouds. Anderson scores yet another hit with his latest novel, Keep It Like a Secret, as he tackles the close, yet at times, difficult relationship between an older sister and her younger brother.
When Claire comes to Morgan's bedroom window and begs him to spend the day with her, Morgan is skeptical, but she reminds him of their "sibling code". She is Cat and he is Mouse. They "keep no secrets, tell no lies and always have each other's backs."
Each has a different understanding of the outcomes of this day. Claire has been living away from home for always arguing with her mother. Morgan just wants things to be the way they had been. He wants to convince her to come home - to remind her of the good times. But Claire, who wants to prepare Mouse for something unexpected, has a completely different outcome in mind. Things will forever change after today . . .
As Cat and Mouse drive away and begin their crazy adventures, from a car calamity to a spray-painting episode, more than fun is found. As they individually reflect on their feelings, Morgan tells us, "I have no idea where I am. I've been just counting on Claire to show me the way, just like always . . ." Whereas Claire finally admits that, "You can't spend your whole life being the person everyone else wants you to be."
Come along for the ride, as we laugh at their antics and cry as they grapple with life's changes, doing so with both grace and understanding. This is a love letter to sibling relationships everywhere.
You can visit him online at, John David Anderson, and obtain an Educator's Guide to accompany Keep It Like a Secret here.
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