Please Note: I received a digital review copy of The Trouble with Secrets and was monetarily compensated in exchange for composing and hosting an interview with the author. This compensation in no way affected my opinions.
Title The Trouble With Secrets
Author Naomi Milliner
Intended Target Audience Middle Grade
Genre Contemporary, Realistic Fiction
Publication Date April 8th 2025 by Quill Tree Books
Find It On Goodreads ● Amazon ● Chapters ● Blackwell’s ● Barnes & Noble ● IndieBound
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.
Naomi Milliner
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.
1. The Trouble With Secrets is your third story written for a middle grade audience, following your debut novel, Super Jake & The King of Chaos, and a short story contribution to On All Other Nights: A Passover Celebration In 14 Stories. What are some of your favourite things about writing for this age group? Are there any unique challenges in writing for a middle grade audience?
My favorite thing about writing for middle grade is the readers themselves: they are The Best! They’re old enough, and open enough, to read stories that span a tremendous range of topics: funny or exciting superhero capers; heartwarming tales of family or friendship; thought-provoking coming-of-age stories; and sad, powerful stories about things like racism or the Holocaust. Yet, whatever the topic, I feel it’s a privilege and a responsibility to write for them. I try to be honest, gentle and kind.
2. One of the many things I loved about the book was Becky’s close and loving relationship with her siblings. Siblings are commonly portrayed as adversaries or annoyances, so it was wonderful to see them genuinely want to spend time together and act as an unwavering support system for one another. Can you speak a little about this element of the story? Why was it important for you to present Becky’s family in this way?
Thank you! I think all of my stories feature loving, supportive families. I was fortunate to have been born into such a family, and hopefully my husband and I created the same for our sons. Beyond that, though, it was important in Super Jake because I wanted to show that a special needs child is just as “special” and lovable as everyone else in the family. In Secrets, it was important to establish the loving, happy “Before” (Part One) of Becky’s family to appreciate the enormity of what was lost in Part Two (Now).
3. Becky privately struggles with feelings of inferiority in comparison with her older siblings, who she feels are infinitely more talented and capable. In addition to being deeply relatable, I appreciated how this aspect of the story demonstrated how much easier it is to identify and appreciate other people’s talents and strengths in comparison to our own. In addition to being an accomplished flautist, Becky is brave, ambitious, tenacious and a wonderful daughter, sister, and friend. In honour of Becky and embracing what makes us special, what are some of your strengths and/or things you love about yourself? Do you have any advice for readers struggling to recognize and celebrate their own accomplishments?
Wow; that’s a great question! I guess one characteristic I share with Becky – and probably everyone in the creative arts – is tenacity. Whether it’s writing, music, singing, acting, ballet, painting…perseverance is key. I like to think another of my strengths is finding friends and connecting people. Writing is such a solitary profession, that celebrating and commiserating with other writers is incredibly rewarding and satisfying.
As for readers struggling to recognize and celebrate their own accomplishments, I think of the way I often sign copies of Super Jake (which features an 11-year-old magician on the cover), which is: Find the magic in you. I believe 100% that each of us has a story (or two!) to tell, and each of us has something to contribute. My advice is to find what you love, and find someone else who loves it, too. Don’t be afraid to go after your dreams!
4. The final third of the novel offers a heart-wrenching and empathetic exploration of the grieving process as Becky grapples with the sudden and unexpected death of someone dear to her, a loss which shakes the foundation of both her family and her faith. In doing so, you offer young readers experiencing a similar loss a safe space in which to explore and validate their feelings. In the past, there has been a great deal of discussion surrounding the appropriateness of difficult subject matter for middle grade readers, particularly in regard to ‘grief books’. What are your thoughts on the subject?
Long before I experienced a profound, shattering loss of my own, I read so many books that dealt with loss! My favorite was/is Louisa May Alcott’s classic, Little Women. The death of Jo’s beloved sister, Beth (based on the death of her own sister), and Jo’s journey from devastation to happiness, touched me deeply. Unfortunately, death is an inevitable part of life. I feel it’s a disservice to pretend otherwise to any age reader. But – again – I think it’s paramount that any and all exploration of grief and loss is handled with sensitivity and care.
5. Keeping secrets and the consequences of doing so are a prevalent theme throughout the novel. For example, Becky lies about having her parent’s permission to audition for the Junior All County Honors Band and forges her mother’s signature in order to do so. What would you say to a young reader who has a secret of their own and is struggling to know if, or how, they should reveal it?
Another great question, Jen! I would suggest they seriously consider the pros and cons of keeping, or revealing, their secret. Would – or could – someone be hurt by keeping it? By revealing it? And, of course, if safety or health is involved, always tell!
6. Becky’s Judaism is a significant part of the story and obviously an important part of her character. I absolutely loved being given a glimpse into her family’s beliefs and practices, particularly in relation to her preparation for and complicated feelings about her bat mitzvah. When she experiences the unexpected death of someone important to her, Becky’s faith is understandably shaken and she reflects “I’ve been thinking about faith a lot lately. It’s easy to have…until you really need it. And hard to find once it’s gone.” What does faith, either religious or otherwise, mean to you?
You chose my favorite passage! As someone who, like Becky, suffered a devastating loss, I myself struggled with faith. It took a lot of time, soul-searching, talking and reading to find my way back… kind of like Becky does. Faith is no longer something I take for granted.
7. One of the most moving underlying messages of the novel appears to me to be an emphasis on the power and Importance of art, both in regard to the act of creating it and in art’s ability to inspire, uplift and connect. This message resonated with me deeply, as I have found escape, solace and comfort in books more than ever recently as we navigate an uncertain and challenging period in history. Is there a particular piece of music, writing or other form of art that has had a significant and/or positive impact in your own life?
I can’t think of a specific book or movie, but anything that is about someone overcoming a struggle (illness, death of a loved one, suicide attempt, or fighting incredible odds to survive in historic fiction, or non-fiction) moves and inspires me. I think reading about other people’s struggles and challenges, and seeing how they overcome them, is crucial for everyone.
8. From pursuing one’s passions and the importance of telling the truth to navigating an unexpected loss and the grieving process, you cover a number of subjects I have no doubt are relevant to and will resonate deeply with young readers. What do you hope readers will take away from the novel?
Thank you! I hope readers who have lost a loved one will know they are not alone, and that (as Becky comes to discover), they will get through this loss, and experience joy again. And I hope that all readers will cherish and appreciate their family and friends a little more – and maybe even let them know it!
