Secret Shared

Newbery Medal-winning author Patricia MacLachlan paints a moving portrait of what it means to be a family, the power of love, and the importance of bringing the truth out into the light, in this beautiful and profound story about adoption, now available in paperback.

Nora and Ben's younger sister Birdy loves to keep secrets. She surprises her family more than once: She hides a kitten in her room. She writes a beautiful poem. One day Birdy watches her mother spit into a tube, ready to send it off to find out more about herself and where her family came from. Birdy spits into a tube, too, when no one sees her.

But when the test results come back, they are a surprise. Birdy is seemingly not related to Nora and Ben's parents. But if she is adopted, how could that have happened without the children knowing?

Nora and Ben must learn when to keep a secret, and who to go to for help--and eventually, how to solve this secret for the entire family.

Faced with an impossible secret, what does it truly mean to be a family?

• Family Secrets: When a surprise DNA result arrives, Nora and Ben discover their parents have been hiding the truth about their little sister, Birdy.
• An Uplifting Adoption Story: A gentle and profound exploration of identity, belonging, and the love that forms a family, with or without shared DNA.
• Heartfelt Middle Grade Fiction: Perfect for young readers grappling with complex emotions, this story shows how kindness and honesty can heal a family.
• The Power of Truth: Follow Nora and Ben as they navigate a difficult situation and learn that bringing secrets into the light, while scary, is what real love requires.