THE TROUBLE WITH SECRETS

Dara Rosenberg excels at narrating this emotional audiobook, which begins as seventh-grader Becky is dressing for her older sister Sara's funeral. Rosenberg leads listeners from the sad "Now" chapter to the lighter "Before" chapters, when Becky secretly "borrows" her mother's credit card to get her beloved older brother a gift. The theme of secrets is introduced against the backdrop of a loving Jewish family, and Rosenberg warmly invites listeners into their traditions. Tension mounts as Sara fears her father's disapproval and hides the fact that she's dating a non-Jew, a deadly mistake. Past and present meet with Sara's death and the grief that consumes the family before they right themselves by revealing truths and tenderness. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2025]