“Heartbreaking and Hopeful.”
Tell me a secret, and I’ll tell you one…
In the five years since her bad-girl sister Xanda’s death, Miranda Mathison has wondered about the secret her sister took to the grave, and what really happened the night she died. Now, just as Miranda is on the cusp of her dreams—a best friend to unlock her sister’s world, a ticket to art school, and a boyfriend to fly her away from it all—Miranda has a secret all her own.
In this powerful debut novel, stunning new talent Holly Cupala illuminates the dark struggle of a girl who must let go of her past to find a way into her future.
Babble Top 100 Books
Cynsations Best of 2010
Crystal Kite Finalist
SCBWI WIP Grant Recipient
“Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous,
and full of suspense.”
“Be prepared for an excellent, emotional read.”
Tell Me a Secret audiobook
Read by award-winning actor Jenna Lamia,
2010 Audi Best Female Narrator for THE HELP
“Teens will be captivated by the themes of owning your own path, the persistence of life, and closure. ”
Tell Me a Secret Discussion Questions
Have you ever felt like you were living in the shadow of a sibling?
Why or how so?
Xanda was wild and reckless, while Miranda was more quiet and solitary.
Which sister do you resemble? Which do you admire?
Miranda has a huge falling out with her best friend.
Have you ever had a major friendship blowout, and were you able to pick up the pieces?
Miranda is an artist who draws labyrinths to make sense of her past and present.
What's your creative outlet?
Miranda's parents have locked themselves behind symbolic doors and left Miranda to figure things out on her own.
Do you have someone you can turn to in times of trouble?
After her secret is revealed, Miranda feels like an outcast.
Have you ever felt like an outcast?
Miranda sneaks into a party incognito and finds out more than she expected.
Have you ever accidentally discovered something you didn't want to know?
Eventually, Miranda makes friends with a group online.
Have you made online friends, and do you think those friendships are as strong as the people you know in person?
When Miranda finds support, it's not at all who she expected.
Have you ever found friends in unlikely places?
"We don't always know why things happen until down the road," says Nik.
What do you think about that?
How do you think you might have handled Miranda's situation?
Do you think she handled it well or badly?
How did you feel about the ending?
Do you think you would have given Kamran a second chance?
Many characters in TELL ME A SECRET have devastating secrets.
What kind of secret would be most terrifying for you?
See the roundtable discussion of TELL ME A SECRET at readergirlz!