Living in Secret

by Cristina Salat

Ever since Amelia's parents got divorced, she has wished she could live with her mother and her mother's girlfriend, Janey, but a judge gave her father custody. Finally, after years of living apart, Amelia, and her mom decide there is only one thing to do. On a cold October night, Amelia's mother comes to steal her away. For Amelia, living in secret means changing her name, not going to school, and pretending she is twelve instead of eleven. The adventure of beginning a whole new life, with brand new family and friends, is marred only by the shadow of a past that could shatter the present in an instant, should anyone find out who Amelia really is.

Genres: LGBT, Queer, Young Adult

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[AprilFalls · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was introduced to this book year 6 in primary school and it became my favourite book for about 2 years and I read it 3 times after that - I loved it every time. It's such a truthful and organic story and it's what first introduced me to the brutality and reality of the world - gay and everythang! *warning - very emotional ending* but I think it's something everyone should read at least once in their life perhaps best in the teenage years but great either way.

[Shyanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I literally just took this book one day from our elementary school library give away shelf (because we had to), and thought to myself:
"I'm never even going to pick this book up."

But one day, we had to bring in a book to read, and this is the only book I had at the time, so I brought this in, and read it. And once I started, I couldn't stop. I finished this book in 2 days (my all time record), and it was SO good!

It's about a girl who is living with her dad, but wants to live with her mom and her mom's girlfriend. So they plan a way for her to escape. Her mom comes to her dad's house one night with a ladder, and the daughter climbs down, and gets into a van with her mom & girlfriend. The girlfriend & daughter then go to an airport to get on a plane (w/ fake identities) and they fly to California. They move into a "Barbie House", and the girl (I really think her name was Amelia) meets a girl at the library and they become friends. As hard as it is for her, she has to keep secrets from this girl so her dad can't find her.

Recommended for everyone to read at least once.

[Bella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Young adult books in the 1990s had a far younger voice than they do today, which hurts the writing. Lots of the emotional moments feel muted because the author is trying to write like a 12-year-old, and aiming far younger than she needs to. The plot is clever, but the characters are thin and the motivations aren’t very clear.

I also felt a little weird about being expected to feel like kidnapping was the right move. I understand that there was homophobia and a bad divorce, but the kidnapping and moving across the country with new identities felt like a wild overreaction to the situation. It made it a little hard to take the rest of the message of the book seriously when everyone seemed to accept that it was totally ok to kidnap a 12-year-old and let her father and everyone she’s ever met think she’s dead.

[Arami100 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living in Secret is the first book that I have read in a long time that just satisfies you and all I want is more. Knowing that Amelia wants to be with her mom but can’t because her mom is lesbian is heartbreaking. Knowing that her mom would do anything to get her back is pretty awesome. I feel like I have said too much but if you want to know more, I definitely recommend you get this book and read it for yourself. You will not be disappointed!

[Colette Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a teenager and fell in love with it. I have searched in vain for it the past 10 years (couldn't remember the title/author) and I was ecstatic when I found it. Re-read it and was thrilled that it was exactly as good as I remembered it to be!!

[Shyanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I literally just took this book one day from our elementary school library give away shelf (because we had to), and thought to myself:
"I'm never even going to pick this book up."

But one day, we had to bring in a book to read, and this is the only book I had at the time, so I brought this in, and read it. And once I started, I couldn't stop. I finished this book in 2 days (my all time record), and it was SO good!

It's about a girl who is living with her dad, but wants to live with her mom and her mom's girlfriend. So they plan a way for her to escape. Her mom comes to her dad's house one night with a ladder, and the daughter climbs down, and gets into a van with her mom & girlfriend. The girlfriend & daughter then go to an airport to get on a plane (w/ fake identities) and they fly to California. They move into a "Barbie House", and the girl (I really think her name was Amelia) meets a girl at the library and they become friends. As hard as it is for her, she has to keep secrets from this girl so her dad can't find her.

Recommended for everyone to read at least once.

[Line Louise Aaberg Nielsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favorite book from my late childhood/early teen years! It may not be the best book when it comes to literacy, but it is a teenage book afterall. I highly recommend it. It keeps a good focus on a subject that has only become more and more important as time has gone on.
This book aged well.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really liked it.... Her dad is a JERK......just saying!!!!!!!!!!! Also I read for 2 hour yesterday!!!