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The Journal of Hidden Truths
Sometimes an unimaginable tragedy can bring a new outlook on life and love.
Twelve years ago, in the wake of a tragedy, Mariah rejected the church community that failed her. Mariah moved a thousand miles away to Boulder, Colorado, with her infant daughter, Star. But the past continues to haunt her, and Mariah has yet to reveal to Star what had happened.
At thirteen, Star is brilliant and sensitive, with an uncanny ability to intuit truth. Through dreams, observations, and journaling, Star inches ever closer to uncovering her mother’s secrets.
Mary Avery Kabrich’s second novel, told from the perspective of both mother and daughter, presents a stirring tale of loss and the healing power of love.
Mary Avery Kabrich is an award-winning author of Once Upon a Time a Sparrow. Mary writes contemporary fiction with an aim to hearten and inspire her readers. She can be reached at Maryaverykabrich@gmail.com
Twelve years ago, in the wake of a tragedy, Mariah rejected the church community that failed her. Mariah moved a thousand miles away to Boulder, Colorado, with her infant daughter, Star. But the past continues to haunt her, and Mariah has yet to reveal to Star what had happened.
At thirteen, Star is brilliant and sensitive, with an uncanny ability to intuit truth. Through dreams, observations, and journaling, Star inches ever closer to uncovering her mother’s secrets.
Mary Avery Kabrich’s second novel, told from the perspective of both mother and daughter, presents a stirring tale of loss and the healing power of love.
Mary Avery Kabrich is an award-winning author of Once Upon a Time a Sparrow. Mary writes contemporary fiction with an aim to hearten and inspire her readers. She can be reached at Maryaverykabrich@gmail.com
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 9, 2023
3 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Mary Avery Kabrich
5 books7 followersI recently retired from my work as a school psychologist evaluating students with learning challenges. I find myself frequently commiserating and revealing that I too took a long time to learn to read. In fact, I was twelve years old when reading began to make sense to me. Yet, I loved telling stories and wanted to write them as well. Today I am so grateful for audio books allowing me to “catch up” with readers. My debut novel is based on true events in my life growing up with dyslexia and later coming to terms with what I had viewed an embarrassing past. Please take a moment to read this interview: https://bit.ly/2lE55PQ
My second novel, The Journal of Hidden Truths, has garnered three 5-Star professional reviews. It tells a Mother/daughter story about forgiveness and healing.
My second novel, The Journal of Hidden Truths, has garnered three 5-Star professional reviews. It tells a Mother/daughter story about forgiveness and healing.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 14, 2023
Mary Avery Kabrich writes a contemporary family-based tale with The Journal of Hidden Truths
I haven't read anything by this author before, and what a hidden gem. I enjoyed it so much, that I have now followed the author and look for more books to read. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. The reader is introduced to Star, a young woman, who the story is based upon, and part of it is telling her story to her journal, The Journal of Hidden truths. Her real name is Mildred, but when she was two years old, she named herself Star, just like the celestial beings in the sky. She is a unique girl, and her classmates think she's weird. Maybe, but maybe she's just being herself, and she can't even share things with her family, for the worrying of her mother, Mariah. She is intent on reading work by author David Bohm, and is trying to understand his work, Wholeness, and the Implicate Order, which you don't have to read to understand her story. Star is always looking for that synchronicity and loves the way the word sounds. Mariah finds herself defending her daughter and her behavior in Middle School with her principal and teachers. It's a very interesting story that brings insight into a young girls’ thoughts and ideas, and then how her Mother reacts and interacts with Star and those that she knows does not understand her daughter, nor tries to. Mariah is so intent on believing her daughter does not have a mental health disorder, and Star continues to be herself, and sometimes gets lost in her own world. It's an emotional and poignant story, not just about a kid being weird or made fun of, but a mother who tries to understand the truths about her daughter and how she thinks. Mary Avery Kabrich not only tells the story but shows it with words as well. This is definitely an embraceable story. The Journal of Hidden Truths is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
I haven't read anything by this author before, and what a hidden gem. I enjoyed it so much, that I have now followed the author and look for more books to read. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. The reader is introduced to Star, a young woman, who the story is based upon, and part of it is telling her story to her journal, The Journal of Hidden truths. Her real name is Mildred, but when she was two years old, she named herself Star, just like the celestial beings in the sky. She is a unique girl, and her classmates think she's weird. Maybe, but maybe she's just being herself, and she can't even share things with her family, for the worrying of her mother, Mariah. She is intent on reading work by author David Bohm, and is trying to understand his work, Wholeness, and the Implicate Order, which you don't have to read to understand her story. Star is always looking for that synchronicity and loves the way the word sounds. Mariah finds herself defending her daughter and her behavior in Middle School with her principal and teachers. It's a very interesting story that brings insight into a young girls’ thoughts and ideas, and then how her Mother reacts and interacts with Star and those that she knows does not understand her daughter, nor tries to. Mariah is so intent on believing her daughter does not have a mental health disorder, and Star continues to be herself, and sometimes gets lost in her own world. It's an emotional and poignant story, not just about a kid being weird or made fun of, but a mother who tries to understand the truths about her daughter and how she thinks. Mary Avery Kabrich not only tells the story but shows it with words as well. This is definitely an embraceable story. The Journal of Hidden Truths is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
January 1, 2024
Mariah has gone to great lengths to bury the grief she experienced twelve years ago when a horrifying event changed her life forever. She left her community, including the church she devoted most of her life to, and headed to Boulder with her infant, where she vowed to start over. Keeping the truth from her daughter, Star, was easy to justify in her younger years, but now, at thirteen, highly intuitive Star knows Mariah is keeping something from her.
Star can pick up on people’s energy—so much so that it can be emotionally draining. Her journal offers a reprieve that she cannot find elsewhere, which is how she begins uncovering the truth about the dreams she’s been having. The visions seem connected to her mother’s past—a boy is lost; he needs her help. But try as she might, Star cannot get her mother to open up.
Can Mariah provide Star with the closure she desperately seeks?
“The Journal of Hidden Truths” by Mary Avery Kabrich is a poignant novel about finding what’s lost and healing from grief. In this absorbing literary fiction, a mother and daughter must face the obstacles causing friction. In doing so, a deep connection to the past must also be unearthed. Star, a self-proclaimed feeler and metaphysical enthusiast, grapples with being treated like an outcast at school. Everyone assumes she’s crazy because she insists that she can pick up on others’ energy and communicate with her deceased dog, and it leaves her feeling misunderstood.
Mariah’s grief causes physical pain and stagnancy in her life—she cannot improve her relationship with Star or get rid of those agonizing headaches with all the baggage that weighs her down. Sometimes, leaning into this discomfort is what is needed to evolve. In Mariah’s case, the more grief she swallowed down, the more it threatened to bubble over like hot lava that could no longer be contained.
The author has done an excellent job of alternating Mariah and Star’s perspectives, providing readers with a dual introspective journey. Star’s ability to grasp high-level concepts, like quantum physics and intuition, is unconventional for someone so young. I loved how this was showcased. The young girl is such a vibrant character who could teach me a thing or two about life! Learning about theories and questions through her journal entries added dimension and variety to the story. Conversely, Mariah’s internal dialogue was skillfully highlighted through her day-to-day experiences and flashbacks, and it was a heart-wrenching yet beautiful unraveling. The character development was astounding.
Moreover, despite having little background in science or physics, I found the information to be expertly sprinkled throughout. Because Star is obsessed with physicist David Bohm, readers are given a brief glimpse into the concepts and theories covered without being overwhelmed. I enjoyed further researching some of the ideas explored in the book, such as human consciousness and Carl Jung’s synchronicity.
“The Journal of Hidden Truths” by Mary Avery Kabrich is unlike any book I’ve ever read—emotional and highly intellectual. Between Star’s unconventionality and Mariah’s internal transformation, I deeply resonated with the characters. Moreover, the theories and concepts added another layer of intrigue. Readers who enjoy character-driven novels about family will be reeled in by the quality of writing and the multi-dimensional characters.
Star can pick up on people’s energy—so much so that it can be emotionally draining. Her journal offers a reprieve that she cannot find elsewhere, which is how she begins uncovering the truth about the dreams she’s been having. The visions seem connected to her mother’s past—a boy is lost; he needs her help. But try as she might, Star cannot get her mother to open up.
Can Mariah provide Star with the closure she desperately seeks?
“The Journal of Hidden Truths” by Mary Avery Kabrich is a poignant novel about finding what’s lost and healing from grief. In this absorbing literary fiction, a mother and daughter must face the obstacles causing friction. In doing so, a deep connection to the past must also be unearthed. Star, a self-proclaimed feeler and metaphysical enthusiast, grapples with being treated like an outcast at school. Everyone assumes she’s crazy because she insists that she can pick up on others’ energy and communicate with her deceased dog, and it leaves her feeling misunderstood.
Mariah’s grief causes physical pain and stagnancy in her life—she cannot improve her relationship with Star or get rid of those agonizing headaches with all the baggage that weighs her down. Sometimes, leaning into this discomfort is what is needed to evolve. In Mariah’s case, the more grief she swallowed down, the more it threatened to bubble over like hot lava that could no longer be contained.
The author has done an excellent job of alternating Mariah and Star’s perspectives, providing readers with a dual introspective journey. Star’s ability to grasp high-level concepts, like quantum physics and intuition, is unconventional for someone so young. I loved how this was showcased. The young girl is such a vibrant character who could teach me a thing or two about life! Learning about theories and questions through her journal entries added dimension and variety to the story. Conversely, Mariah’s internal dialogue was skillfully highlighted through her day-to-day experiences and flashbacks, and it was a heart-wrenching yet beautiful unraveling. The character development was astounding.
Moreover, despite having little background in science or physics, I found the information to be expertly sprinkled throughout. Because Star is obsessed with physicist David Bohm, readers are given a brief glimpse into the concepts and theories covered without being overwhelmed. I enjoyed further researching some of the ideas explored in the book, such as human consciousness and Carl Jung’s synchronicity.
“The Journal of Hidden Truths” by Mary Avery Kabrich is unlike any book I’ve ever read—emotional and highly intellectual. Between Star’s unconventionality and Mariah’s internal transformation, I deeply resonated with the characters. Moreover, the theories and concepts added another layer of intrigue. Readers who enjoy character-driven novels about family will be reeled in by the quality of writing and the multi-dimensional characters.
December 15, 2023
The Journal of Hidden Truths (2023) is the second novel written by the prizewinning author Dr. Mary Avery Kabrich, a former educator and retired Seattle public school psychologist— who uses her vast knowledge and experience to raise awareness of the relatable issues in our public schools from students with disabilities, bullying, the rights of LGBTQ students, to school lock-downs. In addition, the facilitation of meaningful relationships that encourage growth and development of students, parents, educators, and the staff that serve them are always of utmost importance. Her first book, “Once Upon a Time, a Sparrow” was released in 2017.
Twelve years had passed since Mariah Palmer had moved with her infant daughter to Ash Grove, a small community near Boulder, Colorado. Despite her career as a clinical behavioral therapist, Mariah flatly refused to ever discuss the tragedy that claimed the lives of her husband and toddler son. All paperwork, letters, and photos of her past were sealed in a large box stored in her home. The obvious grief, anger, and anxiety that Mariah carried was manifested in her health condition, and more noticeably in the superficial relationships she had with her concerned mother and brilliant 13-year-old daughter, Star.
Since Star was unable to reason with her mother and communicate effectively, or relate to peers at school, (one student accused Star of “listening to the devil”) – nor the educators that recommended a psychological evaluation for her, Star could only confide in her “journal of hidden truths” (2012). The isolation at school did not bother her in the least, she used all her free time to study the works of theoretical physicist David Bohm (1917-92) in the school library, and was highly inspired and determined to become a scientist.
Star was excited to explain to how “Synchronicity” worked following her attendance with her mother at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder (UUCB). Mariah reconnected there with two significant people from her past, and Star became best friends with Jen, a transgender teen and member of the UUCB Youth Group. As the story progressed towards its breathtaking and dynamic conclusion, Star developed a deeper understanding of human consciousness that was validated within the universal forces of transformative light and everlasting love. “So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”- (II Corinthians 4:18) -
Twelve years had passed since Mariah Palmer had moved with her infant daughter to Ash Grove, a small community near Boulder, Colorado. Despite her career as a clinical behavioral therapist, Mariah flatly refused to ever discuss the tragedy that claimed the lives of her husband and toddler son. All paperwork, letters, and photos of her past were sealed in a large box stored in her home. The obvious grief, anger, and anxiety that Mariah carried was manifested in her health condition, and more noticeably in the superficial relationships she had with her concerned mother and brilliant 13-year-old daughter, Star.
Since Star was unable to reason with her mother and communicate effectively, or relate to peers at school, (one student accused Star of “listening to the devil”) – nor the educators that recommended a psychological evaluation for her, Star could only confide in her “journal of hidden truths” (2012). The isolation at school did not bother her in the least, she used all her free time to study the works of theoretical physicist David Bohm (1917-92) in the school library, and was highly inspired and determined to become a scientist.
Star was excited to explain to how “Synchronicity” worked following her attendance with her mother at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder (UUCB). Mariah reconnected there with two significant people from her past, and Star became best friends with Jen, a transgender teen and member of the UUCB Youth Group. As the story progressed towards its breathtaking and dynamic conclusion, Star developed a deeper understanding of human consciousness that was validated within the universal forces of transformative light and everlasting love. “So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”- (II Corinthians 4:18) -
December 6, 2023
This is a story to which we can all relate. It's about keeping secrets, big or small, to protect others or oneself. Once revealed in the light of love and compassion, fresh air sweeps in and brings understanding and deeper relationships. Mary is spot on in her depection of mother and teen age daughter issues, as well their own hidden truths. I recommend this book to read and share. It causes personal reflection and that's a good thing.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews