Secrets to Tell

by Ann H. Gabhart

Emily Garnette, 15, does not like her new stepfather or his son. Her mother's marriage seems to have caused her nightmares, which she has had since her father's death, to accelerate. She has begun to see a counselor, Thatcher, and as the story begins, she sets out with him and several of his other clients on a nine day "therapy trek" in the wilderness. Emily is an inexperienced camper, as are the other kids except for Brad, her hiking partner, who gives her surly looks for the first few days. Characterization and plot develop slowly, but there is no lack of adventure, intrigue, or mystery. This book is not about Emily's relationship with her family or her therapist. It is about her relationship with herself. She begins the camping trip hating her stepfather and brother and blaming them for her nightmares- but she knows they are really caused by her father's death, which she has never accepted. It's a subtle, imaginative story. It is not quick reading, but the characters are worth the trek and the plot is sustaining.

169 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1994

About the author

Ann H. Gabhart grew up on a farm in Kentucky. At the age of ten, she started dreaming of writing stories others would want to read. That dream has come true as she's published over thirty-five novels. She and her husband have three children married to three beautiful in-law children who have gifted her nine grandchildren. She still lives on a farm not far from where she grew up. She loves playing with her grandkids, walking with her dogs, reading, and, of course, writing. Her Shaker books, set in her fictional Shaker village of Harmony Hill in the 1800's, are popular with readers. The Outsider was a Christian Fiction Book Award Finalist in 2009. Her Heart of Hollyhill books are Small Town, America books set in the 1960's. Angel Sister, a Rosey Corner book set during the Great Depression, was a best-seller and was followed up by two more stories about the Merritt sisters. She keeps her stories in Kentucky and has enjoyed going to the Kentucky Appalachian Mountains for some stories including These Healing Hills and Along a Storied Trail. And if you like mysteries, you can try her Hidden Springs Mysteries published under the author name, A.H. Gabhart. Visit Ann's website http://annhgabhart.com to find out more. There you can sign up for her newsletter where she does giveaways several times a year.

Reviews

[Ann Gabhart]

I wrote this book after reading a newspaper article about a therapist who took troubled teens for camping trips in the woods to help them overcome their problems. And then I said "what if." Always the beginning point of any story.

[Paul Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual page number- 169 pages

Disappointing to say the least as I was expecting a thriller/horror but the aspects of that are minimal and the book focuses on romance and character building.

I wouldn't mind this but the character development is mostly predictable. Still, I do support the main character though since she does show development.

So, the suspense the book has was indeed suspenseful but it isn't much horror/thriller.

Probably recommend the book to anyone who wants to read about adolescents with the bonus of suspenseful scenes to spice the book a bit. This book isn't suited for those who want to read horror and thriller.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this a few years ago and I really enjoyed it and I thought the rating on here should be higher, I have just finished reading it again and I agree with my first impression of it.
I think this is a good teen book, it's the very type of teen fiction I like, intelligently wrote with interesting characters and plot, with romance thrown in which is always a plus. Its quite a unique plot but interestingly enough actually true, as these woods outings for troubled teens did actually happen, I found it entertaining (it also has similarities to the 1993 film Ticks lol except the film is a horror while this isn't, although it has a certain vibe as well as the cover art that may lead you to think it's horror but it's not really). The story is about 6 troubled teens who are taken by a counselor out hiking in the woods for 9 days to get away for a while and try to help them overcome certain issues and to basically bond with people who have similar problems. Only really 1 out of the 6 potentially had serious problems (Damon), the rest had troubles that were kind of self inflicted that will improve with time and through dealing with them, which is what the characters learn through the story.
The two main characters are Emily and Brad, quite a bit of the books focuses on their developing bond and healing, and I think it was wrote real well, I was rooting for them. Thatcher was a nice character too, a well meaning counselor who actually cares about the people she's trying to help.
Anyway, of course during the 9 days, many things go wrong from fires to storms to injuries and most of all inner demons, there is suspense throughout and a romance developing and just themes of coming to terms with the past and things you can't change, overall I think it's an enjoyable read, that deals with troubled teens without becomming depressing.
My only critique is that I wish the ending was a bit longer or that there was more of an epilogue showing them back at school but it's not a big deal. I see some complaining that it isn't a horror like they expected but I don't mind that, in fact I actually prefer it the way it is, since there are many teen horror books, but this plot is more unique so I like it.
Anyone who loves 80s or 90s teen books like I do should enjoy this.