What do you think?
Rate this book
The Names We Buried
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jun 26A thrilling, twisty homage to The Face on the Milk Carton about a trans boy who discovers that he was kidnapped as a child, and that his birth parents are still out there searching... for their daughter.
Jaden's seventeenth birthday was meant to be monumental. As a surprise, his dad and Jaden’s boyfriend, Andy, arranged to take him to the courthouse to get his name changed to reflect his gender. But, horrifyingly, the clerk accuses Jaden's dad of forging Jaden's original birth certificate, and due to his criminal past, he's arrested.
Heartbroken but also suspicious, Jaden secretly takes a DNA test and makes an even more shocking discovery: he's not biologically related to his dad. Jaden can't imagine his mother cheating, but the truth might be worse -- further DNA testing also identify Jaden as a perfect genetic match for a couple who have spent the last seventeen years searching for their kidnapped child.
Their kidnapped daughter.
After years struggling to come to terms with his gender identity as well as his parents' complicated pasts, Jaden is forced to re-evaluate everything. Who is he really? And where does he belong? With the dad who raised and loved him, and supported his transition without question? Or with the parents Jaden's never met, who might never be able to accept Jaden as their son?
Jaden's seventeenth birthday was meant to be monumental. As a surprise, his dad and Jaden’s boyfriend, Andy, arranged to take him to the courthouse to get his name changed to reflect his gender. But, horrifyingly, the clerk accuses Jaden's dad of forging Jaden's original birth certificate, and due to his criminal past, he's arrested.
Heartbroken but also suspicious, Jaden secretly takes a DNA test and makes an even more shocking discovery: he's not biologically related to his dad. Jaden can't imagine his mother cheating, but the truth might be worse -- further DNA testing also identify Jaden as a perfect genetic match for a couple who have spent the last seventeen years searching for their kidnapped child.
Their kidnapped daughter.
After years struggling to come to terms with his gender identity as well as his parents' complicated pasts, Jaden is forced to re-evaluate everything. Who is he really? And where does he belong? With the dad who raised and loved him, and supported his transition without question? Or with the parents Jaden's never met, who might never be able to accept Jaden as their son?
336 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 2, 2026
1 person is currently reading
169 people want to read
About the author
Mia Siegert
3 books155 followersMia Siegert's sophomore novel SOMEBODY TOLD ME released in Spring 2020 with great trade reviews (SLJ's verdict was "Highly Recommended Read") and features in Teen Vogue, Book Riot, Buzzfeed, and many more.
Siegert's debut JERKBAIT made Goodreads Best YA of May 2016, Top 12 Indie YA from Barnes & Noble Teen Blog, Top 10 YA of 2016 from AndPop!, and gained attention from SB Nation, Publishers Weekly, Barnes & Noble Teen Blog, AndPOP!, MaximumPOP! UK, VOYA Magazine, Paste Magazine, Teen Librarian Toolbox, among many others.
When not writing, Siegert is a self-taught costume designer with their husband and two cats. Their work has appeared on Netflix's "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" and the CW's "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend."
Siegert's debut JERKBAIT made Goodreads Best YA of May 2016, Top 12 Indie YA from Barnes & Noble Teen Blog, Top 10 YA of 2016 from AndPop!, and gained attention from SB Nation, Publishers Weekly, Barnes & Noble Teen Blog, AndPOP!, MaximumPOP! UK, VOYA Magazine, Paste Magazine, Teen Librarian Toolbox, among many others.
When not writing, Siegert is a self-taught costume designer with their husband and two cats. Their work has appeared on Netflix's "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" and the CW's "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Scholastic Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“The Names We Buried” by Mia Siegert is one of those YA thrillers that hooks you with a wild premise and then hits you way harder emotionally than you expect. Before going into this review, I do recommend looking into content warnings as there is some transphobia in this book, such as deadnaming.
The story kicks off with Jaden, a trans teen who’s just trying to move forward with his life, starting with legally changing his name. But instead of a fresh start, everything blows up when his birth certificate is flagged as fake and suddenly his dad is arrested. From there, things spiral fast. A DNA test reveals the truth: Jaden was kidnapped as a baby, and his biological parents have been searching for their daughter for years.
Yeah. It’s a lot.
What really makes this book stand out isn’t just the mystery (though it is twisty and keeps you reading), but how deeply it dives into identity. Jaden isn’t just dealing with the shock of being kidnapped; he’s also forced to confront what it means to belong somewhere when both of his “families” are complicated in very different ways. His dad, who raised him, is flawed but genuinely loving and supportive of his transition. Meanwhile, his biological parents aren’t exactly what they first seem. There are some serious red flags, especially around how they view Jaden’s gender and their desperation to get “their child” back.
And honestly, that emotional tension is where the book shines. Jaden’s anger, confusion, and grief all feel very real. You really feel for him as his entire sense of self gets ripped apart. At the same time, he’s a strong character who advocates for himself and refuses to just be pushed around, which makes his growth throughout the story super satisfying.
There’s also some commentary on toxic relationships, specifically with his boyfriend Andy, who is the worst (though there is some character growth in the end). He’s way more concerned with going viral than respecting Jaden’s privacy, and it’s one of those relationships where you’re constantly like, “please break up with him.” It adds another layer of stress to everything Jaden is already dealing with.
“The Names We Buried” can get a bit heavy-handed with its themes at times, and the ending wraps things up a little too neatly considering how messy everything is. The ending felt a bit rushed, and I wish it was developed more. It would’ve been nice to see more of Jaden actually adjusting to this new reality instead of everything resolving so quickly.
But overall, this is a really unique, emotional thriller that combines mystery with a powerful exploration of identity, family, and belonging. It’s messy in a very human way, and even when it’s frustrating, it keeps you invested.
If you like your thrillers with a lot of heart (and a lot of emotional damage), this one’s definitely worth picking up.
“The Names We Buried” by Mia Siegert is one of those YA thrillers that hooks you with a wild premise and then hits you way harder emotionally than you expect. Before going into this review, I do recommend looking into content warnings as there is some transphobia in this book, such as deadnaming.
The story kicks off with Jaden, a trans teen who’s just trying to move forward with his life, starting with legally changing his name. But instead of a fresh start, everything blows up when his birth certificate is flagged as fake and suddenly his dad is arrested. From there, things spiral fast. A DNA test reveals the truth: Jaden was kidnapped as a baby, and his biological parents have been searching for their daughter for years.
Yeah. It’s a lot.
What really makes this book stand out isn’t just the mystery (though it is twisty and keeps you reading), but how deeply it dives into identity. Jaden isn’t just dealing with the shock of being kidnapped; he’s also forced to confront what it means to belong somewhere when both of his “families” are complicated in very different ways. His dad, who raised him, is flawed but genuinely loving and supportive of his transition. Meanwhile, his biological parents aren’t exactly what they first seem. There are some serious red flags, especially around how they view Jaden’s gender and their desperation to get “their child” back.
And honestly, that emotional tension is where the book shines. Jaden’s anger, confusion, and grief all feel very real. You really feel for him as his entire sense of self gets ripped apart. At the same time, he’s a strong character who advocates for himself and refuses to just be pushed around, which makes his growth throughout the story super satisfying.
There’s also some commentary on toxic relationships, specifically with his boyfriend Andy, who is the worst (though there is some character growth in the end). He’s way more concerned with going viral than respecting Jaden’s privacy, and it’s one of those relationships where you’re constantly like, “please break up with him.” It adds another layer of stress to everything Jaden is already dealing with.
“The Names We Buried” can get a bit heavy-handed with its themes at times, and the ending wraps things up a little too neatly considering how messy everything is. The ending felt a bit rushed, and I wish it was developed more. It would’ve been nice to see more of Jaden actually adjusting to this new reality instead of everything resolving so quickly.
But overall, this is a really unique, emotional thriller that combines mystery with a powerful exploration of identity, family, and belonging. It’s messy in a very human way, and even when it’s frustrating, it keeps you invested.
If you like your thrillers with a lot of heart (and a lot of emotional damage), this one’s definitely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When Jaden's father gets arrested and accused of forging Jaden's birth certificate and social security card, he is resolved to figure out why he doesn't have the original documents. With Jaden's father in jail for the weekend and his mother deceased, he desperately decides to use a mail-in DNA test to try to solve the mystery. Unexpected results send Jaden into a whirlwind of secrets, trauma, and family drama.
I guess my review is really a 4 star for my own enjoyment, but a 3 star for recommendation to teen readers. There are parts of this book that I really enjoyed. Jaden's relationship with his dad and his rekindled friendship with Terri are well developed and incorporate realistic conflict resolution. Each of those three characters is fully developed and the side plots involving them are important. Jaden's relationship with Andy is absolutely toxic, and I really didn't like the way all of that ended up playing out. I don't think the messaging related to that relationship was presented well. The real deal-breaker for me in recommending this book is the way Andy introduced drugs into the story. Even though I understand the inclusion of Cookie and how that character relates to later parts of the story, the casual incorporation of Xanax and Adderall without prescriptions and ultimately, without any consequences, isn't the messaging I want for teen readers.
I read an ARC from NetGalley.
I guess my review is really a 4 star for my own enjoyment, but a 3 star for recommendation to teen readers. There are parts of this book that I really enjoyed. Jaden's relationship with his dad and his rekindled friendship with Terri are well developed and incorporate realistic conflict resolution. Each of those three characters is fully developed and the side plots involving them are important. Jaden's relationship with Andy is absolutely toxic, and I really didn't like the way all of that ended up playing out. I don't think the messaging related to that relationship was presented well. The real deal-breaker for me in recommending this book is the way Andy introduced drugs into the story. Even though I understand the inclusion of Cookie and how that character relates to later parts of the story, the casual incorporation of Xanax and Adderall without prescriptions and ultimately, without any consequences, isn't the messaging I want for teen readers.
I read an ARC from NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Scholastic for an advanced copy of The Names We Buried by Mia Siegert to review! The premise of this one struck me as interesting when I saw it on NetGalley, so I was excited to jump into this thriller. For the most part, I’d say that it didn’t disappoint!
Jaden’s very complicated story unfolds in this book, as he realizes that the mother he grew up with wasn’t everything he thought she was. This book tackles a lot of difficult issues, like identity, family, relationships, and criminal behavior. At times, it almost feels like the story is trying to tackle too much; I think this especially shows in some of the conversations that Jaden has with his best friend, Terri, around racial issues. They are important, but they don’t feel as fluid with the rest of the story.
The best aspect of this book is definitely the character development. There is a large cast of characters here, but they all felt distinct and had an important role in Jaden’s life. They help shape Jaden to who he is, and he gets support as he struggles through his new identity. The relationships also help to add tension to the story, building as everything comes together at the end.
All in all, this is a unique thriller that explores important identity topics, as well as familial issues. If you like complex thrillers, then this book is absolutely for you!
Jaden’s very complicated story unfolds in this book, as he realizes that the mother he grew up with wasn’t everything he thought she was. This book tackles a lot of difficult issues, like identity, family, relationships, and criminal behavior. At times, it almost feels like the story is trying to tackle too much; I think this especially shows in some of the conversations that Jaden has with his best friend, Terri, around racial issues. They are important, but they don’t feel as fluid with the rest of the story.
The best aspect of this book is definitely the character development. There is a large cast of characters here, but they all felt distinct and had an important role in Jaden’s life. They help shape Jaden to who he is, and he gets support as he struggles through his new identity. The relationships also help to add tension to the story, building as everything comes together at the end.
All in all, this is a unique thriller that explores important identity topics, as well as familial issues. If you like complex thrillers, then this book is absolutely for you!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
While some may think this story is not for them, trust me when I say everyone could learn something from this book. Whether it is about the trans community, the legal process for name and gender changes, the racism in prisons and law in general, the privilege across the country, the mental struggles or disorders we hide, the death of a parent, or the secrets we sweep under rugs from others to protect loved ones - this book has something to literally touch everyone. I will say that I struggled to connect to the main character's emotional turmoil (having the courage to take insanely brave steps for a name and gender change, yet also can't fathom a mother's double life?), but overall I see this could be a great success for touching so many different communities and hearts.
Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a unique book. It includes many perspectives and voices that absolutely need to be represented in the books high schoolers are reading. However, I felt like the plot got lost a little bit in all the advocacy work the author was trying to do. Some of the conflict played out in ways that were fairly predicable, and the lack of any real answers felt frustrating. I understand that the goal was to portray most characters as complex and somewhat flawed, but it ended up making some of them unlikable (except Terri and her family, who rule). It WAS cool to see a book that takes place in Newark as someone from NJ. Overall, I think this would be good for high schoolers who are interested in social justice and advocacy.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I was so intrigued by the concept of this book. I think it does an incredible job exploring complicated family dynamics, trauma, and forgiveness (or lack thereof). Unfortunately, it is extremely repetitive, which keeps me from giving it a higher rating. Jaden has very similar conversations with his birth parents several times, which is not only frustrating but also makes the growth that occurs in the end a bit unrealistic, as the versions of them we see through most of the book seem to be stuck in their own feedback loops. Regardless, I found this book to be enjoyable and a unique perspective in YA lit.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
So different from any other YA thriller. Exploring Jaden’s identity not only as a trans boy but as someone with a deeply traumatic history (with an added kidnapping to boot), this was a really fun read for me
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was kind of all over the place. I was truly intrigued by the premise of a trans boy finding out he was kidnapped as an infant. There was a lot that could have been done but there was a lot of repetition. Jaden had almost the exact same conversation with Alena at two points in the book, nearly word for word. And so much of I’m going but I’m not going, back and forth. And then the epilogue just tied everything up in a neat bow without real explanation. A real missed opportunity.
Review of advance copy
3.5
My review in School Library Journal:
Gr 9 Up–Jaden’s dad surprises him with the best 17th birthday gift: legally changing his name and gender at the courthouse to reflect his transition. When his birth certificate is flagged by a clerk as fraudulent, they are stunned, and Dad is jailed for the weekend. However, Dad was incarcerated briefly when Jaden was born, so his now-deceased mom handled the paperwork. DNA tests prove olive-skinned Jaden is not the biological child of the white, underprivileged man who raised him, but is a 99.9 percent match for a wealthy Russian Jewish couple whose baby girl was kidnapped as an infant. Jaden’s boyfriend Andy (aka Drew when influencing on social media) betrays them by posting the shocking story online. This unique premise is compelling and fast-paced. Relationships are fleshed out throughout, with Dad being a constant support and Drew the consistently toxic character readers will dislike. Black autistic friend Terri points out privilege, calls out “isms” (including racism and sexism), and provides a safe space. Bio parents Aaron and Alena seem to be manifesting Holly, misgendering Jaden for the daughter they lost years ago, rather than accepting him for who he is. Ivy brings sweetness and laughs to her newfound big brother. Meanwhile, Dad and Jaden must come to terms with mom Margot’s lies, as evidence points to her guilt in the kidnapping. The overall mood for much of the book is emotionally intense, until things suddenly wrap up very quickly in a bow at the end that feels too neat.
VERDICT A unique and intriguing addition to teen collections.
Reviewed by Lisa Krok , May 02, 2026
My review in School Library Journal:
Gr 9 Up–Jaden’s dad surprises him with the best 17th birthday gift: legally changing his name and gender at the courthouse to reflect his transition. When his birth certificate is flagged by a clerk as fraudulent, they are stunned, and Dad is jailed for the weekend. However, Dad was incarcerated briefly when Jaden was born, so his now-deceased mom handled the paperwork. DNA tests prove olive-skinned Jaden is not the biological child of the white, underprivileged man who raised him, but is a 99.9 percent match for a wealthy Russian Jewish couple whose baby girl was kidnapped as an infant. Jaden’s boyfriend Andy (aka Drew when influencing on social media) betrays them by posting the shocking story online. This unique premise is compelling and fast-paced. Relationships are fleshed out throughout, with Dad being a constant support and Drew the consistently toxic character readers will dislike. Black autistic friend Terri points out privilege, calls out “isms” (including racism and sexism), and provides a safe space. Bio parents Aaron and Alena seem to be manifesting Holly, misgendering Jaden for the daughter they lost years ago, rather than accepting him for who he is. Ivy brings sweetness and laughs to her newfound big brother. Meanwhile, Dad and Jaden must come to terms with mom Margot’s lies, as evidence points to her guilt in the kidnapping. The overall mood for much of the book is emotionally intense, until things suddenly wrap up very quickly in a bow at the end that feels too neat.
VERDICT A unique and intriguing addition to teen collections.
Reviewed by Lisa Krok , May 02, 2026
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews