Secret Keeper

by Di Walker

Change was coming. Possibly sooner than any of the friends were prepared for. Nell and Eden have been best friends forever. But now they are at the end of Year 6 and on the cusp of high school. Nell has been scouted to play in a new netball club the following year, but she doesn’t feel like she can tell Eden. And then there’s Birdie. A mysterious girl who has moved onto Nell’s street. She is quiet and reserved and doesn’t appear to go to school. When Nell meets Birdie, their friendship begins to grow. But what secrets is Birdie hiding? And why doesn’t Nell feel she can tell Eden about netball or Birdie? A book about friendship, grief, and secrets, set to the backdrop of the time of change from childhood to early adolescence.

201 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2025

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well hello, stage 2-3 readers. This is the book for you. Relationships, responsibility and mystery.

Spoiler alert: school refusal subplot you’re going to love.

[Claudine Tinellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Di Walker is an immensely talented story teller whose books are both topical and heartfelt with enough humour to keep serious themes from overshadowing the story whilst being highly entertaining.

'Secret Keeper', Di's latest, was an absolutely delightful read. With a cast of flawed, relatable and everyday characters who jump off the page, Di has created a story that readers can't help but identify with.

Delving into the fears and concerns of primary school aged children, this book highlights the importance of having solid friendships and caring, supportive adults in their lives.

A five star read and one that all primary school kids should be encouraged to explore.

Thanks to Di Walker and Scholastic Australia for my review copy.

[Tiff Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book by Australian author Di Walker. Di’s characters are relatable and you have empathy for all of them. It is easy to read and you want to get to the end to see why happens. I highly recommend this book for girls in grade 5-7.