Behind Closed Doors

by Miriam Halahmy

Josie has a secret: her mother is a hoarder. Tasha has a secret, too: her mother's new boyfriend keeps trying to sneak into her room and seduce her. The two 16-year-olds don't get along at school, but one night Tasha bolts from her dangerous home and finds herself at Josie's door. Josie's mother is in jail for debt, and the girls are alone in the cramped, crowded, bursting home. Slowly, they begin to talk about the challenges they face, a process of sharing that lessens their shame, guilt and fear. With each other's support, they may even find a way to save themselves from their parents' demons. Behind Closed Doors is an unflinching examination of the stigmas surrounding mental illness, abuse and poverty, and an affirming portrayal of the power of female friendships and the power of honesty to heal.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Mental Health, Romance, Teen

208 pages, Hardcover

First published March 30, 2017

About the author

I have been writing since childhood and have published twelve novels, one for adults and eleven for young people. I have been twice nominated for the Carnegie Medal. My work has been performed on stage and I was the first recipient of the prestigious PJ Ourway Author Award, in America. My books have been published in America and translated into eight languages.
My YA novel BEHIND CLOSED DOORS was the Winner of the Manchester Metropolitan University 'great student giveaway.' "The clear and popular winner."
My latest book POMEGRANATES FOR PEACE offers a message of Peace and Hope for the Future in a very divided world.
I am a frequent visitor to schools, book festivals, conferences and universities.
And I love making videos about my work.
So do visit my YouTube channel where you can view book readings, tips and lots more about my books.
https://www.youtube.com/user/miriamha...

Reviews

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

FirstLine ~ "Until I was ten years old, I thought everyone had Christmas in the bedroom."

This book is one that tackles tough topics in a way that is meaningful to the reader. The characters are realistic and easy to relate to. The struggles are those that are hard to discuss, but are so important to explore and discuss.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

[libreroaming · Rating 1 out of 5]

For a book whose premise means to tackle serious topics such as domestic sexual assault, a parent being imprisoned, and mental illnesses, the execution in "Behind Closed Doors" only serves to cheapen them down to melodramatic blow ups. Josie and Tasha both act far more immature than their stated ages of fifteen/almost-sixteen. The realistic situations of a hoarder or a sleezy boyfriend preying on the underage daughter is met with inattentive concern as the characters pinwheel from vlog and boy troubles to housing criminals who threaten them and then actually do send one of them to a hospital. It is hard to work out how to feel about the severity of these actions when it is framed in such an unbelievable way.

The resolutions are slapped together offhandedly and with little fanfare. Characters run away from danger and then skip right back into it as if incapable of object permanence. Apparently a decades long mental illness of hoarding can be undone with some stern talking to, and the part where Tasha's mother hits her in defense of the boyfriend actively assaulting her is explained as to why Tasha is in foster care but is mostly handwaved with no emotional fallout. While this issue book may have had good intentions it does nothing well to state its causes. Don't bother paying attention to whatever is behind these closed doors.

[Lyra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skirted the edge of ridiculous for awhile, then crossed the line completely about halfway through.

[Lyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

accidentally read the wrong book 😭 i thought i was gonna be reading some mystery thriller but it ends up being about 2 girls with broken homes and it’s just…. really weird and unrealistic, the way they are trying to handle the situation

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for work for ROYAL.

Behind Closed Doors tells the story of two teenage girls, Josie and Tasha, who come from very different lives but come together on one fateful stormy night and learn that they aren’t so different after all. Together they forge an understanding and form a friendship that allows them to brave familial issues concerning their mothers and drama at home.

Josie’s mother is a hoarder who cares about her ever expanding collection more than anyone and anything else. Her obsession leads her to lose her job, while her spending clutters their home to the point of limited mobility and makes it very difficult for her to care for Josie, and provide her with basic necessities like food and school clothes.

Tasha comes from a very different home environment. Her mother is well off and often plies Tasha with money for shopping and new things. It quickly becomes clear, however, that this is a cover for her own selfishness and need for a man. She brings home boyfriend after boyfriend, all worse than the last. When she begins dating Chaz, Tasha thinks things are going to be different. He’s younger, and much kinder to her mother than the men she’s dated in the past. Everything seems great until Chaz starts leering and coming on to Tasha, attempting multiple times to come into her room late at night.

One of the aspects of the novel I really enjoyed was the friendship between Josie and Tasha. When they began to see similarities in regards to their selfish mothers, a friendship bloomed and they started working together to solve their problems. A lot of YA fiction often pits young girls against each other, so it was very refreshing getting to see the opposite.

Unfortunately for every one thing I did enjoy in the novel, it seemed like there were two things I didn’t like. One of the novel’s downfalls was its melodramatic plot points that seemed in some cases unnecessary and took away from some of the bigger issues that could have been explored more, i.e. the hoarding and the sexual harassment. Those issues were always present peripherally, but didn’t seem to really have an impact until the end of the novel. I enjoyed the fast pacing of the novel, but I also felt like certain relationships, like the one between Josie and Jordan, escalated too quickly without much development.

Overall, Behind Closed Doors is a fast paced read, with interesting characters, but the melodrama was a little too much. I wish those moments had been toned down so the real issues could have been better explored.

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josie and Tasha are both 15-year-old girls that attend the same high school, but they’ve only been acquaintances until life gets tough and circumstances force them together.

Josie’s fear is that people will learn her dark secret--that her mother is a hoarder and their house is jam-packed full of worthless stuff. Even her bedroom isn’t safe from her mother’s hoarding as Josie is always having to move stuff out so she can sleep in her own bed. Unfortunately, she’s no longer able to use the shower or tub and has been forced to use the shower at the local swimming pool. Her mom spends most of her earnings on buying more things so that Josie’s forced to use the money from her paper route to buy her own essentials, like food.

It was always just Tasha and her mom until her mom’s latest boyfriend Chaz moved in. Tasha’s dream is to be a filmmaker and wants to start a vlog as a way to practice her craft. Yet there’s something about Chaz that makes Tasha uncomfortable. At first he opened her bedroom door without knocking and caught her in her bra and underwear. Then he “accidentally” opened her bedroom door instead of the bathroom door--just after she left the bathroom wearing only a towel. Tasha’s fears cause her to put her desk chair under her bedroom door handle at night, yet soon that may not be enough to keep Tasha safe in her own home.

After one incident, Tasha flees her house with no idea of where to go when she thinks of Josie who she sees on the bus. She barges into Josie’s house demanding to stay for a few days causing Josie’s worst fears to be realized. Josie sees Tasha’s fear and reluctantly lets her stay.

Soon a crisis in Josie’s life brings the two girls closer as their share their challenges, fears, hopes, and dreams as they try to figure out a way to support each other despite their inadequate parents.

Teens looking for a gripping realistic story will enjoy this one. It doesn’t shy away from tough issues of abuse, mental illness, and poverty. There’s even a bit of romance woven through as well to keep the story from being too bleak. The power of friendship and resiliency shines throughout.

[Mary Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tasha and Josie are neighbours; both 15-years-old, live with single mums and in the same class at school. They aren't what you'd call friends. Josie's mum is a rabid recycler is determined to save the planet by collecting everything, literally. Her passion for recycling has actually turned into a massive hoarding problem and now the house is so full of stuff, it isn't safe for either of them. To top it off, Josie's mum has forgotten to pay the council tax, has spent all the money on her hoarding addiction and is now spending time in prison, leaving Josie to fend for herself. Tasha has all the clothes, all the 'things' any girl could possibly want. But her mother's new boyfriend is giving her a little too much attention. When that attention gets too personal, Tasha leaves, not knowing where to turn. In their times of crisis, Tasha and Josie turn to each other, almost by accident at first. Navigating situations neither should have to endure, they find support, hidden strengths and a kind of friendship that goes above and beyond.
This gripping, exceptional novel opens your eyes to how easy it is for young people today to slip between the cracks. Realistically written, it is compelling. The characters and their lives are laid out on the page with openness; frankness. It is easy to enter their world, understand their point of view and hear their voices which ring with emotion, making it so easy to identify with them.. The plot builds meticulously while maintaining a momentum that urges the reader through. The writing is quite sensitive in the issues it deals with; homelessness, mental illness, grooming and the potential for sexual abuse, and the dangers of an unstable homelife; but it also deals with them with honesty. An incredible read for teens and adults with a quietly triumphant ending. Heart-wrenching, powerful and, ultimately very satisfying.

[Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started off with great promise then just went a little bonkers from the moment Jodie’s mum went to prison. Sometimes less is more.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Josie Tate and Tasha Brown, both 15, couldn't be any different. They don't travel in the same social circles at school, but as it turns out, both of them are hiding secrets about their lives at home. Josie's house is filled with all sorts of objects bought and collected by her mother, and the collection has grown so much that it is almost impossible to move through the house. The Tates can barely use their bathroom, and the kitchen is a disaster area. Tasha is content with the comfortable home her single mother has provided for her, but her complacency is shattered when Chaz, her mother's latest live-in boyfriend, seems determined to invade her physical space. The two girls' lives come crashing together after Josie's mother is put in prison for not paying taxes and Tasha's mother refuses to believe her daughter's concerns about Chas. I like the fact that they slowly become friends and come to understand each other even while being uncertain about what to do. Tash's supportive best friend, Dom, remains a rock of support, but she cannot see what everyone else can see about his feelings while Josie is uncertain about whether her new relationship with Jordan, a world-class swimmer, will survive his learning about how she lives. The very real challenges of living on the street, even if for only a brief time, are described vividly here. Readers will certainly relate to both girls while shaking their heads at the behavior of their mothers. This is a cautionary tale about fooling oneself, amassing too much stuff, and refusing to face reality. The situations both girls face happen more often than most of us would like to think.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Halahmy, Miriam Behind Closed Doors, 242 pages. Holiday House, 2017. $17. Language: PG (17 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (drinking, worry of rape); Violence: PG (threatened with knife, some blood).

The rule in Josie’s house is that you never invite people over. Until now, Josie’s room has been safe from all of the things her mother is constantly bringing home, but it’s the last straw when Mom fills Josie’s room up with boxes and bags. When she turns 16 next month, she’s out of there. Tash has learned to live with all of the boyfriends her mother brings home, but the latest one is super creepy and Tash is sure he is just trying to get her alone and vulnerable so that he can force himself on her. Then Josie’s mom is arrested for not paying her property taxes and Tash has to flee her place when the boyfriend is particularly aggressive and she forces her way into Josie’s place.

There’s a lot more that I could explain, but won’t. Halahmy covers a lot of issue in her book, including having one of Mom’s ex-cellmates force their way into Josie’s place looking for Josie’s inheritance from her grandfather. Its is almost too much and becomes a little hokey at times for me as an adult reader. If you want a really good book about hoarding, read Family Game night and Other Catastrophies by Mary E. Lambert instead – she really looks at the family dynamics and hoarding issues really well. This one is quite fine if you want a tense and action-packed book for reluctant readers.

MS – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fifteen-year-old Tasha and Josie could not be more different. Tasha has everything she wants, including many friends. Josie has always been on the fringe. She must work to provide for herself. She is the odd girl that even if she had friends, would never allow them to visit her at home. One night Tasha must flee her once safe home because her mother’s latest boyfriend attacks her. With nowhere to go, Tasha ends up at Josie’s door. Josie has little choice but to allow Tasha into a house overflowing with years of her mother’s acquisitions. The girls begin to confide, bolster, and befriend each other. As they realize that one’s unseen life is often very different from their public face, the girls begin to find an empowerment that just might allow them to face their challenges.
Behind Closed Doors is a compelling read. It allows readers a chance to peek behind the facade, see what lies beneath, and realize that others are often struggling with the same type of issues. While aspects of the story are unrealistic and at times awkward, the overall examination of the impact of abuse and mental illness rings true. Teens looking for realistic fiction will enjoy this quick read.

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Josie lives with her mum in their house full of her mum's so called treasure, which is just charity shop buys hoarded so much they can't use hardly any rooms of their house and all their money funds the collection.



Tash lives with her mum and at times her mum's creepy boyfriend who seems to fancy Tash and make creepy advances towards her touching and striking her as well as trying to get into her room late at night.



When Josie's mum forgets to pay the council tax, she ends up in prison and Tash finds solace in the secret hoarder house after Josie confides in her about her mum and meets Tash stay as she isn't safe at home.



Throughout the novel we are the girls struggle to cope on hardly any money and having to plan showers, washing and food, as well as deal with serious criminals and getting boyfriends. It's light and dark, mixed in moods as they face better and worse times as they fight to survive together and not get taken into care. It was a remarkable read, fighting to survive and being made homeless aren't seen enough in YA books and this sets the standard.

[Jennifer Spiers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Behind Closed Doors is a perfectly readable novel, I happily read and finished it within two evenings, and it moves at a swift pace. However, I felt there was a little bit too much going on within it to make it the believable and “hard-hitting” book as it intends to be. Absolutely it deals with difficult subject matter; abuse, parental love, hoarding, relationships and homelessness, but because it tries to encompass all of this within one narrative, it gets pretty unbelievable, which is a shame. Probably only suitable for an audience 14+

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting...one character's mother is a hoarder and they can barely move inside their house. The other is at risk of sexual assault by her mother's boyfriend. They create a very realistic, but satisfying partnership/friendship, and while things don't end with neat resolutions, there's a sense of hope and of working through their conflicts.

[Tash]

A book about mental disorders AND a MC with my name?! (finding books with characters that are Tasha instead of Natasha are extremely rare & it makes me frustrated since my name is only Tasha NOT Natasha). Definitely need this book!! =]

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won an ARC from goodreads and was so excited! I really enjoyed this book and the stories of Josie and Tash. Dom was a great character and Jordan was just ok. The main disappointment was the ending for Tash.

[Ginny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just wonder was Jordan really 18？Because I feel like he was sort of childish. Even Dom was mature and reliable than him.

[Keri weston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

I was hooked on this. Recommend this to anyone would read it again. Looking for something similar to read now.

[Alana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the storyline, and I liked the fact that the story was based on difficult issues. There aren't many novels that cover homelessness and hoarding in such a way as this author does. I think that it is a very easy read, however whilst reading you can tell that it has been written for a younger target audience. Some of the language used and the way that some of the story has been written is very much something I would've enjoyed when I was younger. Although it was a good read for the topic.

[Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two girls, same school, same age, very different backgrounds, thrown together after being let down by their families. Their friendship grows as they begin open up to each other, and as things get dangerous, it is their friendship that Pulls them through. Tackling issues of homelessness, abuse, and hoarding. This was a very compelling novel that i raced through. Very well written, and sensitive to the material it explored without being too graphic.

[Myra · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had the potential to be a good book dealing with some tough topics. Sadly, the author chose to toss in a ton of other really absurd, horrifying side stories that just made this mostly ridiculous.

[Theresa Wade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting read about kids who have a broken home life. It is a very easy read.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this book ❤️ just essential. For anyone who wants kids, works with kids, works with parents, knows a teenager, so basically everyone please read this book.

[Bev Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely, heartwarming story

[Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 stars.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Alyssa B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I wish it didn't end and I could continue reading on and on. Im so happy Josia and Tasha got the happy ending they deserved, after all they went through separately, and together.

[Dawn Enabulele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story about an unlikely friendship between two teenage girls. Just enough plot twists to keep one engaged throughout the story. In case you're wondering, yes there is a little bit of romance in the story, as a subplot.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

low-key kinda boring. like, it was a nice story and a good idea and the actual plot was pretty good but the way it was just. meh. so boring i finished it in two days.