Keeping Secrets

Main Street #7

by Ann M. Martin

A new girl moves to Camden Falls . . . and brings some secrets with her.

Flora, Ruby, Olivia, and Nikki are sad that the Willets have moved out of the Row Houses - but they’re excited when they hear the new neighbors will have kids nearly their age. One of them, Willow, seems like a natural fit for their group of friends. The only problem? Willow doesn’t seem eager to be a part of life on Main Street.

Evenutally, Flora discovers that Willow has a secret - a secret tied to the often erratic behavior of her mother. What’s a good neighbor - and a new friend - to do?

Genres: Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Friendship, Juvenile, Young Adult

194 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2009

About the author

Ann Matthews Martin was born on August 12, 1955. She grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, with her parents and her younger sister, Jane. After graduating from Smith College, Ann became a teacher and then an editor of children's books. She's now a full-time writer.

Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events. All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, and other times she simply chooses names that she likes.

Ann has always enjoyed writing. Even before she was old enough to write, she would dictate stories to her mother to write down for her. Some of her favorite authors at that time were Lewis Carroll, P. L. Travers, Hugh Lofting, Astrid Lindgren, and Roald Dahl. They inspired her to become a writer herself.

Since ending the BSC series in 2000, Ann’s writing has concentrated on single novels, many of which are set in the 1960s.

After living in New York City for many years, Ann moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York where she now lives with her dog, Sadie, and her cats, Gussie, Willy and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework. Her favorite thing to do is to make clothes for children.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/annmma...

Reviews

[Katie Merkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another well told story by Ann M. Martin. What I like about the "Main Street" series is that Martin covers a lot of difficult themes (e.g. change, Alzheimer's disease, and mental illness), but she balances out the heaviness with heartwarming moments and relationships that make the hard situations bearable (e.g. good friends and/or a supportive family). The characters in the series each have their own personality. Reading through the series is like visiting Camden Falls. I hope you enjoy your visit as much as I did.

[Violet Bleger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Main Street triumph. I love the introduction of new characters, while old characters are still involved. I can’t wait to read book 8!

[Ca1t!Y# · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good. I am happy that Willow and her family will finally get a chance to live.

[jellybean · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

so far i think this one is my least favorite, but i still enjoyed the story. its just that i feel everything just went by in a blur and aside from near the end, not much happened.

[Sophia s · Rating 5 out of 5]

for some reason it took me basically a whole week to finish?? thats a reading slump fs

[Marisa Edmondson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everytime I read the next book I am surprised that they address very real things this one was about mental health

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Marta Morrison for TeensReadToo.com

Flora and Ruby are excited about the new family that is moving into the row houses. The family has two children. One is Willow, who is exactly the same age as Flora, Nikki, and Olivia.

But this family is hiding a very scary and troublesome secret, which will impact the friendship of the girls.

I liked this new book in the series. It was fast-moving, even with it being very small-townish.

The characters are well-drawn, and the trouble in Willow's family is written with simplicity and understanding. Mental illness is a big problem in the United States and many girls can identify with Willow's problem.

I always enjoy the simple joys these girls have and wish all kids could have these simple pleasures again. Flora and Ruby get excited about a dog parade, reading a good book, and just hanging out with each other.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book main street: Keeping Secrets by ann m martin is very secretive. When I first started reading the book I thought what would the new neighbors would be like??

The new neighbors are Willow and Cole but their mom has very weird rules like when you come inside the house you see a vase and you had to tap it five times and you had to take off your shoes. But when it was at night time willows mom was screaming and kicking and yelling at her house it was very creepy!! It would be weird for a mom who has weird rules!!

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't put my finger on what it is about this series that I like, I just know that I like it enough to keep buying each new paperback that comes out.

Good characters, interesting stories, cheerful without being saccharine. Ultimately, I think it's that Ann Martin makes her readers wish they lived in Camden Falls. >sigh<

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just didn't really care what was going on to the characters in this book. Just a blah installment in the series to me. I was curious what would happen with Willow's mom, though, and outraged the parents in the neighborhood didn't even try to step in that situation sooner.

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this whole series, and this one it soooooo good. It has a little bit of mystery in it (just a little) and you can't wait to read the next one. It is a nice, easy, fun read.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like how the author, Ann M. Martin, thinks of such brilliant stories. I like how she leaves you hanging at the end, and how I can follow Flora and Ruby's life.

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its really interesting and hooks you in so it keeps you reading.

[Autumn Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was excellent I really enjoyed reading this it scared me a little at the end but I liked it

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Book/Good series.

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love how they add not one new character but another family to explore

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book and series. Definitely worth a read.

[Devanshi Gupta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Remember reading it when I was small. Also remember finding it boring and dumb.

[Sienna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very interesting. It left a lot of questions to hopefully be answered in the next book.

[Judy E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seventh book in the Main Street series. A new family moves into the row houses and the mom suffers from mental illness.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this book it is sooooo good.

[Saumya · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was great!