Keeper of Secrets

by Sarah J. Dodd

Eleven-year-old Emily doesn’t think Badger Cottage – where she’s had to move with her vet father after her mum died – will ever be home. But there is something out there that needs her; a bright pair of eyes in the darkness.

In the middle of a fierce battle between a conservation project to rewild the lynx in the woods and the local farmers, Emily tries to shield a baby lynx she calls Lotta, afraid it will be killed by the person who killed its mother.

Can Emily work out who the illegal hunter is in time? Who can she trust?

Genres: Middle Grade, Childrens

224 pages, Paperback

Published September 2, 2021

About the author

Sarah J. Dodd has always had an interest in creative writing. After careers in both science and teaching, Sarah took up writing when she became a full-time mum. Her books include Bedtime and Christmas Stories and Bible Stories for Little Angels.Giusi Capizzi studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Catania and has completed many illustration courses for children's books. She started drawing tales for her son and enjoyed it so much that she hasn't stopped! Since then, Giusi has worked for a number of publishers illustrating for education books, handbooks and magazines. In her spare time, Giusi loves to cook and sometimes she teaches tourists Sicilian cuisine...obviously, her cookbook is filled with illustrations!

Reviews

[The Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleven-years-old Emily is straggling to process her mother’s death and when she discovers that a lynx kitten has lots her mum too, she knows she has to help her..

This was a really cute #middlegrade read, which I’ve devoured in less than 24 hours.
It was touching to read how Em felt drowned to the lynx and see how she somehow through this encounter grieved her mother.

Some of topics which are discussed in the #book are: #grief , #facingyourfears , #empathisingwithothers , and being able to #askforhelp .

Really glad I managed to finally pick this book up!

Thank you @fireflypress for sending me a #proofcopy of this amazing book, which came out on the 16th of September.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Keeper of Secrets’ by Sarah J Dodd is a middle grade novel about eleven year old Emily, whose mother recently died in a car accident. Now her father has accepted a temporary job in a small farming community, uprooting them from their home just before Christmas. ‘Keeper of Secrets’ begins as Emily and her Dad arrive at Badger Cottage, which Emily doesn’t think will ever feel like home.

On her first night, Emily sees eyes glowing in the darkness outside her bedroom window. The next day she finds out about a project trying to reintroduce lynx into the local area. Knowing what was out in the dark the night before doesn’t make Emily any less scared, but that doesn’t mean she wishes the lynx any harm. Some of the very vocal locals are so upset they are threatening to shoot any lynx they see, despite it being illegal to do so!

When a mother lynx is found murdered, Emily decides she needs to face her fears and hide the orphaned lynx before the killer can come back for her too. She just needs to figure out where and how to keep (newly named) Lotta safe, fed and hidden from everyone else – including her dad who might never forgive her if he finds out. Looking after a wild animal is more difficult than Emily realised it would be, especially when she is trying to hide it from a bunch of nosey neighbours. As Emily takes dangerous risks to try and look after Lotta, she begins to run out of resources as well as excuses for her odd behaviour. She needs help, but what if she confides in the wrong person and the killer finds out?

‘Keeper of Secrets’ touches on important topics including death, facing your fears, empathising with others, making mistakes and asking for help. I believe middle grade readers will be swept up in the danger and chaos that seems to follow Emily like a shadow. Releasing on the 2nd of September 2021, ‘Keeper of Secrets' by Sarah J Dodd is now available for pre-order, including from Firefly Press (with bonus goodies), Amazon and Waterstones.

4/5 🌟

Thank you to Netgalley and Firefly Press for providing me with a copy of ‘Keeper of Secrets’ by Sarah J Dodd in exchange for my impartial review. All opinions stated above are my own.

#KeeperofSecrets #Netgalley

[Mrs Kuyateh - Primary Teacher Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully written debut celebrates the great outdoors and the connection between human and animal I've so enjoyed books by Gill Lewis and Susanna Bailey, such as Swan Song and Otters' Moon and Keeper of Secrets will appeal to fans of stories that feature challenging issues, alongside the healing power of nature. 

This is a wonderfully wintry, Chrismassy read that is perfect for cosying up with in front of a roaring fire on a cold afternoon. The remote cottage and snowy fields are so atmospheric.

Eleven-year-old Emily doesnt think Badger Cottage - where shes had to move with her vet father after her mum died - will ever be home. But there is something out there that needs her: a bright pair of eyes in the darkness.

Soon she is amidst a fierce battle between a conservation project to rewild the lynx in the woods and the local farmers. Emily finds a baby lynx she calls Lotta and hides it in an outbuilding, afraid it will be killed by the illegal hunter who killed its mother. The pain of her own mother's death is raw and this binds Emily and the baby lynx together. She loves Lotta with all her heart, like a mother loves a child and is fiercely protective of her.

Emily discovers one tiny piece of evidence that could prove who the killer is. But with searches of the local community for the lynx taking place, it seems the net is closing in on Emily and Lotta. For how much longer will Emily be able to keep her a secret?

I was there with Emily all the way, trying to work out who to trust and reveal the killer and I completely fell in love with Lotta the lynx. This is a book to revisit again and again, a real winter-warmer.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keeper of Secrets is a touching story of family, loss and grief, and change. A real standout element of this book is that it deals remarkably well with addressing these subjects for younger readers. The book manages to acknowledge the difficulty of dealing with grief at a young age while those closest to you, your support system, are also grieving. Another bonus is that the book is set around Christmas- a time that can be difficult for those who have lost someone.

Keeper of Secrets was an absolute delight to read, and the story is something that can truly be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of age (I’ve already started recommending it to friends!).
I read the entire book in one sitting, and not once did I lose an ounce of interest in the story. The pace of the story keeps you wrapped up in the book for its entirety. The writing style is simplistic yet immersive enough for the story, and it even manages to be comedic at times- there were many points in the book where I found myself having a little laugh at some descriptions. At the same time Keeper of Secrets really pulled on my heartstrings, and I found while reading that there were a few moments I had to pause because I could feel myself welling up with tears. Overall, it's a perfect winter book and I do not doubt that Keeper of Secrets is going to be a book that helps and comforts younger children and teens who are going through loss and change in their lives. It's absolutely a five-star book!

Thank you to Firefly Press and NetGalley for the E-ARC!
#KeeperofSecrets #NetGalley

[Eule Luftschloss · Rating 3 out of 5]

trigger warning
animal death, grief

Emily and her father move to the countryside where he will be filing in for another vet who is going to Africa for undisclosed reasons. The area is known for a project for trying to rewild lynxes, which is quite controversial.

Both of them are still mourning the recent loss of Emily's mom, and it will be the first Christmas without her, so the change of place might be for the best.
Both of them show different ways of dealing with grief, Emily is melancholy while her father tends to react more aggressive - which doesn't mean he gets violent!

I liked the depiction of country life as simply having different ways of doing things than Emily is used to, for example not locking any doors, being able to go into other people's houses without having to knock because the farmers will most likely be too busy to notice, so you've got to seek them out.
There was not a single row which boiled down to "stupid townies should better watch out". It might have helped that Emily's dad is a vet, which means on one hand he has some knowledge going for him, and that nobody wants to be on bad standing with him because they will meet again.

I did not see the reveal coming, if I am honest.
All in all, while this was not my favourite read of all times, it was okay and I am sure that the audience it's written for will love it.

The arc was provided by the publisher.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book beautifully written about a girl who’s lost her mother and who finds a friend in a unlikely place. Emily has moved with her dad to a place where she knows no one and she is already feeling lost. Then she hears about the Lynx link project and she becomes interested and in what this means for community around her. This book is about grief, loneliness and friendship it is so well done in that you feel for the character really get under her skin, feel her emotions. This book is aimed at middle grade readers but anyone of any age will empathise with this book and will help those coming terms with grief or loneliness and show hope in a time when they think there is none. I liked that it was set in winter and Christmas giving it a more cosy feel to the story. I hope this author writes more as she really is a sensitive and poetic writer.

[Sophie_Faith GlowUp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely book about Emily, an 11 year old who lives with her Dad. He is a Vet who has a job in a farming community where is a conservation project with lynx who have been let out to live in the woods. Emily comes across a baby lynx and has to make the decision what to do with her when there's a risk of hunters harming this small animal.
Emily struggles with settling into a new place. Her and her Dad are still struggling with the loss of her Mother. This book covers some important topics such as death and grief, setting in to new places and making friends, building trust - which were all handled very well.

[Emma book blogger Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the keeper of secrets is a cute book for teenagers. The story themes are love , loss , friendship and secrets. The story about Emily who moves to new home with her dad due to her mum dying. In the county side Lynx are aloud to live free some people do not like this but Emily has secret that she’s keeping from her family and friends. I really enjoyed keeper of secrets and definitely read more books from this author.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this was a beautifully debut with gorgeous writing, a lovely middle grade read about the great outdoors and our connections to nature and animals, I loved it’s setting and it’s detail of rewilding was informative and really interesting . It covers issues such as grief and loss with great care and sensitivity, a beautiful read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant story about grief and the healing power of love after loss

I was not expecting this book to be so emotionally powerful. It is a beautiful story about a young girl who has lost her mother , the different ways people deal with the chasms left behind by a loved one's absence, and how, through caring about the fate of a young lynx cub, she finds common ground with people she never expected to and starts to heal.

It is such an empathetic story, everything about it is utterly believable, and beautifully told, and it really made me emotional at several points. I loved that it was told in the third person, but was completely from Emily's perspective, and that made sections like this really stand out to me:

"Sometimes it felt like Emily had lost two parents instead of one, and she was left with this irritable stranger who looked like Dad and talked like him, but who locked the real one away somewhere.
Emily would go and rescue him if she knew where he was."

I had thought it would have a lighter feel, so was surprised and pleased to read something that didn't shy away from the heartache and seriousness of a weighty subject like childhood bereavement.

I think children would appreciate this story for the lynx plot, and the forest paths ,and running about on farms, but I think the way they might react to the theme of grief and loneliness will depend upon the child. It might well help those who have suffered, or understand the concept of loss, but for those who haven't come across it yet, it might open up fears and anxieties. It made me think of a friend's experience with a child of ten who had nightmares based on a film that showed an ill and absent mother, as that was maybe the first time they had considered that something bad might happen to their own parents. Buyers of this book for children should therefore take a moment to consider the likely impact on the recipient, it may be that this book helps children start to understand loss, in a similar way to Raymond Briggs' The Snowman has done for so many, it may be that they get so caught up in the story of the lynx, that the underlying theme does not come across as strongly for them, and is just an undercurrent, again, it depends on the reader and what they themselves bring to the reading experience.

I would definitely recommend this book to older Middle Grade readers and above, it is so well done. Thank you so much for the advance copy!

[Von · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. The story was great and well written. Would definitely recommend read.

[Chrissi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed this book. Heartwarming and so well written. It was beautiful!

[Stanley Soliman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall, a very good book.

[Amy (Golden Books Girl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a girl named Emily, who has moved to a new village with her veterinarian father just before Christmas after the sudden death of her mum, and her quest to keep a baby lynx she finds beside its mother’s dead body, safe from those in the village who want to kill her too. Emily is going through something unspeakably awful, and I think your heart would have to be made of stone not to absolutely feel for her. She is flawed and complicated, and I didn’t always approve of her choices, but I understood why she made them and I think she was more likeable for her imperfections, if anything. Lotta is a brilliantly portrayed animal character, and I loved the relationship between her and Emily. I wasn’t expecting the reveal of who shot Lotta’s mum at all, and I loved the discussions about looking after our wildlife and our planet, and it’s got a very wintry, Christmas feel which makes it perfect to pick up around this time of year. If you’re a fan of Lauren St John’s White Giraffe series or Jess Butterworth’s When the Mountains Roared, I think you’ll really like this too!

[Mary Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a moving book! The concepts of conservation and rewilding are wrapped around a story of loss, loneliness and starting again. Against the backdrop of winter woods in a landscape that is alien to her, we see Emily really struggle to find her feet. It all feels a bit too much; a new home and new place that are so different to everything she knew, people that seem unwelcoming, brusk, unapproachable and a wild world surrounding her that is frankly, frightening. She needs something to help her find her courage; herself again. Something to give her focus and pull her out of her sorrow and fear. Enter a lynx kitten who has lost its’ mother. The parallel between Emily and Lotta is obvious, even predictable but it works to great effect and offers a whole basket-load of passion, understanding and experiences that make this book sing. The setting has that timeless “fairytale” feel with rich, vivid description that allows the reader to plunge deep into the environment. The characters are well-developed, with nuances that make them all easily relatable. And the narrative is beautiful, taking us in and out of the woods, round and down the little backroads…through the world of the lynx as it clashes with the human world. This is a book that offers a full range of feeling as misunderstandings are confronted, friendship and family develop anew and the delicate balance between nature and man has a light shone into its’ many secrets. Immersive, emotive, flowing and shimmering…oh, please read this book! It will stay with you for a very long time.

[Justine Laismith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This middle-grade book is about a grieving girl who connects with a newly-orphaned lynx kitten.

Emily and her newly-widowed father have just moved into a village divided by their opinions on wild lynx. Members from either side have tried to influence them. Pressure from these villagers, adjusting to his new vet job and still grieving for his wife, Emily's father has been unapproachable. When she finds the kitten next to her dead mother, Emily shelters it in secret. But a wild lynx cannot be locked away.

The author has done a great job creating suspense. Not only does she make us wonder who had shot the mother lynx but the tension of Emily's secret and its repercussions is unbearably page-turning.

As this story is set in the days leading up to Christmas, this is a good book to pick up in the holidays.