Un secreto

Gr 7 Up–In this standalone sequel to Un hijo, Palomas tackles the theme of found family, friendships, how some secrets are not meant to be kept. The book is told from several perspectives, students at the same secondary school, but Guille, the protagonist from the previous book, and Nazia, the Pakistani girl who he and his father took in at the end of Un hijo, are the primary focus. Guille and Nazia have adopted each other has brother and sister. They tell each other everything. Except, Nazia has promised her mother to not reveal a very important but dangerous secret. It is soon uncovered that Nazia has been raised to be a child bride, and her whole family is complicit. Very much a character-driven story, this novel unfolds at a slow pace. However, the characterization and plot will keep readers engaged. Readers will immerse themselves in this second book because of the beautiful language and the important subject. Though this book is presented as a standalone, familiarity with the first installment will add to the experience.