Hidden Truths

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Author(s)

Elly Swartz

Publisher

Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Genre(s)

Age Range

10+

Release Date

October 31, 2023

ISBN

978-0593483664

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Dani and Eric have been best friends since Dani moved next door in second grade. They bond over donuts, comic books, and camping on the Cape.

Until one summer when everything changes.

Did Eric cause the accident that leaves Dani unable to do the one thing in the world she most cares about? The question plagues him, and he will do anything to get answers about the explosion that injured her. But Dani is hurting too much to want Eric to pursue the truth—she just wants to shut him out and move on. Besides, Eric has a history of dropping things he starts. Eric knows that and is determined that this will be the one time he follows through.

But what if his pursuit brings him into direct conflict with another friend? Where does Eric’s loyalty really lie?

Editor review

1 review

Tween Friend Drama

August 05, 2023

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

Swartz has investigated other characters facing challenges in books like Dear Student (2022), Give and Take (2019), Smart Cookie (2018) and Finding Perfect (2016) which was one of the first books in the now solid middle grade trend towards book examinging mental health issues. I love that there are supportive families, and that mental health issues are portrayed openly and in constructive ways. The misunderstandings and miscommunications that Eric and Dani have are very realistic, and it was interesting to see how they navigated new relationships when they were missing their former friends. Eric's investigation of the remote control battery added a level of interest to the story, and Dani's longing to return to sports will resonate with many young readers.

The characters are in fifth grade, and start sixth grade after their summer of trauma, so the way relationships are portrayed in the story might speak more strongly to elementary school students. Also, there is a mention in the end notes that Eric has ADHD. Looking back, this made sense, but since most of the book is set during the summer, the symptoms are harder to see, just as they are in real children. It does help explain his insistence that he often forgot things, like turning off the stove. I just didn't pick up on it quickly enough.

This is a great choice for readers who liked this author's other works or books like Feldman's The Puttermans are in the House and Tandon's The Way I Say It.

Good Points

Dani and Eric are longtime neighbors and friends, even though they have very different interests. Dani is heavily invested in playing baseball, and has finally made the local boys' baseball team, so is very excited. Eric is not coordinated, and prefers more sedentary activities like reading comic books. They are both excited about their annual camping trip, especially since they were not able to go the previous year because of the death of Dani's grandmother, Gigi. Eric's father has gotten a used camper for the trip, along with a remote controlled vehicle that looks like the camper, and the trio take off with Dani's dog Casey for their adventure on Cape Cod. Sadly, the next morning starts with the father out fishing and Eric enjoying the outdoors, but a loud explosion rocks the area and the camper is on fire! Dani is still inside, but Eric braves the flames and rescues her. The two children are taken to the hospital, where the extent of Dani's injuries seems to be excessive. Her leg is broken, and she has severe trauma to her shoulder. Her first thoughts, after realizing that everyone, including the dog, has made it out okay, is that she won't be able to play baseball. Eric's first thought is that perhaps he didn't turn off the stove, and this led to the explosion. This wracks him with guilt and makes it harder for him to visit Dani. While she is in the hospital, she gets a visit from schoolmate Meadow, who is one of the popular kids and is at the hospital because her sister is recuperating from accidentally having her hand slammed in a car door, which has worsened into an infection. The two girls start spending time together. When Eric admits to his parents that he thinks he caused the accident, they hear his concern, but think it is unlikely. Dani and her mother, however, are very upset with him. Meadow capitalizes on this as a way to distance Dani from her long time friend and put her more firmly in her own clutches. Even after the cause of the blaze is determined to come from another source, the two friends are stuck in the loop of their own feelings about the event as well as the way they have interacted. Eric starts hanging out with Rachel, who is interested in investigating the accident as a way to have material for a private school essay, and Meadow and Dani post together on social media, occasionally saying mean things about Eric. While this drives the two further apart, Eric still wants to find out more about the remote control car battery so that accidents like this don't happen to other people. Dani's recuperation is very long, and she mourns the loss of a year of baseball. Will the two friends be able to make amends, both with each other and with themselves?