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Parents' Guide to

Secret Keeper

By Stephanie Dunnewind, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Cultural peek into 1970s India through a girl's eyes.

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A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

SECRET KEEPER's power comes from the strong bond between Asha and her sister Reet, who brave a stinky toilet to find private time to talk. The dialogue is often clunky, however, and the adult characters are universally unappealing. The bleak picture of Indian society -- albeit 40 years ago -- may discourage readers who want to learn more about that culture.

The ending may be realistic, but girls who expect a stick-it-to-a-sexist-society finale may be disappointed by the way headstrong Asha gives in to an unfair system.

Book Details

  • Author: Mitali Perkins
  • Genre: Family Life
  • Book type: Fiction
  • Publisher: Delacorte Press
  • Publication date: January 13, 2009
  • Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 17
  • Number of pages: 225
  • Last updated: July 12, 2017

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