The novel A Secret Word, written by Jennifer Paddock is a
book about three different girls; Leigh, Sarah, and Chandler that face realistic challenges through daily life.
The book is narrated by the three girls in their own point of views.
Leigh, Sarah, and Chandler were
really good
friends in high school, but when their friend Trey dies in a car accident that they feel they could have prevented they grow apart and go their own separate ways. Through the book you see each
girl trying to cope with this burden that they each have inside them.
Chandler and Sarah have been friends since they were eight. They both play tennis together and get good grades. Their families are pretty well-off and they are both beautiful and theatrical. Leigh is the tough girl; she smokes and is completely different from Chandler and Sarah. She doesn't play tennis and keeps pretty much to herself.
I connected to this book in so many ways but something I really connected to, were the feelings that each girl goes through after their friend died. I myself have had to cope with death. Although it was out of my control, I still felt many of the same feelings, such as sadness, anger, and grief.
There was one
passage that I
thought was very significant on page 12 it says: "Sarah and I walk in to the school, and I'm wondering how long it will take to forget this walk. It seems quiet. There should be commotion in the halls. Others saw what we saw but classes have already started, and are going to be late." I thought that this was a significant passage because this is what triggers the whole emotional aspect of the book.
This book is a fantastic story about friendship, family, secrets,
growing up, and growing apart. This book is about how well you really know another person and the secrets that we keep from our friends, family, and most importantly our selves. I would highly recommend this book.