Keeping You a Secret

by Julie Anne Peters

Book Overview

National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters delivers a moving, classic love story between two girls.

With a steady boyfriend, the position of Student Council President, and a chance to go to an Ivy League college, high school life is just fine for Holland Jaeger. At least, it seems to be.

But when Cece Goddard comes to school, everything changes. Cece and Holland have undeniable feelings for each other, but how will...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316009857
• ISBN13: 9780316009850
• Release Date: May 2005
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

My most favorite novel of all time.

‘Keeping You a Secret’ is an intense look into first love, finding yourself, and being true to yourself within a world of rejection. It will take you back to a time when all you knew was the piercing feeling of love’s first bite.

LGBT issues and solving them

Great book for the LGBT youth

Keeping You a Secret

A Simple and heartwarming read for teen audiences.

Loved it!!

Out of all her books that I've read so far, this is one of my favorites. I finished it in a day, barely putting it down. This book is definitely worth your time.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

The second book I've read by Julie Anne Peters, KEEPING YOU A SECRET is another sure-fire winner about the highs and lows of first love, the terror and joy of "coming out", and the good and the bad that is the thing called family. Holland Jaeger is the "It" girl everyone envies--she has great friends, she's President of the Student Body, she's the girlfriend of Seth, she's the popular girl who can be counted on to always get along with everyone. That is, until Cece Goddard transfers in, and Holland's once-perfect life no longer seems so great. The first time she sees Cece, Holland feels something that she's never felt before. Although sexually active with her boyfriend, Seth, having sex is more like a chore--she'd much rather sit around talking, the way they used to do when they were friends rather than lovers. As Cece flaunts her homosexuality, wearing shirts proclaiming herself out and proud, Holland wonders what it means when her attraction to Cece becomes almost an obsession. College looms on the horizon and no one, especially her mother, will quit asking her where she's going. They have big plans for her, you see, both her mother, who became a single parent way too young, Seth, and the career counselor at her school. Forced into a role she doesn't want, Holland escapes into her art class, drawing away from her former friends as feelings and emotions she can't control rush to the surface. As Holland realizes that she is, in fact, a lesbian, her perfect life is suddenly out of control. She's shunned by her former friends at school, her mother kicks her out of the house, she's forced to live in a run-down motel that's now a shelter, and she's not sure she'll be able to attend college at all. Holland must learn what's really important in life, that it's not about being popular but about being true to yourself. As she loses old friends she gains new ones in the gay and lesbian community, and forms a bond with Cece that is beyond her wildest expectations. KEEPING YOU A SECRET is a great, emotional read, pefect for anyone questioning their sexuality or their place in the world. A truly recommended read.

Great Book, Even Better The Second Time Around

I greatly enjoyed this book, and I loved the idea of the older and more wise one falling head over heals for someone younger than her. I honestly hate reading but something about this book kept my interest. I had it read in 4 hours in 2 sittings the day I got it, and I am now reading it all over again. I can't say enough great things about this book. If you are young and just coming out or need to just get a way for a little while, this book will make you feel good about who are (and you should), when the world around you wants you to be ashamed. CONGRATS TO THOSE THAT HAVE HAD THE COURAGE TO COME OUT AND BE YOURSELF, AND GOOD LUCK TO THOSE ON THAT PATH :)

Absolutely Amazing

This is an absolutely amazing book about teens, sexuality, and society. Peters does a wonderful job in capturing the issues surrounding coming out for young people, and deals with them courageously and realistically. She delivers a story of one girl who is supported by her parents and another who is disowned. One girl who is openly and comfortably gay, and another who is closeted and dealing with her newly-realized sexuality. These girls find comfort in each other as they deal with internal and external forces. If a book like this had been available 20 years ago, I might have made different choices in my own life. I might even have my own pre-teen daughters read it. The book is well-written, thoughtful, and easy to read. I haven't read a story this good in a very long time. Recommended for anyone of any age who is dealing with issues of sexuality... accompanied with a Coke and a bowl of Bing cherries... Did I mention I really liked this book?

Keeping You a Secret

Holland Jaeger's mother's version of Holland's future: Girl goes to school, girl gets good grades, girl goes to Harvard or Stanford or Antioch College, girl meets boy, girl gets married, gets great job, has children and lives happily ever after. Holland's version of Holland's future: Girl goes to school, girl gets good grades, girl gets rejected from Harvard, girl meets girl? Girl wants to be an artist, or maybe work with kids? Holland knows she's in love with Cece Goddard the minute she sees her, wearing a t-shirt that says "IMRU" with a small pink triangle underneath. Cece becomes Holland's biggest secret, the source of her greatest happiness as well as her biggest fear. They begin a relationship, but when word gets out that they are dating, Holland faces ostracism. Through all of Holland's troubles, Cece remains a steadfast companion, sacrificing time and energy when Holland's family turns on her. Holland knows her life will never be the same. Though the writing is smooth and Holland is a likeable, well-developed character, this is not as strong a story as, for example, Nancy Garden's ANNIE ON MY MIND. The peripheral characters are underdeveloped and somewhat stereotypical, except for Holland's friend Leah. The reactions from Holland's friends and family are painfully, undoubtedly real, but the reader ultimately begins to despair as to whether Holland will have any kind of redemption, as she seems to have no support system other than Cece. Holland turns her life in a positive direction in the end, but not without a lot of sacrifice. --- Reviewed by Carlie Kraft

I could hardly put this book down

In fact, I finished all 250 pages in approximately 4 hours.Bittersweet -- reminded me of my first love. The excitement of first seeing her, the awe when she told me she felt the same; that first kiss. But it also shows that homophobia still exists in a big way; describes some of the fear that comes with just being who you are. I found myself crying hysterically through half of it. And yet, it points out that support can be found, if not in the places you'd most expect.All in all I'd recommend this book, especially to anyone just coming out.