Secret Keeper is the second book in My Myth Trilogy by Jane Alvey Harris, a splendid meld of coming of age, young adult fantasy, and family drama. Meet Emily, a seventeen-year-old who has suffered trauma at the hands of her father and finally thinks she can move past it. The very same day her mother is released from rehab, her abusive father announces he will be joining the family again. She describes her mental battle in the following powerful statement: “My secrets — buried and broiling in the pressure chamber of my psyche — have finally boiled up, and they're seething over.” She has to do the one thing she’s always feared — spill the secret. But will anyone believe her? What will happen to her younger siblings if her father is allowed to become part of their family again? She can’t let this happen!

Follow Emily as she embarks on a dangerous journey to the First Realm to connect with her extraordinary gifts. But what awaits her there is chaos and, while the clock is ticking, she has to find answers before her father finally arrives. Secret Keeper is a beautifully written story with compelling characters, a story that looks at abuse and what it takes to heal once we have been morally and psychologically broken. The plot is imaginative, the prose evocative and captivating, and the narrative voice irresistible. The story is told in an absorbing first person narrative that pulls the reader in right off the bat. Jane Alvey Harris has that gift of creating worlds that readers will enjoy navigating and it is interesting to experience the parallel worlds in this story. The tale is filled with symbolism, is psychologically and emotionally intense, and it features characters that stick with readers even after they are done with the story.

Secret Keeper: My Myth Trilogy by Jane Alvey Harris is the second novel in the series and is essentially about seventeen-year-old Emily and her life story. Since Secret Keeper is the second book in the trilogy, it would be ideal to have read the first one already. That said, this book still stands as a standalone story and can easily be grasped even if a reader is not familiar with the trilogy series. Emily’ story is one of sexual abuse by her father and the resulting trauma, and how she is able to cope with it, manage it, and deal with it. In this book, Emily’s father has returned to their family’s life and Emily is terrified about what this means for herself and for her family. As she copes with speaking up, she realizes she needs and wants help, and enters the Realm again. This is Emily’ story of struggles, challenges, hope, and healing.

Secret Keeper (My Myth Trilogy) (Volume 2) by Jane Alvey Harris is an engaging story and kept me turning the pages to find out what’s going to happen next. A very important subject of childhood sexual abuse and molestation has been brought to the fore by this book. Unfortunately, a lot of these cases happen within the walls of a home and it is often a friend or family member that is the perpetrator. I hope a book like this highlights the importance of teaching young children and teenagers to speak up and to foster a culture among adults to listen to what a child says and take it seriously. There are also many resources available for help, some of which are mentioned in the book. I thought Emily’s character was very relatable and I hope this book provides inspiration for all young adults.