Secrets My Mothers Kept

Book Club Discussion Guide included

Fiction - Realistic
242 Pages
Reviewed on 10/17/2020
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

REBECCA TUCKER earned a BA in English and a BS in Operational Meteorology to defy the idea that arts and science don’t go together. She splits her time between creative writing and working as a B2B marketing director. When not at her desk, she is busy pursuing numerous hobbies, such as astronomy, rockhounding, and fossil hunting. She lives in South Central Texas with her wife of 20 years, two dogs, and a few cats, the true number of which she will never reveal.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Lisa McCombs for Readers' Favorite

We’ve all entertained the idea at one time in our lives, but when it actually happens the heart finds it difficult to accept the truth. When Austin applies for a passport to continue her studies in Paris, she is hit with a roadblock of epic proportions. The name means nothing to her, yet the Office of Vital Records insists she is actually one Kaitland Emily Brouchard. In the midst of a sudden romantic breakup, she doesn’t have time for this delay, especially since it includes the fact that her parents neglected to inform her of her adopted status. Of equal importance is the security of her cultural heritage. Was she truly Jewish? Did she have the right to claim that truth? Austin searches for her biological family against the wishes of those who raised her. What she discovers is a bittersweet reality of an uncomfortable yet comforting extended family.

Austin Nobel realizes that she has arrived at her destiny while questioning her genealogical roots in Secrets My Mothers Kept. Author Rebecca Tucker exhibits mesmerizing story-telling skills in this heartfelt, honest story of love and betrayal. Not only does Austin explore the realities of closed adoption, but the main character also shares a softer side of the LBGTQ community. In a world imprisoned in a seemingly constant state of cultural negativity, Rebecca Tucker addresses a myriad of timely themes that keep the reader engrossed. Fluid dialogue and a tightly formatted storyline set this novel aside in a refreshingly unique category all its own.

Susan Sewell

A young woman's life begins unraveling when her birth certificate arrives with the wrong name on it in the thought-provoking novel Secrets My Mothers Kept by Rebecca Tucker. Anticipating an enjoyable summer in France, Austin Nobel sends a request to the state for her birth certificate so she can apply for a passport. However, when it arrives in the mail, her name is replaced with another one. Confronting the clerks who sent it to her, Austin is shocked and angry to learn that the document is correct and that she is adopted. Austin's world has turned upside down, and she is struggling to find her place in it. Her anger and despair increase when she realizes that she isn't Jewish, and despite practicing the religion her whole life, she will have to go through a conversion. Austin's distraught frame of mind and her obsession to locate her birth mother are detrimental to her present relationships, leaving her feeling angry and alone. With all the dramatic changes that have occurred, can Austin make peace with the redefinition of her paradigm? Can she once again find balance in her life?

A profound and eye-opening novel, Secrets My Mothers Kept by Rebecca Tucker portrays some of the controversial issues that can accompany adoption. With a thought-provoking plot and a relatable protagonist, it is a compelling and unforgettable story. Considering how traumatic the discovery of her birth, Austin's reactions to her adoption and her strained relationships with her family members have a life-like realism. It is a provocative and intense human interest story with an inside view of an adoptee's internal struggle that will interest everyone who loves a dramatic LGBTQ novel. Due to some of the mature material within the story, it is probably more suitable for new adults and upward. As an added bonus, a Bookclub Discussion Guide is included at the conclusion of the book.