Tell Me a Secret By Holly Cupala
Rating
Reading level: Young Adult Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen; 1 edition (June 22, 2010) Source: Bought
"Do you want to know a secret?" I whispered to the sister in the mirror."Tell me," she whispered back. "Tell me, and I'll tell you one."
Synopsis - It's tough living in the shadow of a dead girl. . . .
In the five years since her bad-girl sister Xanda's death, Miranda Mathison has wondered about the secret her sister took to the grave, and what really happened the night she died. Now, just as Miranda is on the cusp of her dreams—a best friend to unlock her sister's world, a ticket to art school, and a boyfriend to fly her away from it all—Miranda has a secret all her own.
When two lines on a pregnancy test confirm her worst fears, Miranda is stripped of her former life. She must make a choice with tremendous consequences and finally face her sister's demons and her own.
In this powerful debut novel, stunning new talent Holly Cupala illuminates the dark struggle of a girl who must let go of her past to find a way into her own future.
My Thoughts - Rand is still haunted by the death of her older sister Xanda. She watched her leave with Andre that night after a confrontation with her parents, she looked into Andre's eyes as he walked away taking her sister with him, Andre the boy that she at twelve years old fell for, her sisters boyfriend. Her sister died that night but Andre came back. If anything her mother is cold hearted and harsh as ever. Her father a mere shell that she can't seem to reach out to anymore who avoids confrontation at all costs. Xanda may be gone but she still affects Rand every single day and Rand has to live and suffer for it.
When Kamran was first introduced I actually really liked him, he wasn't bland at all but actually seemed like a great guy with an uplifting personality. He believes in Rand and I think that is what brings them so close especially the faith they have in each other. They are both in their own way thoughtful - reserved people who have this great connection that felt real to me. Things seem to be going good until they get too close and do the deed. All of a sudden everything shatters to pieces, Rand is pregnant and Kamran? He is nowhere to be seen.
For a long time Rand ignores her pregnancy because she would rather not accept it, the father of the baby wants nothing to do with her, and her mother is telling her to put it up for adoption, and on top of everything Delaney keeps blowing her of and worse still has reasons to suspect that both Delaney and Kamran might just be seeing each other. This takes the word betrayal to a whole other level, she now needs Xanda more than ever. This is a lot for a young girl like her to face, no one seems to show her any kindness or steps up and tries to talk to her. Her so - called friends leave her behind without a second thought. She will have to find out the hard way who her real friends are and that all actions have consequences.
This is the harsh reality of life and I have to say I loved the authors blatant honesty. I respected her for not sugar coating anything. On top of it all she is told her parents may not be what they seem and she knows there is only one way to find out the real truth. Ask the person who was with Xanda on that faithful night .... Andre. Here is the thing with me, I don't know if I'm just strange but I often find myself thinking the wrong things perhaps?
I felt let down by Kamran, not only was he horrible and idiotic when she needed him the most but the minute she called for Andre he was there. so when Rand mentions her interest in him I had hope, I hoped that maybe she could be happy with Andre.. is that wrong? I was saddened to not see a clearer conclusion to his story because I felt really connected to him and he genuinely stood out to me since I took a great liking to him.
One thing I kept thinking throughout was; "Wow this is one inspiring book" I can just imagine someone who might be going through something similar to Rand being so inspired by her story, it could in my opinion heal them or help them find their way. I just thought this novel was a great eye opener. The main issue for me was Xanda. I wanted to know her and understand her. We get to see bits of her here and there but hardly enough to know her, she is mysterious yes and it makes sense in a way but I would have liked to have known her more. To understand what really pushed her over the edge. Either way we all come to the same conclusion at the end, who is to blame? You could look at it in two ways in my opinion, either. Everyone played a part or it was no ones fault.
I would say it was a bit of both. What I learned at the end was that at times the most unexpected people may reach out to you; it's also okay to forgive in order to heal. Although I had my ups and downs with Rand towards the end appreciated her because if I was in her situation I think I would have been long broken. Rand is a perfect example to young girls out there that if you put your mind and heart into it you can pull through. I have to mention that I was pretty disgusted by the selfishness of both parents. In a way they had driven both of their children away, especially the mother. She was just so inconsiderate and infuriating that she really made my blood boil!
Tell Me a Secret is beautiful written. It's gritty and in your face that is sure to teach you a lesson or two. It speaks of; love, pain, loss, redemption and second chances. Not only can we all identify with Rand but it will makes you look past the actual story and think of the story before Randa's the story that was just Xanda and Andre. Some people might struggle with the mysteriousness behind Xanda and Andre but in my opinion it'll only leave you yearning for more.
In this powerful debut novel, stunning new talent Holly Cupala illuminates the dark struggle of a girl who must let go of her past to find a way into her own future.
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