Reviewed by Marta Morrison for TeensReadToo.com
Noah is thirteen. He is the only survivor of conjoined twins. When he was just a few weeks old he was surgically separated from his brother. He lived and his brother did not. Noah feels guilty. Why should he have lived while his brother, who he believes is still alive wandering the earth without a home, didn't?
When Noah was four his parents died in a car accident and he has to live with his paternal grandmother. Mademoiselle, which is what Noah calls her, provides a roof over Noah's head but not much else for a growing boy. Her house is freezing cold. It is all white and nothing is out of place. She never hugs or touches him and they eat very little.
Mademoiselle is also an alcoholic. Then she goes to the hospital for a face lift and Nurse Grace comes to take care of Noah. Nurse Grace is the opposite of what Noah has been taught about how polite society should operate. Grace is big, loud, sloppy, and full of love. Grace has a secret, too. Her little brother was killed and she is still suffering from the tragedy.
THE SECRET TWIN takes these two lives and creates a psychological healing between the two of them. It is told from alternate perspectives, first Noah's and then Grace's. We see all the events from both set of eyes.
When I started this book I wasn't thrilled, but as I got into the reading I became enamored with the writing and the story. This is a story of redemption, change, healing, and acceptance. I strongly recommend this book for readers who want to think and be changed themselves.
Noah is thirteen. He is the only survivor of conjoined twins. When he was just a few weeks old he was surgically separated from his brother. He lived and his brother did not. Noah feels guilty. Why should he have lived while his brother, who he believes is still alive wandering the earth without a home, didn't?
When Noah was four his parents died in a car accident and he has to live with his paternal grandmother. Mademoiselle, which is what Noah calls her, provides a roof over Noah's head but not much else for a growing boy. Her house is freezing cold. It is all white and nothing is out of place. She never hugs or touches him and they eat very little.
Mademoiselle is also an alcoholic. Then she goes to the hospital for a face lift and Nurse Grace comes to take care of Noah. Nurse Grace is the opposite of what Noah has been taught about how polite society should operate. Grace is big, loud, sloppy, and full of love. Grace has a secret, too. Her little brother was killed and she is still suffering from the tragedy.
THE SECRET TWIN takes these two lives and creates a psychological healing between the two of them. It is told from alternate perspectives, first Noah's and then Grace's. We see all the events from both set of eyes.
When I started this book I wasn't thrilled, but as I got into the reading I became enamored with the writing and the story. This is a story of redemption, change, healing, and acceptance. I strongly recommend this book for readers who want to think and be changed themselves.
