Odette's Secrets

Reach for this book when your child is navigating a major life transition where they feel they must hide parts of their true self to fit in or stay safe. Based on the real life of Odette Meyer, this novel in verse follows a young Jewish girl in Nazi occupied France who is sent to the countryside for protection. To survive, she must take on a new name, learn Catholic traditions, and keep her true identity a total secret. It is a powerful tool for discussing the weight of secrets and the resilience required to maintain one's heritage under pressure. Written in accessible and evocative free verse, the story handles the gravity of the Holocaust with a gentle, age appropriate touch that focuses on Odette's internal emotional landscape. It is an ideal choice for middle grade readers (ages 8 to 12) who are beginning to explore complex historical events through a personal lens. Parents will appreciate how it models bravery not through grand gestures, but through the quiet strength of holding onto one's truth while adapting to a changing world.