The Art of Secrets

The Art of Secrets is a compelling young adult mystery told through a mosaic of monologues, journal entries, interviews, and official documents. When Saba Khan's apartment burns in a fire, possibly a hate crime, a donated artwork for her family's relief turns out to be incredibly valuable. This discovery ignites a fierce debate among students and teachers about who deserves the money, unraveling a complex web of secrets, greed, and accusations. The book masterfully explores themes of justice, honesty, generosity, and the destructive power of lies, making it an excellent choice for sparking discussions about moral dilemmas and community dynamics.

NOW IN PAPERBACK! “Relationships, secrets and lies aplenty for caper-loving fans.” —Kirkus Reviews When Saba Khan’s apartment burns in a mysterious fire, possibly a hate crime, her high school rallies around her. Then a quirky piece of art donated to a school fund-raising effort for the Khans is revealed to be an unknown work by a famous artist, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, and Saba’s life turns upside down again. Soon students and teachers alike debate who should get the money, pointing fingers and making startling accusations. Through monologues, journal entries, interviews, articles, and official documents, the cast of characters reveal how they see what happened. “This art mystery is that rare book that will be passed around by teens as well as teachers in the faculty lounge, discussed and dissected and immediately reread . . . The incidents at Highsmith School will stay on readers’ minds long after the last page.” —Booklist, starred review “This darkly ambiguous, provocative novel highlights several themes worthy of discussion, including the destructive power of secrets and the politics of generosity.” —The Horn Book Magazine “A clever mystery told in many voices . . . Greed and jealousy go head-to-head with kindness and good intentions . . . Everybody has secrets.” —Shelf Awareness “Through unique journal entries, articles, and interviews, a tangled web of unusual secrets unfolds.” —Teen Vogue