I Have No Secrets

(14 reviews)

Author: Penny Joelson

Publisher: Farshore

Fourteen-year-old Jemma has severe cerebral palsy and is non-verbal. She and her foster family have experimented with assistive communication in the past but nothing yet has offered the right solution. Family life is chaotic but generally quite happy – especially since Jemma has a cherished friend in her carer Sarah.

The fly in the ointment is Sarah’s apparently affable boyfriend Dan. Jemma alone knows the truth, as Dan lets down his guard when they are alone, foolishly assuming her to be permanently devoid of communication and indeed faculty. The thing is, he’s not just unpleasant… He’s a killer. How can she tell the world before he strikes again?

A fast-paced and accessible thriller, refreshing in its inclusion of a non-verbal protagonist. The first-person narrative offers the reader unique access to her sharp-witted, perceptive and engaging character. Also within the family, Jemma's foster brother is on the autistic spectrum and her foster sister displays challenging behaviour.

Winner of the 2018 Federation of Children’s Book Groups Children’s Book Award: Book for Older Readers.