The Secrets We Keep by Nova Weetman is one of the six books shortlisted for this year’s Readings Children’s Book Prize. Here are five reasons why we think it’s brilliant.

1. Clem is an unforgettable main character.

11-year-old Clem isn’t having the easiest time. Her family home has burned to the ground, she’s living in a strange new area in a small apartment with her dad, and she’s started at a new school, right in the middle of term. In the middle of all this confusion, Clem is an absolute trooper. She does her best to adjust, she tries to be reasonable about the changes and she takes pleasure in the small things (ie. roast potatoes and tropical fish).

2. It’s a relatable, real life drama.

All the events of The Secrets We Keep takes place in an Australia we recognise, and involve realistic circumstances. Clem’s suburban landscape of school, streets, houses and shopping centre seems just around the corner, and the smaller dramas of everyday life are given attention as well as the larger. Readers who can’t get into fantasy, magic or supernatural stories will love how grounded this story is, and how closely they can relate to Clem.

3. The girls in this novel are sporty.

Clem lands in the middle of a friendship group at her new school, and sport is one of the things they have in common. New friend Ellie is a talented runner, as is Clem, and so they become friendly rivals. Frenemy Tam is always fitting gymnastics practice into her social life. Training and competition are woven into the story seamlessly, and it’s great to read about kids struggling in training, striving in competition, and taking joy in sport and physical activity.

4. The power and difficulties of friendships is explored.

I think we can all agree that attending a new school is terrifying, and it can be a real juggle keeping old friends and making new ones. There are some wonderful, supportive friendships in The Secrets We Keep. Clem’s long-time friend Bridge and her big bustling family provide a lot of comfort, as does a much newer adult friend, Maggie, who lives in the same apartment building as Clem. But friendships also bring a lot of anxiety. Clem’s friendship with Ellie is built on a huge unsettling lie, and Clem is also aware that she’s bumped another friend, Tam, out of the picture by having so much in common with Ellie.

5. There’s a lot to discuss, and forgiveness is a key theme.

The Secrets We Keep would make a great book to discuss in a classroom setting or book club, or as a shared bedtime read. Right from the start it’s clear that Clem is very shaken about the house fire and her absent mum, and hasn’t fully come to terms with what’s happened. Clem has to cope with added responsibility and freedom in her new life, face up to the consequences of telling untruths, and figure out how she feels about her mum. Forgiveness, and how difficult it can be to give and ask for it, is at the heart of this very positive novel about a strong and fallible young person.

Find the full Readings Children’s Book Prize shortlist here, and don’t forget you can buy all six of our wonderful shortlistees in a specially-priced pack.