Every Secret Thing

Ann Tatlock
Bethany House (2007)
ISBN 9780764200052
Reviewed by AJ Cooper for Reader Views (1/08)


Beth returns to Delaware to teach at the school she was a former student at. She is apprehensive because of all of the memories this school holds for her, yet she is excited to get started and has all of her lesson plans ready to go. The school provides her with a home, on the school grounds, that is very comfortable and perfect for Beth. Beth reconnects with her best friend from school and they both ponder what the other classmates are doing and about Mr. Dutton, the teacher that died during the middle of their school year that they both had a crush on him. Their friends stated that Mr. Dutton killed himself and at the time the school announced he had a heart attack and would not be returning to school.

Now that Beth is back at the school she discovers that a man named Mr. Dutton is at the hospital in bad shape. She believes it could possibly be her old teacher and goes for a visit. To her amazement she determines it is her teacher and she is able to reenter his life and try to determine what really happened so long ago.

Beth befriends one of her students, Satchel. She soon discovers that she has been sent to the school as a boarder because her Mom has remarried and Satchel does not seem to get along in the family. Satchel’s father passed away when she was younger and she seems troubled but reluctant to talk about his death. Beth allows Satchel to come and spend time at her residence on the school grounds. They talk about the class and how interesting Satchel’s papers are for the English class. Their conversations also turn towards Beth and Satchel’s personal lives. Beth watches as other students go home during the week and weekends and have been supplied with their own cars and Satchel is left to herself on nights and weekends.

“Every Secret Thing” filled me with hope. You get the feeling that good things really can happen to someone that has had a less than perfect life and that friends come to you in the most unexpected places and times.  It is enjoyable to have a mystery turn out good for a change. I would recommend this book to my friends and family. It was unfortunate when the book ended I wanted to read more about their lives.

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