Most children are told never to keep secrets. But what would you do if a parent told you to lie, and what if being a good liar is the key to your survival? Author Maryann Macdonald explores these questions and many more in her gentle introduction for young readers about a dark period in time. Her novel, Odette’s Secrets tells the story of a young Jewish girl living in Paris during the invasion of the Nazi regime. After Odette’s father enlists in the French army and her mother joins the Resistance, Odette is sent to the countryside until it is safe to return. On the surface, she leads the life of a regular girl—going to school, doing chores, and even attending Catholic Mass with other children. But inside, she holds secrets about the life she left behind. Inspired by the life of the real Odette Meyers—and written in moving free-verse poetry—Macdonald’s story encompasses themes of identity, courage and the determination to survive.

Member writer Macdonald shared her poignant novel at the Library earlier this week to a captivated audience of students and adults. She shared the process of how she discovered the fascinating story of Odette Meyers, who went on to become a poet and scholar later in life. We learned from Macdonald, who lived and worked in Paris for many years, that despite a childhood filled with difficult circumstances and conflicting emotions, Odette embraced both identities.

Audience members raised their own thought-provoking questions—Was it difficult to research and write about such a dark period in history? Why did you write the book in free verse? And from a young audience member--Can you compare the actions of the Boston Marathon bombers to those of Adolph Hitler? While Macdonald provided no simple answers, lessons from the past certainly ring true today.