The Zuzu Secret - by Miriam Chernick (Hardcover)

About the Book

Told in alternating voices, twelve-year-old Josie, an aspiring veterinarian, and her older brother Abe, a baseball fan born with Prader-Willi syndrome, learn the risks of keeping secrets, the value of family, and staying true to their dreams.

Book Synopsis

It's summer, and Josie and Abe's family just moved to a new town. They each have secrets . . . one of which involves caring for a bearded dragon.

For fans of Out of My Mind, comes a heartfelt novel for kids ages 10 and up about sibling relationships, family struggles, disability, and getting what you want.

12-year-old Josie Sherman, an animal lover and aspiring vet, rescues a bearded dragon lizard. But her family's strict no-pets rule because of her brother's disability forces Josie to hide the lizard, Zuzu, in her bedroom.

Abe, Josie's 15-year-old brother, is a huge Orioles fan, and he has plans of his own. Abe lives with Prader-Willi syndrome, which restricts his independence. What secret risks will Abe take to reach his goals?

Told in alternating points of view, The Zuzu Secret explores the challenge of balancing independence with deception. Josie and Abe both have things to learn about being truthful with themselves and with the people they love.

"The Zuzu Secret is much more than a book about a young person with a disability. It is a realistic, warm, beautifully told story of growing love and responsibility between sister and brother."--Francisco X. Stork, author of Marcelo in the Real World

Review Quotes

Two siblings struggle to keep their ambitious schemes under wraps.
For 12-year-old Josie Sherman, volunteering at a veterinary clinic over the summer is critical for getting into a good vet school and would make up for her family's no-pets policy. But first, a parent must sign the consent form. Unfortunately, it feels like all her parents' attention is focused on their move from Boston to Silver Spring, Maryland, and her 15-year-old brother, Abe, whose Prader-Willi syndrome causes constant hunger and developmental delays. After Mom suffers a concussion in a car accident, the chances of getting Dad's signature drop. When Josie finds a bearded dragon, she reasons that caring for Zuzu (named after Zulima Court, the street where she was lost) until she finds her owner will show Mom and Dad she's serious about her future career. But hiding the reptile from her family is harder than Josie thought. Meanwhile, Abe has his own secret: He's determined to catch a baseball for Mom at next Saturday's Orioles game, even though Dad insists they need to wait until later in the season. Josie's and Abe's alternating perspectives realistically portray the nuances of sibling relationships and living with disability. Though Josie doesn't sugarcoat how stressful and frustrating caring for Abe can sometimes be, the siblings' love for one another shines through to the tidy but satisfying ending. In backmatter, Chernick includes information and resources on PWS--which her brother has--and explains the inspiration behind Zuzu. Most characters read white.
Heartwarming.
--Kirkus Reviews

Twelve-year-old Josie just wants to spend her first summer in her new town volunteering at a veterinarian's office, but what Josie wants isn't always the priority of her family. After a car accident leaves her mom recovering from a concussion and Josie with a new, illicit pet, she quickly discovers that keeping secrets and being the best sister may be too complicated for one girl. Told in alternating POVs between wise but impatient Josie and her brother, Abe, who has Prader-Willi syndrome and an insatiable hunger, this sibling story is heartwarming, frustrating, and relatable. Josie is a strong, realistic protagonist for readers to root for, and even parents and caregivers will learn from her insights into being pressed to be more than just a 12-year-old child due to her brother's disorder. What do we expect out of siblings, and what can caring for a pet, even a bearded dragon, teach us about caring for ourselves? These are just some of the questions that readers will ponder as they follow the complexities of this family's story. For fans of Cynthia Lord, Sarah Kapit, and Sharon Draper.
--Blockquote

About the Author

Miriam Chernick is a debut author. She is also a substitute teacher and tutors Japanese students in English. She spends time helping to care for her brother, who was born with Prader-Willi syndrome, and she is a rare disease ally and advocate for the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association. Miriam has three adult children, was born in Paris, and has lived in Venezuela, Israel, Japan, and New York City. Now she lives in Maryland outside of Washington, DC, with her husband and a bearded dragon named Zuki.