Novalee and the Spider Secret

Written by Lori Ann Stephens

A secret threatens Nova's world. Can she find the courage to confront it?

4.9 Goodreads · 10 ratings

150 pages· 30,700 words· Est. 3.5 hour read· ~700L

$11.95Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon.

Bookroo's summary

Fourth-grader Novalee is determined to transform herself from boring to super Nova. Her newfound violin skills bring acceptance, but a shocking incident with her teacher shatters her world. With the help of an unexpected friend, Toby, Nova must find the courage to confront her unsettling secret. Will she find her voice and reclaim her life, or will the secret consume her?

"The bike-race summer days and the quiet pink evenings, when Toby and I watched the sun settle into the nest of trees, were scoops of friendship that filled and filled my heart until you could hardly tell that there was an aching hole at all."

— from the book

From the publisher

“My secret sits at the back of my throat like a balled-up spider. I don’t like it there. Who would? Spider secrets are the worst. For a whole year, I’ve been trying to figure out a way to get this one out, but I’m afraid if I move, that secret might stretch out its legs and crawl down my throat, all the way to my stomach where I’ll never be able to reach it.”

Novalee starts the fourth grade determined to not just make friends but to change herself from boring Nova into super Nova. Her mom finds her grandfather’s violin, and Nova decides to take lessons. It seems to work as Nova finds acceptance for her growing skill. But her world soon tumbles out of control when her violin teacher does something that threatens her universe: he kisses her. She makes an unlikely friendship with a fellow outcast, Toby, who helps her find the courage, voice, and persistence to confront the spider secret.

At a glance