Books About Family Secrets · 332 titles considered

The Best Family Secrets Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about family secrets? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Family Secrets

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 1952

The Borrowers

By Mary Norton, Diana Stanley (Illustrator), Beth Krush (Illustrator), Joe Krush (Illustrator) · Book #1 in the Borrowers series

A young girl discovers a hidden world of tiny people living in the walls of her family's old house.

180 pages· 35,120 words· Est. 5 hour read

6.5/7 Bookroo experts·4.0/5 Goodreads · 102,184 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Summary: The Clock family, tiny people living under a manor's floor, face a crisis when Pod is seen by a human boy. As their secret world teeters on exposure, they must decide whether to flee or fight to preserve their hidden life. Can Arrietty and her family outsmart the humans and remain unseen, or will their miniature existence be forever changed?

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2018

The Nebula Secret

By Trudi Trueit · Book #1 in the Explorer Academy series

A young explorer uncovers a family secret that threatens his future at an elite academy.

216 pages· 52,975 words· Est. 6 hour read

5.8/7 Bookroo experts·4.3/5 Goodreads · 3,150 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Summary: Twelve-year-old Cruz Coronado leaves Hawaii for the prestigious Explorer Academy, joining kids from around the world to train as future explorers. But Cruz's journey takes a perilous turn when he discovers his family's mysterious ties to the academy, putting his future at risk. Amidst thrilling classes and augmented-reality adventures, Cruz must unravel the enigma of who is targeting him and why. With puzzles and codes to solve, Cruz's quest for answers becomes a race against time. Can he uncover the truth before it's too late?

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1991

Shiloh

By Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · Book #1 in the Shiloh series

A boy risks everything to protect a runaway dog from its abusive owner.

Newbery Medal (1992)

144 pages· 29,820 words· Est. 4 hour read

5.8/7 Bookroo experts·4.0/5 Goodreads · 90,770 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Summary: Marty Preston discovers a beagle in the hills and names him Shiloh. But Shiloh belongs to Judd Travers, a man known for his cruelty. When Shiloh escapes to Marty, the boy faces a moral dilemma: hide the dog and risk his family's safety or return him to Judd. As secrets unravel, Marty must decide how far he's willing to go to save his new friend. Can he outsmart Judd and keep Shiloh safe, or will his actions bring danger to his doorstep? The stakes are high in this tale of friendship and courage.

Sale price

$2659

Chapter Book · Ages 7–11 · 2000

The Doll People

By Ann M. Martin, Laura Godwin · Book #1 in the The Doll People series

A century-old doll seeks adventure and mystery with new neighbors.

256 pages· 35,669 words· Est. 5 hour read

5.4/7 Bookroo experts·4.1/5 Goodreads · 18,018 ratings

$27.99Save 5%

Summary: Annabelle Doll, an eight-year-old china doll for over a century, lives a monotonous life in a dollhouse. Everything changes when the lively Funcrafts, a plastic doll family, move in. With Tiffany Funcraft's adventurous spirit, Annabelle embarks on a quest to unravel a long-standing family mystery. Will this new friendship lead to the excitement Annabelle craves, or will it uncover secrets best left hidden? Dive into a world where dolls come to life, and every day holds the promise of discovery.

Sale price

$1797

Chapter Book · Ages 13–18 · 2020

The Inheritance Games

By Jennifer Lynn Barnes · Book #1 in the The Inheritance Games series

A mysterious inheritance thrusts Avery into a deadly game of secrets and survival.

386 pages· 87,899 words· Est. 8 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 1,136,935 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Summary: Avery Grambs' life flips when she inherits a billionaire's fortune, but there's a catch: she must solve the riddles of Hawthorne House. With the disinherited Hawthorne grandsons watching her every move, Avery navigates a world of wealth, danger, and secrets. Can she unravel the mystery before it's too late?

Sale price

$858

Picture Book · Ages 8–12 · 2018

The Parker Inheritance

By Varian Johnson

A hidden letter reveals a mystery and a fortune. Can Candice and Brandon solve it before it's lost forever?

Coretta Scott King Award (2019)Boston Globe–Horn Book Award (2018)

368 pages· 84,464 words· Est. 11 hour read-aloud

4.2/5 Goodreads · 9,331 ratings

Summary: Candice stumbles upon a mysterious letter in her grandmother's attic in Lambert, South Carolina. It hints at a long-buried injustice and a hidden fortune. With Brandon, the boy next door, she embarks on a quest to unravel the town's dark past. As they delve into history, they uncover secrets that could change their lives. Will they solve the puzzle before time erases the truth?

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 11–15 · 1978

The Westing Game

By Ellen Raskin · Puffin Modern Classics series

Sixteen heirs must solve a cryptic puzzle to claim a fortune. But what is the real game?

Newbery Medal (1979)

182 pages· 50,662 words· Est. 4.5 hour read

5.3/7 Bookroo experts·4.0/5 Goodreads · 240,043 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Summary: Sixteen strangers gather for the reading of eccentric millionaire Samuel W. Westing's will, only to find themselves embroiled in a mysterious game. With a fortune at stake, they must unravel cryptic clues amidst blizzards, burglaries, and bombings. As alliances form and secrets unravel, the question remains: what is the true nature of Westing's final challenge? In this twist-filled mystery, the dead man's game is just beginning, and the stakes are higher than anyone imagined. Can they solve the puzzle before it's too late?

Sale price

$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2019

Pet

By Akwaeke Emezi · Book #1 in the Pet series

A creature emerges to hunt a hidden monster. Can Jam uncover the truth before it's too late?

208 pages· 45,631 words· Est. 4 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 35,247 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Summary: In the city of Lucille, monsters are a thing of the past—or so everyone believes. Jam's world is turned upside down when Pet, a creature from her mother's painting, comes to life. With horns, colors, and claws, Pet insists a monster lurks in her best friend Redemption's house. Jam must confront the unsettling truth and protect her friend. As she delves deeper, she faces a chilling question: how do you fight monsters when society denies their existence? This gripping tale challenges perceptions and explores the courage needed to face hidden evils.

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 1986

Wait Till Helen Comes

By Mary Downing Hahn

A ghostly friend lures children to a watery fate. Can Heather be saved?

184 pages· 37,186 words· Est. 4 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 26,547 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Summary: Heather's new friend, Helen, is a ghost from a tragic past, haunting the graveyard and luring children to drown. As Heather's stepsibling, you're drawn into a chilling mystery. Can you protect Heather from the spectral danger lurking in the shadows, or will the past repeat itself? The stakes are life and death, and the truth is more terrifying than you can imagine.

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2018

Annie's Life in Lists

By Kristin Mahoney

A shy girl uses lists to navigate a new town, school, and friendships.

288 pages· 41,287 words· Est. 6 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 1,081 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Summary: Annie, a shy fifth grader with a photographic memory, relies on lists to manage her chaotic life. After moving to Clover Gap, she faces a brother's resentment, new classmates, and the challenge of fitting in. Can Annie find her place and keep her best friend? Discover how she navigates these changes with her trusty lists.

The Bookroo Book Club