Hidden Truths

Dani and Eric have been best friends since Dani moved next door in second grade. They bond over donuts, comic books, and camping on the Cape. Until one summer when everything changes.

Did Eric cause the accident that leaves Dani unable to do the one thing in the world she most cares about? The question plagues him, and he will do anything to get answers about the explosion that injured her. But Dani is hurting too much to want Eric to pursue the truth—she just wants to shut him out and move on. Besides, Eric has a history of dropping things he starts. Eric knows that and is determined that this will be the one time he follows through.

But what if his pursuit brings him into direct conflict with another friend? Where does Eric’s loyalty really lie? 

Hidden Truths follows two middle school students dealing with the aftermath of an accident. Eric struggles with guilt, unsure whether he caused Dani’s injury, while Dani must abandon her baseball dreams after finally making the junior high boys’ team. Their friendship becomes strained as both characters navigate difficult emotions and personal challenges. 

Eric will resonate with any reader who has experienced guilt after a mistake. Unsure if he was responsible for the accident, Eric wants to do something to help Dani. However, he wasn’t expecting Dani to reject his offers of help. To make matters worse, Eric struggles to remember things, and he doesn’t process information in the same way as most of his peers. Despite this, Eric realizes that this is actually his “superpower” because he “see[s] stuff differently” and “[doesn’t] give up on stuff or people.” His attempts to help Dani are repeatedly rejected, yet he persists with remarkable determination. 

Eric’s experience with bullying provides insight into how cruelty affects victims. When Dani dismisses his struggles, he reflects that “she’s never been on the receiving end of mean. She doesn’t know how it scrapes your insides hollow and sticks to the layers of your skin.” This perspective highlights how different people process trauma and adversity. 

Dani’s anger over losing her baseball dreams is understandable, but it leads her to mistreat Eric and befriend Meadow, a thoroughly unlikable character who lies and bullies others. Through this friendship, Dani grapples with moral complexity, realizing that “people were either good or bad. I didn’t think there were in-betweeners. Meadow is definitely an in-betweener.” 

However, Dani fails to recognize that she, too, is an “in-betweener.” Her dismissive attitude toward Eric’s bullying experience reveals her own moral blind spots. She believes her situation is uniquely difficult and does nothing to stop Meadow’s cruel behavior toward Eric. 

The novel explores several meaningful themes. Most prominently, it examines moral complexity, showing how people aren’t simply good or bad but fall somewhere in between. The story also addresses the lasting impact of bullying, revealing how cruelty leaves emotional scars that others may not understand. Additionally, the book emphasizes perseverance as both characters learn to persist despite setbacks. Dani and Eric both learn two valuable lessons: “We all make mistakes” and “the truth matters.” 

Dani finds inspiration in baseball player Mo’ne Davis. She uses this role model to fuel her determination during physical therapy. The story’s conclusion reinforces the theme of personal choice, as Dani’s physical therapist reminds her, “You may not get to choose what sport you play or when you get to play it, but you get to choose who you are. And in the end, that’s what matters most.” 

Hidden Truths succeeds in several important ways. The characters are relatable and flawed, allowing readers to connect with them authentically rather than seeing them as perfect heroes. The book addresses significant themes, including bullying, friendship conflicts, and personal growth, in a meaningful way that will resonate with middle-grade readers. The characters’ internal struggles feel genuine and age-appropriate. At the same time, the realistic resolution avoids tying everything up too neatly—Dani’s future in baseball remains uncertain, reflecting how real life doesn’t always provide clear answers.  

Hidden Truths alternates between Dani’s and Eric’s points of view, which allows the reader to see how one event affects each person. Each chapter starts with either a picture of a baseball with Dani’s name on it or a picture of a crossword with Eric’s name on it; this visual cue makes it easy to transition between the two characters’ points of view.  

However, the novel has some limitations. The heavy emphasis on internal conflict means some sections lack action, resulting in slower pacing that may not engage all readers. Additionally, those expecting a fast-paced sports story will likely be disappointed by the book’s introspective focus. Expand your reading list by adding other books that explore the topic of friendship and sports, including The Academy by T.Z. Layton, Free Throws, Friendship, and Other Things We Fouled Up by Jenn Bishop and Rick Kotani’s 400 Million Dollar Summer by Waka T. Brown. 

Sexual Content  

• Eric has a crush on a classmate named Rachel. They start spending time together, holding hands several times. One time, when they hold hands, Eric tries “to walk like a normal person while every neuron in [his] brain’s firing.” 
• After Eric makes a good presentation at school, “Rachel leans over and kisses [his] cheek.” Eric thinks, “Best meeting ever.” 

Violence  

• Dani is sleeping in an RV when it blows up. A cabinet falls on Dani and knocks her unconscious. Eric goes inside to save her. “I cough. Bang into something. Gasp. Run out the door to grab air. . . Blood trickles down my leg. I dart into the camper again.” Dani is hospitalized with major injuries and needs physical therapy for nerve damage. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

• While in the hospital, Dani is given pain medication. 

Language  

• Occasionally, someone is referred to as a jerk or an idiot. 
• A bully calls Eric an idiot. Afterward, Eric prays, “God, if you’re there, a little help would be great.” 
• Dani calls a boy a “brainless idiot.” 
• A girl says Eric is “being a brat.” 

Supernatural 

• None 

Spiritual Content  

• When Dani is injured and taken to the hospital, Eric pleads with God. He prays, “I’ll do anything, please let Dani be okay. . . I’ll set two alarms in the morning. Never oversleep again. Clean my room. Remember stuff. Anything.” Since Eric continues to pray like this throughout the book, not all of the prayers are listed below. 
• Before Eric goes into the chapel at the hospital, he wonders if he “need[s] to be more religious to go inside.” 
• While in the chapel, a woman says, “Bless you, my child.” Eric isn’t sure what to do, so he says, “Bless you, too.” 
• Eric prays that Dani is okay. He prays, “I promise to stop drinking the milk straight from the half-gallon carton in the refrigerator.” He continues to pray intermittently throughout the book. 
• Eric is Jewish. When he goes into the hospital’s chapel, he mentions the Torah. He also thinks, “I don’t feel strange or out of place, which is weird. Not that I go to Shabbat service every week, but I thought I’d feel like an outsider in this chapel. But I don’t.”  
• When Dani and Eric stop talking to each other, Eric prays, “God, I’m not sure if it’s possible to ask for too much. Or if a new prayer cancels out the ones that came before. Or if there are rules I should be following. Because if there are, that would be helpful to know.” 
• Dani faints at school and is taken to the hospital. While Eric waits to hear about Dani’s condition, he goes to the chapel and prays. “I’m back. I’m sorry for anything I’ve ever done wrong. . . I’m sorry I stink at remembering. But, I promise, I’ll do anything for Dani to be all right.” The prayer is a paragraph long. 
• When Eric sees his crush, “I pray she can’t tell I’m a horrible human just by looking at me.”  
• Eric’s aunt says, “I’m putting it out in the world to heal Dani.” Eric goes on to explain, “Aunt Josie believes if you say your wish out loud—put it into the world—it’ll come true.” 
• Eric’s aunt tells Dani, “I told the world to heal you.” 
• Several times, Dani feels her dead grandmother’s presence. The second time this happens, Dani talks to her grandmother.