The Locket’s Secret

A 13-year-old girl struggles with profound life changes in Heyne’s uneven middle-grade debut. Carrie is crushed to be uprooted from all she knows when her family relocates from Washington to Wisconsin for her father’s new job and a “fresh start.” The family is still grieving the recent loss of Cecilia, Carrie’s six-year-old sister, whose picture she carries in a locket. Carrie’s usual coping mechanism—aside from clutching her rosary and rereading favorite books—is to escape into a daydream fantasy world, where she creates the lavish tale (which readers see in alternating italicized passages) of fearless Princess Caritas, who goes to great lengths to protect her family and kingdom. Like its protagonist, Heyne’s novel suffers from a bit of an identity crisis. Many of the characters lack distinction and sound wise beyond their years, and the slow-moving plot of the main story often seems to be a device to put the imagined adventures of Caritas in the fore. The story ends on a mostly satisfying note, rewarding readers who endure Carrie’s sullen demeanor—and who want to know what happens to Caritas as well. Ages 10–14. (Apr.)