A Jewish girl preparing for her upcoming bat mitzvah tries to keep a secret—along with one of her sister’s—in this beautiful coming-of-age contemporary novel that explores change, grief, and the complexities of sibling relationships.

Twelve-year-old Becky has great expectations placed upon her. Not only does she need to be as perfect as her older brother and sister, but her upcoming bat mitzvah needs to be perfect, too. She is the rabbi’s daughter, after all. The trouble is, Becky’s intentions often lead her astray. At least when she plays the flute, she feels like the best version of herself. Until playing the flute causes Becky to do something not so perfect: keep a secret from her parents.

Then Becky discovers that Sara, her “perfect” sister, has an even bigger secret. One that could turn the family upside down. The sisters couldn’t be more ready to keep each other’s secret safe…until the excitement turns to guilt, and Becky is forced to make an impossible choice.

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Quill Tree/HarperCollins, April 2025

• Kirkus Starred Review
• WE ARE TEACHERS Best Middle Grade Books: April 2025

“Heartfelt … an intimate, unfiltered look at tragedy and grief in one contemporary family.”
-Booklist

“This heart-wrenching, emotional, compulsively readable work traces the evolution of secrets and lies. A touching, intimate exploration of universal themes of trust, conformity, and the impact of family dynamics.”
-Kirkus Starred Review

“A moving, gorgeous, and life-affirming exploration of grief, faith, and how we can build ourselves a joyous life after everything seems to have fallen to pieces. This book will leave a handprint on your heart.”
-Jeff Zentner, award-winning author of In the Wild Light

“I was swept away by Naomi Milliner’s The Trouble With Secrets. A moving and heart-opening book, its story and characters are unforgettable. Milliner’s intimate focus on love and loss in a close-knit Jewish family makes this a very universal story, written with tremendous grace. It is a beautiful novel that will appeal to readers of all backgrounds who have borne the weight of carrying secrets for too long.”
-Ruth Behar, author of Pura Belpre Award winner Lucky Broken Girl and Newbery Honor winner Across So Many Seas

“The Trouble With Secrets immediately captures the reader with a vivid, engaging cast of characters who will make their way into your heart and stay there. Becky is a protagonist to root for — flawed but goodhearted and full of love. Her journey to understand what is right and what matters is one that will resonate with readers and keep them turning pages all the way to the bittersweet finale”
-Mari Lowe, author of National Jewish Book Award and Sydney Taylor Book Award winner The Dubious Pranks of Shaindy Goodman and Sydney Taylor Book Award winner Aviva vs. the Dybbuk

SUBSIDIARY RIGHTS

Audio

• Blackstone

Welcome to Passover, a Jewish holiday that has been celebrated for thousands of years. The heart of Passover is the seder—a meal full of rituals, special foods, and songs— where we gather together to retell the story of the Exodus, when the Jewish people achieved freedom from Egypt.

And yet this story is about more than the ancient past. The seder’s themes of freedom, joy, tradition, and hope, are timeless and universal, for all. In this unprecedented collection of short stories, fourteen bestselling and award-winning authors each reimagine a different step of the seder for today’s young readers.

Through historical and contemporary fiction, verse and prose, fiction and nonfiction, these gifted writers from different Jewish traditions and backgrounds gather around the seder table and invite everyone to join them.

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Amulet/Abrams, March 2024 (Auction)

• Junior Library Guild Selection
• Association of Jewish Libraries Holiday Highlights List
• Parade’s Best 13 Passover Books of All Time
• Notable Social Studies Trade Book 2025
• CCBC Choices 2025

“The stories are diverse in genre and written by a collection of notable Jewish authors….A strong candidate for strengthening and diversifying holiday collections.”
-School Library Journal

“Welcoming and buoyant anthology…This who’s who of contemporary middle grade Jewish literature, with a stockpile of Sydney Taylor Book Awards among the authors, offers stories in formats and tones consistent with their popular work and joyously reflective of the variety of their backgrounds and own Jewish traditions…A festive reflection of Judaism’s limitless range”
-Booklist

“Young people will become engrossed in the richly detailed narratives, learn a great deal about different ways to conduct a seder, and root for the protagonists. Unusual, entertaining, and deeply moving.”
-Kirkus Reviews

“Engaging tales…Most readers will find something that speaks to them and reflects who they are…The tales invite readers to think about their personal relationships to the themes of family, freedom, and identity.”
-Horn Book  

“A wel­come addi­tion to the kid-lit genre”
-Jewish Book Council

“On All Other Nights would make a perfect afikomen present, but, better yet, give it to all the tweens who come to your seder. If you like it as much as I did, you might even been tempted to give it to your hostess as a gift since adults may want to read this with – or without – their children.”
-The Reporter Group

SUBSIDIARY RIGHTS

Audio

• Tantor

When life revolves around stressed-out parents and ER visits for his special needs little brother Jake, eleven-year-old Ethan escapes to a world of top hats, trick decks, and magic wands. When he hears of a junior magic competition where the top prize is to meet and perform with his hero, Magnus the Magnificent, Ethan is determined to do whatever he needs to get there–and to win.

His dedication and hard work pay off, and he makes it to the top five finalists: his dream really could come true! Then Jake falls dangerously ill and Ethan’s hopes and plans are in jeopardy. As he searches for any sort of magic that might save Jake, Ethan learns what is truly important . . . and what real magic is.

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Running Press, May 2019

• Booklist Starred Review

Aspiring magician Ethan, 11, learns the true meaning of magic in this charming and heartwarming debut. The author based Jake on her own son, and that portrayal lends authenticity to this funny and moving story.
―Booklist (Starred Review)

“The Millers’ love for one another radiates throughout Ethan’s witty, introspective narration. Jake is never a burden; his family members include him in fun activities and everyday life as best they can…. A warm, hopeful debut.”
―Kirkus Reviews

“Hopeful, humorous, and honest all at once, Super Jake & the King of Chaos shows how, even in the most difficult times, a family’s love is its own kind of magic.”
―John David Anderson, author of Ms. Bixby’s Last Day

“Milliner has created a memorable story, right from the first sentence. All the characters are vivid and real, and the plot which could be syrupy and sentimental instead offers no sugary-sweet easy answers, just the real magic of family and how we hold each other.”
―Marissa Moss, bestselling author of Amelia’s Notebook

“This quiet, powerful book is full of charm and heart, but its real magic is humor. Ethan’s wit and tenacity transform the story into something truly powerful, a testimony to how love is always worth the fight, the sacrifice and especially the hope for brighter days. Not once does Ethan feel sorry for himself or his brother; his pity is reserved for those who are unable to see past Jake’s differences to what really makes him unique-his incredible ability to choose and create joy. Super Jake & the King of Chaos will fill your soul.”
―Beth Vrabel, author of Caleb and Kit, The Reckless Club, and the Pack of Dorks series

“There is magic, yes! However, at the heart of this well-paced debut lives an extraordinary family that readers will follow right through to the satisfying finish.”
―Leslie Connor, National Book Award Finalist, The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle

A strong family story for realistic middle grade fiction shelves.
―School Library Journal