Every family has a secret it hides from the world. The Tompkins' is just dirtier than most. Lucy's spent her life hiding it, protecting herself from certain shame and humiliation. She's done everything she can to keep people away, never letting anyone come closer to her house than the porch. No one can know what's inside. Not friends, not family, not neighbors, not repairmen, not delivery people. No one. Which becomes a major problem when Lucy finds her mother dead in the hallway. The thought of reporters covering the story, filming the heaps of junk that fill every corner of her house, announcing the lurid truth - that Joanna Tompkins suffocated under a pile of her own filth - gives Lucy the shakes. She's finally got a best friend, even a potential boyfriend, both of which she knows she'll lose if her filthy secret gets out.

Lucy's story provides the backbone for C.J. Omololu's stunning first novel, Dirty Little Secrets. It's a heartbreaking story dedicated to "every child who grew up with a shameful secret" (Acknowledgments, Page 211). Closets skeleton free? No matter, you will still feel for brave, believable Lucy.

As the 16-year-old digs through the rubble of her mother's life, grief, anger and a strange sense of freedom swirl inside her. She can vaguely remember a time when Joanna Tompkins cared more about her children than about her precious stuff. But that time is long past. Any warm memories have long been erased by her mother's stacks of junk, garbage she obviously treasured over Lucy's happiness. Her compulsive hoarding stole Lucy's childhood, guaranteeing she would never do anything as normal as invite girls over for a PJ party, gossip with her best friend in her bedroom, or, God forbid, eat a meal at an actual dining room table. Instead, she's lied, evaded, and lived in mortal fear of anyone discovering her dirty secret.

Lucy's so determined to hate her mother that she's surprised by the little things she unearths - a secret scrapbook, a handmade teddy bear, blue ribbons. Is it possible she never knew her mother at all? As Lucy literally shovels the past out of her life, she finds a sort of healing - even as she struggles to hide her biggest secret of all.

I've read plenty of books about family secrets, but never one that moved me as much as Dirty Little Secrets. My heart hurt for Lucy. Omololu paints such a clear picture of the filth, shame and despair associated with compulsive hoarding that you'd think she was speaking from personal experience. She's not. Still, the story comes off as achingly real. Although Dirty Little Secrets ends on a semi-hopeful note, it's never warm and fuzzy. It's an honest, sometimes brutal, portrait of what it means to be a child burdened with a terrible secret. It's heartbreaking. It's moving. It's completely unforgettable. In three words: Highly, highly recommended.

(Readalikes: Reminded me of What's Eating Gilbert Grape? by Peter Hedges)

Grade: A-

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for some language, sexual innuendo and underrage drinking/partying

To the FTC, with love: I purchased this book from Amazon using the millions of dollars I make from my lucrative book reviewing career.

(Note: If your life has been impacted by compulsive hoarding, check out Children of Hoarders and Hoarding: Buried Alive)

Remember back in December when I made those neat little resolutions for my blog? Well, let's just forget I ever did that, shall we? Especially the one about not signing up for challenges. Let's face it, I'm flunking that one in a big way. I have showed a tiny bit of restraint, but I just could not resist joining these two:Carl over at Stainless Steel Droppings is a fabulous challenge host. He's fun, organized and creative. Since I've been reading tons of fantasy lately, this one's kind of a no-brainer. You can read all the details here.

I'm doing Quest the 1st, which involves reading 5 books that fit somewhere into the following categories: fantasy, folklore, fairy tales, mythology between March 21 and June 20. That's doable, right? Here's my list:

1. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare - my review

2. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare - my review

3. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare - my review

4. My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison - my review

5. Wish by Alexandra Bullen - my review

Transfiguration - read any book that has trans or figure in its title, is about shape shifting, has a shape shifter in it, or is about anything having to do with changing one thing into another

Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt - finished May 2010 - review (+1 point)

My Double Life by Janette Rallison - finished July 2010 - review (+1 point)

The Devouring by Simon Holt - finished October 2010 - review (+1 point)

Soulstice by Simon Holt - finished October 2010 - review (+1 point)

Defence Against the Dark Arts - read any book that has defence(defense), dark and/or art(s) in its title, read any book that is about self defense, war, history of war/marital arts, murder mysteries

Charms - read any book that has charm in its title, any book that deals with/gives something or someone a new aspect (for example the nerdy guy become a handsome doctor)

Potions - read any book that has potion in its title, cookbooks count but you must cook at least one recipe out of the book

Astronomy - read any book that has astronomy in its title, books about planets, stars, etc, sci-fi

This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer - finished 3/20/10 - review (+1 point)

History of Magic - read any book that has history or magic in its title, books about magic, witches, etc

Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White - review (+1 point)

My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison - finished May 2010 - review (+1 point)

Wish by Alexandra Bullen - finished June 2010 - review (+1 point)

Herbology - read any book that has herb in its title, again cookbooks count and again you must cook at least one recipe out of the book

Arithmancy - read any book that has arithmancy in its title, any book with a number in its title, any book that deal with numbers or math

11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass - finished April 2010 - review (+1 point)
12 Finally by Wendy Mass - finished April 2010 - review (+1 point)

Ancient Runes

- read any book that has ancient or runes in its title, books about historical places like the pyramids, Stonehenge, great wall of china, or any book about symbols

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare - finished 3/29/10 - review (+1 point)
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare - finished 3/30/10 - review (+1 point)
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare - finished 3/31/10 - review (+1 point)

Divination - read any book that has divine in its title, any book about psychics or psychic abilities, tarot reading etc

Premonitions by Jude Watson (Judy Blundell) - finished April 2010 - review (+1 point)

Disappearance by Jude Watson (Judy Blundell) - finished April 2010 - review (+1 point)

Care of Magical Creatures - read any book that has magical or creatures in its title, about supernatural beings

Muggle Studies - nearly any book works here, what better why to understand Muggle than to read what they read

Fun, huh? Who needs resolutions anyhow?