About BC Books Online
BC Books Online was created for anyone interested in BC-published books, and with librarians especially in mind. We'd like to make it easy for library staff to learn about books from BC publishers - both new releases and backlist titles - so you can inform your patrons and keep your collections up to date.
Our site features print books and ebooks - both new releases and backlist titles - all of which are available to order through regular trade channels. Browse our subject categories to find books of interest or create and export lists by category to cross-reference with your library's current collection.
A quick tip: When reviewing the "Browse by Category" listings, please note that these are based on standardized BISAC Subject Codes supplied by the books' publishers. You will find additional selections, grouped by theme or region, in our "BC Reading Lists."
Description
Toni has always had nightmares about fire, and she also has burn scars but no idea how she got them. So when fire destroys the orphanage she has grown up in, she is ready to make her way to Toronto, where she hopes to discover the truth about the mother she believes hurt and then abandoned her. Toronto proves to be both daunting and exciting for Toni, whose charm and innocence attract attention—not always positive—wherever she goes. Buoyed by the music she hears at the folk club where she finds a job, and encouraged by her glamorous landlady, Toni unearths shocking information that contradicts everything she believes and makes her re-evaluate what she feels for all the new people in her life.
Part of the SECRETS—a series of seven linked novels that can be read in any order.
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age:
- 12 to 18
- Grade:
- 8 to 12
- Reading age:
- 12 to 18
Awards
- , Forest of Reading Red Maple Award
- Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens
Editorial Reviews
"Toten’s strength is in the cast of characters and misadventures which her heroine encounters. Reminiscent of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Toni is engaging as the 'good girl' who is challenged to make her way in the big city."
— Resource Links
"The story is at its best when Toni sifts through the clues to her past—uncovering the identity of her father, determining the sad truth about her mother, and finally learning details of the fire that left Toni emotionally and physically scarred...Recommended."
— CM Magazine
"The style in which this book is written and the mixture between humor and seriousness are entertaining. The plots of the Secrets book mix together well, and the different styles of writing work together to make these individual stories connect."
— VOYA, Teen Reviewer
"I loved all the secondary characters and I was really invested in the story, rooting for Toni the whole time. I was pleasantly surprised with the romance, because I wasn’t expecting it and it was so sweet! Then towards the end I totally broke down and cried. I don’t remember the last book that made me cry but I was so glad to finally come across a book that made me FEEL. In the end they turned to tears of joy, because ultimately it was a beautiful story."
— The Spellbound Reader blog
"The setting is fascinating, and the dynamics of suddenly moving from a small town to a big city are well explored. Fans of romance and mystery will appreciate this book."
— VOYA
"Toten gets the reader in the gut with Shattered Glass...It’s a compelling story...that is never obvious nor predictable but rather sweeping as it carries Toni and the reader along to a satisfying conclusion."
— CanLit for Little Canadians blog
"With their accessible themes, these short titles [in the Secrets series] are great for reluctant readers interested in the 1960s...Highly readable historical fiction."
— School Library Journal
"Toni’s character was likable...and I was really invested in the story, rooting for Toni the whole time. I was pleasantly surprised with the romance, because I wasn’t expecting it and it was so sweet! Then towards the end I totally broke down and cried. I don’t remember the last book that made me cry but I was so glad to finally come across a book that made me FEEL. In the end they turned to tears of joy, because ultimately it was a beautiful story."
— Remember the Books blog
