A Secret I Can't Tell

The First Generation of Children from Openly Gay and Lesbian Homes

Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
295 Pages
Reviewed on 11/23/2023
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Danelle Petersen for Readers' Favorite

Living in an era when being gay was unacceptable and seen as an abomination was stressful enough, but what about raising a child in such circumstances? The fear of being rejected by society, the strain of having to hide your sexuality, and the fear of losing everything: the stress was bound to be overwhelming. In A Secret I Can't Tell by Joe Gantz, four families share their experiences of living in a time when being openly gay was taboo and coming out was just not an option. Struggling to accept the situation while trying to make it work, each family member describes their situation and how it affected them personally. Emotions run high. There are arguments. But there is also love and acceptance. These are their stories…

A Secret I Can't Tell: The First Generation of Children from Openly Gay and Lesbian Homes was completely different from what I expected. I assumed it would be the child simply describing living in a house with a same-sex couple but it was much more than that. What was surprising and ironic is that the families weren't any different from a family with straight parents, although keeping their parents’ sexuality a secret from everyone, especially their peers, did cause additional stress. They were handed a lot of responsibility at an early age. I like the respect Joe showed each family and how he stayed true to their voices. It is another reason why the book was so enjoyable. I also loved the follow-ups. It was interesting to hear what transpired in their lives after the book ended. A Secret I Can't Tell is well worth reading.