By: Miriam ChernickThe Zuzu Secret is much more than a book about a young person with a disability. It is a realistic, warm, beautifully told story of growing love and responsibility between sister and brother. Francisco X. Stork, author of Marcelo in the
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By: Miriam Chernick
The Zuzu Secret is much more than a book about a young person with a disability. It is a realistic, warm, beautifully told story of growing love and responsibility between sister and brother.
Francisco X. Stork, author of Marcelo in the Real World
Josie Sherman is twelve and dreams of becoming a veterinarian. She jumps at the chance to rescue a stray bearded dragon. But because of her familys no-pets rule, she must keep the lizard a secret.
Her fifteen-year-old brother Abe is a huge fan of the Baltimore Orioles and dreams of seeing a game at Camden Yards. But he was born with a rare disease called Prader-Willi syndrome which restricts his independence, and since they just moved to a new town, their parents are way too busy for baseball.
Can Josie and Abe work together and hatch a plan to achieve their dreams, even if it means sharing secrets that could get them in big trouble?
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Miriam Chernick, author
Miriam is a writer, a substitute teacher at her local public schools, a parent to three young adults, and a caregiver for her brother, who was born with Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare disease. As a child of Canadian diplomats, she lived in France, Canada, Venezuela, Israel, and Washington, D.C. She also studied and worked in Japan. Now she lives in Maryland with her husband, two clever cats named Miso and Boots, and a bearded dragon named Zuki.
Read more about Miriam.
Kirkus Reviews
Two siblings struggle to keep their ambitious schemes under wraps.
For 12-year-old Josie Sherman, volunteering at a veterinary clinic over the summer is critical for getting into a good vet school and would make up for her familys no-pets policy. But first, a parent must sign the consent form. Unfortunately, it feels like all her parents attention is focused on their move from Boston to Silver Spring, Maryland, and her 15-year-old brother, Abe, whose PraderWilli syndrome causes constant hunger and developmental delays. After Mom suffers a concussion in a car accident, the chances of getting Dads signature drop. When Josie finds a bearded dragon, she reasons that caring for Zuzu (named after Zulima Court, the street where she was lost) until she finds her owner will show Mom and Dad shes serious about her future career. But hiding the reptile from her family is harder than Josie thought. Meanwhile, Abe has his own secret: Hes determined to catch a baseball for Mom at next Saturdays Orioles game, even though Dad insists they need to wait until later in the season. Josies and Abes alternating perspectives realistically portray the nuances of sibling relationships and living with disability. Though Josie doesnt sugarcoat how stressful and frustrating caring for Abe can sometimes be, the siblings love for one another shines through to the tidy but satisfying ending. In backmatter, Chernick includes information and resources on PWSwhich her brother hasand explains the inspiration behind Zuzu. Most characters read white.
Heartwarming.
Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-62354-573-4
Ages: 10 and up
Page count: 272
51/2x 81/4
Publication date: May 6, 2025
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