Morgan's Secret

Deborah Dowson is a Canadian children’s librarian in North Wales,
Pennsylvania.

Morgan’s best friend, Charlie, has just told him that he likes a girl
in their class and Morgan is not to tell anyone. Unfortunately Morgan
lets the secret slip to Aldeen Hummel, the Godzilla of Grade 3. Now
Morgan must keep Aldeen from revealing the secret, but what should he
do? Poor Morgan lives in agonizing suspense, complying with Aldeen’s
every request under the threat that she will cost him his friendship
with Charlie. As it turns out, more friendships are won than lost as
each of the kids learns something about forgiveness and friendship.

Morgan’s Secret is a good choice for beginning chapter-book readers.
The large-print format, appropriate vocabulary, and simple sentence
structure make the book accessible, while the dialogue, which is infused
with unexpected turns of phrase and catchy colloquialisms, makes it
interesting to read. The well-chosen drawings emphasize the amusing
aspects of the story, which contributes to the overall upbeat reading
experience. Morgan’s struggles are comical, but beneath the humor is a
tough real-life situation that, happily, turns out well for all
involved. This is another fine First Novel from Formac’s successful
series. Recommended.