u/brandnewlibbyday

I finished rereading secrets which I think was one of my first jacky books as a kid and it was a wild ride 😭

The family stuff:

• Terry has to be one of the most despicable JW characters, the physical abuse is really graphic
• ​​Tammy as a character was tricky to keep up with but seems a lot worse than I initially realised now that I've let the book marinate. She didn't love treasure much as a child?? She was trying to force her to live with Terry?? Her little speech at the end telling Treasure she doesn't love or want her made my jaw DROP, going back on it immediately doesn't matter. Awful woman
• I've read some of the speculation on this sub about Wanda. I don't think she was pregnant because it seems to be the kids trying to act mature but being naive. Did she have an eating disorder? I don't rule out that she did have some fling with India's dad
• I'm surprised India's father didn't have any sort of redemption but looking back his behaviour around her was really scary and cruel. We also didn't really get an update on Treasure's step siblings, she seemed to have a little rapport with Bethany.
• The last minute implication that Rita might pick Pete over Treasure when he leaves prison after all?? Insane. I'm WORRIED for her.

The girls and their lives:

• Understanding the gravity of the situation as a adult is crazy because Treasure could literally have died of an asthma attack. ​
• India not having anyone she loves except Treasure is also kinda #concerning. I think it's so common for JW books to end without perfect closure and I guess that's real and I'm at least glad it confirmed Treasure will stay with her nan for the foreseeable future but I'm just WORRIED ABOUT THESE GIRLS
• Treasure and India were one of those JW duos who seem kinda gay as hell for each other. India fantasising about all the things her and Treasure can do together and Treasure fantasising about living with India. I know India has a crush on her therapist (LOL) but he's unattainable. She's gay and autistic fr
• I'm mixed on the Anne Frank stuff I think it makes sense with how children think because I also had a strong attachment to her as a child and I know JW did too but it does trivialise her life to some extent to be like yeah we're just like Anne hiding in the annexe! She was hiding from a genocide. Also the part where the teacher tells India to stop crying about the Holocaust because it was a long time ago. Jesus
• I have trouble believing the ending because absolutely no one questioned where Treasure had been for days and they let Rita march into India's school to question her without the police or anything?? ​​