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Zach's Secret
From Matthew W. Grant, the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Semifinalist Author of Secrets Of Slaters Falls...
How long could you live a lie?
Senior Zach Denham, the editor of the high school newspaper in a small New England town, struggles to act like a "normal" guy by dating Meghan, his religious friend. Key, the school's newly arrived attractive jock, forces Zach to confront the truth about his sexual identity. Still unsure of himself, Zach is reluctant to help start a support group for gay students at the high school.
Friends will become enemies when the explosive issue divides the school community. Opposition to the group mounts from the school administration, other students, Zach's friends, and even his own mother.
As Mrs. Trevott, Zach's trusted and sharp-tongued English teacher, advises, some of them will stand up for what they believe in even if they are standing alone. Some will face the darkest parts of themselves when they witness first-hand how destructive their own prejudice can be.
Matthew's screenplay version of Zach's Secret was a finalist in a Script Magazine screenwriting contest.
(Genre: YA Young Adult Drama)
(Also available as an eBook for the Kindle)
How long could you live a lie?
Senior Zach Denham, the editor of the high school newspaper in a small New England town, struggles to act like a "normal" guy by dating Meghan, his religious friend. Key, the school's newly arrived attractive jock, forces Zach to confront the truth about his sexual identity. Still unsure of himself, Zach is reluctant to help start a support group for gay students at the high school.
Friends will become enemies when the explosive issue divides the school community. Opposition to the group mounts from the school administration, other students, Zach's friends, and even his own mother.
As Mrs. Trevott, Zach's trusted and sharp-tongued English teacher, advises, some of them will stand up for what they believe in even if they are standing alone. Some will face the darkest parts of themselves when they witness first-hand how destructive their own prejudice can be.
Matthew's screenplay version of Zach's Secret was a finalist in a Script Magazine screenwriting contest.
(Genre: YA Young Adult Drama)
(Also available as an eBook for the Kindle)
170 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2011
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48 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 4, 2012
I loved this coming out story. It is about an eighteen year old high school senior named Zach who is chief editor of his school newspaper. Zach is gay but has kept his sexual orientation a secret all through high school. When he meets Key, the new kid in school, they develop a friendship which turns into a romance. This does not sit well with Zach's friends, and the homophobia and prejudice begin to rear their ugly heads.
When Key and an outspoken activist friend named Gwen decide to form a Gay-Straight Alliance in the school, it draws the attention of the ultra-conservative high school principal. She quickly squashes their efforts. A riot ensues and everything eventually ends up in a court battle.
Ultimately Zach must make a decision about whether or not he will be true to himself or continue to hide in his closet.
This would have easily been a five-star read for me if not for two issues. First among them is the lack of romance. The relationship of Zach and Key was glazed over. There was absolutely no intimacy, and it seemed the author actually went out of his way NOT to portray any of their physical relationship. In fact, for much of the book it was hard to tell if they even had a relationship...physical or otherwise. This being said, I would definitely not categorize this as a romance.
The other issue that I had was that the story was in the first person narrative in the voice of Zach, which was fine. It was very odd, though, because about halfway through the story, the author seemed to slip into third person. In two of his chapters, he began by describing scenes where the narrator was not even present. That just made absolutely no sense to me and I could not for the life of me figure out why this would not have been fixed during the editing process.
The story itself is very touching and has a powerful message. I loved all the characters, especially the main character Zach. I'd have liked to see him find a way to bridge the differences he had with his mother, but I don't think that particular relationship was necessarily unrealistic. The ending of the story was absolutely beautiful. Overall, I found it to be a worthwhile read which I will quickly recommend.
When Key and an outspoken activist friend named Gwen decide to form a Gay-Straight Alliance in the school, it draws the attention of the ultra-conservative high school principal. She quickly squashes their efforts. A riot ensues and everything eventually ends up in a court battle.
Ultimately Zach must make a decision about whether or not he will be true to himself or continue to hide in his closet.
This would have easily been a five-star read for me if not for two issues. First among them is the lack of romance. The relationship of Zach and Key was glazed over. There was absolutely no intimacy, and it seemed the author actually went out of his way NOT to portray any of their physical relationship. In fact, for much of the book it was hard to tell if they even had a relationship...physical or otherwise. This being said, I would definitely not categorize this as a romance.
The other issue that I had was that the story was in the first person narrative in the voice of Zach, which was fine. It was very odd, though, because about halfway through the story, the author seemed to slip into third person. In two of his chapters, he began by describing scenes where the narrator was not even present. That just made absolutely no sense to me and I could not for the life of me figure out why this would not have been fixed during the editing process.
The story itself is very touching and has a powerful message. I loved all the characters, especially the main character Zach. I'd have liked to see him find a way to bridge the differences he had with his mother, but I don't think that particular relationship was necessarily unrealistic. The ending of the story was absolutely beautiful. Overall, I found it to be a worthwhile read which I will quickly recommend.
November 15, 2012
Zach's story is about a boy coming to terms with his sexuality and the worlds struggle to accept Zach. I love reading books about teenagers struggling with their sexuality. Most of the time I do not make a connection to the characters or find them realistic or fitting to the way the story is told. What Matthew W. Grant has done is developed the story and the characters together in a book that can be read by anyone. No matter how young or how old they may be. Zach's character was well developed and I love how he grew through the book. A great character can make a book, and he certainly did for me. Key was just an amazing character and I loved him from the beginning. Characters like him really get my attention. I do not know what its like to be gay, but I do know what it is like to be different and at the end of the day this book is really about that. When I read it I could not find the perfect way to describe it, but the way I can describe it is real. This book is real and shows real emotion and real personal discovery. I highly recommend this book :)
October 17, 2017
Wow, what a page turner! I started reading this last night and just could not stop. A very engaging story that takes you into Zach's life as a senior in high school. Zach is on a count down to the end of his final year and hopes that no one will find out his secret. Enter the new boy, Key, sexy, athletic, and unattainable in Zach's mind. Key has other plans when it comes to Zack, including helping him out of his shell. Will these two make it through the year in a homophobic school, will they be able to effect change, will they find love?
July 17, 2021
Audiobook. I didn't like the narrators voice and I think this drew me away from the story.
November 19, 2025
Should be a requirement for every H.S. Junior or Senior...
I didn't know what I was getting into when I downloaded it. I was just looking for something different to read. I am so glad I did. I am not sure what made me choose it. No one in my family is gay. I do have a couple gay friends both in real life and online. I don't know them well enough to ask questions.
FOR THE RECORD, nowhere in the book is there anything sexual going on (nothing to make you squirm, gay or straight). Nothing that could make the decision whether to read the book or not. I actually re-read the book to see if I missed a part. This book is THAT well written.
Why I picked this book, I am unsure. I AM glad I took the time to read it. It gave me in site and perspective of how something so loving and sweet, can come with such hate and prejudice and yet so much love and support. Support coming from an unlikely place. It is amazing how more than two people are affected in such a conservative town, one teacher goes against the grain to give support. In the end a gift is given back to her in ways she would have never dreamed.
This book made me cry in many places (take time to think about being unsure or knowing you are gay in a close minded school or town in general), it made me think and reflect on my own life with different issues, but could have had negative outcome. The same thing the main characters had to go through, it easily could have been me. It made me swell with pride, as if I knew the people personally.
You have to read the book, for all of the sadness and heartbreak (and not just by the two main characters either), lives lost and friendships gained, losses, support, and happiness. All because of the unknown.
I highly recommend this book to both straight and gay people. Especially high schoolers. *Not* because it is about a gay couple, more so what they had to overcome with very little support within the school system and ones home life. Yet how far one main character goes to get something so simple. Something that should have never been questioned.
I truly think taking the word gay out of the situation and replacing it with anything that comes with prejudice and hate, could fit into many situations. Different race, color, family life, disabilities and so forth.
I truly think parts of the book both gay *and* straight people might find a part of themselves. I know I did! The end made me cry, but not for any reason you may think. A happy cry.
I didn't know what I was getting into when I downloaded it. I was just looking for something different to read. I am so glad I did. I am not sure what made me choose it. No one in my family is gay. I do have a couple gay friends both in real life and online. I don't know them well enough to ask questions.
FOR THE RECORD, nowhere in the book is there anything sexual going on (nothing to make you squirm, gay or straight). Nothing that could make the decision whether to read the book or not. I actually re-read the book to see if I missed a part. This book is THAT well written.
Why I picked this book, I am unsure. I AM glad I took the time to read it. It gave me in site and perspective of how something so loving and sweet, can come with such hate and prejudice and yet so much love and support. Support coming from an unlikely place. It is amazing how more than two people are affected in such a conservative town, one teacher goes against the grain to give support. In the end a gift is given back to her in ways she would have never dreamed.
This book made me cry in many places (take time to think about being unsure or knowing you are gay in a close minded school or town in general), it made me think and reflect on my own life with different issues, but could have had negative outcome. The same thing the main characters had to go through, it easily could have been me. It made me swell with pride, as if I knew the people personally.
You have to read the book, for all of the sadness and heartbreak (and not just by the two main characters either), lives lost and friendships gained, losses, support, and happiness. All because of the unknown.
I highly recommend this book to both straight and gay people. Especially high schoolers. *Not* because it is about a gay couple, more so what they had to overcome with very little support within the school system and ones home life. Yet how far one main character goes to get something so simple. Something that should have never been questioned.
I truly think taking the word gay out of the situation and replacing it with anything that comes with prejudice and hate, could fit into many situations. Different race, color, family life, disabilities and so forth.
I truly think parts of the book both gay *and* straight people might find a part of themselves. I know I did! The end made me cry, but not for any reason you may think. A happy cry.
January 16, 2016
This book made me sad: there was so much potential there, and none of it was realised!
This should have been fantastic:
Nerdy high school boy struggling with his sexuality
New transfer kid, star basketball player, who's gay
First boyfriend
Evil school principal
Teacher with dead gay son
Religious best friends
Bullying jocks
Demonstrations and court cases
Come on! All the ingredients were there for a fantastic dramatic and angsty coming out story! And instead we got treated to the longest most boring rendition of a senior year, ever! Seriously! This story is told in the first person and yet Zach feels NOTHING! Not once do we get treated to emotions or his feelings about things. Nothing! So sad! So much potential wasted.
The evil principal story was a bit OTT, but I could have lived with that, if we had had the teen drama at the foreground. But we didn't. Things happen and Zach doesn't react to anything, he just tells us that it's happening. Also I never felt that he was in any way shape or form actually attracted to Key? I know this was YA, but still... they were 18 years old. A bit of sexual tension or at least a kiss could surely have made it on page without insulting anyone's sensibilities?
The writing started out ok, but became clunkier along the way. And the few trips outside Zach's head felt completely off, as they were still narrated as "My mother did this and that..." even if Zach wasn't actually there to witness it...
So yeah, very disappointing, even if the premise was good. I listened to the audio version, which might have made it even worse, as the narrator chosen was a very mature male voice, which was all wrong for the 1st person narrative of a teenage boy.
This should have been fantastic:
Nerdy high school boy struggling with his sexuality
New transfer kid, star basketball player, who's gay
First boyfriend
Evil school principal
Teacher with dead gay son
Religious best friends
Bullying jocks
Demonstrations and court cases
Come on! All the ingredients were there for a fantastic dramatic and angsty coming out story! And instead we got treated to the longest most boring rendition of a senior year, ever! Seriously! This story is told in the first person and yet Zach feels NOTHING! Not once do we get treated to emotions or his feelings about things. Nothing! So sad! So much potential wasted.
The evil principal story was a bit OTT, but I could have lived with that, if we had had the teen drama at the foreground. But we didn't. Things happen and Zach doesn't react to anything, he just tells us that it's happening. Also I never felt that he was in any way shape or form actually attracted to Key? I know this was YA, but still... they were 18 years old. A bit of sexual tension or at least a kiss could surely have made it on page without insulting anyone's sensibilities?
The writing started out ok, but became clunkier along the way. And the few trips outside Zach's head felt completely off, as they were still narrated as "My mother did this and that..." even if Zach wasn't actually there to witness it...
So yeah, very disappointing, even if the premise was good. I listened to the audio version, which might have made it even worse, as the narrator chosen was a very mature male voice, which was all wrong for the 1st person narrative of a teenage boy.
December 6, 2015
Audiobook
Narration - Luke Avery - Pretty good...he's a good narrator, although he did sound very much like an adult. Which I guess these guys are 18 and adults, but he just sounded a lot older than I would perceive these young men to sound. But other than that, he has a great voice, capable of voicing several unique character voices and it seemed to be a pretty good production.
The story, I loved and hated. I hate that there are people in this world that have to go through what these kids had to go through and I know this isn't just a story, but crap like this happens every day and well, that just makes me mad.
I agree with some other reviewers that Zach seemed a little emotionless at times and that there was room for this story to go so much farther with this whole topic, but it was still a really enjoyable book for me. I experienced a whole range of emotions while listening to this story so it gets a big thumbs up from me!
English teacher Mrs. Trevott was an exceptional character - loved her teaching style and the messages that she shared with her students.
I received a copy of this audiobook free of charge from audiobookblast in exchange for an unbiased review
Narration - Luke Avery - Pretty good...he's a good narrator, although he did sound very much like an adult. Which I guess these guys are 18 and adults, but he just sounded a lot older than I would perceive these young men to sound. But other than that, he has a great voice, capable of voicing several unique character voices and it seemed to be a pretty good production.
The story, I loved and hated. I hate that there are people in this world that have to go through what these kids had to go through and I know this isn't just a story, but crap like this happens every day and well, that just makes me mad.
I agree with some other reviewers that Zach seemed a little emotionless at times and that there was room for this story to go so much farther with this whole topic, but it was still a really enjoyable book for me. I experienced a whole range of emotions while listening to this story so it gets a big thumbs up from me!
English teacher Mrs. Trevott was an exceptional character - loved her teaching style and the messages that she shared with her students.
I received a copy of this audiobook free of charge from audiobookblast in exchange for an unbiased review
December 2, 2012
I agree with Jeff Erno's review that the inclusion of a couple of scenes impossible to reconcile with the first person perspective is distracting. Equally, the lack of literally any detail about the intimacy of Zach and Key is a disappointment.
That said, I think all can agree that the story is not about the intimacy of the main charachters, it's about the rights and struggles of the main characters to live their lives with transparent integrity. It's a charming and uplifting story about love, respect and equality.
Could some of the secondary characters have been drawn out more three-dimensionally? Yes. However, in all walks and ages of life people often have to view others with two-dimensional lenses due to influence of imposed cirmcumstances. Given what Zach (and Key) must deal with, he would not necessarily be able to see others as more than they presented themselves in his encounters with them.
My only real criticism is the occassional absence of a needed preposition; "a couple x's" should be "a couple OF x's". Always.
Again, charming and uplifting.
That said, I think all can agree that the story is not about the intimacy of the main charachters, it's about the rights and struggles of the main characters to live their lives with transparent integrity. It's a charming and uplifting story about love, respect and equality.
Could some of the secondary characters have been drawn out more three-dimensionally? Yes. However, in all walks and ages of life people often have to view others with two-dimensional lenses due to influence of imposed cirmcumstances. Given what Zach (and Key) must deal with, he would not necessarily be able to see others as more than they presented themselves in his encounters with them.
My only real criticism is the occassional absence of a needed preposition; "a couple x's" should be "a couple OF x's". Always.
Again, charming and uplifting.
September 11, 2015
audiobook/story review.
the vocal performance was ok...he had a few different voices but at times he bothered me. it seemed he was going just a little too slow and he seemed a little bored at times.
the story was fantastic. i loved that Key was so self-confident and well adjusted. he was a great influence for Zach. Zach frustrated me at times by not standing up for who he was or what he believed in...he eventually got there and he was surrounded by homophobic bigots which scared him. this is a pretty powerful coming of age and coming out proud story.
one word: PROM. i was bawling on an airplane listening to that part of the book.
definitely a must read or must listen book!
the vocal performance was ok...he had a few different voices but at times he bothered me. it seemed he was going just a little too slow and he seemed a little bored at times.
the story was fantastic. i loved that Key was so self-confident and well adjusted. he was a great influence for Zach. Zach frustrated me at times by not standing up for who he was or what he believed in...he eventually got there and he was surrounded by homophobic bigots which scared him. this is a pretty powerful coming of age and coming out proud story.
one word: PROM. i was bawling on an airplane listening to that part of the book.
definitely a must read or must listen book!
September 9, 2016
I read this at some point in the past and apparently bought it at Amazon because I got it from Audible on sale. I didn't remember the book until I started listening to it and what filtered through wasn't ... positive.
This is not well-written. Add a bad narrator (Why is a guy that sounds like he's in his fifties narrating a book about eighteen year olds?) and it really just fell apart completely. So many stereotypes, missing parts of the story, and just general awkwardness means I'm leaving this at about thirty percent.
This is not well-written. Add a bad narrator (Why is a guy that sounds like he's in his fifties narrating a book about eighteen year olds?) and it really just fell apart completely. So many stereotypes, missing parts of the story, and just general awkwardness means I'm leaving this at about thirty percent.
September 13, 2015
A clean, young adult m/m romance. Zach's journey of self discovery coming out and dealing with prejudice. I found this book very relatable and saw some familiar scenes from my highschool years when my best friend came out. A great book to remind you stand up for what you believe in and to "think about that".
I listened to the audiobook edition, which I received free in exchange for an honest review. The narrator was great, speaking clearly and at a good pace.
I listened to the audiobook edition, which I received free in exchange for an honest review. The narrator was great, speaking clearly and at a good pace.
June 7, 2012
The writing was juvenile, cliched, and hamfisted. The characters were, for the most part, one dimensional. The ending, instead of feeling like a triumph, was rote and unsatisfying. But despite all of this book's many flaws it had some charm, which is why I'm giving it two stars instead of one.
May 26, 2011
Incredibly poorly written with ridiculous over-the-top scenes. This is a lump of coal, not a great indie find.
April 10, 2012
The story itself seemed to be building into something rather cute, but the writing just got clunkier and clunkier.
March 6, 2013
While this is about kids in High School it is not for YA.
March 5, 2016
This is one of those YA/NA novels written for soccer moms. Not bad just not really good.
August 11, 2024
First person single POV
Heat: 🚫
Angst: 💧💧
Heat: 🚫
Angst: 💧💧
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