The Secret to Belonging
Will be published approx. on 22. October 2026
Book
Hardback
336 pages
978-1-6659-8840-7 (ISBN)
Description
A neglected teen travels to Norway for a fresh start in this stunning coming-of-age novel in verse about longing, love, and the courage to create joy from the ashes of despair by award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Megan E. Freeman.
You are invisible in your own family. Your parents spend all their care and attention on your brother, who is addicted to drugs. Your dreams don't matter to anyone but you.
Your only ticket out is a college fund left by your grandfather-until your parents use it to pay for your brother's drug rehab.
Just when your future seems about to collapse, you are offered a lifeline: a scholarship to become an exchange student in a remote part of Norway. It's an invitation to begin a new life in a new place with new people...a place where you might finally feel like you belong.
You are invisible in your own family. Your parents spend all their care and attention on your brother, who is addicted to drugs. Your dreams don't matter to anyone but you.
Your only ticket out is a college fund left by your grandfather-until your parents use it to pay for your brother's drug rehab.
Just when your future seems about to collapse, you are offered a lifeline: a scholarship to become an exchange student in a remote part of Norway. It's an invitation to begin a new life in a new place with new people...a place where you might finally feel like you belong.
Reviews / Votes
* "Written in a sparse, haunting second-person narrative . . . Freeman's stream-of-consciousness style is raw and honest, refusing to sugarcoat the collateral damage of substance abuse. Readers will appreciate the exploration of the impossible choice between self-preservation and family loyalty. . . . A searing, character--driven exploration of family obligation and the pain of being left behind." -- <I>School Library Journal</I>, STARRED REVIEW * "Spare yet powerful language relays sensate descriptions of the Norwegian backdrop and the cathartic, everyday pleasures the protagonist experiences during her retreat, which expertly juxtapose the profound isolation she feels at home. Restrained and condensed second-person narration cultivates a persuasive sense of immediacy throughout this aching exploration of heartbreak and hope." -- <I>Publishers Weekly</I>, STARRED REVIEW "Freeman weaves rich details into short chapters that vividly establish the settings of both countries . . . A quick-moving, original, and poignant read." -- <I>Kirkus Reviews</I>More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Simon & Schuster
Target group
Young adult
US School Grade: Seventh Grade and over, Interest Age: From 12 to 99 years
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
f-c jacket (spfx: spot gloss on matte film); digital
Dimensions
Height: 210 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-6659-8840-7 (9781665988407)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Megan E. Freeman
The Secret to Belonging
E-Book
approx. 09/2026
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
€10.87
Not yet available
Person
Megan E. Freeman attended an elementary school where poets visited her classroom every week, and she has been a writer ever since. She writes middle grade and young adult fiction. Megan is also a Pushcart Prize-nominated poet. An award-winning teacher with decades of classroom experience, Megan taught multiple subjects across the arts and humanities to students of all ages. She divides her time between northern Colorado and the Texas Gulf Coast. Visit her online at MeganEFreeman.com.