A couple of months ago, I met Stan Johnson, the author of Our Little Secret, in Townsend, Tennessee. Stan’s family roots in this quaint pocket of Tennessee stretch back further than the inception of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and that’s where this story begins.
I knew the book would be a page turner after reading the first sentence of the Prologue: “So far the most unfortunate date of my life was the day I was conceived, which I fought hard for decades to overcome.”
Our Little Secret is fictional, but “inspired by actual people, real places, and true crimes.” As I read, I couldn’t help but wonder if ghosts from the past were whispering in Stan’s ear as he wrote. The narrative he created around a mysterious grave on his family’s property is entirely believable, and Stan has an incredible talent for dialogue and storytelling. Having familiarity with the book’s setting enriched the story even more for me, and I’m certain to reflect on it the next time I’m near Rich Mountain.
Our Little Secret also addresses past and current issues of racism in a respectful and honest manner. I was outraged by certain scenes and passages, but more importantly, I was inspired, too. A common thread running through this coming of age story is the notion that how we are raised and who raises us need not dictate who we become.
This would be a fantastic book to read in October, allowing the Smokies ghosts of a bygone era a chance to tell their powerful and important story.
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