History Literature / Secrets

** Treasure's mother is also neglectful of her daughter. To an extent of being emotionally abusive towards her, taking Terry's side when he abuses her and spinning the blame on Treasure for provoking him. Despite this, she's furious when Treasure tells the press she wants to stay with her nan and declares that she doesn't love her (although she does eventually make it clear she ''does'' love her daughter deep down).

* DiagnosedByTheAudience: It can be quite easy to read India as having some form of high-functioning Autism - she's very intelligent but has difficulty making friends despite her attempts, is nervous and timid around other people unless they bring up a topic she's passionate about, tends to hype fixate on subjects of interest (Anne Frank), is very empathetic but tends to be InnocentlyInsensitive, very devoted to her OnlyFriend, Treasure, briefly mentions she can't stand it when people shout at her (Autistic people often experience bad sensory overload with loud, sharp noises) and is distressed hearing Mrs Gibbs read aloud from Anne Frank's diary, finding her voice very off-putting. It's never outright touched upon but India does mention seeing a therapist towards the end of the novel who helps her understand herself better, hinting she might have been diagnosed with something off-page.

* AmbiguousDisorder: It can be quite easy to read India as having some form of high-functioning Autism - she's very intelligent but has difficulty making friends despite her attempts, is nervous and timid around other people unless they bring up a topic she's passionate about, tends to hype fixate on subjects of interest (Anne Frank), is very empathetic but tends to be InnocentlyInsensitive, very devoted to her OnlyFriend, Treasure, briefly mentions she can't stand it when people shout at her (Autistic people often experience bad sensory overload with loud, sharp noises) and is distressed hearing Mrs Gibbs read aloud from Anne Frank's diary, finding her voice very off-putting. It's never outright touched upon but India does mention seeing a therapist towards the end of the novel who helps her understand herself better, hinting she might have been diagnosed with something off-page.

* ThemeNaming: Nan's children, Tammy, Dolly, Waylon, Loretta, Willie, and Tammy are all named after famous country and western singers.

** Averted, however, with Nan, who admits at the end of the novel that while she loves all her children and grandchildren, Treasure is her true favorite.

* YesMan: Alice to Maria, the most popular girl in India's class, agreeing with every single thing Maria says and offering no opinions of her own.

** Treasure's mother is also neglectful of her daughter. To an extent of being emotionally abusive towards her, taking Terry's side when he abuses her and spinning the blame on Treasure for provoking him.

* HiddenHeartOfGold: A mild example, Treasure acts tough to protect herself from the abuse from her family, but as India discovers, she's actually a sweet, compassionate person once you get to know her. Also, Willy and Loretta, Treasure's respective uncle (of about her age) and aunt (a 15 year old mum), who, while initially are cold towards her, both do look out for her latterly, even if it involves them doing stuff they'd rather not.

* HiddenHeartOfGold: A mild example, Treasure acts tough to protect herself from the abuse from her family, but as India discovers, she's actually a sweet, compassionate person once you get to know her.

* BigBad: Terry is this in Treasure's side of the story.

* AmbiguousDisorder: It can be quite easy to read India as having some form of high-functioning Autism - she's very intelligent but has difficulty making friends despite her attempts, is nervous and timid around other people unless they bring up a topic she's passionate about, tends to hype fixate on subjects of interest (Anne Frank), is very empathetic but tends to be InnocentlyInsensitive, very devoted to her OnlyFriend, Treasure, briefly mentions she can't stand it when people shout at her (Autistic people often experience bad sensory overload with loud, sharp noises) and is distressed by Mrs Gibbs reading aloud, finding her voice unsuitable for the voice of Anne Frank. It's never outright touched upon but India does mention seeing a therapist towards the end of the novel who helps her understand herself better, hinting she might have been diagnosed with something off-page.

* AmbiguousDisorder: It can be quite easy to read India as having some form of high-functioning Autism - she's very intelligent but has difficulty making friends despite her attempts, is nervous and timid around other people unless they bring up a topic she's passionate about, tends to hype fixate on subjects of interest (Anne Frank), is very empathetic but tends to be InnocentlyInsensitive, very devoted to her OnlyFriend, Treasure, and briefly mentions she can't stand it when people shout at her (Autistic people often experience bad sensory overload with loud, sharp noises). It's never outright touched upon but India does mention seeing a therapist towards the end of the novel who helps her understand herself better, hinting she might have been diagnosed with something off-page.

** Treasure's mother is also neglectful of her daughter and to en extent emotionally abusive of her, taking Terry's side when he abuses her and spinning the blame on Treasure for provoking him.

* AmbiguousDisorder: It can be quite easy to read India as having some form of high-functioning Autism - she's very intelligent but has difficulty making friends despite her attempts, is nervous and timid around other people unless they bring up a topic she's passionate about, tends to hyperfixate on subjects of interest (Anne Frank), is very empathetic but tends to be InnocentlyInsensitive, very devoted to her OnlyFriend, Treasure, and briefly mentions she can't stand it when people shout at her (Autistic people often experience bad sensory overload with loud, sharp noises). It's never outright touched upon but India does mention seeing a therapist towards the end of the novel who helps her understand herself better, hinting she might have been diagnosed with something off-page.

** Averted, however, with Nan, who admits at the end of the novel that while she loves all her children and grandchildren, Treasure is her true favourite.

* PracticallyDifferentGenerations: Treasure's mother, Nan's oldest child, had her when she was seventeen, putting her somewhere in her late twenties at present time. Meanwhile Nan's youngest child, Patsy, is only seven and younger than Treasure by three or four years.

** Treasure's mother is also neglectful of her daughter and to en extent emotionally absuive of her, taking Terry's side when he abuses her and spinning to blame on Treasure for provoking him.

* ParentsAsPeople: Treasure does love her mother but knows that Tammy can't look after her. Treasure feels that she should really be looking after her.

* JerkassFacade: A mild example, Treasure acts tough to protect herself from the abuse from her family, but as India discovers, she's actually a sweet, compassionate person once you get to know her.

* ParentsAsPeople: Treasure mentions that she does love her mother but knows that Tammy can't look after her. Treasure feels that she should really be looking after her.

''Secrets'' is a children's book by Creator/JacquelineWilson, published in 2002. "Secrets" is told from the point of view of two pre-adolescent girls, Treasure and India, via their diary entries. Despite their very different backgrounds, the girls strike up a friendship and their stories begin to intertwine.

Secrets is a children's book by Creator/JacquelineWilson, published in 2002. "Secrets" is told from the point of view of two pre-adolescent girls, Treasure and India, via their diary entries. Despite their very different backgrounds, the girls strike up a friendship and their stories begin to intertwine.

* GrandmaWhatMassiveHotnessYouHave: Treasure's nan Rita is very young and glamorous for a woman who has had six kids, to the point Treasure says her mother Tammy looks ''older'' than her mother.

* YouAreFat: Moya towards India, albeit she never ''says'' it, which causes an incredible amount of strain between them. India herself speculates her mother is anorexic and insists she'd rather be fat than a stick figure.

* FatShaming: Moya towards India, which causes an incredible amount of strain between them. India herself speculates her mother is anorexic and insists she'd rather be fat than a stick figure.

* YesMan: Alice to Maria, the most popular girl in India's class, agreeing with every single thing Maria says and offering no opinions of her own.

Secrets is a children's book by Creator/Jacqueline Wilson, published in 2002. "Secrets" is told from the point of view of two pre-adolescent girls, Treasure and India, via their diary entries. Despite their very different backgrounds, the girls strike up a friendship and their stories begin to intertwine.

* AlcoholicParents: India's father has an obvious drinking problem and India admits she's frightened of him when he drinks, even though he's never been violent with her.