{"product_id":"closed-doors-a-novel-isbn-9780062271907","title":"Closed Doors: A Novel","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Dazzling. . . . A moving story that stakes a lasting, and disturbing, emotional claim on O’Donnell’s readers.” — \u003cem\u003eNew York Times Book Review\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA young boy on a small Scottish island where everyone knows everything about everyone else, will discover that a secret is a dangerous thing in this tense and brilliant tale from Lisa O'Donnell, author of the national bestseller \u003cem\u003eThe Death of Bees.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEleven-year-old Michael Murray is the best at two things: hacky sack and keeping secrets. His family thinks he's too young to hear grown-up stuff, but he listens at doors; it's the only way to find out anything. And Michael's heard a secret, one that might explain the bruises on his mother's face.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen the whispers at home and on the street become too loud to ignore, Michael begins to wonder if there is an even bigger secret waiting to be discovered. Scared of what might happen if anyone finds out, and desperate for life to be normal again, Michael sets out to piece together the truth. But he also has to prepare for the upcoming talent show, keep an eye out for Dirty Alice, his arch-nemesis, and avoid eating Granny's watery stew.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eClosed Doors\u003c\/em\u003e is a vivid evocation of the fears and freedoms of childhood and a powerful tale of love, the loss of innocence, and the importance of family in difficult times.\u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003eEleven-year-old Michael Murray is the best at two things: hacky sack and keeping secrets. His family thinks he's too young to hear grown-up stuff, but he listens at doors—it's the only way to find out anything. And Michael's heard a secret, one that may explain the bruises on his mother's face.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen the whispers at home and on the street become too loud to ignore, Michael begins to wonder if there is an even bigger secret he doesn't know about. Scared of what might happen if anyone finds out, and desperate for life to return to normal, Michael sets out to piece together the truth. But he also has to prepare for the upcoming talent show, keep an eye out for Dirty Alice—his archnemesis from down the street—and avoid eating Granny's watery stew.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBy the acclaimed author of \u003cem\u003eThe Death of Bees\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eClosed Doors\u003c\/em\u003e is a startling and vivid evocation of the fears and freedoms of childhood and a powerful tale of love, the loss of innocence, and the importance of family in difficult times.\u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003e“A skillfully told story of a boy’s struggle to come to terms with family secrets and their potentially terrible consequences. A sharp, witty, and heartbreaking second novel from a dynamic new talent.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKitty Aldridge, author of A Trick I Learned from Dead Men\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“There’s loss of innocence here, but the overwhelming tone is warm and sparky; O’Donnell shows how a shattered family can remake itself, and Michael’s narrative voice is delightful—observant, thoughtful, comical, and thoroughly believable.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSunday Times (London)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“\u003ci\u003eClosed Doors\u003c\/i\u003e demonstrates just as much skill, empathy and insight as its predecessor….\u003ci\u003eClosed Doors\u003c\/i\u003e is all about the voice—Michael’s 11-year-old world is entirely convincing….a hugely accomplished and engaging piece of storytelling.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBig Issue\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“[O’Donnell] has fashioned yet another humane and compulsive read, grounded in a realism which, depicted through a child’s eyes—with that hint of a child’s surreal perception—gathers together violence, humor, and love in a most believable way.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eScotland on Sunday\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Writing in a child’s voice is risky, but Lisa O’Donnell pulls it off in her second novel. . . . Ms. O’Donnell avoids triteness in this story of lost innocence, favoring candor and dark humor in the aftermath of violence.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A dazzling new novel. . . . A moving story that stakes a lasting, and disturbing, emotional claim on O’Donnell’s readers.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Sweet and sad, this is a coming-of-age story with dark secrets—and love—at its heart.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKaren Campbell, author of This Is Where I Am\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“An engaging page-turner that effectively explores the trials and tribulations of childhood with warmth and humor.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Harper Perennial","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44888179507429,"sku":"NP9780062271907","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780062271907.jpg?v=1730228341","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/closed-doors-a-novel-isbn-9780062271907","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}