It's Not Like It's a Secret

Sixteen-year-old Sana Kiyohara moves from Wisconsin to California with her family, leaving behind her best friend and familiar surroundings. At her new school, she finds herself drawn to Jamie Ramirez, a Mexican-American girl who shares her interest in literature and poetry. As Sana navigates her new life in California, she struggles with keeping secrets - from her growing feelings for Jamie to her father's suspected affair. She connects with a group of Asian American students who become her friends while trying to balance her mother's expectations and her own desires. Sana faces conflicts about identity, family obligations, and cultural differences as she attempts to understand her place in her new community. Her relationships test her understanding of stereotypes, prejudice, and what it means to be honest with herself and others. This coming-of-age story explores intersecting themes of sexuality, racial identity, and family dynamics within Asian American and immigrant communities. The novel addresses how teenagers reconcile cultural traditions with modern American life.

Readers appreciate the authentic portrayal of Asian American and LGBTQ+ teen experiences, with many highlighting the realistic family dynamics and cultural nuances. The romance development between main characters Sana and Jamie resonates with young readers who see themselves represented. Readers cite the book's handling of racism, microaggressions, and intersectional identity as strengths. Multiple reviews mention the natural dialogue and relatable high school social dynamics. Common criticisms focus on pacing issues in the middle section and some readers find the relationship conflicts repetitive. Several reviews note frustration with the main character's decision-making and communication problems. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.82/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (230+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.1/5 (90+ ratings) "A refreshingly honest look at both casual and overt racism in high school" - Goodreads reviewer "The character growth felt rushed in the last third" - Amazon reviewer "Finally a YA book that gets Asian family dynamics right" - BookRiot reader review

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🌸 Author Misa Sugiura drew from her own experiences as a Japanese American and former high school teacher in Silicon Valley while writing this young adult novel 📚 The book explores intersectional identity through its main character Sana Kiyohara, who is both Japanese American and lesbian, addressing the complexities of belonging to multiple minority groups 🌈 "It's Not Like It's a Secret" was a finalist for the 2018 Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature 💕 The story weaves Japanese poetry throughout the narrative, particularly using tanka (a 31-syllable poem) to explore themes of love and identity 🏆 This debut novel helped establish Misa Sugiura as a prominent voice in diverse YA literature, leading to her later acclaimed works including "This Time Will Be Different"