"In a witty and believable 1964 Ontario, a foundling teen investigates the circumstances of her own birth… The novel has an eerie, slow build, with a sense of danger increasing with each secret unearthed."

Kirkus

Small Bones

Dot, whose name reflects her stature, has always had big dreams—but her dreams have to be put on hold while she searches for the truth about her parents. She gets a job as a seamstress at a lakeside resort in rural Ontario and falls hard for Eddie, a charming local boy who is equal parts helpful and distracting as Dot investigates her past. Searching for answers to questions about her birth, Dot learns more than she ever wanted to about the terrible effects of war, the legacy of deceit—and the enduring nature of love. Part of the SECRETS—a series of seven linked novels that can be read in any order.

Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s Best Books for Kids

What they are saying about this book…

"Grant weaves a loaded story about a pregnancy that was kept hidden and a birth that was obscured from small-town gossip...Dot is able to piece her story together from a patchwork of details, and..it is heart-warmingly trimmed with a happy ending or two. In fact, Vicki Grant, with her light-touch and say-it-straight writing manner, makes sure that it’s 'Better than any fantasy' (pg. 239) that Dot could ever have imagined."

CanLit for Little Canadians blog

"Dot is motivated to discover who she really is. Her relationship with Eddy is rocky but real, and both the main characters and the supporting casts are well rounded and fully developed. The setting is fascinating, and the dynamics of small town resort life are well explored. Fans of romance and mystery will appreciate this book."

VOYA

"Enjoyably light, linear and buoyed by a solid concept and striking retro packaging, this is what Don Draper’s daughter would have read at 13."

The Globe & Mail

"Instantly captivating and readers will be unable to put it down. Full of mystery and deceit, the story flows effortlessly in Dot's journey to find her parents. Romance, mystery, humor, and great writing await readers, who will be looking forward to the rest of this truly unique series."

VOYATeen Reviewer

“Teenage girls will appreciate this story of summer love and an orphan’s quest for the truth about her life.”

Resource Links

"Dot's tale is part of the Secrets series: seven books that tell the stories of the girls who leave the home and travel in search of their identities. If this volume is any indication, they will be effective mixtures of historical fiction, mystery, and romance—and good fodder for high/lo readers as well."

Booklist

"Grant 'salts' her plot with clues, some genuine and others appropriately misleading...[She] also effectively recreates the social dynamics displayed by the residents of a small town...Recommended."

CM Magazine