Concealed

Twelve-year-old Katrina Davis, who is of Cuban descent, inadvertently uncovers a family secret—and the reason her family has been constantly on the run for nearly three years, since her father was involved in “bringing down one of the most notorious drug cartels in North America.” Because a car accident wiped all of her memories from before she was 10, life in the witness protection program—changing names, keeping distant, never getting settled—is all Katrina knows, aside from fragmented recollections and overheard conversations between her research scientist parents. But when a photo with Katrina’s father in the background gets posted online, she learns about the secrets and lies her parents have been maintaining. She befriends 13-year-old Parker Jimenez, an expert computer hacker of Dominican heritage who is in foster care, and the pair sets off to find the truth about Katrina, her parents, and why they’re on the run. Along the way, they must rely on Agent X, the family’s witness protection program contact. Though some repetitive explanations hinder the otherwise quick pacing, Katrina’s fight for the truth makes for an entertaining read full of twists and intrigue. Ages 8–12. (Oct.)