It seems like every other day that we hear about sexual assault on the news, or read about it in the paper. Unless one has directly experienced it, however, it is a difficult issue to fully comprehend. Therein lies the power of Our Little Secret; a remarkable novel that goes far beyond the cold summaries of the media. This is a book on a mission: to bring its reader to a deeper understanding of the complex issues surrounding sexual assault – and this it achieves with eye-opening realism, poignancy and subtlety. Webster bravely tackles the issues in society that most of us avoid talking about – not only sexual abuse, but also drugs and suicide. Whilst her novel is quite confronting and vivid at times, it does not exaggerate or sensationalise its subject matter at all. Realism is the name of the game – clear, uncompromising realism. To write realistically from a teenager’s point of view is a difficult task at the best of times. To hold that realism through the tangled emotions of a rape victim would be even harder – but to Webster’s credit, she somehow manages it.

The plot of Our Little Secret is quite predictable at times. Indeed, we are all familiar with Edwina’s story from newspapers and television. Where this book really shines is not through its storyline, but through how that storyline is used to create a novel. The writing style is comfortable and fluent, the dialogue believable, and the description evocative. When the theme of sexual abuse is first introduced, Webster cleverly juxtaposes it with the more innocent sexuality of young adolescents. The characters are realistic, but still diverse and interesting. In short: the writing is everything it needs to be to create a fluid and memorable novel.

Before I read Our Little Secret, there were so many things that I didn’t understand about sexual abuse. I didn’t understand how victims can feel responsible for the abuse, or why they might want to keep it secret from people who could help them. I didn’t understand the lasting emotional trauma that it can cause, or how this trauma can lead to problems such as eating disorders. As confronting as this novel may be, I am very glad to have read it, and would definitely recommend it to others who want to understand the issue of sexual abuse on a more complex level. The blurb isn’t far wrong when it says that this is ‘a story every girl should read.’ ( )

Edwina’s best-friend’s older sister, Anne-Marie, has been raped, and the topic of her small town’s gossip is: did she ‘ask for it’ – were her clothes too slutty, was she too flirtatious, had she been drinking at the time?

This theme of consent /ambiguous consent /non consent to sexual advances is explored with confidence and forthrightness by the author. Edwina finds herself flattered by the attention of Tom, a much older young man. Her choices are clouded by her experimentations with alcohol and drugs. She knows she said ‘no’, but she continues to see Tom and submit to his demands for sex. They eventually break up and it is some time before a kindly teacher, herself a rape survivor, suspects what has happened to Edwina and offers her support.

This is a message-driven novel. Webster juxtaposes the plight of Anne-Marie, who is silenced, doubted and unsupported, with Edwina, who is supported and encouraged to speak by her courageous teacher. The messages are clear and uncompromising. Unfortunately, this quite clinical approach to the storytelling carries over to the people in the story. They lacked depth and emotion, and seemed reduced to the message-relaying roles that the author had assigned them.

It’s a big message though, and, from any and every source, one that every girl needs to hear. ( )