Sixteen-year-old Libby’s home life is a mess, and only her best friend Jake knows her secret. Libby’s mom uses anger, alcohol, and violence to handle life’s problems, and Libby has no father at home to intervene. The abuse that Libby has been subjected to for years starts spilling over to her younger sisters, especially after Libby gets an after-school job. Libby wants to protect her sisters, but the consequences of sharing her secret could be just as dire as keeping quiet.
Libby discovers shocking revelations about her parents that push her to act, and she and Jake make plans to inform an adult relative about the abuse. But plans don’t always go as intended. When a friend from school stumbles upon her secret, Libby knows she can’t hide any longer, and she is relieved and terrified at the same time. With time running out, can Libby trust her friends to help her save her sisters?
Set in the 1980s, Hidden by These Walls is a gripping tale of love, loyalty, and the courage to speak out against injustice.