The Secret Side of Me Paperback – Large Print, November 21, 2025

The Secret Side of MeWritten by Benjamin QuirozJuliet Jimenez is a bright middle school girl searching for her purpose, but finding it isn’t easy. Between tough classes, confusing assignments, and the pressure to succeed, Juliet suddenly discovers that something dark is following her… a mysterious monster feeding off her frustration, confusion, and self-doubt.Everything changes the day Juliet wanders into her school. To survive, and to defeat the monster trying to stop her, Juliet must learn how to use each strategy wisely.Through every twist and turn of her adventure, Juliet gains powerful new skills:Author’s Purpose – discovering why an author writes a textInferencing – using clues to uncover hidden meaningFact vs. Opinion – telling truth from personal beliefSummarizing – capturing the most important detailsMaking Connections – linking stories to her life and world…plus many other strategies that strengthen her confidence and her reading.But the stronger Juliet becomes, the more determined the monster grows. This creature doesn’t want her to succeed. It doesn’t want her to learn. And it definitely doesn’t want her to discover her purpose.Yet Juliet refuses to give up.With courage, clever thinking, and a growing understanding of the reading strategies that shape strong readers, Juliet fights back, proving that purpose, knowledge, and confidence will always win.This inspiring adventure is perfect for middle school readers and teachers who want a fun, creative way to improve reading comprehension. Students will absorb essential reading strategies through the exciting journey of a girl who never stops believing in herself.This is the debut book of young author Benjamin Quiroz, a gifted middle school student with a passion for writing stories that help his peers learn, grow, and succeed. He plans to continue writing books that inspire students everywhere.An ideal book for:Middle school classroomsReading strategy instructionIndependent readingStruggling or reluctant readersStudents who love adventure, mystery, and motivationStep into Juliet Jimenez’s world and discover that reading strategies are more powerful than any monster. Read more