Secret Letters from 0 to 10 (1996), a middle-grade contemporary novel by Susie Morgenstern, follows a young boy who decides to break out of his shell to live life to the fullest. Praised by critics for its authenticity and characterization, the book received various award nominations. Morgenstern is a bestselling children’s novelist and illustrator. With a degree in comparative literature, she taught English at the University of Nice before writing books full-time. In 2005, the French Ministry of Culture appointed her to the Order of Arts and Letters. Secret Letters from 0 to 10 is set in 1990s Paris. The protagonist, 10-year-old Ernest, lives with his grandmother, Precious. His mother died in childbirth and his father left straight after. Ernest has never met his father and he often wonders what he is like. Precious doesn’t talk about Ernest’s parents because it upsets her too much. Ernest is bored with his life. He goes to school every day, eats the same predictable meals, and comes home every afternoon at the same time. He doesn’t have any friends or hobbies, and girls don’t fancy him. At home, Precious doesn’t let him watch television and there is no telephone in the house. His only other contact is Germaine, the elderly housekeeper who cooks and cleans every day. Sometimes, Ernest feels he belongs in another century. One day, there is a new student at school. Her name is Victoria and she is very pretty. Ernest is instantly attracted to her but he is too shy to admit it. Victoria, however, makes it easy for him. Outgoing and fun, she makes an effort to get to know Ernest better. She talks to him all the time and decides they’re going to be best friends. At first, Ernest thinks she is joking, but he soon sees that Victoria is sincere. In the meantime, Ernest starts thinking about his father again. He goes to the supermarket one day and sees his father’s name on a book cover. He wants to ask Precious about him, but she refuses to discuss him. Victoria thinks this is wrong because everyone deserves to know about their parents; Ernest thinks she might be right. Meanwhile, Victoria introduces Ernest to life outside the four walls of his home. She has 13 brothers, and they all want to meet Ernest. They’re fun, friendly, and welcoming, and Ernest suddenly has a host of new friends who care about what happens to him. He goes to Victoria’s house after school, and she introduces him to so many new things, including chocolate, candy, and television. For a while, Ernest feels like a completely new person. One day, while watching television, Ernest sees his father. At first, he cannot believe his eyes. He now knows how his father looks and sounds, but it doesn’t make him happy. Instead, he feels lonelier than ever. He recognizes what he has been missing out on all these years, and he resents Precious for holding him back. However, Ernest can’t help but feel sorry for Precious, because he knows that she is miserable and alone, unable to get over the death of Ernest’s mother. In her own way, she only wants what’s best for him; she thinks that shielding him from the father who doesn’t want to know him is the kindest option. Ernest cannot help thinking that she is wrong, but he doesn’t know how to tell her. As things become tense at home, Ernest thrives at school. He finds out that Victoria isn’t the only girl who fancies him. Many girls like him but they didn’t think they stood a chance with him because he’s so shy and reserved. Although the new romantic attention flatters Ernest, he only has eyes for Victoria, and he doesn’t plan to let her go. Meanwhile, Ernest buys some new clothes and he tries alcohol for the first time. He hates how it tastes but it makes him feel grown-up and sophisticated. The alcohol makes him declare his love for Victoria and her family finds this hilarious. Luckily for Ernest, Victoria declares that she loves him back. They decide that they will get married one day and they tell everyone at school they are a couple. Ernest decides it is time for an adventure. He wants to meet his father. He plans to ask him why he left and why he has never contacted Ernest since. Precious thinks it is a bad idea but she knows that Ernest is old enough to make his own choices. Despite her misgivings, she lets Ernest contact his father. Ernest’s father is happy to hear from him. He is sorry for leaving Ernest, and he regrets his decision every day. He admits that, when he first saw Ernest, he reminded him so much of his wife that he couldn’t bear to look at him. Ernest’s father has written him a letter every day since Ernest’s birth to soothe his guilt. Now, he is ready to share those letters with Ernest and to see if they can fix their relationship.

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Susie Morgenstern

Middle grade

Novella

Fiction

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