THE NAMES WE BURIED

A transgender teen in New Jersey uncovers a shocking truth about his family that turns his life upside down.

On Jaden’s 17th birthday, his dad and “campy White gay guy” influencer boyfriend, Drew, surprise him with a trip to the courthouse to file for a legal name and gender marker change. What should have been a moment of celebration turns into a waking nightmare when Jaden learns that his birth certificate is fake. Even though Dad was in jail when Jaden was born, the cops arrest him for “possession of falsified government documents with the intent to defraud.” Jaden’s mom, who stored his birth certificate in the family safe, died two years ago. Desperate to help his dad—and get official documents—Jaden sends off DNA samples that reveal an even more unbelievable truth: He has a 0% match with his dad and 99.9% matches with strangers called Aaron and Alena Harper, who are Russian Jewish. And a Google search reveals that the Harpers’ baby was abducted from the NICU 17 years ago. This contemporary thriller captures readers’ attention with its intense twists and turns. The plot moves at a fast pace, but so does the resolution, lessening the emotional impact and believability of the conclusion, and at times the characterization suffers from inconsistency. Unfortunately, Jaden’s best friend Terri, who’s Black and autistic, seems to serve to teach Jaden lessons about the realities of systemic racism and privilege.

An absorbing premise with an underwhelming payoff.