Secrets are dirty things. . . . Billy Johnson has a problem. He can't keep a secret. He's lost all his friends. No one trusts him. Everyone hates him, even his sister. But it's not his fault. He's haunted by a monster, who feeds on the private information Billy can't keep hidden. He's powerless against her and can't stop feeding her. Billy knows something about heroism, though. If Perseus and Hercules could fight mythic beasts and defeat them, surely he can. And maybe he can persuade his friends to help if he can get them to believe him. Can four ten-year-olds really hope to defeat an ancient monster, though? Can they defeat her magic, or will The Secret Thief consume them all? Click "Look Inside" for a free sample Praise for John R. Phythyon, Jr.'s other Modern Fairy Tales: Little Red Riding Hoodie "Phythyon deftly weaves this tale of magical realism in a modern, sixth-grade setting. I very quickly grew to care for Sally, the main character." --Alyssa Archer "This novel is effortlessly gripping, and I finished it in under three hours." --Jay Hill Beauty & the Beast "A truly addictive read. I really enjoyed this story and couldn't put it down. John Phythyon has crafted a unique version of the classic tale, and I highly recommend it." --Amy Brantley ." . . definitely an interesting take on the traditional Beauty and the Beast tale . . ." --Rani Self "Sleeping Beauty" ." . . a fast-paced and truly enjoyable short." --Mark Abrams "A compelling short story that blends just a little bit of magic with a true-to-life modern day twist on the original Sleeping Beauty." --Kendra L. Metz