Published to impressive reviews and much media and reader interest, Janet McNaughton’s newest novel is an intriguing and intelligent tale set in 2368. This is the story of Blay Raytee, a young girl enslaved in a government workcamp. Blay is suddenly plucked from her bleak life to serve as tutor to the arrogant Marrella, who is supposed to use her environmental sensitivities to monitor the destroyed ecosystem. Thrust into a completely different world, Blay learns shocking secrets about her environment—and herself.

In this brilliant story of transformation, a young girl learns to believe in her mind and in her heart. The Secret Under My Skin is one of the most remarkable YA novels to appear in recent memory.


“McNaughton blends the warmth of Blay’s emotional growth and new love with the excitement of her learning and brings about, in a rare achievement, a young adult novel where natural history and poetry come hand in hand…. This is an exciting and unusual novel, in both its conceits and execution.”—The Toronto Star

“This is Janet McNaughton’s third brilliant book…The range of themes and ideas in this novel is impressive. Not only is the story a cliffhanger, but Janet McNaughton makes no concession about her readers’ abilities. The complexity of power struggles, as well as some excellent revelatory writing about the formation of the Tablelands, demonstrate that the time for tiresome formulas for YA reading has passed.”—Atlantic Books Today