“Young men often laugh at the sensible girls whom they secretly respect, and affect to admire the silly ones whom they secretly despise, because earnestness, intelligence, and womanly dignity are not the fashion.”

“there are things in life which one can confide in one person only, whom one trusts. It is because of this that I write to my mother without the knowl- edge of the others, for whom my secrets are quite uninteresting, or, rather, . unnecessary.”

“A secret's worth depends on the people from whom it must be kept.”

“Secret Saturdays ought to be required reading at middle schools everywhere. Maldonado gives us both voice and heart. His young characters navigate a challenging world with endearing earnestness, lively style, and a heartening desire for true friendship and dignity.”

“Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can; all of them make me laugh.”

“I have a secret secret admirer. Not only is her identity a secret—but so is the fact that she admires me.
”