Last but not least, Kaylie stopped by!

1. Did you every suspect anything weird having to do with Lucy?

A little, especially after a while. I mostly thought that her mom was sick – I never suspected that the house was the way it was. I wish she would have told me though – it wasn’t her fault. She lives with us now, so that was one good thing to come out of it.

2. What is your favorite thing about your friends?

That they’ve known me for a long time and I don’t have to explain everything to them.

3. What is your opinion on the whole Josh/Lucy situation?

I think they were destined for each other.

4. If you could change anything about your life, what would it be?

That I could get a boyfriend as good as Josh.


Crossposted at: Zoe's Book Reviews

I tracked down Josh!!!!

Well since Lucy didn't say too much about Josh yesterday, I decided to track him down myself! Here's a snippet of our conversation...


1. When did you first notice/become interested in Lucy?

I noticed her right when she came to our school. It just took a long time to do anything about it.

2. Before you two started dating, had you known she had a crush on you?

No. Maybe.

3. How is Lucy?

Awesome. Can’t say more ;)

4. So, since this book is now out… what do you think of it?

It’s weird knowing what Lucy was thinking that whole time. Makes me feel bad that I couldn’t help her more, but she wouldn’t have let me. I think she’s really brave.

Crossposted at: Zoe's Book Reviews

Catching Up With Lucy

I had the chance to chat with Lucy, the main character in C.J. Omololu's debut novel Dirty Little Secrets. Check out how she's doing now.

1. What was it like having a mom as a hoarder?

For a long time, I didn’t think about it too much. When I started spending the night at friend’s houses, I got that things weren’t normal at home. I always felt that I couldn’t have good friends
because they might find out about Mom. As hard as things got, I still loved her. She was my mom.

2. If you could tell your mother one more thing, what would it be?

That as bad as things got, I know that she didn’t do it on purpose. She couldn’t help it.

3. Has your relationship with your siblings changed?

They’re not around much because they’re so much older. I still see Phil, but not so much Sara. I always get the feeling that she has some suspicions about what happened, but I don’t think she’ll ever ask me about it.

4. How is Josh?

Awesome. Can’t say more ;)

5. What is it like having your story out there in the world?

It’s good and hard at the same time. It actually wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be – most people are really supportive. It’s funny, but since I “came out” about the hoarding, there are SO many other people who have similar stories.


Crossposted at: Zoe's Book Reviews

An Interview With C.J. Omolou

I recently had the opportunity to interview C.J. Omololu, author of Dirty Little Secrets.


1. Who is your favorite character in the book?
Tough one. I think I have to say Lucy, mostly because it is in first person so I really got into her head. In a strange way, I began to understand how her mom’s mind worked, although I can’t say I liked her in the end.

2. Do you watch the show Hoarders? Do you think there is a difference between the hoarding Lucy’s mother does and the hoarding in the show?
I TIVO every episode, and I’ve gotten most of my extended family into it too. The show didn’t exist until well after we were done with the book, so the timing is really interesting. Some of the episodes show animal hoarding, which we consciously didn’t include in the book – most experts consider that a subset of true compulsive hoarding. The hoarders who have severe psychological disorders where they cannot part with anything, even garbage, are universally similar in what they keep and how they act. Almost every episode I see something that is in the book. In one episode, the hoarding mom actually says that the house is her “dirty little secret”. I almost fell off my chair.


3. Which age group do you prefer writing for?
I love love love writing for teens. I have a picture book that is published and I may do a few more, but for sheer enjoyment on all levels it’s YA.

4. Was it hard writing a book about hoarding?
It was very emotional. I had to really understand both Lucy and her mom, and to do that I did a lot of research. Three women who had grown up in hoarded homes helped me with all of the details so that I could get every little thing right. I’ve had a few people involved with hoarding read it and had very positive responses from them.

5. Who is your favorite author and what is your favorite book?
I hate answering that because it changes so often depending on my mood. For adult writers, I love Muriel Spark, especially her short stories. There are so many YA writers who are amazing that I love – John Green, Justine Larbalastier, e. lockhart, Sarah Dessen, Ingrid Law, Jen Nadol (a fellow Tenner – I love The Mark!). I can’t begin to name them all.



Crossposted at: Zoe's Book Reviews

Win: Dirty Little Secrets by C. J. Omololu

This week I am hosting the much awaited for Dirty Little Secrets Week! Starting off, I'm having a contest where I have 4 copies of Dirty Little Secrets to give away! 1 of those copies will include SWAG! *yes, I know... swag is amazing!*
In order to be entered to win one of the four copies, you must fill out the form below. *This contest is for US Residents only, sorry international readers!*


Everyone has secrets. Some are just bigger and dirtier than others.

For sixteen years, Lucy has kept her mother's hoarding a secret. She's had to -- nobody would understand the stacks of newspapers and mounds of garbage so high they touch the ceiling and the rotting smell that she's always worried would follow her out the house. After years of keeping people at a distance, she finally has a best friend and maybe even a boyfriend if she can play it right. As long as she can make them think she's normal.

When Lucy arrives home from a sleepover to find her mother dead under a stack of National Geographics, she starts to dial 911 in a panic, but pauses before she can connect. She barely notices the filth and trash anymore, but she knows the paramedics will. First the fire trucks, and then news cameras that will surely follow. No longer will they be remembered as the nice oncology nurse with the lovely children -- they'll turn into that garbage-hoarding freak family on Collier Avenue.

With a normal life finally within reach, Lucy has only minutes to make a critical decision. How far will she go to keep the family secrets safe?



Cross-posted at: Zoe's Book Reviews.