Memoir Explores Family Secrets, Faith And The Journey Toward Self-Understanding

In "The Secret Keeper," author Hannah Crossett reflects on childhood experiences, identity and the complexities of family history.

JACKSON, Tenn., Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Family histories are shaped not only by the stories people share, but also by the experiences they keep hidden. In "The Secret Keeper," author Hannah Crossett, PhD, examines how family secrets, childhood experiences and unaddressed struggles can shape identity, relationships and the way people understand themselves.

Organized into 49 chapters, each titled a "secret," the memoir traces Crossett's experiences from childhood through adulthood. She reflects on growing up amid complicated challenges, questions of identity and her Christian faith. Through these recollections, Crossett explores how revisiting the past can bring greater understanding to the present.

"It's hard to keep a generational secret. Hiding stuff gradually makes you more secret than person until you have to start taking charge of that tangle and through healing become who you are," Crossett writes in the book.

The memoir examines the tension between protecting family relationships and acknowledging difficult experiences. Crossett also reflects on the role of faith, education and personal growth in shaping her perspective. Her story includes her pursuit of higher education and her completion of a doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision in June 2025.

For readers who have struggled to make sense of their family histories, felt misunderstood or questioned how earlier experiences have shaped their identities may find points of connection in "The Secret Keeper." By exploring the relationship between what families keep hidden and what individuals come to understand about themselves, Crossett invites readers to reflect on their own stories and the role honesty can play in personal growth.

"The Secret Keeper"
By Hannah Crossett, PHD
ISBN: 9798385078035 (softcover); 9798385078028 (electronic)
Available at WestBowPress, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the author
Hannah Crossett, PhD, is a licensed professional counselor who completed her doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision in June 2025. Her background includes Christian higher education and seminary studies. In "The Secret Keeper," Crossett draws on her personal experiences with family history, learning and communication challenges, and faith to examine identity, self-understanding and personal growth. To learn more, please visit westbowpress.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/873078-the-secret-keeper

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SOURCE WestBow Press