Uncovering Courage: A Heartfelt Dive into "The Cassette Tape Secret"
- Kim Bartosch
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Some books sneak up on you in the best way possible, and The Cassette Tape Secret by Danielle Herzog is one of them. This middle grade mystery is a warm, thoughtful, and humorous story about finding your voice—even when it shakes—and learning to accept the parts of yourself you wish you could hide.
Thank you to the author and Jolly Fish Press for the book and my honest review. This book tour is sponsored by Toppling Stacks Tours. Be sure to scroll down for my full review and enter the book giveaway!
Thirteen-year-old Alex Bennett is used to being invisible. Bullied for his OCD, Alex clings to routines and avoids attention like the plague. He’s developed a quiet, low-key rhythm to survive middle school. But when the bold and sarcastic Ida May picks him as her partner for a school project, Alex’s carefully curated world is about to be flipped on its head.
What starts as a typical assignment soon turns into an unexpected mystery, thanks to a cassette tape containing a strange message and a box buried in Alex’s own front yard. With Ida May by his side and the gentle encouragement of his therapist, Alex is pulled into a tangled family mystery that forces him to confront not just the past—but himself.
⭐ A Standout MC with Powerful Representation
Alex is the beating heart of this story, and Herzog writes him with incredible compassion and realism. His OCD isn’t just a label—it’s a daily struggle, an internal battle that shapes how he interacts with the world. You can feel his frustration, his shame, and his longing to just be “normal.” The depiction is honest and raw, and never feels preachy or heavy-handed.
One of the most touching aspects of Alex’s journey is his growth in self-acceptance. At the beginning of the book, he wishes desperately he didn’t have OCD, and his self-esteem is painfully low. But through his friendship with Ida May and his connection to the mystery, he learns that his differences don’t make him less—they make him him. That message, while especially powerful for kids who live with neurodivergence, is universal and important for all tweens.
👯 Friendship Goals: Ida May & Alex
Can we talk about Ida May for a second? She is a force of nature. She’s sharp, sarcastic, bold—and she’s exactly what Alex needs. The dynamic between the two of them is absolute gold. While Ida May brings the fire, Alex brings the heart, and together they make a surprisingly balanced team.
Ida May not only helps Alex push outside his comfort zone, but she also stands beside him as he confronts his fears. Their friendship is beautifully written, full of real conversations, awkward moments, and laugh-out-loud lines (seriously, Ida May’s sarcasm is chef’s kiss). It’s one of those relationships you can see lasting far beyond the final page.
👨👩👦 The Importance of Family
Another element that shines in The Cassette Tape Secret is the family dynamic. From Alex’s sweet relationship with his mom to his tentative outreach to his grandparents, Herzog shows that family bonds—no matter how fractured—can be healed with time, effort, and love. His grandparents’ joy when he reconnects with them is a reminder to young readers that they are loved and wanted, even when they feel like a burden.
It’s a gentle, yet powerful lesson that resonates beyond the neurodivergent experience. Parents and grandparents alike will likely find themselves tearing up at these quiet but meaningful scenes.
🕵️♂️ A Mystery With Heart
While the emotional core of the book is what really makes it memorable, the mystery itself is well-paced and intriguing. Herzog does a great job balancing Alex’s personal journey with the clues and discoveries surrounding the cassette tape and buried box. There’s just enough suspense to keep readers turning pages, and plenty of satisfying reveals along the way.
It’s not just about solving a puzzle—it’s about uncovering history, healing wounds, and learning that sometimes the hardest mystery to solve is yourself.
📚 Final Thoughts
The Cassette Tape Secret is more than just a middle grade mystery—it’s a story about bravery, identity, and friendship. It’s about learning that your challenges don’t define you, and that there’s nothing wrong with needing help—or standing out.
With a lovable, layered main character, standout sidekick energy from Ida May, and a plot that mixes mystery with emotional depth, this book is a must-read for young readers and the grown-ups in their lives.
Whether you're neurodivergent or not, The Cassette Tape Secret reminds us all that being seen, and being accepted as you are, is one of the greatest gifts we can give and receive.
🛍️ Recommended for:
Fans of Wonder or A Kind of Spark
Readers looking for authentic neurodivergent representation
Tween readers who enjoy heartfelt mysteries with strong friendships
Classrooms or book clubs exploring empathy, self-acceptance, and emotional growth
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Did you record secret messages on cassette tapes? If not, what did you use?
Comment below!
About the book:
Genre: Middle Grade, Contemporary
Publishing date: October 21, 2025
Publisher: Jolly Fish Press
Rep: OCD, neurodivergent
Synopsis:
Thirteen-year-old Alex Bennett is used to being overlooked by his classmates. From being bullied due to his OCD, he’s learned that being invisible is the safest option. So he’s unprepared when the new girl, Ida May, requests to partner with him on a school project. And he is even more unprepared when the project she wants to work on reveals a mysterious message left on a cassette tape—one that leads the pair to a box buried in Alex’s front yard.
Soon, Alex finds himself knee-deep in a mystery he wanted no part of. Urged on by his therapist and Ida May, he’s forced to step out of his carefully created comfort zone to untangle the complicated history he and Ida May have uncovered. But the more time Alex spends with Ida May, the more he wonders if the friendship growing between them is real or if she’ll leave as soon as the mystery is solved. As he and Ida May close in on the answers they’ve been searching for, Alex begins to understand that not everything is as it seems on the surface, and that maybe he doesn’t have to hide his OCD—or himself—from the world.
Content Warning: bullying, anxiety attacks, mental health, severed finger
About the Author:
Danielle Herzog works in education (former school counselor) by day, and by night, she’s a kid lit writer, freelance writer, speaker, mother and member of one ridiculously insane large Italian family. And by insane, she’s referring to aunts that still pinch her cheeks, and uncles who slap her husband’s face when they say hello. She has about thirty cousins whose names are Godfather characters.
As a freelance writer, she has written everything from parenting articles to restaurant reviews, to the style section, to book reviews, and, her favorite – education and mental health. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, Parenting, The Huffington Post, Mamalode, AOL, What to Expect, Barnes & Noble, and Nickelodeon, as well as other national and local publications. She’s spoken and led workshops on counseling and education, writing and blogging, as well as provided on-air reporting and corresponding for various television shows.