Title: The Names We Buried
Author: Mia Siegert
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication date: June 2, 2026
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Summary
Jaden’s seventeenth birthday was supposed to be a celebrational affair. His dad and his boyfriend were taking him to the courthouse to officially change his name and gender. But everything goes wrong once they get there. The clerk claims that all of Jaden’s documents are forged and his dad gets arrested.
To try to bring some clarity, Jaden takes a DNA test. However, the test shows that he isn’t biologically related to his dad. In fact, his DNA matches a couple whose child was kidnapped seventeen years ago. Now, Jaden has to reconcile with his identity once again, and look at his life with a new lens.
Review: The Names We Buried
Thanks to NetGalley and Scholastic for an advanced copy of The Names We Buried by Mia Siegert to review! The premise of this one struck me as interesting when I saw it on NetGalley, so I was excited to jump into this thriller. For the most part, I’d say that it didn’t disappoint!
Jaden’s very complicated story unfolds in this book, as he realizes that the mother he grew up with wasn’t everything he thought she was. This book tackles a lot of difficult issues, like identity, family, relationships, and criminal behavior. At times, it almost feels like the story is trying to tackle too much; I think this especially shows in some of the conversations that Jaden has with his best friend, Terri, around racial issues. They are important, but they don’t feel as fluid with the rest of the story.
The best aspect of this book is definitely the character development. There is a large cast of characters here, but they all felt distinct and had an important role in Jaden’s life. They help shape Jaden to who he is, and he gets support as he struggles through his new identity. The relationships also help to add tension to the story, building as everything comes together at the end.
All in all, this is a unique thriller that explores important identity topics, as well as familial issues. If you like complex thrillers, then this book is absolutely for you!
4/5 stars