Somebody Told Me

A novel of trauma, identity, and survival.

After an assault, bigender seventeen-year-old Aleks/Alexis is looking for a fresh start—so they voluntarily move in with their uncle, a Catholic priest. In their new bedroom, Aleks/Alexis discovers they can overhear parishioners in the church confessional. Moved by the struggles of these "sinners," Aleks/Alexis decides to anonymously help them, finding solace in their secret identity: a guardian angel instead of a victim.

But then Aleks/Alexis overhears a confession of another priest admitting to sexually abusing a parishioner. As they try to uncover the priest's identity before he hurts anyone again, Aleks/Alexis is also forced to confront their own abuser and come to terms with their past trauma.


Genre: Young Adult Fiction

"Somebody Told Me is the heart-wrenching and hopeful look at faith, gender, and sexuality I've been waiting for. It walks a careful balance of funny and thought-provoking, a testament to Siegert's skill. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to any reader wanting a compelling and captivating read, or any teenager dealing with rejection, upheaval, and finding their voice in the world." - Kate Brauning

"Siegert pulls no punches, tackling issues such as abuse of power, and acceptance, head-on in this important page-turning novel." - Helene Dunbar

"Mia Siegert is an explosive talent in YA literature, with a writing style both raw and unflinching. Siegert's bold voice is impossible to forget." - Laurie Elizabeth Flynn