K. D. Capener Books
Hidden by These Walls
Now Available
Hidden by These Walls is young adult fiction for ages 13+. Themes include family secrets, sibling love, trust and friendship, hope and resilience. Set in the 1980s.
Secrets and shadows loom over sixteen-year-old Libby’s life, threatening to shatter the fragile family she tries so hard to protect. Set in the 1980s, Libby’s home is a battleground, her mother’s rage fueled by alcohol and violence. Only her best friend Jake knows the truth, and together they struggle with the ramifications of Libby’s reality. But when Libby’s after-school job exposes her younger
sisters to the same abuse, she knows she can no longer stay silent. Revealing the truth could tear her family apart, but staying quiet could have devastating consequences.
As Libby delves deeper into her parents’ troubled past, she uncovers shocking secrets that force her to take action. With Jake by her side, they make a plan to seek help from a trusted relative. But as they begin to put their plan into action, a friend from school stumbles upon Libby’s secret, and she is faced with a terrifying decision. With time running out, can Libby trust her friends to help her save
her sisters?
Hidden by These Walls is a gripping tale of love, loyalty, and the courage to speak out against injustice. Don’t miss this powerful story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page!
User Reviews
- Melanie Smith – I LOVED this book! It was a difficult topic (domestic abuse), but brings to light realities of those facing physical abuse, especially children. It’s a well written, coming-of-age, bit of teen romance story that kept me reading to find out what happened. The suspense kept me thinking about the book when I couldn’t read it. I liked how it focused on a short time period to keep the momentum going of the storyline. The characters came to life for me and I loved the twist at the end!
- Miss 80s Books – “Hidden By These Walls” is a powerful and emotional debut that truly stayed with me. As someone who grew up in an abusive household, this was at times a difficult read—but also an important one. The subject of child abuse is often hidden or silenced, and K.D. Capener does a remarkable job shedding light on both the pain and the strength of those who endure it.
Set in the late 1980s, the story doesn’t lean too heavily on nostalgia, but rather uses the time period to remind us how different—and often harder—it was for kids in unsafe homes to find help. This isn’t a fast-paced thriller; it’s more of a thoughtful character study that draws you in through the raw, emotional journey of Libby and her sisters.
I really appreciated the author’s sensitivity in opening with a content advisory and closing with helpful resources for readers who may relate to the story. My only small wish is that Libby’s younger sisters had been a bit more fleshed out—but from a YA perspective, it still works beautifully.
A tough but necessary read—heart-wrenching, compassionate, and ultimately hopeful. Thank you to K.D. Capener for this advanced reader copy. My thoughts and opinions are my own. - Hailey – When I say this book exceeded all expectations and captured my interest from the first sentence I mean it! I am honestly not even sure what I thought I was getting myself into by reading this, but all I know is I fell in love with this book and its characters and so glad I read it.
I loved the pacing, it was fast, suspenseful, exciting, heart pounding, but also left room for details, emotion, and depth. From the first chapter I was hooked, the author really knew what she was doing starting it that way. I fast became curious about the characters and worried for them. As you would know from the synopsis this book deals with domestic abuse, so you can see why I would feel that way. Now I know people deal with these types of situations in real life and so that makes this a very difficult topic because it does happen. But I did appreciate the fact that the author did in no way shy away showcasing what these situations look like. From the emotional turmoil, to being physically harmed. Now there was on occasion just the explanation of what had happened to them in the past, but there were also things happening on page. And for me that really helps me understand why they feel the way they do, why they act a certain way, you know just gets you connected to the characters on a deeper level. Sometimes when things are just said and not shown I feel a disconnection to it like it didn’t really happen if that makes sense. And I am no expert but I also think she handled it very well, and in a realistic but hopeful way.
Throughout the story, I felt the characters fear, desperation, and hesitation to get help. There was a range of emotions explored beautifully and deeply, and despite the terrible things happening, there were also moments of love, happiness, courage, and seeing what it can really mean to be loved. I felt terrible for what Libby had to deal with on a day to day basis, and not gonna lie it progressively got worse throughout the book leading to the big ending.
One of my favorite aspects of this story was the dynamics between certain characters. First there is her best friend Jake, who I can definitely see a friends to more in their future 😉 (though this book ends and is a stand alone😂) but anyways he is very supportive, sweet, and brave. Though I do feel bad because he has had to carry the burden of knowing what happens to Libby at home but not able to say anything due to the promise he made her, but he is a big advocate for her saying something. Then there is Libby and her two younger sisters, Anna and Edie. Anna is ten, she is the quiet, studious, good one. Edie is eight and she is the ball of energy, spunky one, who I’m not gonna lie got on my nerves a bit but that’s probably not fair because she shouldn’t have had to deal with the things she did. But I really enjoyed the sweet moments between them just playing games or having fun thought everything was always laced with that ever constant fear. But they all helped each other out, and Libby is a great big sister, protecting them at all costs. Then there is Libby’s boss, Jerri who notices the little things, befriends her and treats her like she’s her own daughter. And Libby does have a few other friends who at the start I thought were surface level but by the end it felt like this tight knit found family group which I loved!
The ending was crazy, and amazing. Extremely climatic with everything coming to a head, but it was full of courage and strength and the love of friends. I hated to see it end but can’t complain too much about the way it did because it was a happy one. All that to say I loved this story, ate it up, and definitely recommend you to pick this one up if you want a heart achingly sad, but beautiful, emotional, and deep story.
Contents: No swearing, domestic abuse, alcoholism - Heidireadsitall – This story is set in the 1980s, which I loved because it gave the whole book this really cool nostalgic feel. But fair warning, it is not always an easy read. Some parts are really hard, but the story needed to be told that way.
Libby completely grabbed my heart from the very first page. I kept wanting to reach into the book and just hug her and tell her everything would eventually be okay. My full “protective aunt” instincts kicked in while reading it.
Her friends were honestly the real heroes of the story. I was cheering for them the whole time and definitely cried with them too. Anna was the sweetest person and I just wanted to wrap her in a blanket and keep her safe. And little Edie… oh my goodness, Edie. That bold, fearless little girl totally stole my heart. I kept finding myself whispering “oh Edie” while reading because you can just tell she’s going to grow up and do amazing things.
What I really appreciated is that the book doesn’t pretend life is perfect. It’s raw and real and sometimes painful, but it’s also full of hope. I also loved that it showed step-parents in such a positive light. It reminds you that family and love can show up in unexpected ways. And one of the biggest messages that stuck with me was that even when life feels really dark, asking for help can lead you somewhere better.
By the end, it felt like these characters were real people I knew. I’m definitely going to be thinking about Libby, Anna, Edie, and the people who stood up for them for a long time. - Christina King – A powerful and emotional debut from Capener. Libby’s story is absolutely heartbreaking and a powerful reminder that we never truly know what someone is going through, and that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. I cried, I cheered, and I felt deeply connected to Libby and her journey. As a mom myself, parts of this were hard to read and emotionally heavy, but they felt so, so important. Whether you’re eighteen or eighty, this story is moving, necessary, and unforgettable. I highly recommend it.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What age group is this for? 13+
- Is Hidden by These Walls the first of a series? No, it is a standalone book.
- Where can I buy it? Online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Kobo, Apple Books, Books A Million and more.
- Are there any content warnings? Topics in the book include alcoholism and abuse. There is no swearing or spice.
- Are you planning on writing more books? Yes! Another book is on its way. Expect it late 2026.
Hidden by These Walls
Hidden by These Walls is young adult fiction for ages 13+. Themes include family secrets, sibling love, trust and friendship, hope and resilience. Set in the 1980s.
URL: https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-These-Walls-K-Capener/dp/B0FWC2XR4Y
Author: K. D. Capener
Name: Hidden by These Walls
Url: https://books2read.com/hidden-by-these-walls
Author: K. D. Capener
ISBN: 979-8999448415
Date Published: 2025
Format: https://schema.org/Paperback
Editor's Rating:
4.9
4.9