We are delighted to be revealing the cover for The Cassette Tape Secret, which is written by lifelong educator Danielle Herzog and addresses sensitive subjects with a light touch as middle-grade readers solve a mystery alongside characters who are finding their place in a world that might not easily understand them.
Releasing on October 21st 2025 from Jolly Fish Press, read on to discover the cover (illustrated by Sol Salinas, illustrator’s agent Tina Doffing at Astound, and designer Josh Olson), the synopsis, and Danielle talks about the cover and answers some questions too!
The Cassette Tape Secret is available to pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org and North Star Editions.
Eleven-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.
Here’s what Danielle had to say about her cover: “When I began writing The Cassette Tape Secret, a vivid image for the cover sprang to life in my mind—a cassette tape at the heart of a playful yet mysterious scene that hinted at secrets waiting to be uncovered. I envisioned something that would capture the curiosity of young readers at a glance. Seeing Sol Salinas bring that vision to life was nothing short of magical. It felt as though she had stepped straight into my imagination and translated those abstract ideas into a stunning, eye-catching illustration. What I love most about the cover is how it instantly sparks intrigue—drawing the reader in with the question: What exactly is being unearthed? And how could a dusty, forgotten cassette tape possibly unlock a mystery in this thrilling middle-grade adventure?”
Q: What inspired you to write this book?
I was explaining mix tapes to a group of young people and it was a funny concept to explain to them. How we would wait for our favorite song to come on the radio and as soon as the DJ stopped talking, we’d hit record on our cassette players so we could record it right at the start! I then let my brain run with the thought of a cassette tape and what would happen if middle schoolers of today’s generation found one and it had a super secret message!
Q: What were the biggest challenges you faced writing this book?
The editing! You finish a novel and feel pretty proud of yourself and then you realize how much work it really needs to be the best version of itself. Many editing passes back and forth with the editor to make sure every detail fits and brings the story to life. I am so grateful for the team at Jolly Fish who saw the beauty in the story and wanted to share it with the world.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from this book?
I hope the readers see that we can’t be afraid to be ourselves in this wild world. Everyone has things about themselves that make them different. Whether it is OCD or something else, there is not a human on earth that hasn’t felt like an outsider at some point in their life. I hope this book lets readers know that there’s a friend for everyone out there. Someone who loves us – just as we are.
Q: What is your favorite quote, scene, or moment from your book?
My favorite moments in the book are the conversations between Ida May and Alex that involve cookies. I completely relate to Ida May and her inability to stop eating cookies, even during the most inappropriate time! I also love the moments where we see Alex start to do things more on his own and less at the instructions of his therapist. We get to witness his confidence growing page by page, just as we see Ida May start to show her vulnerability little by little.
About The Author
Danielle Herzog is a lifelong educator who has been a classroom teacher, school counselor, and assistant principal. She is passionate about giving a voice to and advocating for those who deserve to be heard. Additionally, she is a freelance writer whose work has been featured in The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Huffington Post, AOL, What to Expect, and Nickelodeon’s NickMom, as well as other national and local publications. When she actually has a moment of free time, she enjoys being with her husband, two children, and super-clingy dog that she secretly talks to like it’s a human.
