Roberto “Tito” Otero debuts in juvenile literature with “La Secreta”, a novel that combines adventure and historical memory to invite new generations to believe in the power of collective action. The story follows three adolescents, Eva, Josefa, and Pachín, who form a secret society to address social injustices.
The idea for the book began during the pandemic, when Otero observed the controversy over school meals and the impact of the economic crisis on vulnerable communities, particularly Dominican residents on the island. The novel includes diverse characters, including a Dominican boy and a trans girl, and explores themes of solidarity and citizen mobilization.
Otero cited the influence of Argentine writer Ricardo Piglia, particularly his essay “Teoría del complot”, which explores the idea of secret societies as spaces capable of imagining alternative universes that transform reality. The novel also touches on events like the 2019 summer protests, although Otero did not intend to write a direct recreation of those events.