Ethan Porter wants to grow up to be just like his dad - until a long-lost neighbor family, the Chases, return to their farm community. Dad warns Ethan to stay away from new girl Beth Chase and not to tell Mom. His best friend Milly becomes best friends with the new kids, and Ethan's quiet life turns upside down. Ethan wants to know why Dad doesn't like Beth and why he needs to keep a secret from Mom. Even a visit from his sister can't shake Ethan free of his new troubles, but at least she doesn't make the family drama worse. Their parents are acting weird, and it is all Ethan can do to get to the bottom of this new mess with or without his friends -- though he'd definitely prefer to do it with them. Will Ethan keep his friends and family through this mess? Or will he end up grounded forever with no friends, no truck, and no cat? Don't Tell Your Mother is a story about finding yourself when someone else's rules stifle your sense of self, especially when that comes from within your immediate family.