BOOK REVIEW: Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark

 

TITLE: Secret of the Andes
AUTHOR: Ann Nolan Clark

PUBLISHER: Puffin
DATE OF PUBLICATION: October 28, 1976 (first published 1952)
FORMAT: Paperback, 128 pages
GENRE: Historical Fiction, Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 978-0140309263

SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS: 

An Indian boy who tends llamas in a hidden valley in Peru learns the traditions and secrets of his Inca ancestors.

MY REVIEW: 

I read this book aloud to my children. It won the 1953 Newbery Medal.

This story is about an Incan boy named Cusi, who lives in a hidden valley in the Andes Mountains of Peru. It is a lonely life for him, with only an older man named Chuto and the pack of llamas that they care for as companions. A wandering minstrel comes to the valley one day, and he notices the golden “earplugs” (a spool-shaped ornament that made of gold that is inserted into the earlobe to stretch it) in Cusi’s ears and comments that the legends are true. Cusi has no idea what he is talking about, and he does not realize that his golden earplugs are a symbol of royal blood. Because he lives in seclusion on the mountain, he does not come into contact with other boys and does not realize that he is different.

Cusi eventually learns more about his culture and heritage. I generally enjoy books of this nature, but this book was a little slow for me.

MY RATING: 2 stars! Meh, it was just "ok."

This book qualifies as: 
#104 for my 2011 100+ Reading Challenge

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