Thursday, February 17, 2022

Secret of the Andes

 

Author:  Ann Nolan Clark

Illustrator:  Jean Charlot

Publisher:  Puffin Books

Date Published:  1952

Genre:  Historical Fiction, Middle Grade

Rating:  ⭐



My Thoughts:

-    Here is the synopsis from Goodreads, "An Indian boy who tends llamas in a hidden valley in Peru learns the traditions and secrets of his Incan ancestors." Yup. . . the book is as exciting as that synopsis. Yup. 

-    First of all, the people in the book are Incans, not Indians. I understand that this was written in the fifties, and I know people weren't as aware as they are now. I get it. I don't want to rip the author apart for ignorance, so just be aware that the word "indians" is prominent in the book, and it isn't the correct representation. 

-    I read this book for my Newbery Award challenge. I want to read all the Newbery Award Winners, and I'm reading them in order, and this was next on the list. I am FLABBERGASTED that this book beat Charlotte's Web for the Newbery Award. Just . . . wow . . . it is a TRAVESTY! If I had a time machine, this is something I would fix. Argh!

-    The book is boring. It is dry and it is slow. I was so bored. I was reading this out loud to Gnome, and after a few chapters, she didn't want to continue, so I finished it by myself. 

-    The message of the book is an oldie but a goodie. It is a classic "the grass is greener" type story. I wish it had been presented in a more entertaining and/or meaningful way. 

-    I did it! I finished!


My Thoughts in a GIF:

8 comments:

  1. This book beat out Charlotte's Web? That is a travesty!

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  2. Aw, yeah some of those older books are... problematic. Even though we know that's the case it can still be tough to actually READ them and be reminded of it.

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    1. Ya, it is nice to know how far we've come though.

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  3. I love the gif you chose and I love that there are llamas in it at least. But, sad that it beat out Charlotte's Web.

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    1. Yes, there are a lot of llamas in the book.

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  4. I wonder what the judges based their decision on--why they thought this was more deserving than the other contenders. Maybe the message? Maybe they are afraid of spiders?

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    1. I know! Why why why would they choose something like this over a Charlotte's Web!?

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