 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this articlebyadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Secret of the Andes" novel – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
First edition
| |
| Author | Ann Nolan Clark |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Jean Charlot |
| Cover artist | Jean Charlot |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel, Historical fiction |
| Publisher | Viking Press |
Publication date | 1952 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 120 |
| ISBN | 0140309268 |
Secret of the Andes is a children's novel by Ann Nolan Clark. It won the 1953 Newbery Medal.[1]
Cusi, a modern Inca boy, leaves his home high in the Andes mountains to learn the mysterious secret of his ancient ancestors. Accompanied by his pet llama, Misti, he slowly discovers the truth about his birth and his people's ancient glory. Now he must prove himself worthy to be entrusted with the fabulous secret from the past.[2]
Secret of the Andes is historical fiction. Some events were inspired by real events in history. In reality, the Inca King (Ataulpa) at one time was held for ransom by the Spaniards. However, llamas were not a part of the ransom, and the form of the gold was primarily solid, not gold dust. [3]
Themes of Secret of the Andes include racial identity, preservation of historical cultures, adoption, animal guides, royal lineage, and the Spanish conquest and betrayal of the Incan Empire.
E. B. White's Charlotte's Web was a runner-up for the Newbery Medal the year Secret of the Andes won the award.[4] According to a 2008 article by children's literature expert Anita Silvey in the School Library Journal, one member of the Newbery committee stated that she voted for Secret of the Andes rather than Charlotte's Web "because she hadn't seen any good books about South America." Silvey further commented, "The Secret of the Andes is a good book; Charlotte's Web, the best."[5]
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Newbery Medal recipient 1953 |
Succeeded by |
 | This article about a children's historical novel of the 1950s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. See guidelines for writing about novels. Further suggestions might be found on the article's talk page. |
