The Name of this Book Is Secret (The Secret Series) [Paperback]

Pseudonymous Bosch (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: The Secret Series

This is the story about a secret. but it also contains a secret story.


When adventurous detectives, Cass, an ever-vigilant survivalist, and Max-Ernest, a boy driven by logic, discover the Symphony of Smells, a box filled with smelly vials of colorful ingredients, they accidentally stumble upon a mystery surrounding a dead magician's diary and the hunt for immortality.


Filled with word games, anagrams, and featuring a mysterious narrator, this is a book that won't stay secret for long.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In enormous lettering the first page warns: "Do not read beyond this page!" The reason? The book contains a secret so nefarious as to be dangerous even to innocent page-turners daring enough to venture forth. The first few chapters present a tricky little exercise in metafiction in which the story about a secret is revealed as being itself too secret to tell, a ploy sure to tickle more puzzlesome readers. But then the intrusive narrator, who is equal parts snarky and delightful, strikes a deal and deigns to tell the story with fake names in Your Hometown, as long as you agree to "forget everything you read as soon as you read it." Then follows a not terribly shocking story wherein two intrepid kids uncover a mysterious society bent on immortality, which gets them in and out of all manner of trouble. While some may be disappointed that there is no mind-bending secret at the bottom of it all as promised, most junior Da Vinci Coders will likely be having too much fun to notice. Chipman, Ian --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"Equal parts snarky and delightful." (Booklist )

"Equal parts supernatural whodunit, suspense-filled adventure, and evocative coming-of-age tale." (Publishers Weekly )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316113697
• ISBN-13: 978-0316113694
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1 x 7.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (115 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,475 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Literature > Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror > Mysteries, Espionage, & Detectives
  • #27 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Literature > Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror > Thrillers
  • #39 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Literature > Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror > Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic

More About the Author

Pseudonymous Bosch is the anonymous pseudonymous author of the Secret Series. Not much is known about him other than that he has a passionate love of chocolate and cheese and an equally passionate hatred of mayonnaise. Rumors of Boschian sightings are just as frequent and about as reliable as reports of alien abductions. If you ever meet anyone claiming to be Pseudonymous himself he is almost certainly an impostor. The real Pseudonymous is said currently to be hiding in a cave in a remote jungle (although there are contrary reports that he is somewhere in Greenland). You may contact him through his website www.pseudonymousbosch.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW! Bosch is Brilliant!, September 22, 2007

By 

Andrew Perry (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Name of this Book Is Secret (The Secret Series) (Hardcover)

This is truly a great book! It is a wondrous read that I couldn't put down and I didn't want to end. This engaging book pulled me in on the first page and I couldn't let go. It is an amusing, intriguing and well thought out mystery, but it is also an inspiring and magical story. It's like a comedy-action-adventure-mystery with magic. It was pure joy to read and easily the best book I have read this year. I have already begun reading it again. Once you enter the world of Cass and Max-Ernest you will never want to leave. It is a kid's book but like Harry Potter before it, everyone can get wrapped up in the world Bosch creates. I really loved this book and recommend it to anyone who likes to read. This book is a MUST!!!

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is an AMAZING book!, November 12, 2007

By 

Kathleen "Kathleen" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Name of this Book Is Secret (The Secret Series) (Hardcover)

My son begged me to buy this book. I thought it was too long for a 6 year old but he has devoured the book - reading non-stop for 3 days. He loves the dry humor and the way the author keeps stopping the story to make comments. I hope this author writes many more books.

There is even a great website to check out at LB-KIDS.com.

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A joy to read, September 17, 2007

By 

Michael Ravitch (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Name of this Book Is Secret (The Secret Series) (Hardcover)

This is destined to be a classic of children's literature. From the first page this book inspires a feeling of wonder and joy, in both children and adults. It is a book for anyone who loves to read. The pleasure is not just in the well-crafted mystery, but in the exuberant way it is told. Fun, funny, original, stylish, unique, just delightful.