The Secret Language [Paperback]

Ursula Nordstrom (Author), Mary Chalmers (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 13, 1972 | Age Level: 8 and up

At first, Victoria North is miserable at the Coburn Home School. Her housemother is very strict, she's terribly homesick and the other girls don't seem to have any time for a shy new girl.

Then Vicky meets Martha Sherman, and everything changes. Martha introduces Vicky to pie-beds, midnight feasts and all the other wonderful things about boarding school. She even teaches Vicky a secret language that only the two of them share. Soon, with Martha's help, Vicky finds herself thinking of Coburn Home School as home....

Written by acclaimed children's book editor Ursula Nordstrom, this is an enchanting story about two young girls who share a special friendship while away at school.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Eight-year-old Victoria North is dreading boarding school, and it turns out to be worse than she expected. If her paralyzing homesickness weren't enough, a stern, whistle-blowing housemother and unforgiving schoolgirls unlock a faucet of tears that just keeps coming. Partly because Victoria hates the Coburn Home School so much, her quirky and opinionated classmate Martha Sherman takes a liking to the shy new girl. And that's when things start looking up. In Martha's world, the word for wonderful is "leebossa" and sickeningly sweet is "ick-en-spick." Midnight feasts are plotted behind closed doors, a fabulous secret hut springs from old scraps, and a hidden world of tiny dolls emerges in a dresser drawer. Victoria's homesickness and Martha's general obstreperousness gradually evaporate as their friendship cements. Acclaimed children's book editor Ursula Nordstrom adeptly captures the anxious, earnest, mysterious world of the young girl, the wondrous "secret language" of childhood friendships, and the quirky 8-year-old logic that makes lavender a girl color and orange a boy color. Young readers will delight in finding a book that's written just for them, and adults will appreciate a strangely vivid trip back in time. (Ages 8 to 11)

Review

This reissue in paperback of the only novel for young readers written by the legendary Harper children's book editor Ursula Nordstrom, is as fresh today as it was when first published in the 1960s. The story of an unhappy eight-year-old summarily shipped off to boarding school by a beleaguered mother, and of the friendship that she slowly forges with another student will strike a chord with many pre-adolescents - particularly girls. The Chalmers' illustrations in black and white are modest and just right. Parents' Choice Recommended. (Selma G. Lanes, Parents' Choice, 1998) -- From Parents' Choice®

Ursula Nordstrom's gentle, acutely observed picture of the boarding school world catches the essential fascination of that special community and at the same time, deals with certain problems common to any little girl adjusting to a new school. -- The New York Times

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (September 13, 1972)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064400220
• ISBN-13: 978-0064400220
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,016,690 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great childhood book, May 20, 2000

By 

Nancy M. Paschall (Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secret Language (Library Binding)

I read this book again as an adult after havng read it a million times as a child. It still holds the same magic, memories and sweet message. A great book for those times when you wish to go back to that special place in your heart reserved for childhood memories.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book!, June 2, 2004

By 

Travlee (Youngsville, LA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret Language (Paperback)

I cannot remember how many times I checked this book out at the school and public library when I was a girl! I loved the story of Victoria and Martha's friendship and their adventures at the boarding school I think some books just strike a chord in people and this one really did for me. I am thrilled to see that this book is still being published and look forward to buying it for my daughter.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book for youth ages, February 27, 2000

By 

Ms. Castleman (Las Vegas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret Language (Paperback)

This book is great for children! I read it to my 3rd grade class and they loved it. They talked about it for weeks. I recommend children to read this and for teachers to read it to their class!