The Key to the Indian (An Avon Camelot Book) [Paperback]

Lynne Reid Banks (Author), James Watling (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

It all started with Lynne Reid Banks's The Indian in the Cupboard, the enchanting, suspenseful story of toy figures brought to life through the magic of a cupboard and a special key. Three sequels followed this popular novel--The Return of the Indian, The Secret of the Indian, and The Mystery of the Cupboard--and The Key to the Indian is next in line. At first Omri was alone with his secret of the toy figures and the surprising appearance of the 18th-century Iroquois Little Bear. One day, however, his father finds the figures in his son's room, and locks them in the special cupboard: "Of course they'd come to life inside, and his dad had put a lot of twos and twos from the past together, and realized. And later he'd seen them, been introduced to them. And accepted it.... It took a special kind of grownup not only to accept magic when he saw it but to promise and swear that he'd never, ever tell a living soul." What Omri and his father both now know about is the terrible plight of the Iroquois people during the 18th century--and that Omri's new friend Little Bear is in urgent need of help. Father and son attempt to travel back in time... but things go horribly wrong. They persist for the sake of Little Bear, but at great risk. With history, magic, humor, and all the surprising twists readers have come to expect from Banks, The Key to the Indian will absorb young readers through the very last page. (Ages 9 and older) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Only die-hard fans will want to enter this fifth series installment of the adventures that began with The Indian in the Cupboard. Newcomers will find it too confusing to penetrate (the artful little synopses at the beginning notwithstanding) and casual admirers of the series may decide that Banks has finally stretched her premise too thin. Now that Omri's father is privy to the time-traveling secrets of Omri's cupboard and to the magic that brings his toys to life, he eagerly joins Omri on life-threatening adventures and keeps their activities a secret from the rest of the family. He wants to help Omri keep their promise to the Indian toy-cum-18th-century-Mohawk-chief Little Bear to help lead his tribe to safety in the face of threats from the treacherous English. First, however, they have to solve various logistical problems?like getting another magic key to the past. Banks strews the plot with red herrings and dead ends, and the most interesting questions?namely, how to help Little Bear?are watered down with easily solved dilemmas (e.g., Dad is worried about the effects of tampering with the past, but all he finally has to do is read up on Mohawk history and tell Little Bear the best alternative). A few other 11th-hour disclosures suggest an end to the series; indeed, this soil has been farmed too long. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (September 8, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380803739
• ISBN-13: 978-0380803736
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #250,269 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the Indian in the Cupboard books are still good, December 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Key to the Indian (An Avon Camelot Book) (Hardcover)

All the books Indian in the Cupboard series are good, but this, the latest, is one of the best. I liked how Omri's dad finds out about Little Bear and the others.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Legacy of the Longhouse, May 20, 2002

By	Plume45 "kitka12345" (Westchester, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Key to the Indian (An Avon Camelot Book) (Paperback)

Will this be the ultimate Going Back adventure for Ormi, the brave and clever boy who discovered the secret of the Indian--and a special cupboard? There is a twist this time, however, as Omri's father is in on the secret and the action. But Time Travel is hazardous even for adults; there are serious dangerss both to the travelers and those they visit in the Past.

Little Bear's people are threatened with annihilation by American colonists; can 20th century British allies help them--or should they even try? It's an ethical dilemma: to balance respect for the integrity of the Past with loyalty to one's friends. In this fast-paced story the author examines the grim history of Native American vs White relations, allowing the
reader to make the final judgment. But is it fair to exclude patient Mom--who passed on the family Gift to her son? And how to keep his meddling brothers in the dark as well? Family dymamics are both amusing and thought-provoking in this tale of honor and treachery, selfishness and altruism. Thanks to its deftly developed plot, THE KEY lives up to the promise of the first book in this delightful series. It's a story of Miniatures offering Maximum enjoyment. Kids of all ages will be immediately hooked.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars book club in Connecticut, February 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Key to the Indian (An Avon Camelot Book) (Hardcover)

We enjoyed reading this book. However, we thought it was a bitconfusing in the beginning. We recommend that you read the Indian inthe Cuboard before reading The Key to the Indian. END