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The Name of This Book Is Secret (by Pseudonymous Bosch)

common sense media says

Mild mystery tries too hard to be Lemony Snicket.


parents & educators say
  • 29% say there are positive role models
  • 29% say there are positive messages

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that there is little to be concerned about here: one mild expletive, some indirectly referenced violence, and children sneaking out on adventures.

Positive messages: Children are not honest with their parents and guardians.
Violence: A reference to a story about a monk who cut off his own eyelids. Some people may have been killed in a fire.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: One use of "dammit."
Consumerism: One disparaging reference to McDonald's.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on The Name of This Book Is Secret

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the various types of secret codes used in the book, including keyword codes and anagrams -- and maybe play around with some secret codes for a little family fun. Which types of secret code appeal to you most? Can you make up a secret code?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Cass carries around a backpack with survival gear, supposedly because her father was killed by lightning, except he wasn't, so it's not really an excuse. Max-Ernest is an incessant chatterbox, which lands him in therapy and social pariah-hood. They team up to look into a mysterious coded message left in the belongings of an elderly magician who apparently died in a fire.

What they find is a group of mysterious immortals who kidnap children with synesthesia, for reasons that never become completely clear, but are apparently connected to their method of prolonging life. When a boy from their school is kidnapped, they decide to try to rescue him.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
The fun part is the mystery: Children with a taste for this kind of thing will enjoy the clues and codes, and will wish for more of them. Some will be immediately obvious to many kids, while others are more clever, but this part of the story is a fairly humorous romp. The dreary part is the author's voice: Apparently trying to take a leaf from Lemony Snicket's books, he gives incessant warnings about how dangerous it is to read the book; this, combined with the utter lack of anything that justifies the build-up, comes across as lame at best and annoying at worst.

The sum of these parts, along with some plot holes and lapses in logic, make for a book that is modestly entertaining at times and irritating at others. But given the dearth of books in this particular genre of lighthearted mysteries involving codes and a touch of the supernatural, kids who loved Lemony Snicket's or Blue Balliett's books will want to read this too.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Pseudonymous Bosch
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Publication date: October 1, 2007
Number of pages: 360
Hardcover price: $17.99
Read Aloud: 9
Read Alone: 10

This review was written by Matt Berman
 
 

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What parents & educators say

9
Based on 7 parent & educator reviews:
  • 29% say there are positive role models
  • 29% say there are positive messages
  • 29% say it's educational

Most useful reviews by all members

Lipstick6
parent of 8 year old
 
I wouldn't recommend this for any age group.
Awful book. Besides being unoriginal and boring, starting on page 50, there is a blatant message encouraging children to lie to their parents, saying that its okay if you think your parents wont approve of what you are doing or where you are going. I read every book before my son does, and this one and any of the other ones written by this particular author is being banned in our household. I'm not an overly strict parent, but any author who sits there and has the audacity to expose my child to poor language, dishonest actions, and lifestyle choices that are contrary to our beliefs is not welcome in my house.

banerjeeolivia
teen, 14 years old
 
IT'S SUPERB AND THERE IS NO HARM IN ANYONE READING IT.

dogsrule9876
teen, 14 years old
 
Different but GOOD plot line and writing style.
AMAZING BOOK!! If you are bored with the normal plot line then you should read this. The way he writes is very funny, different, and interesting. Great book!

Jojano
parent of 8 and 10 year old
 
A great "suspenseful" book that isn't too scary
My son (10 yrs) just finished reading this whole series. I think he liked it better than Lemony Snicket which is so dark. I read the first few books of The Secret series just to make sure that it is appropriate. I thought it was fine for my 10 year old, not as dark at The Unfortunate Events Series. The main female character does lie to her parents and sneak around a bit, but it's all "to save the world" which is exactly what she and her new friend are trying to do. I would not recommend this book for kids younger than 9. My 8 year old daughter would not do well with the suspenseful content of this book. It is great however for my son that is ready for something a little scarier and suspenseful.

♥Basketball♥Chick♥
teen, 14 years old
 
Best Book Written By Far!!
I love this book! i would recommend it to any kid thats in for a mystery. Some parts are confusing but you soon understand it. Its a great story about the adventure of finding what killed a magician. Best book i have read by far.

kelton10
teen, 14 years old
 
wow
wow. (that is what you will say when you start reading) really good writing

coolmia23
teen, 15 years old
 
i love this book read all three books fantastic!!!!!!!!

BTlove
kid, 12 years old
 
Best Book.....EVER
This is my new favorite book, I am on book 4 in the series now, I am TOTALLY adictted

Reverie Rose
teen, 14 years old
 
AWESOME
I loved this book. It was the title that made me want to read it. It just makes you want to read it. When I read it at the bookstore, I walked out of the front door without paying for it since I was too much in the story. When I got home, I was so into the story, I could not set it down at all; I swear that the book was glued to my hands, and my eyes stuck reading the pages. This. Book. Is. AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grace72
kid, 13 years old
 
Best Book EVER!
Its the best book EVER! When I got it first I did'nt really read it for a while because it looks huge but once I got to the 2nd chapter I started to enjoy it so I read more and more and its just the best book Ever! I keep saying that but its true! There is 2 other books like "The Name Of The Book Is Secret" they are like a follow on. If your looking for a good,funny and non-stop reading book chose "The Name Of The Book Is Secret"

HP10geance
teen, 14 years old
 
I LOVE THIS BOOK ! It has good vocabulary and the writer made this book really interesting to read! I can't stop reading after i started ! It even has codes to break ! Totally AWESOME ! It is so BRAVE of Cass and Max-Ernest to save Benjamin. :D

bookwormwriter
teen, 15 years old
 
One of the best books written
I love this book! I've read it numerous times, to myself and to my little brother. Even my twenty-year-old sister likes it, and the sequels. They are witty, funny, and clean. They're are some parts that could be a little creepy for little kids, but that's the only thing that could be wrong with this book. Happy reading! :)

FrenchIsPretty
kid, 13 years old
 
Perfect for kids 10 and up.
I LOVE this book. It's really, really suspenseful and super fun! I don't understand why people are saying that Pseudonymous Bosch (a.k.a. Raphael Simon) was trying "too hard" to be Lemony Snicket. This author IS Lemony Snicket. He has many disguised names.

Ktwaffles
teen, 15 years old
 
<3 Best book EVER!
I LOVE this book! The whole series is awesome! At first, I thought the characters were a little boring, but you have to keep reading! Pseudonymous Bosch is sooo hilarious! I don't know how anyone could dislike his books! :) And psh, okay so one of the characters lies, everyone knows she was stupid, she messed up, and learned her lesson! :{D

Drlrocks
kid, 9 years old
 
Perfect for my age
Cass does everything to solve the mystery and save Benjamin. One sentence says '' Boys always peed loudly''

Kiddie Lil Thing
kid, 13 years old
 
Tweens, teens, kids, even my mom liked it!!!
It's funny, fun, cool, cute...and yet...it's mysterious, dangerous, and the best part...the secrets!

j-buggy
teen, 14 years old
 
Perfect for all ages even you parents
i think that its educational and funnny. i loved these books!!!!!!!!!!!! :^) :^P :^B

DocJ
parent
 
Pause 9 is about right.
Near the beginning of the book, in the second chapter I think, there is a mention of a dead person, "the smell of decomposing flesh," and "corpses." I wasn't comfortable with my 8 year old dealing with imagery of rotting humans, so I returned the book. Your mileage may differ.

BagelBoy1999
kid, 13 years old
 
This book was very good. Even thou it was very long throughout the book I kept on reading more and more because I enjoyed all the mystery and the book. My favorite charector in the book is Mrs. Maurivas because she is creepy and she is an intresting charector. She reminds me of the girl Skyla in the book Becoming Naomi Leon. Because she yells a lot. I can't wait to read Book Two and Three. Pseudonymus Bosh is a great author too!

maidment10
kid, 12 years old
 
Perfect if you get Humor...Child Humor...grades 3 and above.
I love this book! It is a positive page turner! P. Bosch is an awesome writer. I am in fifth grade and already i have finish the whole series and i have a whole list of people who want to be next!!! So read this book it is really funny ; - )

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