Secret of the Andes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Secret of the Andes

First edition
Author	Ann Nolan Clark
Illustrator	Jean Charlot
Cover artist	Jean Charlot
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Children's novel Historical Fiction
Publisher	Viking Press
Publication date	1952
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	120
ISBN	0140309268

Secret of the Andes is an exciting children's novel written by Ann Nolan Clark. It was published in 1952 and quickly became famous. The book won the important Newbery Medal in 1953. This award is given to the best children's book published in the United States.

What is Secret of the Andes About?

The story follows a young Inca boy named Cusi. He lives high up in the amazing Andes mountains in Peru. Cusi has a special pet, a llama named Misti.

Cusi leaves his mountain home to find out a big secret. This secret is about his ancient ancestors, the Inca people. As he travels, Cusi learns about his own past. He also discovers the amazing history of his people. He must then show that he is ready to protect this important secret.

Is the Story Real?

Secret of the Andes is a type of book called Historical Fiction. This means it mixes real history with made-up characters and events. Some parts of the story are inspired by true events.

For example, the real Inca King, Atahualpa, was once held for ransom by the Spanish. Ransom means money or goods demanded for someone's release. In the book, llamas are part of a ransom. But in real life, llamas were not used for this. Also, the gold used for ransom was mostly solid, not gold dust.

Main Ideas in the Book

The book explores several important ideas, called themes. These themes help us understand the story better.

• Who You Are: The book looks at what it means to be an Inca. It explores cultural identity and finding your place.
• Keeping History Alive: It shows how important it is to protect old traditions. It also talks about keeping historical cultures from being forgotten.
• Family and Belonging: The story touches on adoption and finding your true family.
• Animal Friends: Cusi's llama, Misti, acts as an animal guide. This shows the special bond between humans and animals.
• Royal Bloodlines: The book explores the idea of royal lineage. This means being part of a family that once ruled.
• The Spanish Conquest: It also talks about the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. This includes ideas of betrayal and loss.

The Newbery Medal Win

Secret of the Andes won the Newbery Medal in 1953. This was a big achievement! Another very famous book, Charlotte's Web by E. B. White, was also considered that year.

Some people thought Charlotte's Web was the better book. But one person on the Newbery committee voted for Secret of the Andes. They said it was because they wanted to see good books about South America. Children's literature expert Anita Silvey wrote about this in 2008. She said Secret of the Andes is a good book, but Charlotte's Web is "the best."