Secret of the Andes (novel)

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

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Secret of the Andes is a children's novel by Ann Nolan Clark. It won the 1953 Newbery Medal.^[1]

Plot summary

Cusi, a modern Inca boy, leaves his home high in the Andes mountains to learn the mysterious secret of his ancient ancestors. Accompanied by his pet llama, Misti, he slowly discovers the truth about his birth and his people's ancient glory. Now he must prove himself worthy to be entrusted with the fabulous secret from the past.^[2]

Historical accuracy

Secret of the Andes is historical fiction. Some events were inspired by real events in history. In reality, the Inca King (Ataulpa) at one time was held for ransom by the Spaniards. However, llamas were not a part of the ransom, and the form of the gold was primarily solid, not gold dust. ^[3]

Themes

Themes of Secret of the Andes include racial identity, preservation of historical cultures, adoption, animal guides, royal lineage, and the Spanish conquest and betrayal of the Incan Empire.

Newbery Medal

E. B. White's Charlotte's Web was a runner-up for the Newbery Medal the year Secret of the Andes won the award.^[4] According to a 2008 article by children's literature expert Anita Silvey in the School Library Journal, one member of the Newbery committee stated that she voted for Secret of the Andes rather than Charlotte's Web "because she hadn't seen any good books about South America." Silvey further commented, "The Secret of the Andes is a good book; Charlotte's Web, the best."^[5]

References

^ Newbery Award & Honor Winners: 1953 Winner & Honorees[1]
^ Clark, Ann (1976). Secret of the Andes. Puffin. pp. Opening Text. ISBN 0140309268.
^ Innes, Hammond (1969). The Conquistadors. HarperCollins. ISBN 0002111454.
^ Strauss, Valerie (December 16, 2008). "Critics Say Newbery-Winning Books Are Too Challenging for Young Readers". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
^ Silvey, Anita (October 1, 2008). "Has the Newbery Lost Its Way?". School Library Journal. Retrieved January 4, 2017.

Awards
Preceded by Ginger Pye	Newbery Medal recipient 1953	Succeeded by ...And Now Miguel

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[1] Newbery Award & Honor Winners: 1953 Winner & Honorees[1]

[2] Clark, Ann (1976). Secret of the Andes. Puffin. pp. Opening Text. ISBN 0140309268.

[3] Innes, Hammond (1969). The Conquistadors. HarperCollins. ISBN 0002111454.

[Strauss-4] Strauss, Valerie (December 16, 2008). "Critics Say Newbery-Winning Books Are Too Challenging for Young Readers". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 2, 2012.

[Silvey-5] Silvey, Anita (October 1, 2008). "Has the Newbery Lost Its Way?". School Library Journal. Retrieved January 4, 2017.

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v t e Newbery Medal–winning works
1922–1925	The Story of Mankind (1922) The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle (1923) The Dark Frigate (1924) Tales from Silver Lands (1925)
1926–1950	Shen of the Sea (1926) Smoky the Cowhorse (1927) Gay Neck, the Story of a Pigeon (1928) The Trumpeter of Krakow (1929) Hitty, Her First Hundred Years (1930) The Cat Who Went to Heaven (1931) Waterless Mountain (1932) Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze (1933) Invincible Louisa (1934) Dobry (1935) Caddie Woodlawn (1936) Roller Skates (1937) The White Stag (1938) Thimble Summer (1939) Daniel Boone (1940) Call It Courage (1941) The Matchlock Gun (1942) Adam of the Road (1943) Johnny Tremain (1944) Rabbit Hill (1945) Strawberry Girl (1946) Miss Hickory (1947) The Twenty-One Balloons (1948) King of the Wind (1949) The Door in the Wall (1950)
1951–1975	Amos Fortune, Free Man (1951) Ginger Pye (1952) Secret of the Andes (1953) ...And Now Miguel (1954) The Wheel on the School (1955) Carry On, Mr. Bowditch (1956) Miracles on Maple Hill (1957) Rifles for Watie (1958) The Witch of Blackbird Pond (1959) Onion John (1960) Island of the Blue Dolphins (1961) The Bronze Bow (1962) A Wrinkle in Time (1963) It's Like This, Cat (1964) Shadow of a Bull (1965) I, Juan de Pareja (1966) Up a Road Slowly (1967) From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (1968) The High King (1969) Sounder (1970) Summer of the Swans (1971) Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1972) Julie of the Wolves (1973) The Slave Dancer (1974) M. C. Higgins, the Great (1975)
1976–2000	The Grey King (1976) Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (1977) Bridge to Terabithia (1978) The Westing Game (1979) A Gathering of Days (1980) Jacob Have I Loved (1981) A Visit to William Blake's Inn (1982) Dicey's Song (1983) Dear Mr. Henshaw (1984) The Hero and the Crown (1985) Sarah, Plain and Tall (1986) The Whipping Boy (1987) Lincoln (1988) Joyful Noise (1989) Number the Stars (1990) Maniac Magee (1991) Shiloh (1992) Missing May (1993) The Giver (1994) Walk Two Moons (1995) The Midwife's Apprentice (1996) The View from Saturday (1997) Out of the Dust (1998) Holes (1999) Bud, Not Buddy (2000)
2001–present	A Year Down Yonder (2001) A Single Shard (2002) Crispin (2003) The Tale of Despereaux (2004) Kira-Kira (2005) Criss Cross (2006) The Higher Power of Lucky (2007) Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! (2008) The Graveyard Book (2009) When You Reach Me (2010) Moon Over Manifest (2011) Dead End in Norvelt (2012) The One and Only Ivan (2013) Flora & Ulysses (2014) The Crossover (2015) Last Stop on Market Street (2016) The Girl Who Drank the Moon (2017) Hello, Universe (2018) Merci Suárez Changes Gears (2019) New Kid (2020) When You Trap a Tiger (2021) The Last Cuentista (2022) Freewater (2023) The Eyes and the Impossible (2024)