Reviews

The Secret of the Indian by Lynne Reid Banks

magic_at_mungos's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

3.25

zenithharpink's review

challenging reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

This book picks up right where the last one left off, and it wasn't any better. Except for the first book, I really haven't enjoyed the series. Omri is okay, but none of the other characters are likable. They all just manipulate Omri to get what they want, including the figures. The cyclone was oddly left outstanding, and the plot was nonexistent. 

I don't recommend this book, read the first book, skip the rest. 

kitsuneheart's review

3.0

It really feels like this book should have been combined with "Return of the Indian." It's short, not much happens, and what does happen is pretty much all a direct result of the events of the previous book. In that it begins about six hours after that book ends, and completes the plot of the Iroquois injured in Little Bear's battle. The only reason I can imagine that they're not combined is that the books were published four years apart, so perhaps Banks hadn't intended to write a third, but, but then thought "you know what I didn't do yet? Get Boone a lady-friend."

And that's pretty much the only thing of note that happens in this story. Boone gets married. There, I saved you an hour or two of reading.

Yes, the general quality of writing is maintained, but that doesn't matter when the plot just lays there. Unresponsive. A real disappointment after the first two books in the series.

kimball_hansen's review

4.0

I've read this book a ton, don't remember how many times as a youth.

Update for November 2020: 4 stars

The little explanation of the first two books that the author gave in chapter two same necessary.

I didn't realize that Emma has which cousin found out about it the toys coming to life too. And I forgot that Boone and Ruby Lou got married.

Why is it called the Secret to the Indian? What is the Indians secret? I always thought that was a wrong title.

samama's review

4.0

This book was a little boring in the first few chapters but then it got interesting. I like this book.

I wish I had a magical key like the one Omri had! :D

cieralegue's review

5.0

ended at a good part even though it wasnt a full drive you up the wall fustrated cliffhanger still had things to tie up in my opinion

katie_hill22's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

aotora's review against another edition

4.0

This one wasn't bad. But since it takes place a few hours after the last book I feel like they could've easily been combined into one- especially because it's a rather short story when you take out the recap.

The story is okay, though some parts are rather baffling - like Patrick's parents never checking in with Omri's parents and never reporting their child missing - they just accepted that he was with them and that he will come home eventually-

Ruby Lou and Tickle were really cool and funny characters though and I enjoyed them greatly. Matron was an okay character too.

The ending was fine but the cupboard is getting more and more busted every book and it can now suddenly transfer tornados from the past- that was just weird I guess. Also I love how a branch hit the head of the principal in the end just so nobody would believe him when he mentioned little people again.

It's an okay book but it wasn't as good as the first two.

locke_reads's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

jselliot's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted slow-paced

3.5

The first and the fourth are by and far the best books of this series that I've read, though I found out through StoryGraph that there even is a fifth book. Will have to check it out. As a series-wide review, though, the Indian in the Cupboard series firmly captures a sense of whimsy, adventure, and discovery while also holding a sense of wonder for the past and the people that came before the reader. It isn't necessarily perfectly historically accurate in the portrayal of those past characters, but it does endear the reader to them.