Secret of the Andes

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 5 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #2,892 in Arts , #67,023 overall

The 1953 Winner of the Newbery Medal

The Secret of the Andes is a classic of children's literature. The Secret of the Andes won the Newbery Medal in 1953.

Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark is a short, culturally rich novel about the life of a young boy who lived in the Andes Mountains in Peru, South America. This novel gives educators an opportunity to introduce South American Incan culture to young children.

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Meet Cusi of the Andes Mountains in Peru 

... an Incan boy living high in the Andes Mountains.

Cusi, the protagonist of this novel, is a young Incan Indian boy who has lived in a hidden valle, high in the Andes Mountains, all his life. He knows nobody but his guardian, Chuto. Together thy herd and breed llamas.

Every year they shear the animals so that Chuto can take the llama wool to market. While Chuto visits the cities below, Cusi has never been off the top of the mountain.

But things are about to change. For the first time, Cusi is invited to go with Chuto to take the llama wool to the city. Instead of looking down at a distant family home to see other people, now he'll be able to walk among them and talk to them.

In this novel Cusi is able to make two trips to the city. He learns lessons about people, about his parents, and about himself.

The Need for Family - A Universal Theme. 

... doesn't every child wants to know where he came from?

The theme of this book is the powerful urge to know family, to be part of a culture group, and to know your purpose for being alive.

At the beginning of the book Cusi doesn't know who his parents are. He's never been with anyone but Chuto, so far as he can remember. He gets to meet a woman who might be his mother but also has to accept her death. He learns that his purpose does not lie with the others who live outside his mountain paradise.

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Videos of Peru and the Andes Mountains 

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Underwater Anomalies in the An...

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ALIEN BODY RECOVERED IN THE AN...

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Sunrise over the Andes Mountai...

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Carhuaz Travel Peru Andes Sier...

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Peruvian Andes Montain Road Tr...

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Trekking Inca Trail Part 1- fl...

Runtime: 6:28 | 11400 views | Comments

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Machu Picchu: Travel Peru-Trav...

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Peru 2005 Part 4a: At the Top ...

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Ancient Temple Discovered in P...

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Pictures of Peru and the Andes Mountains 

... what a view!

Un Camino Espinoso / A Thorny Path by Miguel Vera

Un Camino Espinoso /...

Camino al Arco Iris 2 / Road to the Rainbow 2 by Miguel Vera

Camino al Arco Iris...

la catedral 1.1 by ruben i

la catedral 1.1

urubamba by ruben i

urubamba

Chocolat Bonnat. Marfil de Blanco by EverJean

Chocolat Bonnat. Mar...

 by ruben i

la plaza by ruben i

la plaza

 by ruben i

 by ruben i

Party Pano by Aleks Clark

Party Pano

A Few Links: Peru and the Andes Mountains 

... links to explore.

Peru - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
All about Peru - from our favorite online encyclopedia type site.
Peru - Photographs
A collection of photographs taken in Peru, including images of Machu Picchu, Pisac, Cuzco, Puno, Nazca and Arequipa.
Andes Mountains Peru
Spotlight on the Andes Mountains from a Peruvian website.

Coca Leaves 

... a part of Incan culture.

It seems that a lot of Newbery Medal winners are chosen because they illuminate various world or historic cultures. This book is an excellent introduction to Andean culture for young readers. I was surprised, however, at the frequent mention of Coca leaf use by Cusi and his guardian, Chuto. I always considered Coca leaves to be the natural form of cocaine. I did some research on this and discovered that Coca leaves are for sale on the internet, and it is not illegal for Americans to buy them. Coca leaf tea is said to energize, brighten moods, help digestion, regulate the metabolism of carbohydrates, and alleviate fatigue and altitude sickness. It is an important part of Incan culture that Ann Nolan Clark wanted people to know about.

More children's novels I recommend... 

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July 2008 Featured Lens

This lens was the July 2008 featured lens on the Newbery Award Winning Books lens.

Thanks for visiting my lens about Secret of the Andes. 

I've been reading novels for children for the last fifteen years, and now have written a few myself. It started when my children were young - I wanted to read novels like this one out loud to them. We had a lot of fun with it. I've found a lot of children's novels focus on foreign cultures. I recommend this as a way to teach your children about people in other lands.

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Secret of the Andes is now included on the The Isle of Squid where you can leave a review of this lens.

Your comments are welcome. 

Let me know what you think.

cowgirlup1123 wrote...

*****5*****STARS***** Wow me being a book lover and a kid I will have to get that book thanks!!!!!!!!!

ReplyPosted July 09, 2008

Pantherart wrote...

Great lens I sure that you will get blessed

ReplyPosted July 04, 2008

awelldressedbullet wrote...

Hi Linda, well done! - Kathy

ReplyPosted June 17, 2008

 


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