The Name of this Book Is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch, Gilbert Ford (Illustrator), Gilbert Ford (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

Warning: this description has not been authorized by Pseudonymous Bosch. As much as he'd love to sing the praises of his book (he is very vain), he wouldn't want you to hear about his brave 11-year old heroes, Cass and Max-Ernest. Or about how a mysterious box of vials, the Symphony of Smells, sends them on the trail of a magician who has vanished under strange (and stinky) circumstances. And he certainly wouldn't want you to know about the hair-raising adventures that follow and the nefarious villains they face. You see, not only is the name of this book secret, the story inside is, too. For it concerns a secret. A Big Secret.

Publishers Weekly

Blending the offbeat humor of Lemony Snicket and insight into the preadolescent psyche à la Jerry Spinelli with the captivating conundrums of Blue Balliett, the debut novel from a pseudonymous author is equal parts supernatural whodunit, suspense-filled adventure and evocative coming-of-age tale. When an unlikely pair of 11-year-old outsiders-survivalist Cassandra and aspiring stand-up comedian Max-Ernest-team up to solve a mystery surrounding the alleged death of an old magician and the strange and wondrous possessions he left behind, they unwittingly cross paths with the villainous Dr. L and his ageless accomplice Ms. Mauvais, who are obsessed with finding the magician's notebook. After the diabolical duo shows up at Cass and Max-Ernest's school, one of their classmates (a gifted artist named Benjamin) goes missing. Convinced that Benjamin has been kidnapped and faces mortal danger, Cass and Max-Ernest track the doctor and his glove-wearing sidekick to an exclusive and remote "sensorium" cum spa, where they uncover an arcane, alchemical, potentially apocalyptic bombshell. Relayed by an often witty, sometimes arch narrator, and loaded with brainteasers-anagrams, coded messages, palindromes and more-as well as such bounty as a brief and idiosyncratic history of Benito Mussolini, the definition of synesthesia and how Earl Grey tea got its name, Bosch's deliberately eccentric offering is likely to acquire a cult following. Ages 8-12. (Oct.)

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6- This delightful mystery (Little, Brown, 2007) by Pseudonymous Bosch is about a secret that can't be revealed. In fact, the narrator takes great pains not to reveal too much information throughout the book, even telling the audience to "forget everything as soon as I tell it." As the story unfolds, Cassandra (not her real name!) has come upon a puzzling box of "smells" and a message from a dead magician. Cassandra and Max-Ernest (not his real name either) embark on an exciting adventure that involves a strange notebook written in secret code, a magician who has inexplicably disappeared, and a "golden lady" who seems to be ageless and will do whatever she can to stay that way. David Pittu does a wonderful job of voicing the quirky narrator and gives each character a distinct and appropriate voice. This enjoyable tale will appeal to mystery fans who relish cracking riddles and solving puzzles.-Amy Joslyn, Fairport Public Library, NY

Kirkus Reviews

Though less common than their Harry Potter brethren, the Lemony Snicket imitators continue to crop up. Max-Ernst and Cassandra weren't likely friends from the start. Cass has pointy ears and wants to be prepared for every emergency (hence the backpack full of supplies she always carries). As for Max-Ernst, he can't stop talking. No one can diagnose the source of this problem, and it makes him a bit of a social pariah. When Cass discovers the mysterious accoutrements of a dead magician, she enlists Max-Ernst's help in determining whether or not the posthumous illusionist left clues amongst his belongings asking for help. What the kids discover instead is a cult of powerful men and women bent on immortality that will stop at nothing to preserve (one way or another) their way of life. The title references the tone of Lemony Snicket time and time again without ever conjuring up the same wit and wisdom. The story line is often engaging, but its ubiquitous narrative trope comes across as more annoying than insightful. (Fiction. 9-12)

Product Details

• ISBN: 0316113662
  
• ISBN-13: 9780316113663
• Format: Hardcover, 384pp
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Pub. Date: October 2007
• Edition Description: REV
• Sales Rank: 7,633
• Age Range: 8 to 12