Sunday, April 19, 2009

The Valley of Secrets

The Valley of Secrets is by Charmian Hussey. Stephen Lansbury never knew his parents. So he is surprised when he receives a letter saying he has inherited a large estate from his great-uncle Theodore. Upon arriving at Lansbury Hall, two things immediately strike Stephen: the exotic plant life that seems to bloom everywhere, and the meticulous upkeep of the old manor. When Stephen finds the water-stained journals of his uncle’s youthful travels up the Amazon River, the unusual greenery suddenly makes sense. But who (or what!) is maintaining the tidy kitchen garden and replenishing his woodbox? As Stephen pours over his uncle’s journals, his curiosity and apprehension grow. Are plants the only thing Uncle Theodore brought back from the rain forest all those years ago?

Ratings: 7th grade - 9 out of 10.

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