The Secret of the Indian (1989)

I realised quickly while reading this that, as a child, I didn't get any further than this book. I ended up skimming as an adult, too: whatever interest and enchantment I found in the first book or two was gone, by this point. I started to feel like it'd kind of jumped the shark. ( )

The Secret of the Indian

In the Secret of the Indian, Patrick (Omri’s friend) goes to Texas. Patrick goes to Texas because he wants to see Boone (Patrick and Omri’s friend) and his hometown. But soon Patrick discovers that Texas is not the right place for him. While in Texas he gets in some trouble including a saloon fight, comes across bad weather, and finds one of his friends unconscious. But during this adventure Patrick meets some nice people like Ruby Lou and Tickle. Meanwhile back in England Omri is trying to think of ways to hide Patrick in Texas (from all the adults). Omri lets another person in on the big secret Patrick’s cousin Emma. Omri decides to bring Patrick back and Patrick brings back something terrible that may destroy everything in England.

We recommend this book for anyone to read because it is thrilling and will have you biting your nails. So read this fantastic book, The Secret of the Indian. ( )

The Secret of the Indian is the third book in Lynne Reid Banks' popular Indian in the Cupboard series. I recently read the series all the way through and although this one is a fun read, I felt that it didn't quite live up to its potential. A new person is brought into the secret: Patrick's cousin Emma. It's a pity that Banks didn't expand Emma's role more than she did, because it would have been very interesting to see how differently young boys and young girls would react to the magic of the cupboard. As it is, we do see Emma interact with a little person for one or two scenes, but nowhere near enough. I also thought Tamsin could have been played up more as the bratty cousin who drives you crazy (don't we all have cousins/relatives like that?).

All in all, I enjoyed this story but it felt like a "sequel" with many of the negative connotations of that term. It clearly sets up for another story (very little, if anything, is resolved in this tale). There is another great character introduced in the person of Ruby Lou, but even she can't redeem this tale from being my fourth-favorite of the series. Still, an entertaining book and one I will certainly read with my kids. ( )

PLEASE use this book as an opportunity to talk about stereotypes of "grunting indians" and point out that First People are certainly hurt by that. The premise of a story can be quite attractive and we do all feel that (this story is beloved by those who grew up with it for good reason), and children need to know that it is make-believe and unfair to others in their society to assume otherwise.

Another fun addition to The Indian in the Cupboard series. The new characters are a lot of fun - who wouldn't adore Ruby Lou - but the ending is so contrived that older readers will be hard-pressed not to roll their eyes. ( )