For the past nine years, cousins Patrick, Ruth, Ellen, Ted, and Laura have played at "The Secret"-a game full of witches, unicorns, a magic ring an...
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Dec 17, 2009
Wealhtheow
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OMG so awesome. Two siblings and their three cousins fall through a hedge into a magical realm—one they used to pretend was real. Like a non-preachy version of Narnia, but with better characterization and a more intriguing framing device. In fact, each and every character is well-rounded and interesting—I go the feeling that any one of them could carry a story of their own.
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Mar 05, 2008
Katharine
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The Secret Country begins with a very Narnia-esque scenario of five children, cousins, who are accustomed to spend their summers together. And every summer they play the same imaginative game about a fantasy country of magic and intrigue, where they are all princes and princesses. But this summer they are separated and miserable—until they find two magical swords that seem to transport them into their imaginary country made real.
The true genius here is how Pamela Dean intertwines the More...
The true genius here is how Pamela Dean intertwines the More...
Dec 17, 2009
Nancy
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The Secret Country is like Narnia for teenagers (or for people who read YA lit). For the past several years, five children have created a fantasy world called Secret. Then, one year they find our that the world they have created is real. Trapped in Secret, our heroes must play the parts that they have created for themselves in the story. Will they manage to change the plot and prevent the murder of the king?
The Secret Country is a incredibly fun and fascinating fantasy book. In fact, More...
The Secret Country is a incredibly fun and fascinating fantasy book. In fact, More...
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Jan 30, 2010
Delaina
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The Secret Country and The Hidden Land, the first two books in this trilogy, were originally written as one installment (as the author's note explains). I'm not sure who separated them, but they ought to be tightened up and put back together again. Dean's writing is deep and rich, but oddly elliptical. She includes numerous literary and historical asides and quotes (the children devour Shakespeare, which influences their language and play-acting). However intriguing the plot and alive the charac
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Aug 02, 2009
Elizabeth
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Every October I reread Pamela Dean's Tam Lin because it's such a good Halloween book. But this year, I couldn't find my copy of Tam Lin, I'm sure I have it somewhere, but it hasn't resurfaced since we moved last spring. I'm sure it will eventually. Fortuitously, I was able to read The Secret Country instead. It's the first book in a trilogy about five cousins who play an on-going pretend game about a fantasy kingdom, and it becomes real and the kids are shocked and surprised and there they
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Feb 06, 2011
Donna
rated it: 
A group of children end up inside the imaginary world that they created as part of a secret game, and then they experience some of the adventures they used to play.
I liked the characters, and the setting was fun because it fit with how a bunch of kids that age would create a fantasy kingdom, complete with enchanted forests, a wizard's tower, and unicorns. Unfortunately, the rest of the book had some serious issues.
The kids were almost always confused about what was going More...
I liked the characters, and the setting was fun because it fit with how a bunch of kids that age would create a fantasy kingdom, complete with enchanted forests, a wizard's tower, and unicorns. Unfortunately, the rest of the book had some serious issues.
The kids were almost always confused about what was going More...
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Jun 12, 2011
Kate
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It reminded me a lot of the Chronicles of Narnia, except less whimsical and much more detailed. There aren't any easy resolutions in this alternate world, which is more original, I guess, but also more frustrating for the reader who has to wait while the kids just figure out what's going on and how to deal with it. I always tend to read Pamela Dean's books in short little bits, not all in one go, and I don't know why that is. It's not like they're boring, or hard to get into, but it's like the g
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Aug 05, 2010
Rachel
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If you know Pamela Dean’s work at all, it’s usually because of her novel Tam Lin, which is my absolute favorite book in the entire world (and let’s be honest- most people who read my blog have heard me rhapsodize on my utter adoration of Tam Lin on many an occasion). Through that, however, I became acquainted with her Secret Country trilogy, a lighter fantastic romp through a not-quite-imaginary land with five not-quite-magical children. What would you do if your game of make-believe turned ou
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Jun 05, 2008
Anne
rated it:
I tried to read this book a year or so ago but couldn't get into it. Then I picked it up this year and loved it! It's really good, and totally worth it!
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Nov 01, 2011
Elsiekate
rated it:
i confess to this being one of my favorite tropes--people from our world find a way into another, magical world. there is lots of attention paid to details that are sometimes glossed over in other books--how do the times in the various countries line up? what happened to the real people who we are being mistaken for in this world? the five children in the book have created their own country and discover a way to visit it. they have played the game in that country so they know what will happe
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May 30, 2010
Myles
rated it:
I first read this book when I was in grade school and was instantly hooked, and incredibly disapointed to find out it was the first of a trilogy! I ended up losing the book in a move soon after and forgot the title and author for years, only to stumble upon it last year in a used book shop.
A funny thing is that despite the fact I've read this multiple times I have never read the other two books (they're on order now). The Secret Country is one of the best uses of this concept and the humo More...
A funny thing is that despite the fact I've read this multiple times I have never read the other two books (they're on order now). The Secret Country is one of the best uses of this concept and the humo More...
Feb 07, 2011
Arthur
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Imagine a place of Secret where no one else has. Build a mystery around you that explains many things. Imagine you can go into a chanted forest and seek unicorns. Have people at your beck and call living around you with total understanding of your Secret. Imagine things you wished to come true, of what sort of stuff a unicorn can represent, what about simple survival in a castle in such a land and the kinds of things which could happen if you were not a part of the Secret. This is a fantastic bo
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Aug 14, 2011
Orchid
rated it:
Review taken from my blog, The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia
The Secret Country and I have a few years worth of history. The first time I read it, about five years ago, I just fell in love with the world and couldn't sleep after finishing the first book, so I begged (yep, I was that desperate) my mom to get my the next two books so I could know how it would end.
I really like how the book starts out with the main characters, Ted, Laura, and their cousins Patrick, Ruth and E More...
The Secret Country and I have a few years worth of history. The first time I read it, about five years ago, I just fell in love with the world and couldn't sleep after finishing the first book, so I begged (yep, I was that desperate) my mom to get my the next two books so I could know how it would end.
I really like how the book starts out with the main characters, Ted, Laura, and their cousins Patrick, Ruth and E More...
Jan 27, 2011
Latharia
rated it:
I fought my way through this book, wanting it to be like Edward Eager or E. Nesbitt's books from my childhood. Suffice to say it wasn't, and I won't be looking for any of the sequels or more by the author. The plot made no sense, there were far too many exchanges of "knowing expressions," which never made any sense to me. I finished it gladly & feeling more than slightly confused about why I should care about any of the characters.
Feb 05, 2011
Cory
rated it: 
I couldn't get into this book, the writing style just fell flat for me. I was bored with the description and how the plot seemed so aimless- as the characters were confused and there is so much pretending and identity swapping, the reader is confused and bored. Without guidance, the plot just chugs along.
Jan 30, 2012
Jenny
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This is that book for me. THE book. It opened my mind and I saw the world in a different light. It introduced me to poetry and Shakespeare - the lines are still magic. The characters and events are still with me. I found it at the A&P when I was ten years old. It's the book that changed my life.
Dec 08, 2011
Teena
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I adore Tam Lin by Pamela Dean so I decided to try this one, but I just couldn't get into it. Two hundred pages in and I still didn't believe in any of the characters or care about their Secret Country, try though I did. I'm giving up on this one and rereading Tam Lin again instead.
Mar 18, 2009
Kristi
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Um. I like a couple of Pamela Dean's other books so much, Dubious Hills and Tam Lin, that my expectations for this were a little high. But it seemed a fairly ordinary fantasy crossover novel. Some nice touches, the bits about the reality of the world, the one cousin's disbelief, the characters - but nothing particularly deep.
Oct 15, 2011
The_antichris
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If five children got sucked into Fantasyland, they probably would spend most of their time bickering ineffectually, but it doesn't do much for the pace of the book.
Feb 02, 2009
I should really stop being a member of Goodreads. My to-read list is getting soooo long!!! I really want to read this with you, Liz C! Sounds kinda like "our world."
Jan 06, 2012
Kerith
rated it:
A great premise -- the fantasy world built in the heads of five cousins who make-believe in it every summer suddenly becomes real. I wanted to really love this. I loved Pamela Dean's TAM LIN and have read it tons of times, but there is something about the way she writes that gets to me after awhile. Like there's an inside joke that I'm not in on. I was never really sure exactly what was going on, but it was a worthy enough tale. I just didn't feel like picking up the second book immediately.
Stil More...
Stil More...
Feb 25, 2010
Ban
rated it:
Another old book I need to re-read (sheesh there are a ton of these on my shelves!!!)
Sep 16, 2011
I cant' really give it any stars since I only got 1/2 way through the book. I just didn't like the characters and found the plot boring.
Oct 29, 2008
Cindy
rated it:
This is quite possibly the worst book I've read recently. I read 100 pages and I was so confused. Kids pretending to be others but thinking back to a script that they made and there were people who were playing on person but not someone in this part of the story. I gave up.
As the one reviewer said, it was a like a private joke that we weren't in on. As far as it being Narnia it's far from it, the whole idea would have been great but it's not anything like a Narnia. Great writer you More...
As the one reviewer said, it was a like a private joke that we weren't in on. As far as it being Narnia it's far from it, the whole idea would have been great but it's not anything like a Narnia. Great writer you More...
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Jun 06, 2010
Emma
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Well, this book took me long enough to read.
It was just so boring! I mean, there were a few good parts that kept me reading, not wanting to put the book down. But, I read so many other books over it, because it just wasn't my kind of book. Don't get me wrong, I love fantasy, but this one felt a bit forced. It was well written, and everything. It was just boring.
It was just so boring! I mean, there were a few good parts that kept me reading, not wanting to put the book down. But, I read so many other books over it, because it just wasn't my kind of book. Don't get me wrong, I love fantasy, but this one felt a bit forced. It was well written, and everything. It was just boring.
Nov 18, 2011
Kiri
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I'm rereading this after many years (needed a dose of fantasy), and all I can say is that it is every bit as good as I remembered. Dean gives these kids such powerful identities, and she presents them so deftly, through word and action and the observation of the other kids, that I'm hardly aware of how I got to know them so well.
And oh, the language. Oh Pamela, how I wish you were more prolific, for I would devour anything that came from your pen (or computer).
And oh, the language. Oh Pamela, how I wish you were more prolific, for I would devour anything that came from your pen (or computer).
Sep 16, 2011
Krista
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I read this book in college and loved it! Growing up I was not a big fan of real world meets fantasy world. I still am not. But Dean handles it so well! I was swept away in the story.
This is a great story about children succeeding in the face of adversity. The whole series is excellent.
If you like fantasy, stories about kids from the real world travelling to a fantasy world - or even just books about overcoming obstacles - this book is for you.
This is a great story about children succeeding in the face of adversity. The whole series is excellent.
If you like fantasy, stories about kids from the real world travelling to a fantasy world - or even just books about overcoming obstacles - this book is for you.
