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The Valley of Secrets

3.35 of 5 stars 3.35 · rating details · 553 ratings · 94 reviews

Stephen Lansbury is an orphan. He thinks he has no relatives at all -- until the day a letter arrives telling him that a distant uncle is dead. Suddenly Stephen finds himself the only heir to a great estate in the countryside. So Stephen sets off to claim his inheritance . . . but when he arrives, there is nothing to greet him at Lansbury Hall but a mystery.

The puzzle is a...more

Paperback, 400 pages

Published May 23rd 2006 by Simon Pulse (first published January 1st 2003)

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Mar 12, 2012 Lilian rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was initially drawn to the book because of the gorgeous cover. I also looked inside and liked the old-fashioned pen-and-ink illustrations. Seeing there was no reviews, I relied on the inside blurb claiming the book "returns readers to the art of true storytelling."

Unfortunately, halfway through the story, I still hadn't discovered what that art of storytelling was. I realized I had gone through half the book already and there was still no form or plot. It was mostly descriptions and repetitive...more I was initially drawn to the book because of the gorgeous cover. I also looked inside and liked the old-fashioned pen-and-ink illustrations. Seeing there was no reviews, I relied on the inside blurb claiming the book "returns readers to the art of true storytelling."

Unfortunately, halfway through the story, I still hadn't discovered what that art of storytelling was. I realized I had gone through half the book already and there was still no form or plot. It was mostly descriptions and repetitive actions of the protagonist. The story did try to pick up steam a bit, but it was already towards the end of the book and felt contrived. Was the writer hoping this would be the "next" Harry Potter with the open-ending?

For me, a good indication of a great story is when the writer is able to convince me that I'm actually an inhabitant of the fictional world they have created with words, that I'm actually there with the characters. This story wasn't that convincing, although very descriptive, it became tedious and boring eventually. I really felt like I was reading something required for school and not for leisure.

If people want to read a great story from a master storyteller, I highly suggest The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King. He is lesser known for fantasy, but this is my favorite work of his. There is a beginning, a middle, and an end, and the plot moves along quickly that there is not a dull moment. It is a hero's journey, and all other characters are thought out carefully as well. I believe the entire novel wasn't even as long as this one. So whenever I come across someone claiming to be a "storyteller", King's book is the one I gauge it against -- and that is a high bar.

I did want to like this book, especially agreeing with the topic on environmental awareness and conservation, but I just can't. Like other reviewers noted, it was too preachy. Dr Seuss' The Lorax is about the environment, too, but brings the message more vividly -- and in rhyme, too!

It also felt this book needed a heavier hand in editing. Part One was just descriptions. Part Two seemed rushed. It could have been better.

I only managed to finished it quickly because I wanted it to be over and done with.

...

Also, it left me wondering if the author was truly championing saving the Amazonian rainforests. If that was true, wouldn't it be more effective have her characters stay in the forest, rather than illegally smuggling flora, fauna and a native to another part of the world? I'm just not entirely convinced.(less)

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Sep 04, 2007 Anu rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Absolutely no one, dying people who want to speed up the process

Shelves: finished

What happened in this book? I can't tell. It had no plot, no character development and to add insult to injury, the prose is dull. I had to whip myself into finishing and only because I hate purchasing and then letting the book languish. After all, if I finish at least I have the pleasure of mocking it.

Ummm, Stephen has spots and inherits some property and there's some mystery surrounding it and weird animals (and you never quite figure out what they are) and in the end he has to stay on the pr...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Home Ice-bloxx marked it as to-read

Meine Meinung
Was ich gut fand
1. Was mir schon nach dem ersten Absatz aufgefallen ist: Die Schreibweise! Charmian Hussey beschreibt Detailgenau und wunderschön, die Wortwahl ist großartig und, obwohl “Das Tal der Geheimnisse” Charmian Husseys einziges Buch ist, sehr profimäßig.

2. In dem Buch findet Stephen ja das Tagebuch seines Onkels Theodore, und die Ausschnitte daraus helfen einem dabei, die Zusammenhänge zu verstehen. Die Autorin flickt also einen weiteren Text in das Buch ein, das macht es...more

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Mar 10, 2012 Jacey rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, childrens

According to the quotes on the cover the Sunday Telegraph considers this 'a masterpiece', The Guardian calls it a 'true children's classic; and Time Out sings its praises as 'a paean to the powers of storytelling'... but I'm not convinced. It's description-heavy (450 pages including bibliographies) and story light. In fact – it's not really a story, or at least, not much of one.

Orphan discovers he has inherited a strange old country estate in Cornwall from a great uncle he didn't know he had. Go...more According to the quotes on the cover the Sunday Telegraph considers this 'a masterpiece', The Guardian calls it a 'true children's classic; and Time Out sings its praises as 'a paean to the powers of storytelling'... but I'm not convinced. It's description-heavy (450 pages including bibliographies) and story light. In fact – it's not really a story, or at least, not much of one.

Orphan discovers he has inherited a strange old country estate in Cornwall from a great uncle he didn't know he had. Goes there, finds it all a bit weird – though necessarily not scary-weird. Eventually pieces together the story of the former inhabitant – a recluse for 60 years – by getting to know his old friend. Cares for said old friend – learning how to look after the estate in the process and when old friend dies, takes over. And the secret? Not much of one really. Old friend was an illegal immigrant 60 years earlier – a child saved when his tribe of Amazonian Indians was wiped out and the dotty great uncle also brought back some new species of critter which have found a secret sanctuary and he wants Orphan to keep them all safe and secret.

It's deeply didactic – imparting a lot of morality-lessons about the destruction of Amazon habitats and people. In some places it reads like a botany text book. There are long passages quoted from the journal of Gt. Uncle's Amazonian trip, but if it was meant to involve the reader in two stories at the same time it doesn't really work. I only kept reading because there were long descriptive passages I could safely skim over because they didn't move the story along. (Actually very little moved the story along.) The protagonist – Stephen – doesn't actually interact with anyone except a lawyer, a shopkeeper and a railway stationmaster for the first 300 pages or so and his interactions are limited to the old Amazon Indian for the last 100 pages. I'm not saying it's not reasonably prettily written – but it's long-winded and I found it very uninvolving and I wonder what age of child will be transported by such a book. It may be one of those 'classics' designated by adults, not by its popularity with children. God forbid that it should be foisted on them to read in school. Most of them will be mind-numbingly bored.
(less)

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Nov 08, 2010 Amanda Postma rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is one of my all time favorite books!

I bought a copy of it on my trip to Seattle. Within one day, my grandmother, who was on the trip with me, finished the book. The first chapter I didn't find interesting, so I put the book aside for a while. When I finally came around to reading it, and really got into the book, it was amazing! The facts about the Amazon in this book I absolutely loved, the gardens and forest around the house were absolutely beautiful to imagine, I loved every scene that...more

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Feb 22, 2011 Linden rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Valley of Secrets by Charmian Hussey tells the story of an orphaned boy, Stephen, who inherits an estate from a distant and unknown uncle. When he arrives he finds a mystery about the estate and its grounds as well as one about his uncle. Stephen teases out his answers by exploring the grounds and by reading his uncle's diary about his explorations in the rainforest.

I enjoyed the somewhat classical form of writing: descriptions that set the scene, and the premise of a protagonist who longs...more

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Jul 31, 2011 Sally McRogerson rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was our book of the month at reading group and as I have failed to read the last three I felt obliged to wade through this one. It's aimed at older children I'm guessing, which isn't a disadvantage as far as I'm concerned. I've avidly read all the Harry Potters, Northern Lights trilogy, etc so am not averse to reading kids books. In lots of ways they suit me better.

The book has sparked me into writing even more letters on behalf of Survival International, which is kinda surprising as it's...more

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Nov 15, 2009 ian rated it 2 of 5 stars

I've been seeing this book in the bookstore for ages; kept reading the blurb and getting intrigued. I finally got a copy. I was expecting something totally different from what it turned out to be.

I agree with the other reviews that call it preachy -- it was very preachy, and I got turned off a number of times. I stuck with it because I didn't want to feel that I wasted my money!

Some parts I enjoyed; Some are light and funny and entertaining.

But a lot of parts I had trouble with -- especially c...more

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Feb 23, 2011 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm giving this 4 stars because I thought the plot and concept was really creative. Sometimes that is enough for me. I was, however, disappointed in the ending in that it seemed very rushed. The resolution was rushed, the important information at the end seemed preachy rather than informative and I was so busy trying to process all the gobs of information at the end that the epilogue was sort of lost on me. Urg. I felt like I had been led through this amazing adventure through lush jungles and o...more

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Jul 05, 2009 Célia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009, 3-stars, editorial-presenca, gift, not-own

Este livro conta é a história de um jovem órfão que, de um momento para o outro, se torna herdeiro de uma enorme e misteriosa propriedade na Cornualha. Assim que Stephen chega ao local, depressa se apercebe que este não é exactamente aquilo que esperava, e que a casa e o terreno que a rodeia guardam segredos que ele se esforçará para desvendar.

É um livro com uma grande componente ambiental. A natureza, tanto na vertente da fauna como da flora, são bastante exploradas, especialmente nos relatos q...more

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Nov 25, 2011 Dayna Smith rated it 4 of 5 stars

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...more

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Jan 19, 2010 Lisa rated it 2 of 5 stars

OK, I stayed reasonably interested until nearly the end. But the plot involves a mystery, and once it is solved the unlikely details distract rather than add to the story. And solving the mystery is not the end of the book -- there is an additional hurdle for the hero, and the solution to this problem is just thrown in like the author ran out of ideas.

The overall story is not very believable, the characters are a little wooden (the most fully-developed one is dead at the beginning of the book!)...more

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Nov 08, 2009 Kaarin rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The premise was interesting, but the delivery was preachy and the pacing of the story was uneven. The preachiness of it (re: saving the Amazon jungle) yanked me out of the story frequently. I don't have a problem with the message, really, but the story would frequently come to a grinding halt while the narrator, a character, or a character's journal expounds on the subject for a while. It got annoying and felt very much like the story was a flimsy excuse for the author to get on a soapbox about...more

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Dec 10, 2008 Alison rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people who like plants

Shelves: 7th-grade-ir-books-sadelle

The valley of secrets is about an orphan named Stephen who finds out that he has a distant uncle who Left him a great estate. Once he moves in he starts to notice that there is something strange going on. Things will move to different places, things will go missing, and he seems to always feel like someone is following him

Besides that mystery, Stephen finds his uncle's journal that talk about his trip to the Amazon. His uncle is a scientist who studies insects and plants. You learn a lot about p...more

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May 30, 2012 Sobriquet rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Alright, so I remember buying this book way back in ye olde middle school. This review is written way out of context and it's been forever since I've actually read it, but I remember a very relaxed feel to the book. There wasn't a whole lot of suspense and the entire plot was very laid back with its developments. It seemed slice of life, if that's the right word. Nevertheless, it remains one of my favorites because of how easy it was to just float through, and still to get attached to the charac...more

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Oct 21, 2009 Megan rated it 1 of 5 stars

This has been one of worst books I have read because it has been going on about the same things for half the book. The main character, Stephen, is very boring and during the story is an orphan who receives a will from some distant family member who is giving him his house called Lansbury Hall. Stephen moves there expecting a huge, clean, mansion with maids and cooks but is surprised to find everything covered in dust and him being the only person there, though he has been having the feeling that...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Julia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Okay, don't listen to the bad reviews. To get to the climax of the story, you're going to have to read for a while, and don't give up. Around the last quarter of the book is when the secrets come out, and the mystery and awe appears. As the main character starts to read the journal of his uncle(?) (It's been a while since I read it) be starts discovering secrets about the old house, and what really happened in the jungle.

I think this was a truly captivating read, and you will think so too, if y...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Siina rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adults, fantasy-scifi

Hmm, this book was problematic, since the idea was great but the realization didn't work out. What I loved about this book though were Theo's letters as well as the depictions of the Indians, trees and other peculiarities of the Amazon jungle.

The writing in itself bothered me for Hussey starts almost all of the sentences with "Stephen did this and Stephen did that". I wished Hussey would've used more other types of story telling, since tautology is annoying. I get the "save the rainforests etc."...more

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Jul 23, 2008 Jackie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-fiction, fantasy

The Valley of Secrets by Charmian Hussey is a secret treasure of fascinating facts about the Amazon set within a novel about a teenage boy who embarks on a mysterious journey to Cornwall, England. Teenager Stephen Lansbury has lived his whole life in an orphanage believing that he had no family to speak of. One day, out of the blue, an odd letter arrives for him. The letter requests that he meet with lawyer, Albert Postlethwaite. To Stephen's amazement, he is informed that he has inherited a gra...more The Valley of Secrets by Charmian Hussey is a secret treasure of fascinating facts about the Amazon set within a novel about a teenage boy who embarks on a mysterious journey to Cornwall, England. Teenager Stephen Lansbury has lived his whole life in an orphanage believing that he had no family to speak of. One day, out of the blue, an odd letter arrives for him. The letter requests that he meet with lawyer, Albert Postlethwaite. To Stephen's amazement, he is informed that he has inherited a grand estate named Lansbury Hall, left to him by his great uncle, Theodore! He is shocked by the gift, but even more disturbing is the fact that he has family that knew about his existence. Stephen is at once thrilled and bewildered, scared and excited. Upon arriving at the estate, he is met with strange plants and animals and Stephen wonders about their origin. As the days wear on, and he becomes acquainted with the grounds and house, mysterious occurrences seem to be happening, not the least of which is a feeling that he is being watched and followed. To alleviate some of these fears, he takes advantage of the massive library and settles into a comfy chair to read. Stephen stumbles upon his great uncle's journals that ultimately reveal the reasons for the lush gardens and the unusual objects scattered throughout the house. In addition, he learns the truth about his family and the demise that fell upon them. But most importantly, he learns about his great uncle's journeys, loves, and family. A family that becomes Stephen's as well.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, not only for the fantastic journey it took me on, but also for the delight in the desciptions and stories of life in the Amazon. Theodore's journals take us back through time, to the early 20th century, when the Amazon was mysterious and glorious, but was in danger of being destroyed by greedy rubber barons who only saw profit in these forests of rich and beautiful wildlife. If you are a lover of animals, you will delight in the antics and intelligence of the playful animals that inhabit the grounds around the Lansbury estate. I found I had a hard time putting this book down, as I, too, 'traveled' with Stephen into Theodore's by-gone Amazon world.(less)

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Jul 26, 2012 Noora rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: nuortenkirjat, fantasia

Kirja, joka kerätti paljon huomiota ilmestyessään. Kirja, jota on verrattu niin Harry Pottereihin kuin Salaiseen puutarhaankin. Kirja, joka on fantasiaa olematta fantasiaa. Hyvä, joskin ennalta-arvattava kirja, vomppueläimet ovat todella sympaattisia, samoin Murra-Yari. Loppuratkaisu on tosiaan arvattavissa melkein alusta asti ja paikoitellen kirja sortuu kliseisiin. Kuitenkin hyvin lämminhenkinen kirja ja täytyy myöntää, että kyyneleet valuivat silmistä viimeisillä sivuilla. Lukemisen arvoinen...more

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Jun 29, 2010 Andrea rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: family-read-alouds

I really liked the old fashioned mystery premise of this book, and the environmental theme. An orphan boy inherits a Cornwall estate from a mysterious, reclusive uncle and discovers a mystery concerning his uncle's previous explorations in the Amazon; sounds like a great story. But while I like great nature description, this book just went overboard. The mystery's solution was clearly evident to even my ten year old by about halfway through the book and the description just seemed to drag it out...more

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Jan 30, 2012 Adrian rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thought this book was pretty interesting. A boy named Stephen thought he had no relatives. But he finds out that he had a uncle but passed away. Stephen was shocked that he even had a uncle but this was a time where he had a chance to seek his fortunes. He immediately heads over to his uncle house but instead he finds something puzzling him. He had to figure out what the mystery was in order to receive his uncle's fortune. This book had a lot of suspense to it and I enjoyed reading it.

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Jul 24, 2009 Amanda rated it 1 of 5 stars

Got halfway through, couldn't finish. Didn't connect with Stephen, our young protagonist, and felt like the author's main goal was to weave an ongoing botany/zoology lesson, entertwined with proselytizing about the destruction of the Amazon, nature, etc. I don't disagree with the view that there are problems needing attention, but would prefer not to have it force fed to me in the guise of a YA book. Heavier editing would've been good, too -- she tends to wax on...and on...and on...

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Jun 18, 2012 Margaret rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites-i-would-re-read

AN orphan, mysteries, animals, and a secret mansion in the country. Stephen Lansbury never knew his parents and receives a letter telling him he has inherited a country estate in the English countryside from a long lost uncle. Once at the mansion many secrets present themselves where do all the strange plants come from and who is taking care of the garden?? The mysteries of his uncle's past are the puzzles he has to solve.

Another one of my new favorite books!

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Jan 11, 2010 Sunshie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I picked this book up randomly at Barnes and Nobles. It was decent. I found the main character very Harry Potter-esque and one could compare his mentor to Dumbledore. Not that Harry Potter would ever stoop to the level of saving the Amazon though. Too far below him. It was orphan suddenly inherits an estate from great uncle who he wasn't aware existed, wanders around confused for a while then with the help of Dumbledore/Crocodile Hunter saves the day. Good quick read though

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Jul 09, 2009 Jose Santos rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009

Um livro muito fraco, muito mal escrito.
A história é completamente ridícula e a personagem principal não convence. As situações são descabidas e/ou exageradas.
Não é uma história credível como um romance sério de ficção nem é suficientemente infantil para poder ser considerado como tal.
Não percebo como editam um livro assim.

Outra coisa que me surpreendeu foi ver palavras de calão utilizadas na narrativa (não em discurso directo, mas mesmo na narrativa). Não sei se este facto se deveu a uma má tra...more

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Feb 10, 2010 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: set-aside

this book is pretty good so far. at the beginning it was a little slow and confusing but after you get past that it gets good. i tried to read this book this summer but i just didn't like it. it is really thick but i think i will end up liking this book. i cant really tell if i like the main character or not yet. my favorite part so far was when Stephan is packing to go to lansberry hall and he takes like all the food in the house.

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Jul 09, 2009 Jose Santos rated it 1 of 5 stars

A really bad book.
A very week narration and not very well written.
The story is completly ridiculous and the main character doesn't seem real as the author wants to show. It contradicts himself constantly. The situations are silly or over the top.
Its not a serious book to say its a fiction novel neither good (or interesting) enough to be consider juvenile literature.
I can not understand how anyone publishes something like that.

To avoid!!

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May 18, 2011 Redfox5 rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, children, fantasy, fiction, teens

Thought this was a really good read. The first half was my favorite. I loved exploring Lansbury Hall and it's grounds with Stephen. Nice descriptions helped me picture everything perfectly. For some reason I kept thinking that something magical would happen and Stephen would end up in the amazon. This doesn't happen but you do get to vist the amazon through Theo's diary. Really well written and enjoyable. I wonder if there is any more?

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Jun 23, 2009 Veronica rated it 5 of 5 stars

A great book that sucks you in. Its about an orphan who is summoned to a place called Lansbury Hall. Supposedly he had, had a great uncle who had passed. He left the whole estate to the orphan,Stephen. The estate has a big and wonderful secret. This book subliminally preaches to you about the enviroment and what may happen to it if we are not careful

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About Charmian Hussey

Born in London in 1939, Charmian Hussey's early years were shaped by the events of the war. A youthfull passion for Speech and Drama (her greatest inspiration was Shakespeare) led on to a lifetime interest in both the written and spoken word.

She began her career modelling clothes for top couture and fashion houses. Later she studied at the University of London, Institute of Archaeology. She worked...more

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