This Isn't What It Looks Like

Secret #4

by Pseudonymous Bosch

WARNING! Appearances can be deceptive...This book is NOT filled with ancient magic, mystical clairvoyants and the marvels of time travel. This is NOT a book detailing the latest top secret investigations of the Terces Society. You will NOT find stolen treasure, masked bandits and bloodthirsty knights between the pages of this book. But before you go, just remember one thing... This Isn't What It Looks Like. The utterly gripping fourth fantastic book in the "Secret" series in which Cass's mind has been transported back to medieval England after she dared to taste the Midnight Sun’s deadly chocolate. She must seek out her ancient ancestor and founder of the Terces Society, the jester, and help him escape the evil clutches of Lord Pharaoh, founder of the Midnight Sun. To Cass’s horror, when she wakes from her coma she has forgotten everything. But a school trip to a medieval fair stirs her memories and she is confronted with a menacing blast from her time-travelling past...
"The crazy, upside-down, inside-out, mysterious, madcap and fun, fun, fun Pseudonymous Bosch is back with another extraordinary, out-of-this-world chapter in his seriously addictive children’s ‘Secret Series’. Bursting out all over with comic characters and intriguing adventures, this is... top-class entertainment for kids aged 10 and over, combining comical capers with old-fashioned mystery, sparkling adventure and lashings of Bosch’s zany humour." - Lancashire Evening Post

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Middle Grade, Fiction, Adventure, Childrens, Young Adult

452 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Pseudonymous Bosch is the infamously anonymous author of the New York Times bestselling Secret Series and the Bad Books. Despite rumors to the contrary, his books are not actually written by his pet rabbit, Quiche; the rabbit is merely his typist.

Reviews

[Pseudonymous · Rating 5 out of 5]

technically, I've already read this and will briefly add the cover on this (it's on my blog) and I think xxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx x xxxxxxx xxxxxxx* xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx x x x xx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxx (xxxxx xxx x x xxxx xx x x)

Pseudonymous Bosch

[Samantha Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book that I just finished is called This Isn't What it Looks Like by Pseudonymous Bosch. It’s about a girl name Cassandra, but everyone calls her Cass. Cass goes on wild mission to find the secret from the Jester. She uses a “Time Chocolate” to make her go back in time to know the secret. This makes her go into a coma, which makes Max-Ernest go and visit her in the PICU section. While Cass is in the coma, Max-Ernest finds some solution to help Cass come back to life. This adventure is an experience to a whole new world, the past.

I like how the author contributes to the story because he is explaining the reasons the characters do the actions and words. The author is the third-person point of view, but he acts he is part of the story. I really like this book because it has many mysteries that have yet to be discovered. I also like how the villains are called the Midnight Sun because there is a backstory to the name of it. This is keeping me of suspense because the Midnight Sun are a pain to make-up devil plans. I also like this book because of the name of the characters are clues to the secret. In conclusion, I really like this book from all the mystery and the adventure

[Nerissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It sure isn't what it looks like.

[Hadis · Rating 5 out of 5]

بزاریدبگم که فعلا این کتابو نخونید صبر کنید جلد بعدش چاپ شه بعد بخونید
کتاب دقیقا جایی تموم شده که نباید

[NerdyJediGymnast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bruh Im so sorry

I've been saying RTC forEVER now. But I PROMISE you. Once I find time, I WILL write them all!

So I say hesitantly:

RTC

[Caitlin L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently finished, "This Isn't What It Looks Like" by: Pseudonymous Bosch, the 4th book in the secret series. This book is told from two points of view, the survivalist girl, Cass and her trustworthy partner, Mas-Ernest. Cass ate a piece of Time Travel Chocolate and now she's been taken back to the medieval times of the Jester, her only known ancestor. Cass must find The Secret, it's her mission! Meanwhile, Max-Ernest is trying to get Cass out of her coma, before it's too late.
This book is full of suspense, mystery, and a slight touch of humor. The characters aren't described very well because the author is trying to keep the characters identities a secret. I can kind of relate to Max-Ernest because he thought he knew how to bring Cass back but the remedy didn't work! I feel that way a lot, so close yet so far to getting to the right answer. Sometimes when I can't figure something out, it makes me want to rip my hair out! Bosch did a great job writing the plot, although sometimes it gets off track. He will often stop the story to tell us to tell the reader to stop reading now, or to tell us what he's doing. Overall, this book was amazingly written!

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the Secret series and these books are definitely one of my guilty pleasures. No matter how many times I think about un-hauling them some part of me always says to keep them, then I do a reread and I fall in love with them all over again

In this book we follow Cass and Max-Ernest however the stakes have never been higher. Cass is in a coma after eating time travel chocolate in an attempt to learn the Secret, however the cure that Max-Ernest was supposed to create to bring her back hasn't worked - will she be stuck in a coma forever?

I absolutely loved the first three books in the series (check out my reviews on books one, two and three) and even though I do love this series as a whole I think this one just wasn't as good as the rest. Where as the others were action packed and there was like a goal, this was more filler on the background of Cass (and her ancestor the Jester) so that didn't leave a lot of room for action. 

With this book in particular I definitely get the Lemony Snicket vibe that everyone keeps going on about. It becomes really obvious in this book with footnotes explaining things so I would say if you're a fan of the series of unfortunate events books then give this series a try as I do think they're really similar in plot and writing style

I don't want to give too much away here as it is the fourth book in the series (you will have to read all the books in the series to understand the story, this isn't one of those where you can just pick up up this far in) so the story does pretty much immediately pick up from where the third book left off. I loved the time travel aspect in the story and think it did add a new dimension to the book to keep things new and interesting. We got to hear more about Cass' ancestors which is a bit of a running mystery throughout the books. 

Overall I would definitely recommend this book, if you're new to the series then start with book one or else you'll have no idea what is going on and you'll probably be very bored. However if you're read the first few books in the series then I would say continue, the book might be the slowest one so far in the series but I think it adds a bit of backstory to the Cass that I do think the story was missing.

[Mangrii · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esto no es lo que parece es el cuarto libro de la Colección Secreta de Pseudonymous Bosh. La serie sigue las aventuras de tres jóvenes miembros de la Sociedad de los Tercios, una organización cuyo trabajo es mantener el Secreto a salvo y que no caiga en las terribles garras de El Sol de Medianoche. En este volumen, Cas corre un grave peligro. Se ha zampado el potente chocolate del señor Hugo, el cual le permite viajar en el tiempo y visitar a sus ancestros pasados en busca del Secreto. El problema es que una vez allí, no sabe cómo volver. Mientras tanto en el presente con Cas está en coma, Max-Ernest intenta despertarla por todos los medios. Cada entrega de la saga está asociada a un sentido y en esta cuarta parte, nos centraremos en el sentido de la vista.

Esta cuarta entrega de la serie se ha convertido junto con la primera en una de mis favoritas de la serie. Toda la historia está muy conseguida y tejida de una forma que resulta ser bastante redonda. Pseudonymous se dedica a alternar capítulos sobre el viaje al pasado de Cas y el presente de Max- Ernest, dándole mucho dinamismo y misterio a lo largo de la historia. Una vez más el punto fuerte del libro sigue siendo la narración de Pseudonymous Bosch, con sus explicaciones y desvaríos varios. El narrador sigue rompiendo la cuarta pared, la escritura clara y directa tan característica esta presente y ese tipo de humor tan adecuado para el tipo de edad al que va dirigido, pero sin caer en lo tonto.

Algunos misterios por fin son desvelados y conoceremos a nuestro misterioso narrador, o al confirmaremos en gran parte nuestras sospechas. Estamos más cerca de conocer el Secreto que nunca. Vuelven viejos conocidos de forma inesperada y algunos personajes que deseábamos conocer desde el principio. La edición, una vez más de Ediciones DiQueSí, sigue estando a la altura del original manteniendo toda las ilustraciones de Gilbert Ford, que le da ese toque especial y lo hace más disfrutable. Solo queda uno más :)

Reseña más extensa en: http://boywithletters.blogspot.com.es...

[Beth G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fourth book in the series that began with The Name of This Book is Secret picks up where the third volume left off. In the early chapters, narrator Bosch splits attention between two stories: one is about a girl who wakes up in what appears to be a medieval European village unable to remember who she is, where she is, how she got there, or why she happens to be invisible; the other is about Max-Ernest, who is desperately trying to awaken his friend Cass, who has been in a strange sort of coma since taking a dose of time-travel chocolate. The reader can quickly figure out how these two stories mesh (you've probably put it together just reading this review), and it's a relief when the two stories converge into one.

There is a lot of silliness here, in the style of the writing as well as the plot. Cass and Max-Ernest remain the center ground for the reader amid the swirl of outrageous situations and goofy narration. Bosch reads much like Lemony Snicket, explaining things in footnotes and hinting at secrets never quite revealed. Several of these footnotes refer the reader back to previous installments in the series; jumping into the series with this book is definitely not recommended. A cliff-hanger ending (and the fact that our heroes still haven't uncovered The Secret) leaves readers anxiously anticipating the final volume, slated for publication in October 2011.

[Sierra Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

for some reason, this one didn’t ~hit~ quite as much as the others have, but i enjoyed the time traveling aspect and i’m excited that it seems we’re f i n a l l y going to discover the secret in the next book. and everyone’s reactions to cass being in a “coma” really hit me in the soul. so that was good. and i also enjoyed the insider knowledge that max-ernest is probably pseudonymous bosch… very interesting 4th wall break. highly anticipating the next and final book <3

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe I have one more book left of this series! This book was even better than the last one! Cass is just about to find out the secret! Ugh! This series is unbelievably amazing! If anybody is looking for books to read I suggest these ones! I also cap't wait to find out the secret! Yay!

[noah · Rating 4 out of 5]

had a reading hiatus bc of uni assignments but IM BACK BABYYYYY
4 stars for pseudonymous bosch my baby

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can read my review on my blog here (& below):

http://elementaread.blogspot.co.uk/20...

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

'This Isn’t What it Looks Like' is the fourth book in the middle-grade ‘Secret Series’ by Pseudonymous Bosch. These books follow the adventures of three young members of the Terces Society, a secret organisation whose job it is to keep the Secret (to immortality) from getting into the wrong hands. On three previous occasions these children, Cassandra, Max-Ernest and Yo-Yogi, have thwarted the evil Midnight Sun's plans and kept the Secret safe.

At the end of the previous book Cass has discovered that she is a decedent from the Jester, the original founder of the Terces Society, and that she is the Secret-Keeper. The only problem is, she doesn’t actually know the Secret. With the remains of Senor Hugo's extra strong time-travel-chocolate, Cass has gone back to medieval times to meet the Jester and find out what the Secret is.
Unfortunately for Cass, while her mind is in the past her body is still very much in the present and the adults believe she has fallen into a coma. She is in the hospital's Paediatric Intensive Care Unit and her distraught mother is unwilling to let Max-Ernest visit. The couple of times Max-Ernest has been close enough to Cass to try and give her the antidote and bring her back, it hasn’t worked.

Meanwhile Cass meets a seer also named Cassandra who gives her some advice, and a useful double monocle which allows her to see far away and through solid objects. But the evil alchemist, and founder of the Midnight Sun, Lord Pharaoh finds Cass while she is searching for the Jester and ends up locking her in a cell with her ancestor. In the process he steals the double monocle and the last remaining piece of the time-travel-chocolate. Cass has now found what she was looking for, but will the Jester be able to help her uncover the Secret? And can Max-Ernest wake Cass up before it is too late?

This really is such a great adventure series for both kids and adults alike! These books are a fantastic mix of mystery, action and adventure with a little time-travel and alchemy thrown in. The characters are fantastic and I especially like Cass, the survivalist, and Owen, the master of disguise.

There were some great new characters introduced in this book too. I LOVED the Jester and Anastasia is a brilliant bad-ass bandit. Mr Cabbage Face, the homunculus for book two also makes a brief, but memorable appearance as his past-self. Ms Mauvais and Dr L don’t play such a big part in the book, but in their place we meet the horribly evil Lord Pharaoh.

The story was so fast-paced and well written. I really enjoy this authors writing style, and I love the little footnotes and appendices. This book also has a fantastic little author interview at the back which was a fun read :)

[Olivia-Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this directly after reading the third one, which is not something I usually do. When I read a series I like to read two or more books in between so that I don’t feel the books get too same-y. But this time I really wanted to keep reading this mystery series seeing as the previous book ended on such a cliffhanger.

Our familiar trio of Cassandra, Max-Ernest and Yo-Yoji return in this book with some new characters in tow, like Daniel-Not-Danielle, the Glob, the Jester and Anastasia as well. Cassandra is in grave danger, and Max-Ernest must save her before it’s too late. While Cass is racing through time, Max-Ernest is racing against it. Either way, the past and present (and even future) all play together to unlock bits of the mystery continued from the previous book.

What I liked so much about this book was that it had a lot of focus from Max-Ernest’s perspective, even though we usually get to see more from Cassandra’s. This is why Max-Ernest became my favourite character. We get to see how much he cares for his friends, how much it hurts to be replaced and also how to deal with separated parents who seem to reattach themselves to each other. Aside from all this, Max-Ernest has his own quirks, like his illness and undying love for chocolate.

I’m going to keep this fairly short because I don’t want to give away any major plot points. But go read this!

This review and more can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...

[Shivangi · Rating 5 out of 5]

the fact that i lack coherent sentences to write a review proves the rollercoaster nature of this book. this had me flipping pages faster than saying "Lord Pharaoh's a dick".

truly, in all sense, this book gave me life. there was mystery, suspense, friendship, thrills, drama, wholesomeness and HUMOR!!! and so much more which kept me engaged through and through. this book was basically me theorizing, de-theorizing and second guessing every remotely sus person, even if they weren't that important to the plot. but with a pseudonymous bosch book, you could never be sure, now could you?

reading this book seriously gave me heavy whiplash, and that too in the best way possible. im not generally surprised but the plot twists in this one take the cake. they had me by such a chokehold and i was proved wrong most of the time.

also, can we take a moment and appreciate cass and max-ernest's character development??!! the way max-ernest understands what he feels and how cass is slowly being selfless just fills my heart with pure joy. i've been reading about these characters for a long time now and reading them grow makes me so emotional. this book made me feel for them tenfold. at points i wanted to reach out and hug these traumatized characters myself, whispering it all gets better with time.
these characters feel like home and they'll always have a special place in my heart.

and this might be a headcannon, but i think mr. pseudonymous bosch wrote himself as max-ernest. and that's a cute easter egg.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the book This Isn't What it Looks Like. This book is really great!!!! This book is the fourth book in the Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch. The genre is fiction. This is a really great book if you like mystery. This book takes place in modern time but also during medieval times. I think the author of this book is really great b/c in the book he talks to you. I think a lot of people will like this book it has a lot of action and for me it was a page turner!! Throughout the book your on a journey with one of the main characters Cass who ate some magic chocolate that brought her back to the medieval times. But she ate this chocolate for a reason she wanted to travel back in time. She wanted to b/c she is trying to find a secret. Throughout Cass's is travels she meets a seer who is hinting her on about the secret, she finds a double monocle that allows her to have x-ray vision, she has to fight a Pharaoh who is also trying to find the secret, and she has to find a jester that supposedly knows the secret. Meanwhile Max-Ernest another main character is fighting modern day bad characters trying to find the secret out too! I would rate this book a five b/c so far this series have great and this book is so action filled and mysterious and I loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jessica (Goldenfurpro) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd

Short and Simple Review
Other reviewers found this one to be lacking compared to the other books. I can see why because Cass is wondering in time, but unconscious in our time. Meanwhile, Max-Ernest is trying to figure out how to save her. This does sound a bit boring, but I actually really liked this one. It was actually my favorite one so far. I love time travel, so I liked seeing that come into play. It was also interesting seeing the history of the Midnight Sun and the Terces Society. The book also touches on how written history is not always accurate. Cass's character is really strong in this one, in fact, she becomes a stronger character with every book. The Secret is, of course, still secret, but Cass is close to figuring it out. Again, the narrator is fantastic, just like the last books in the series.

[Natasha Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING!I love this book,it's one of my favourites,but I didn't see as much from Yo-Yoji as I might have wanted,but I'll try to be forgiving this on time ;).
I particually enjoyed the footnotes of this volume,and also the story of how PB got rid of THE PEA(!),and almost drowned in mayonnaise(I'm sorry, I haven't got a idea on how to spell that word :0).
Followers of the series will enjoy this fresh read ( I assume because I am & did ),and will surely love the wonderfull humor of Pseudonymous Bosch,wich sometimes leaves me laughing at the most random moments of recallation of this funny book ; ) !

NRL

PS:Dear PB,what's it with reminding us of Cass & Cos real names?I mean,come on, the names fit perfectly in my opinion,and bursting my bubble in ëvėrÿ šīñglê bøōk (!) isn't helping!Oh well,I guess that's what your poetic license is for (grumble,grumble) ;).

[ricab3lls · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm getting closer! :) Yayyyyy!!!!!!

[Rashika (is tired) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was sadly not one of the better additions to the story but never the less, it was quite enjoyable!

[Cristi-Lael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice addition to this great middle grade series.

[Avery E · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book, This Isn’t What It Looks Like, by Pseudonymous Bosh, is a very excellent book and is told from two points of view by the main characters, Cassandra (Cass for short), and her best friend Max-Ernest. In the beginning of the book Cass “wakes up” and can’t remember who she is, where she came from, or how she got there. She later figures out that she is in a different time period, or more specifically, medieval times. Cass remembers that she is there to find the Jester, her great great great something grandfather, so that she can figure out the Secret from him. Meanwhile, in the real time, Max-Ernest is sitting beside real time Cass, who is in a coma. It is Max-Ernest’s job to wake her up from her chocolate-induced coma, but nothing seems to be working. As these two adventures unfold, they figure out that their so-called friends, might be their foes, and that nothing is what it looks like.
I really liked this book because it is a page turner and keeps you on the edge of your seat. There is lots of adventure, mystery, and betrayal. When you least expect it, there is the ultimate plot twist. The characters often have to break the law, and do perilous stunts that seem impossible. This book will never let you down.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for either, something exciting to read, a mystery to read, or something mystical and exciting. This book may be harder for younger kids who are 9 or younger, because there are harder words, and the books contain 300 pages or more. If you are looking for a new series to be engrossed in, then this book is the right one for you. Beware though, you will definitely be so obsessed with this book, that you will read it nonstop and over and over and over again.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wie auch die Vorgänger eine lustige, kindgerechte Lektüre, sogar etwas kurzweiliger als der dritte Band. Die Reihe geht zwar noch weiter, aber dies ist der letzte Band, der in meinem Besitz ist. Die restlichen Bände würde ich nur gebraucht günstig kaufen, weil es zwar für Zwischendurch nett zu lesen und auch der Schmunzelfaktor gegeben war. Dennoch ist es mir zurzeit nicht immens wichtig, die Reihe zu beenden. 

[Sting Key · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book definitely wasn't what it looked like. At first, well, I always have no idea what to expect when I start reading Pseudonymous Bosch's books, but afterward I always love them! The only thing I didn't like too much, was the middle of the book. When Cass is still stuck in her coma, but after all the exciting stuff happens. But that's pretty much all.
Other than that, I would totally recommend!

[arlo · Rating 5 out of 5]

gorgeously satisfying reread - beautiful beautiful set up for book five, loved every moment of Cass in the past. The Jester was even better than I expected, and getting to see Anastasia too was such a bonus, what a badass he's soo right to fall in love her immediately. Also I think it was amazing for Max Ernest to be allowed to figure himself out on his own a bit! The only thing that could've made this better was more Yo-Yoji but his appearance was a *chefs kiss* moment

[Amber Scaife · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max-Ernest and Cass are still on the hunt for The Secret and a way to defeat the Evil members of the Midnight Sun. This time Cas tries a little time travel as part of the search both for the secret and for her own past, while Max-Ernest frets over how to wake his friend up from her self-induced time-travel coma.
Such a fun, funny, clever, series, full of great characters and interesting plot twists and mysteries. Perfect for middle graders seeking adventure.

[ellie e · Rating 3 out of 5]

its a no for me.. i dont know if i just didnt enjoy the plot or because recently ive read so many amazing books. this one just happened to not be the book i thought it would be.. ironic right! -the title this is just my opinion others may love this & i see why, but it was a nice easy read

[Ayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to say each book is a solid four-star, but the series together is one of my all-time favorites. I love Pseudonymous Bosch's clever quips and lengthy footnotes. Also, the section with a Terces Society exam was hilarious (I got all A's). To answer the short essay question, chocolate is to cheese as chess is to checkers because chocolate and chess are superior.

[Newton Witter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not really my favorite book in the Secret series, but it is still really good. The plot is very well developed, and there are even negative chapters when cass goes back in time!

[Elise Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book but was not in the mood to read it