Thea Stilton and the Secret City

Thea Stilton #4

by Thea Stilton

Geronimo's adventurous sister Thea narrates this fabulous adventure that's packed with action, mystery, and friendship!

In this amazing adventure, Thea's friends the Thea Sisters head to Peru, where a good friend of Paulina's is in danger. There, the five mice climb the Andes mountains in search of a mysterious treasure that's hidden in the Secret City of the Incas. Readers will love following the clues to help the Thea Sisters solve the mystery!

Genres: Childrens, Mystery, Fantasy, Fiction, Adventure, Middle Grade, Chapter Books

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

See also Tea Stilton, Τέα Στίλτον and Теа Стилтон.

Reviews

[Nathalie Polanco · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is very interesting so far

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the greatest pieces of literature I have ever read! I felt as though I was one with these rats as they embarked on a crazy adventure. I almost shat myself in excitement! But that would’ve been messy so I decided not to. Anywho… I would 100000% recommend this book to every human and rat I know!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book because The Thea Sisters had discovered the Treasure of the Incas

[Mavis Ros · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Some mice are capable of destroying important evidence of a great civilization if it means they can go home rich.”

*REREAD at 2020*

This is by far, the most interesting story since I first started to continue reading this series. Reminds me a little of Indiana Jones in Paulina’s character.

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Je ziet toch wel een verschil met de eerdere boeken en de latere boeken. De layout is nog niet helemaal goed, de non-fiction stukjes zijn soms maar gewoon stukjes hier en daar, het mysterie is erg makkelijk en een vleugje te overdreven (ja, nog meer dan in de nieuwere boeken). De karakters missen ook iets wat ze wel in de latere boeken hebben.
Dan nog moet ik zeggen dat ik het verhaal leuk vond, en het was ook lekker spannend, vooral dat latere stuk dat ze de verborgen stad vinden (geen spoiler, kijk maar eens op de cover).

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review pending 🐭

[maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this story because the adventure was fun. Thea & her friends went to a lot of places and they found treasure.

[Raminta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Puiki knyga, skaitydama negalėjau atsitraukti. Draugei taip pat labai patiko

[Diene Barium · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

I really wish Goodreads will let us rate a half star. Bring it back.

Another middle grade book done. A great book for children. What an adventure! Also the amazing info and illustrations inside. The child me would have adored this.

Happy reading!

[josh]

yeah these have taught me more than high school ever did

[Liz Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Thea Sisters are off to Peru to discover secret Mayan treasures. But, in this archeological adventure, a terrifying condor is blocking their path. Once again, the Thea Sisters investigate and use their problem solving skills to discover the location of their missing friend and the secret city.

Vivid illustrations, text box asides, and tons of informative text make these books both appealing and interesting. My daughter and I always feel we learn something from these clever books.

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very fun read. I really enjoyed this one. I thought it was very interesting getting to see Paulina's environment and setting. The mystery aspect was really well done. It definitely shocked me while reading. I love the lesson we learn through the novel. Indeed, "knowledge is the true treasure".

[Hildaguard Houdini · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Aztec treasure

[Dinesh Rama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice story but how to read.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es un buen libro… Infantil.
Se lee rápido y es entretenido, no lo voy a negar.
Puntuación. 3.5 ⭐⭐⭐.

Ahora, la reseña contiene spoilers, así que con cuidado.


Seguramente a un niño le termine gustando bastante, a mí y a mi hermana nos gustaba, pero ahora que lo he releído creo que tiene varios inconvenientes.

Lo primero que me molesta es la narración. Sufre mucho del problema “contar no mostrar”. Por ejemplo, cuando María conoce al Club de Tea, se describe así:

“Paulina presentó a María a todas sus amigas, una por una. ¡Entre la pequeña y las chicas del Club de Tea surgió una amistad a primera vista!” La Cite Secrete

¿Por qué no nos muestran porque esa amistad surgió así? ¿Y qué pasaba si a María no le caía bien alguna de las chicas? Eso hubiera sido mil años más interesante que esta descripción. Y así pasa bastantes veces más. Y hablando de María, voy al segundo problema.

La trama. Sí, sencilla para un niño, pero incompleta desde mi punto de vista.

La trama del misterio estuvo genial, por ejemplo, en las ilustraciones donde salía el Cóndor ya se veía que era falso, pero yo no me había dado cuenta hasta el capítulo “Un Cóndor muy raro”. Sin embargo, el villano...

A Paco Manadunca no lo habían mencionado hasta que Gonzalo aparece, cuando deberían habérnoslo mencionado así sea una sola vez, y que no se sienta como salido de la manga. Pero eso no es lo peor, sino que aparentemente Manadunca no había pensado en explotar con dinamita la Puerta del Sol hasta que aparece el Club de Tea y este se une con Gonzalo, cuando habían pasado dos semanas enteras sin resultados. Si alguien quisiera entrar a robar (como es el caso del villano), al segundo día ya la había volado en pedazos.

Ahora, los personajes.

El Club de Tea y todos estos personajes eran ratoncitos que ya tenían predeterminada una forma de actuar. Ninguno tuvo un arco evolutivo (O tal vez María, que consiguió entrar en el Club, pero a ella la habíamos olvidado a la mitad de la historia a pesar de que le habían dejado la función de recibir los mensajes de Paulina, cosa de la que nunca se habló durante la aventura, otro problema de trama).

Y la verdad es que me hubiese gustado ver alguno, y relacionarlo con el mensaje de la historia.

Porque el libro nos quiere dan a entender que: El conocimiento es el mejor tesoro, que no hay que estudiar para robarse el tesoro, sino para adquirir más conocimiento…

Y es que todas las chicas (y todos los personajes buenos) eran iguales: Inteligentes, estudiosos, astutos, buenos… ninguno tenía un pensamiento que podría llevarnos al mensaje, como: ¿Y para qué me sirve aprender todas estas cosas? ¿Por qué el conocimiento es valioso? Y ahí estaba el arco evolutivo que quería:

María u otro personaje hubieran servido, pensando que talvez la decisión de Manadunca no era mala, y que de nada servía aquel tesoro oculto, que debía usarlo alguien. Que el conocimiento era aburrido, o algo así, Y LUEGO ENTENDIERA LA IMPORTANCIA DEL CONOCIMIENTO, COMO EL LIBRO QUERÍA HACÉRNOSLO VER.

La verdad es que, supongamos, en cuantos niños les parece aburrido el conocimiento (en aquel momento, yo en mis 11 años). Esos niños hubieran empatizado con el personaje de María, y luego, el libro los guiaría, hasta enseñarles la importancia del conocimiento y los hubiera llevado a reflexionar.

Sin embargo, el libro tiene bastantes cosas buenas.

Me encantaron las ilustraciones, y la ambientación es maravillosa. Toda la información que aportan sobre la cultura Inca y sobre el Perú es oro no solo para los niños, sino para cualquier persona. También me gusta mucho lo que nos cuentan de las chicas del Club al principio, como una ficha de personaje, sin embargo, me gustaría que el libro no se apoyara tanto en esas fichas, sino que lo mostraran en la historia.

Un lindo libro para un niño.

[Annette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review by Grace, age 8, 5/25/19

Mom's Note: I think this is the first time Grace hasn't wanted to give the current book 5 stars! I've noticed over the last year or so that she's become increasingly rigid in her definition of what makes a good animal book. Animals wearing clothes does Not normally fit this definition. Hmm... I think Redwall is right out!
(Now Grace is giving me the hairy eyeball.)

Paulina is very, very nervous. Her sister Maria is sad because her friend Professor Sagefur's son Gonzalo was missing, looking for the Secret City in Peru. Paulina lives in Peru. A day or two later they set out looking for Gonzalo. They asked a lone mouse (or person, I don't really know what they are) for help. He said that he saw Gonzalo, the courageous rodent.
"How is he courageous?" asked the Thea Sisters.
He told them there was a large bird that somehow eats mice. Don't ask me how, because they're pretty much as big as normal people. The bird was called a "Kuntur." Gonzalo stood right there and he faced the Kuntur when everyone else ran inside.
Later they had a sad encounter with one of those birds and they fell into a cave thing, which was actually an entrance to the "Door of the Sun," which is actually what they were looking for. Anyway, that's enough because if I do more they'll be spoilers.

What I liked about this book:
* Adventure
* How they find things out by the instincts of themselves and their special personality traits that make them unique.

What Weirded Me Out:
Thea and Geronimo do not have hair - I mean, they have hair, but they look like normal mice except they have clothes and stand on two feet.
But Nicky, Colette, Violete, Paulina, and Pamela have Hair. Like hair like humans. Kinda crazy.

What I Didn't Like About This Book:
The hair thing.

I would recommend this book to people that like adventures and mice that kinda look like humans.

[Ana Medina]

Para comenzar de 1 - 5 (5 siendo lo mejor) creo que fue un 4 porque el final era sorprendente, pero un poquito predecible no tan, pero sí un poco, pero también no tan que no me lo disfrutaría porque si fue un cool libro y el plot estaba muy cool. Yo le recomiendo a personas, este libro mucho es súper cool porque no es aburrido o de adultos, la historia es súper cool, es de aventura y esta colección de libros e incluso este son como interactivos, no de esos que tú ases las decisiones, pero como te dice esto pasó y entonces tú que crees que pasaría y tú le puedes decir a tus amigos y como discutir como que va a pasar y entonces lo recomiendo mucho. Es súper cool y yo creo que para cualquier persona le gustarían un poco, pero yo creo que le gustaría especialmente a una persona aventurara, divertida y curiosa porque creo que puede disfrutarse más el libro y relacionar más con él. Les voy a decir un pequeño resumen de que se trató el libro. Estaban las chicas en Perú porque es hijo de un buen amigo, se perdió. Ellas fueron a buscarlo en una montaña, pero se encontraron otra persona. Se encontraron al papa del niño que también lo estaba buscando y él papa dijo que talvez estaría buscando la ciudad secreta. Al final (no espóiler) encontraron al niño, pero abia, una persona mala que también quería encontrar la ciudad secreta, pero por la riqueza y estaba persiguiéndolo. Y como termina tú léelo. Este libro no era tan emocional, digamos eso se significa, no me cambio mucho como de como voy a ser en mi vida, pero si un poco de ser aventurera y más buena onda, pero tampoco nada grande, pero si pudiera decir que me cambio un poco.

[Silke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set against the backdrop of the breathtaking landscapes of Peru, the Thea Sisters embark on a perilous mission to save a dear friend in danger. As they delve deeper into the heart of the Andes mountains, they find themselves entangled in a web of secrets surrounding the legendary Secret City of the Incas.

What truly sets this book apart is its ability to seamlessly weave together elements of action and mystery, keeping readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Thea Stilton masterfully crafts a plot filled with unexpected twists and turns, ensuring that readers are constantly engaged and eager to uncover the truth alongside the brave Thea Sisters.

Moreover, the book highlights the importance of teamwork and friendship, as the Thea Sisters rely on each other's strengths and support to overcome the challenges they face. Through their unwavering bond, they prove that anything is possible when you have friends by your side.

Additionally, the vivid descriptions of the Peruvian landscapes and the rich cultural references add depth and authenticity to the story, allowing readers to immerse themselves fully in the enchanting world of the Secret City.

[Gabriela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the mystery and everything, but it was nothing special.
I would recommend this book with high standards, because it’s a cool book, and exiting.
Likewise, I would recommend it to people who like adventures, and a challenge.
So the book is about a group of mouse lings, who are called the Thea Sisters. They go off to an adventure in Peru to find a secret city, filled with Incan treasure. They travel to Machu Picchu and many more places. Furthermore, they trap a bad guy, and even fall into caves, and get to solve riddles. When they finally get to the treasure, they found out that the treasure is knowledge, not money.
This book changed me, because: In this book they say that knowledge is the real treasure, and that there’s nothing more important than friendship and family, that changed me.

[Martina Penninkhof · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boek bevat veel plaatjes en verschillende lettertypes, wat het voor kinderen aantrekkelijk maakt om het te lezen. Zelfs het lezen van zinnen vraag soms om creativiteit.

Wat ik erg leuk vond, is dat het boek veel achtergrond informatie bevat over de inca's. Zelfs voor mij als volwassen lezer, bevat het nieuwe feitjes.

Als lezer wilde ik het boek blijven lezen. Ik wilde graag weten waar Gonzalo was en of ze hem zouden terug vinden.

Wel oogt het boek voor mij makkelijker dan het is. De de verhaallijn is makkelijker en in grotere letter geschreven, dan de achtergrond informatie. Al kun je er natuurlijk voor kiezen de achtergrond informatie niet te lezen. De plaatjes zorgen ervoor dat de tekst gemakkelijker te begrijpen is en helpt bij het inleven in het verhaal.

[Jack Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though there were a crap ton of similes in the translation, this was REALLY fun. The Secret City never had a dry moment. The pace was quick enough where you wanted to know what happened next, and there were moments of this book I was delighted to see again. It was great seeing the five mice work together alongside a professor and his son (once they were found). Plus, the bits of Incan history were fascinating to read about.

P.S. I now know the background of the Minotaur myth that a recent YA release was based off of.

[Cheryl]

Investigated for theme 'Peru' in Children's group. Could not manage the story, with all the weird fonts. It's really meant for a particular audience, I think. But this library copy is well-read, so it must be successful. I did read and enjoy the boxed non-fiction bits. I even learned that the Quechan language (and people, presumably) predate the Incan invasion. When I was a schoolgirl, we were led to believe that there was nothing before Inca/Aztec/Maya... but that is far from true!

skimmed Oct. 2023

[Gabby Tedesco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exciting book with adventures that takes place. Each character has a specific skill which makes the book more exciting. When reading books like this, it reminds me of the superhero teams and how everyone has their own special skill. This book teachers life skills like how to work together as a team and problem solving skills. The mystery in the book keeps the readers engaged and leaves them on the edge of their seat. This is a great book for children who are starting to read and understand chapter books.

[Boo K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geronimo's adventurous sister Thea narrates this fabulous adventure that's packed with action, mystery, and friendship! In this amazing adventure, Thea's friends the Thea Sisters head to Peru, where a good friend of Paulina's is in danger. There, the five mice climb the Andes mountains in search of a mysterious treasure that's hidden in the Secret City of the Incas. Readers will love following the clues to help the Thea Sisters solve the mystery!

[Scarlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Thea Stilton books in 3rd and 4th grade after a MASSIVE transition in my life, followed by another MASSIVE transition in my life that resulted in me not really reading Thea anymore.
Now I’m a college senior and I’m reliving parts of my childhood that I just miss, and let me tell you rereading kids books that made you feel important back when you read them is the biggest mental health booster.

[Shweta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book as it has everything about the ancient Egypt and also i got curious while reading it but overall i have given a 5 star as its a great book and i recommend kids to read it and they will get a idea of the mystery going on and will get to know about the Incas.How they lived,what they did etc. and many more.

[Ogechukwu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved reading these books in elementary and middle school. a great mystery book. It involves Thea Stilton and her friends and they're in search of missing friend and the treasure of Secret City

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book especially the history of the Incan civilization but was a bit disappointed when the treasure part was just the art that they had preserved. Otherwise the book was pretty good- I loved the facts part of it.

[edward j. sudnik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book

My 7 year old (soon to be 8) daughter said, "It was a really good book and.that she wants to see a book like this in the Geronimo stilton series." She really liked the labyrinth part of the story.

[Elina]

my favorite sereis so a person goes missing and they find him and he is looking for that this city they are helping find the city but it is not easy they have bandits follwing them cause they want the gold to so read the story and cheak it out.