This Book Is Not Good For You

Secret #3

by Pseudonymous Bosch

Between the pages of this book lies the secret to the best-tasting chocolate in all the world. I promise, your taste buds will tingle. Your palette will sing! Oh no, have I accidentally tempted you to read this book? I will warn you, however, the most delicious things are never good for you...and this story is particularly scrumptious!

In this tooth-rotting adventure, Cass's mom has been kidnapped by the evil dessert chef and chocolatier, Señor Hugo! The ransom...the legendary tuning fork. Can Cass and Max-Ernest find the magical instrument before it's too late? Will they discover the evil secret ingredient to Señor Hugo's chocolate success?

If you're tempted, take a taste, but just remember...this book is not good for you.

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

394 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

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

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not really sure how a person could possibly not love this book. For one, it's about secret spy kids. For another, it's awesome and hilarious. And finally (as if that weren't enough), it's about chocolate. Need I say more?

I also would like to add that I am pretty sure Pseudonymous Bosch and I are soul mates. It seems from reading this book that his love of dark chocolate is nearly as passionate as mine (from Q&A in the book's appendix: "Q: What is dark chocolate?" "A: Heaven on Earth."), and I think he is missing out on some serious culinary possibilities by not being involved with me either romantically or as BFFs. I think I may have finally found the ideal candidate to eat my pastry creations in trade for editorial comments on my writing. Oh, Pseudonymous--where have you been all my life? Where do you continue to be? Will I ever find out your real name and finally be able to live in bliss with you eternally?

[Bookish Devil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is just getting better and better.
This book is an absolute no nonsense book. Funny,Witty,Mysterious,Thrilling ...damn what more could a reader ask for. Dear Pseudonymous, you just earned a fan here !

[Nerissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree! This book isn't good for you. It's REALLY GOOD for you! ;)

[Drew Ransom · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the story This Book Is Not Good For You by Pseudonymous Bosch, Cass and Max-Ernest, two friends fond of adventure and full of curiosity, set off on their third adventure. In this book, Cass, Max-Ernest, and a new friend they made in their last adventure, Yo Yoji, search for the Tuning Fork, a magical tool used to make the most plain substance, like water, into something delicious, like chocolate. These three are sent on their adventure not knowing any information, but knowing that their enemy, the Midnight Sun, was after it. Meanwhile, Cass and her mom sign up for a cooking class with a famous blind chef, Senor Hugo, who is secretly apart of the Midnight Sun. Hugo recognizes Cass and thinks that she knows where the Tuning Fork is, so he invites Cass and her mom to one of his restaurants and kidnaps Cass's mom. He leaves a ransom note for Cass that states that if she wants her mom back, she will need to give him the Tuning Fork. She decides not o tell her friends, wanting to do it all by herself. But they eventually find out and they set off on the adventure to find the Tuning Fork and save Cass's mom.

This book is great for all ages because it is a creatively strange book that will create imagery in your head on every page. The chapters are various in length. The dialogue is well written and can tell you the mood of the character at the time. There is an enormous amount of sensory details of the aromas and tastes of the foods being described. There are multiple settings such as Cass's house, her grandfathers' antique shop, the Magic Museum, and many more. Some chapters would be the author just talking to you about the previous chapter or apologizing for not finishing a chapter. The author made me laugh because of how well he joked around and then gave the evidence in the next chapter about his mistake. For example, one chapter he said he was eating chocolate at a diner and then fell asleep. Then he said he quickly wrote it on a napkin he used. The next chapter, there were smudges on the text acting as chocolate smudges. The author made me enjoy the book and I appreciate that creativity.

A theme for this book would be care and love from a parent is important in a childhood. Cass realizes when her mom is kidnapped that she needed her more than anything. Cass had been mean towards her mom and neglecting her ever since she learned that she was adopted. She felt terrible about her actions. This happened in my life, too. One time, I was mean towards my sister Maia and she didn't deserve it because she was just trying to be nice by helping me with a chore and I was in a bad mood because I don't like doing chores. I felt bad about my actions and gave her a hug and apologized. It is important to me to be nice to people that care and love me.

This book enlightened my mood on a bad day. It was humorous and action-packed. I hope you look into reading This Book Is Not Good For You by Pseudonymous Bosch.

[Sydney Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book series for young adults (10-18) who like intriguing books without having adult themes (sex, drug use, mature language.) My daughter (11) is already reading at a high school/college level, and it's hard to find appropriate books for her. This author is hilarious.

[Jailyn709 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great book!!! You never know what is going to happen next so it makes you want to just keep reading! But the ending sucks! They don't tell you the answer to the big problem, they leave you hanging but that was the last book in that series!!!

[Maven Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Book Is Not Good for You by Pseudonymous Bosch is a wildly fun, imaginative middle‑grade mystery‑adventure and the third installment of The Secret Series, following the eccentric, self‑declared “highly secret” escapades of Cass (Cassandra), Max‑Ernest, and Yo‑Yoji as they face one of their stickiest challenges yet: rescuing Cass’s mother from the clutches of an evil chocolatier and the sinister group called the Midnight Sun. To save her mom, the trio must uncover the whereabouts of a legendary tuning fork with extraordinary flavour‑recreating powers before the villains use it for their own dark purposes, sending the kids on a zany journey filled with puzzles, chocolate‑themed peril, and surprising transformations.

I loved how this book makes chocolate feel like both a craving and a clue, with Bosch’s irreverent narrator popping in to wink at you about flavour, danger, and exactly how much you should not be reading the book even as you can’t stop turning pages. The adventure carries all the series’ trademark creativity: secret societies, coded riddles, bizarre villains like Señor Hugo the dessert chef, and toes‑tapping humour that cracked me up more than once.

The way Cass’s determination to save her mom drives the mystery gave the story a warm emotional backbone even amid the deranged cakes, cocoa‑crazed monkeys, and secret lairs. I also enjoyed how the narrative still finds space for quirky footnotes, sly commentary, and a sense that you and the book itself are complicit in the fun chaos Bosch has brewed for you. Whether the kids are wrangling clues or trying to outwit the Midnight Sun, it’s a roller‑coaster that feels clever and utterly delicious in tone.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars. I’m giving This Book Is Not Good for You four stars because it balances laugh‑out‑loud whimsy, clever plotting, and genuine heart in a way that makes you root for Cass and her friends, even when things get royally messy. Its blend of mystery, humor, chocolate‑soaked peril, and warm friendship makes it a satisfying, page‑turning entry in a series that knows how to be delightfully strange and irresistible to readers young and old.

[Mangrii · Rating 4 out of 5]

Por fin he podido degustar (y nunca mejor dicho en esta ocasión) la tercera pieza de La colección secreta de Pseudonymous Bosch, una serie de cinco libros en los que cada uno versa sobre un sentido y en los que se esconde un Secreto muy grande. Ya hemos visitado el olfato y el odio en los dos primeros volúmenes, y en esta ocasión llego el turno del gusto. En esta nueva aventura nuestro querido narrador nos contará como la madre de Cas ha sido secuestrada por el siniestro chocolatero el Señor Hugo; como Cas, Max-Ernest y Yo-yoji en embarcarán en nueva investigación para intentar rescatarla y como siempre, lucharán contra los malvados integrantes de El sol de medianoche que estarán metidos en medio de todo el asunto.

Ha sido el mejor volumen de los tres leídos hasta ahora, ya que es el volumen más equilibrado de todos. Aventuras, misterio y desarrollo de nuestros protagonistas están en bueno armonía para hacer que no te despegues de sus hojas ni un momento. Ayuda también nuestro querido y misterioso narrador, el cual como siempre sigue interaccionando con nosotros y desata todo su amor por el chocolate en este libro, y de paso te da bastante hambre. Capítulos cortos con finales totalmente cliffhanger hacen que no sueltes el libro de fácil manera.

En este libro ademas tocaremos temáticas como los problemas a los que se enfrenta una madre cuando su hija se entera de que es adoptada, como vive un hijo la recuperación en la relación de sus padres divorciados o exploraremos un poco en la identidad de cada uno de ellos. Y bueno hablara de chocolate, cantidades ingentes de chocolate y algunas cosillas interesantes sobre el tema. Como en los anteriores entregas Pseudonymous nos agregará notas al pie de página con detalles explicativos que nunca vienen mal, yo siempre descubro un par de cosas gracias a él. Una nueva y misteriosa aventura que nos sigue dejando con ganas de más, sobre todo por que seguimos sin saber que es el dichoso Secreto. Espero que tengamos pronto la cuarta parte.

[Olivia-Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third in a series and a really quick read, mostly aimed for kids about 9-12. But I still enjoyed reading it myself because it’s something light, playful and a pretty good mystery/detective story as well.

This one continues to follow the story of Cassandra, Yo-Yoji and Max-Ernest. I won’t tell you much, seeing as the content of this book is highly secret (^^) but I will say it has something to do with a cursed Aztec artifact, an evil and deranged chef, a secret lair of cocoa-crazed monkeys and the most dangerous chocolate ever created.

What I love about this book is how it’s fun, but you’re still learning from it. With the help of footnotes you can learn a lot of new, general knowledge as well as get more from the story. I'm personally a fan of most books which use footnotes. Also, we get the author talking to us as people in the book occasionally, as well as ‘invisible’ chapters and other creative bits like this. Which always makes a book more enjoyable. Besides, this book is about chocolate! How can that ever go wrong?

I don’t really have much more to say about this. Max-Ernest has some strange things going on between his divorced parents that involves an argument over gluten-free spaghetti, Cassandra is busy trying to find her biological parents and trying to identify who she is and arguing with her adoptive mother, and Yo-Yoji is just hoping to get back to being close friends with Max-Ernest and Cassandra after his secret was revealed.As you can see, a lot of different themes are also crossed here.

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

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this author (whoever they really are!) Just make sure you have some chocolate to eat while you read it because it talks all about chocolate!

[Wendy Bunnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whew, we made it over the hump in this series. I'm reading it with my 12-year-old, and our usual rule is he reads some of his book for his book club, then I read this out loud to him. Well, summer is hitting him hard and it's like pulling teeth to get him to read anything. Seriously, he nearly walked out through the "do not exit" door at the store today, just won't read anything. But, we made it.

We've gotten to know Cass, Max-Ernest, and Yo-Yoji pretty well over the past several books. I don't think we really got to see much character growth from the boys, but Cass had a decent story arc as she uncovered some surprising truths about her Mom and who she really is. That story thread looks like it will carry forward as well. And, Cass showed some tween sass to her Mom, which seemed realistic and was pretty decently explored.

The mystery wasn't quite as fun as the homunculus from book two, but maybe I'm just bitter. I'm trying to cut sugar from my diet and haven't eaten chocolate in months, and this book is chock full of chocolate.

[meher ! · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was quirky and a relaxed read, I read it quite a while ago but what I recall was that it made me hungry. It's not one of my all-time favorites, but it was fun to follow along with.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again the Secret Series did not fail to deliver. This book was a great read. Pseudonymous Bosch has a funny way of placing chapters out of order. The first chapter is actually chapter fifteen (I think.) This is interesting because it is like watching one of those movies where they start out with the climax and you get really intrigued, but then it goes back to the beginning and explains how they got to that climactic moment.

Anyhow, in this book Cassandra's mother is kidnapped and Cass, Max-Earnest, and Yo-Yoji have to try to save her. They start by looking for The Midnight Sun because they know they have Cass' Mom. At first they think that The Midnight Sun is in Africa based off of an article they read in a magazine. Eventually they figure out that the Midnight Sun is actually living in the safari of a zoo. Together they must travel to the zoo and find away to rescue Cassandra's Mom without getting caught themselves.

Unfortunatley, they do get caught. Will they be able to make it out alive this time???? Read on to find out.

[Lilli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book Is Not Good for You is about 3 people, Cass, Max-Ernest, and Yo-Yoji, who are brought into this dangerous adventure of getting Cass's mother back from the evil chocolatier Hugo. She is kept at a hidden chocolate plantation at the Wild World zoo in Africa where the Midnight Sun has held Cass's mother as a hostage. Soon they will find themselves caught in a trap, putting their own friendships at stake.

I gave This Book Is Not Good for You 5 stars because it's a great mystery book and is the best so far out of the series. I loved how the story was written, there was lots of emotion and adventure in it. This book did not put me in my stretch zone, but made me think deeper about the plot and characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who is up for a good mystery book that will keep you on your toes, but read the 2 book before this one.

[Nicole Dust · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book should come with a warning label:

CAUTION: THIS BOOK WILL GIVE YOU CRAVINGS FOR CHOCOLATE.

[Ruthie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hm. This book was not as good as the others in my opinion. That could just be because I really needed to finished this book before I could read my other books. Well it doesn’t really matter. It seemed that PB was barely interrupting to say funny lines and just stuck to the little asterisk thingys to talk. Too chocolate centered to me. I mean I love chocolate but according to PB I’m weak because I like milk chocolate. Dark chocolate is for the more sophisticated tongue. I also do like vanilla. Cass was just as she was for the rest of the series. I never really liked max-Ernest that much but he was useful with the chocolate thing. Yo-yoji was... weird, like he usually was. The midnight sun is creepy and disgusting. The characters were all the same, everything was the same but it seemed too distant for me. What that means I do not know but that’s the word my brain is going for. Was not bad, but was not as good as I would have liked it to be.

[Travis Attardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book about lacing chocolate with drugs

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The series is growing on me as it goes. There's more character development and less reliance on the same jokes over and over again. Also, now I want chocolate!

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book more than the last one! Not only was a big problem solved but an even bigger problem was started! When I get home I am going to start reading the 4th book.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

In diesem zahnschmelzzerstörenden Abenteuer wird die Mutter unserer Heldin Kassandra entführt: von einem unheimlichen Gourmet- Koch und Chokolatier, dem blinden Senor Hugo. Nur gegen die legendäre magische Stimmgabel will er sein Opfer wieder freigeben. Werden Kass und Max-Ernest das sagenumwobene Instrument finden, bevor es zu spät ist? Und werden sie das schreckliche Geheimnis lüften, das den Erfolg der berühmten Schokolade von Senor Hugo begründet?

Selbst bei dieser lustigen Kinderbuch-Reihe hatte ich einen zu lange Abstand zum Vorgängerband. Glücklicherweise hat der Autor immer wieder die Erinnerung aufgefrischt. Selbst ohne genaue Erinnerung an die Vorgeschichte hat mich dieses Buch mit seinen komischen Fußnoten, unsichtbaren Kapiteln und ungewöhnlichen Ideen wirklich zum Lachen gebracht.  Immer noch ist diese witzige Reihe eine totale Empfehlung für junge und junggebliebene Leser und vor allem für Liebhaber von Schokolade. Der nächste und letzte Band wird nicht mehr so lange auf sich warten lassen.  

[Rachel Choi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chocolate...(I would highly recommend everyone to read the first book, second book, or both books (#1 and #2) of the Secret Series if you haven't done so. Reading about Cass and Max-Ernest's adventure beforehand will probably give you a better understanding of this adventure.)

"This Book is not Good For You," by Pseudonymous Bosch is the third book of the Secret Series, and as well as all the other books, it is filled with adventure and mystery. As usual (these days), Cass, Max- Ernest, and Yo- Yoji are working in the Terces Society. However in this book, the whole mission changes. While being in the Terces Society, Cass has to find the secret- her secret.
Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. Cass's mother gets kidnapped by Senor Hugo, the Midnight Sun's spy and worker. In the midst of the Terces Society, Midnight Sun, and the kidnapping of her mom, Cass finds out that her mom, Melanie, is not really her mom. She was delivered in a box and never knew her real parents. Although this was a very big turning point in Cass's life, she didn't care. In order for Cass to find her (fake) mom, she had to find an important object, the Tuning Fork, and return it to Senor Hugo. The reason why this Tuning Fork was so important was because any flavor, food, or drink could be made from this object that dated back in time. When the Tuning Fork is returned, Senor Hugo does not release Cass's mom.
You have to read the rest of this book to find out how Cass's friends help her through the adventure, and what the Midnight Sun does in return.
At the end of the book, Cass eats the magical chocolate to learn her Secret. (You'll have to read this book to find out what this "magical chocolate" is.) Read the next book, "This Isn't What it LOOKS Like," to find out Cass's adventure and what she learns from the past.

[Adair · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Book is Not Good for You, Pseudonymous Bosch

This Book is Not Good for You is the third puzzle-filled book in The Secret Series, in which Cass and Max-Ernest, two brave 11-year olds, set out to fulfill some very perplexing—and dangerous—missions.

What’s the ‘secret’ this time? I’m not allowed to tell, but it has to do with the most delicious chocolate in the entire world. And it gets better from there. Once her suspicions are aroused, Cass discovers the dastardly Ms. Mauvais is masquerading as a nun—running an orphanage no less. The other members of the villainous gang, the Midnight Sun, are hiding out on a plantation in Africa. And the evil dessert chef, Señor Hugo, has kidnapped Cass’s mother. He’s asking for an unusual ransom, something highly sought after but rarely ever seen.

Added to the adventures is a gaggle of chocolate-making monkeys, some ferocious lions, and even a magical bird. The key to everything, however, is a cursed Aztec tuning fork, an object with the power to recreate any flavour the user has ever tasted. With no time to waste, Cass and Max-Ernest are off; and, of course, they learn a few things along the way.

Young readers familiar with the series will recognise the zany narrator, who regularly breaks away from the story to comment on the action (as well as many other things). This intrusive voice, far from being distracting, serves to heighten both the story’s drama and its sheer fun.

Pseudonymous Bosch has created another rollicking mystery—fast-paced, quirky and, best of all, light-hearted. It’s the kind of story children won’t want to end. And Bosch is prepared for this: he’s added a bonus list his favourite chocolate recipes. Delicious.

[Grady M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book Is Not Good For You

This book is like a race against time. Because something happened to Cass’s mom. I think this book is really good because like I stated earlier this book is like a race against time. Cass, Max Ernest and Yo-Yoji has to save Cass’s mom before time runs out. I think this book is suspenseful be this book is all about suspense and mystery. This book is a part of a series called the secret series. I would recommend this book to my friend from my old school because he loves to read mysterious types of books. The strength of this book is that it makes you want to read more as you go. This type of writing is effective and powerful.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was SO GOOD. All the books in this series so far have just sucked me in 100%. These books are so unique, each one has a different twist and a different feel. I think this one gave some great character development for Cass and Max-Earnest. Yo-Yoji still has room to grow, but I'm sure that will come in the next two books! Every thing about this book was wonderful and I personally think it was better than the previous book. Can't wait until the next book!

[Faith (-; · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was mysterious and I always want to read it to find out what's next. I like how the author always chimes into the book, and talks about how he doesn't know about something, or if he wants to put his opinion. I recommend this to all of u guys its a really good series. But dont start with this one other ys it doesnt make sense.

[Cristi-Lael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute addition to this series. As usual with the middle book in a series, it was not quite as good as the books before it, but I have hope for the rest of the series. And, really, it wasn't bad in any way. It just wasn't quite as good as the last book.

[radhika morabia · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is such a wonderful children's series full of quite mature undertones, real adventure, and heartwarming friendship. I love the world it's building up.

I only hope that the author resolves it satisfyingly.

[Alkyoni Kotsis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic series.....

[frikelovato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Untuk kualitas tata bahasanya masih sama seperti buku-buku yang dulu, gak sedikit pun kehilangan ciri khas dari p.bosch tapi sayang dibuku ke tiga ini anagramnya sedikit malahan gada, padahal itu favorit banget 😔😔😔

Untuk kualitas ceritanya masih ada efek page turnernya tapi sayangnya gak setegang buku satu dan buku dua, di buku ketiga ini eksekusinya cuma sebentar, selainnya itu lawannya juga bukan dr L & nn mauvis (dicerita mereka udah kabur duluan) padahal disini aksi yo-yoji keren banget, udah gitu karakter dari max ernest udah lumayan berkembang, dari yang sebelum nya ngejengkelin banget dan pengecut sekarang jadi pemberani hahaha

Tapi bukan p.bosch kalo gak ada hal yang buat kita penasaran, ada satu rahasia yang buat cass penasaran dan kerennya rahasia itu ada di buku selanjutnya yang sengaja dimasukin di chapter awal, digantungin di chapter tengah, dimunculin lagi di chapter akhir, tapi tiba-tiba kepotong di chapter akhir yang keterangannya TAMAT 😂

Sangat-sangat menyebalkan, tapi buat penasaran 🤣


nb. lama bacanya bukan berarti jelek ya, cuma karna lagi sibuk, tapi kalo dihitung secara real bacanya cuma butuh 7 hari buat selesein buku ini.

[Amber Scaife · Rating 3 out of 5]

The evil members of The Midnight Sun are at it again, this time on the hunt for a mystical tuning fork that can create any food the taster has ever had before. Cass and her friends in the Terces Society must try to track down the fork first and prevent the bad guys from using it to create the ultimate magical chocolate.
This series is a hoot, and I love that Charlie loves it so much that he wants me to keep reading it, too. So I will, of course, comply.