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Summary: Loved it as a child and still love it as an adult!
Review: "The Secret Language," by Ursula Nordstrom, is about an eight-year old girl named Victoria. The child of a single working mother, Victoria is sent to a boarding school called the Coburn Home School. Although she has some trouble adjusting, Victoria finds a friend in Martha, a strong-willed classmate. Martha shares with Victoria the "secret language" of the book's title.Much of the book is filled with accounts of the girls' games and projects, which range in results from rewarding success to embarrassing failure. The book celebrates friendship and imagination. One interesting theme is the challenge for children to find a "happy medium" between creative individualism and social conformity. But ultimately I thought that the book gave off a strangely ambiguous message on this subject. One rather disappointing aspect of the book is the "secret language" itself. It really isn't a language at all, but just a few slang words ("ick-en-spick," "leebossa," etc) that the girls sprinkle into their conversation. And although this "language" is hyped up in the title and opening chapters, Nordstrom seems to neglect it as the story is taken over by other elements. This virtual abandonment of the book's title phenomenon strikes me as a real missed opportunity. Still, the novel does have its good points and the story held my attention throughout. Also interesting was the author bio inside the back cover: it notes that author Nordstrom was a book editor who served as director of Harper's Department of Books for Boys and Girls from 1940-1973. So her literary legacy really goes far beyond this novel. One final note: if you do know a young reader who's interested in constructed languages, I recommend you get them a good primer on Esperanto.
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Summary: A Book Full of Special Memories
Review: Being the "new kid" in school, over 30 years ago, I met a life-long friend after she asked me to read "The Secret Language". That book started our friendship that is still alive and well today. This book will always hold special memories in my heart! I am giving my dearest friend a copy of the book as a surprise and know she will cherish it as much as I do.
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Summary: I loved this book!
Review: I cannot remember how many times I checked this book out at the school and public library when I was a girl! I loved the story of Victoria and Martha's friendship and their adventures at the boarding school I think some books just strike a chord in people and this one really did for me. I am thrilled to see that this book is still being published and look forward to buying it for my daughter.
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Summary: I loved this book!
Review: I cannot remember how many times I checked this book out at the school and public library when I was a girl! I loved the story of Victoria and Martha's friendship and their adventures at the boarding school I think some books just strike a chord in people and this one really did for me. I am thrilled to see that this book is still being published and look forward to buying it for my daughter.
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Summary: A Book Full of Special Memories
Review: I loved this book as a child and reread it many times. Revisiting it with my son a few years ago, I was thrilled to see how well it held up. Best of all, he loved it too. This tale of two girls at boarding school is funny, poignant, and on target.
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Summary: Great childhood book
Review: I read this book again as an adult after havng read it a million times as a child. It still holds the same magic, memories and sweet message. A great book for those times when you wish to go back to that special place in your heart reserved for childhood memories.
Rating:
Summary: Great childhood book
Review: I read this book again as an adult after havng read it a million times as a child. It still holds the same magic, memories and sweet message. A great book for those times when you wish to go back to that special place in your heart reserved for childhood memories.
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Summary: A book you'll never forget
Review: I read this book when I was about 8, from my school library, and have never forgotten it. When my girls were small, I scoured libraries and book stores for it, not remembering the title, but remembering about the secret language, the dresser drawer dolls and the secret hut, but never found it. I'm ordering it now that I've found it through the internet - I can't wait to read it again, & share it with my now grown-up girls & I plan to keep it this time - to read to my grandchildren! I think it is a wonderful story and one well worth reading time & again.
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Summary: Probably the most read book of my childhood--it's in pieces!
Review: I recently decided to order myself a new copy of my threadbare favorite from my childhood. As a teacher of college literature, I have read so much, yet I consistently return to this simple favorite; such a dear story of friendship and fitting in. It is a pure gem for all ages.
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Summary: There are some books you never forget.
Review: Sometimes you read a book when you are 8 (or 10) that never ever leaves you. You feel the characters understand you better than your best friend. You wish you could sit by the side of the pond they built, dress up as ice-cream cones and invent a secret language. I still have my copy of this book (a good 20 years later) and I reread it whenever I feel homesick for being 8 (or 10). As the title suggests, there is a secret language. A lonely homesick girl at bording school invented it... and I still remember it. This book is Lee-lee-lee-leebossa. If you have an 8 or 10 year old girl in your life (or ever were one), get a copy of this book. It will make you wish you could sit in the sun-dappled shade by a pond to finish reading it.
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