Book review: This needs to stop

WARNING: This review contains spoilers. It’s written for busy parents who want to know what their child is reading, but don’t have time to read the book on their own. Now for the review…

In this fifth (and supposedly final) book in the Secret series, a class trip to the local natural history museum turns dangerous when Cass accidentally breaks a mummy’s finger.

As punishment, Cass and his friends Max-Ernest and Yo-Yoji are sent to work for the curator of the mummy exhibit – only to be blamed when the mummy goes missing.

As Cass and her friends race to clear their names and uncover the secret, they encounter the evil Mrs. Bad and Dr. L-who will stop at nothing to get their hands on the secret before the kids.

Good things

The pseudonym Bosch has done it again! You have to stop this is a fun and suspenseful story for children that is hard to put down.

This book is part mystery… part coming of age – but the main theme that runs through the entire series is friendship. It’s gratifying for the reader to see Cass and Max-Ernest start out as loners and end up as close friends who trust and need each other.

Violence

As with the other books in the Secret series, all “violence” is of the mild type.

For example:

– Lord Pharaoh’s ghost tries to replace the mummy’s missing finger by cutting off Dr. L’s finger to put it back in place. (This is “said” – not “shown”.)

– Cass and his friends are caught by Lord Pharaoh’s henchmen. Max-Ernest and Yo-Yoji are thrown outside, but Cass is locked in a canopic jar – a vessel that was historically used by the Egyptians to store the organs of the dead.

– When rescuing Cass, Yo-Yoji attacks Lord Pharaoh and pins him to the ground.

Magic, Witchcraft and Spirituality

You have to stop this contains many references to ancient Egypt and its gods, including Thoth.

For example…

– It is said that the Book of Thoth contains all the spells of the universe.

– Cass has the Ring of Thoth in her possession and it contains magical powers. Once placed on the mummy’s finger, the secret would be revealed.

– If Lord Pharaoh learns the Secret first, he will become immortal and all-powerful. He would just be a ghost. He could claim as his own any body he desires and walk the earth as a living god.

– When Cass places the Ring of Thoth on the mummy’s finger, she has some sort of out-of-body experience where she flies over the Nile.

Sexual content

None.

Drugs and alcohol

None.

Bad language

None.

Other negative things

As with the other secret books, Cass and Max-Ernest have to lie to their parents a lot to live their adventures. And that’s not all…

The pseudonym Bosch mentions a “private part” that is said to have fallen from the King Tut mummy. (You might have fun explaining this one to your child!)

Also, a casino waitress and some of the dancers from Lord Pharaoh’s magic show are described as “nearly naked” and “sparsely dressed”.

My two cents

You have to stop this really is a fun read for kids. The characters are endearing…the plot is full of unexpected twists…and the illustrations are whimsical. Plus, the “extras” added by the ever-intrusive narrator add to the book’s appeal.

All in all, you need to stop. This is an entertaining, kid-friendly book. It is quite appropriate for the recommended age group – 9 years and up.