The Serpent’s Secret

As a 6th grade history teacher, I have been a fan of Rick Riordan’s use of fiction to teach mythology since I entered the classroom. I have to admit, that after many of his series over the years, I have outgrown his narrative voice. It just doesn’t speak to me any more. This book was recommended to me, and despite my reservations about it following the same “formula”, I gave it a try. I was delighted by how quickly it drew me in. It is funny, fresh, entertaining, all while teaching fascinating mythological beliefs. I highly recommend this book to anyone from middle grades to adulthood.

I purchased this book, one for my granddaughter and one for my niece. The book was a total success. Both girls were enthralled with it My granddaughter read half the first day she had it My niece, while not as enthusiastic a reader, also got immediately involved in it. Both girls are 10. One is an advanced reader. Both enjoyed it equally. I would fully recommend this book.

I’d actually give this book 4.5 stars. A really refreshing, friendly take on the MG in Mythology style book, I enjoyed reading this and recommend it. It didn’t feel formulaic or forced, and it kept a nice humor that relied more on puns, visual gags and tight rhyming rather than pop culture references. I do think the individual characters would’ve benefited from a longer narrative with more time to develop, but they were a good mix of funny, intense and charming. The author’s notes provide some invaluable commentary on the source of many of these myths. Overall the whole book reminded me of one of my favorite collection of unusual fairy tales, Carl Sandberg’s Rootabaga Stories. Definitely a nice surprise!

Ive waited all my life for mythologies from my cultures to be brought to life in books like this! Its fascinating to read this with my child wishing Id had books that represented me. My 11 year old says: Although I was freaked out by all the snakes, it had such good characters in it. I want my friends to read it because the main character is funny and a fighter too.

What a fun read! I devoured this story and have now passed it on to my son. Kiranmala is a spunky heroine who finds herself uprooted from everything she knows and thrown into another dimension as she battles rakkosh and other magical beasts to find and save her parents. THE SERPENT’S SECRET is a fast-paced read with characters we want to root for and a quest that’s magical and mysterious. The world building was fantastic, and I loved the weaving of Indian mythology.

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