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

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

As punishment, Cass and her 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 discover the Secret, they run into the evil Mrs. Mauvais and Dr. L, who will stop at nothing to get the Secret before the kids do.

the good things

The pseudonym Bosch did it again! you have to stop this is a fun and suspenseful children’s story 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 is gratifying for the reader to see that Cass and Max-Ernest begin as loners and end as close friends who trust and need each other.

Violence

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

For example:

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

– Cass and her friends are trapped by Lord Pharaoh’s minions. Max-Ernest and Yo-Yoji are thrown outside, but Cass is encased in a canopic jar, a container that was historically used by the Egyptians to store the organs of the dead.

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

Magic, Sorcery and Spirituality

you have to stop this contains many references to ancient Egypt and its gods—Thoth, in particular.

For example…

– The Book of Thoth is said to contain all the spells in the universe.

– Cass has the Ring of Thoth in her possession, and it contains magical powers. When she was 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 no longer be just a ghost. He could claim any body he desired as his own and walk the earth as a living god.

– When Cass places the Ring of Thoth on the mummy’s finger, she has a kind of out-of-body experience where she is flying over the Nile River.

sexual content

None.

Drugs and alcohol

None.

Obscene language

None.

Other negative things

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

The pseudonym Bosch mentions a “private part” that allegedly fell from the mummy of King Tutankhamun. (She could have fun explaining it to his son!)

Additionally, a waitress in the casino and some of the dancers in Lord Pharaoh’s magic show are described as “almost naked” and “scantily clad”.

my two cents

you have to stop this It really is a fun read for kids. The characters are likeable… the plot is full of unexpected twists… and the illustrations are whimsical. Also, the “extras” included by the ever intrusive narrator add to the appeal of the book.

In general, you have to stop. This is an entertaining and kid-friendly book. It is totally appropriate for the recommended age group: 9 years and up.