Newbery Medal Winner

Secret of the Andes

by Ann Nolan Clark

Summary

Ann Nolan Clark follows Cusi, a young Inca boy who tends llamas with an old herder high in the Peruvian mountains. As Cusi grows curious about the world beyond his hidden valley, he sets out on a journey that leads him to understand his heritage and his destiny as a keeper of ancient secrets. The novel honors Andean culture and Inca tradition with quiet, lyrical prose drawn from Clark's years working in South America.

Historical Context & Significance

Clark drew on her work as a teacher among Indigenous communities in Latin America, and the book won over Charlotte's Web in the same year.