Secret Box (2): The Secret Cipher

(Paperback)

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Description

The Secret Cipher is the sequel to The Secret Box, a rollicking adventure full of family rivalry, magic, questing, and laugh-out-loud humor that's perfect for fans of Dan Gutman, Wendy Mass, and Trenton Lee Stewart.

Jax Malone and her cousin Ethan Hoche were not expecting one of Jax's birthday presents to contain a dangerous magical object from a mythical past: an urn with the dark power to suck hope out of the world.

Though the first urn is safely hidden, there are two more urns that could rid humanity of both faith and love. And powerful enemies who want to find them and use them to control the world. Now, even though they were never meant to open the present and discover its secret, Jax and Ethan must race to find and destroy the two remaining urns before it's too late.

Reviews

"Twists abound, and the ending will leave readers demanding the third installment immediately. Suspense, humor and sparkling narrative voices combine to deliver an engaging adventure." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Combining video gaming, modern technology, and the current interest in Greek mythology with the premise that these young people must save the world, this series has multiple attractions. Readers will wait eagerly for the third volume to see what the three do with the Urn of Faith." -- Booklist

"This mystery unfolds before your eyes in a series of cliffhangers that build up to a blow-your-mind ending. Wanting to know the secret kept me turning the pages." -- Dan Gutman, New York Times bestselling author of the Genius Files series

"Never mind the mystery, suspense, and humor--what I loved most about The Secret Box was getting into the heads of its two unique and delightfully quirky narrators." -- Christopher Healy, author of The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom

"Fresh voices make this story a winner. Readers will relish this sparkling adventure, which offers plenty of action, humor, age-appropriate danger and mental calisthenics." -- Kirkus Reviews

"This is a great read for reluctant readers or for anyone who loves adventure, mystery, or a touch of magic." -- School Library Journal

"Mixing Greek mythology and mystery with gamer lingo and poignant coming-of-age moments, Ringwald delivers a smart balance of comedy, endearing characters, and high-stakes escapades." -- Publishers Weekly

"The first-person narrative alternates among the protagonists: frizzy-haired Jax, the impulsive leader; introverted Ethan, always her sidekick; and his obnoxious video game-making older brother, Tyler. The action is fast-paced and the suspense is real." -- Booklist

Author Bio

Before becoming an author, Whitaker Ringwald was certified as World's Greatest Snowball Maker and developed a nonstick peanut butter formula in conjunction with lauded Ig Nobel scientists. Whitaker spends six months of every year in a deep sea submersible trying to film live footage of giant squids. But giant squids are hard to come by, so that's where Whitaker gets a lot of writing done.