The Mystery of the Cupboard
Sale price
$958
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1993

The Mystery of the Cupboard

Written by Lynne Reid Banks · Illustrated by Tom Newsom

Book #4 in the The Indian in the Cupboard series

A hidden journal reveals the origins of a magical cupboard, forcing Omri to break his vow.

3.9/5 Goodreads · 5,942 ratings
256 pages
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Bookroo's summary

Omri's vow to keep the magical cupboard closed shatters when he discovers a hidden journal in his family's old farmhouse. Written by his great-great-aunt, it unveils the cupboard's mysterious origins and a family secret. As Omri delves into the past, he must confront the magic that once changed his life. Will he risk everything to right a past wrong? Journey from the English countryside to pre-WWI London, meeting unforgettable characters and uncovering secrets that could alter his family's destiny. The cupboard's magic beckons once more, and Omri's adventure begins anew.

From the publisher

When Omri puts away the cupboard in The Secret of the Indian, he vows that it will be forever. Little Bear, Boone, and the other miniature figures he had brought to life will remain plastic. But then Omri and his family move to an old country farmhouse that they inherited from a distant relative, and he unearths a faded journal hidden in the thatched roof. To Omri’s utter amazement, the notebook was written by his “wicked” great-great-aunt Jessica Charlotte on her deathbed. Even more astonishing: It reveals how the cupboard and its magic were created–and changed the destiny of his family, In trying to right a wrong done in the past, Omri finds he has no choice but to break the promise he made to himself. The magical cupboard is opened once more!The Mystery of the Cupboard transports readers from the peaceful English countryside of today to, the elegant drawing rooms and boisterous music halls of pre-World War I London and introduces them to an unforgettable new set of characters–both big and small–and an enthralling series of adventures. Continuing the enchantment of the earlier works in the series, this is Lynne Reid Banks’s richest, most memorable “Indian in the Cupboard” book ever.”In this latest installment in the award-winning Indian in the Cupboard series, Omri’s fascination with the little people of the cupboard has matured into an obsession with discovering the origin of their life-giving magic. With the help of his great-aunt’s hidden diary and a meeting with an elderly roof-thatcher, Omri is able to piece together his own family’s history….These rich, well-rounded characters speak eloquently and entertainingly within a polished mystery.”–Publishers Weekly.

At a glance
Format
Pages
256
Reading age
8–12
Audience
Middle Grade
Lexile
770L
Themes & topics
Books about cultureBooks about magicBooks about movingBooks about toysBooks about race and ethnicity
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The Key to the Indian

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The fine print

Book details

Reading levels
ATOS
~4.9
F&P level
~R
Publication
Published
April 13, 2004
First published
April 23, 1993
Publisher
HarperCollins
Edition
Language
English
Type
Chapter Book
Identifiers
ISBN
9780380720132

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