Secrets of Tamarind

Tamarind #2

by Nadia Aguiar

Simon, Maya and Penny never thought they'd return to Tamarind, the mystical island of adventure . . .But when a long-lost friend tells them Tamarind is in danger, they know they must go back. On their arrival Tamarind is more mysterious than ever before. There's the vanishing village of the water where people - and their secrets - hide, miraculous creatures are everywhere and where does the little blue door in the middle of nowhere lead to?As they venture deeper into Tamarind, the peril mounts - can the children save the island before it's lost forever?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Adventure, Middle Grade, Fiction, Mystery, Childrens

385 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2010

About the author

The tiny Atlantic island of Bermuda where I was born and raised inspired my trilogy about Tamarind, a magical island where jaguars roam and volcanoes rumble. Join Maya, Simon, and Penny on their exciting adventures escaping pirates, hiding in a treetop village high in the cloud forest, zipping down an ice slide through a glacier, venturing into an eerie, vanishing village, and tracking the fearsome and elusive mandrill through the jungle.

Reviews

[Emily Stanton · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two books are possibly my favourite books ever BUT, "Secrets of Tamarind" was not as good as the first book, "The Lost Island of Tamarind" *Spoiler Alert* (for anyone yet to read the book who is reading the reviews to get an insight on the book)
At the end of the book when Helix left was simply outrageous! For one he was the best character in the books (agree?) and two, his departure was so sudden and quick, he did not even say goodbye, only to Penny whom he gave Seagrape to. I could hardly concentrate on the rest of the book after that!!!
Simon seemed waaaaay to mature and intelligent for a 12 year old, even if he is the son of two marine biologists, and putting the book in his point of view was a mistake because we'd learned and loved so much about Maya from the first book!! :(
After finding out that they would be older, I was extremely disappointed that nothing happened between Maya and Helix too...I'd hoped that something would go on there, but when I realised that the book was staying in Simon's POV I gave up on that thought.
I found myself adding or re-writing some parts along the way in my head as I went along!!
Still my favourite books (I am 14)
Helix had better return in the 3rd book, wether he's 17 or 70 I don't care!!! Speaking of which, Nadia Aguiar said that she was 70 pages into the 3rd book in 2010, yet 4 years later nothing, not even the slightest trace of a 3rd book has appeared and she has also seemed to go off the internet since then too, so I really hope she doesn't disappoint with the last book if it is going to be released sometime soon.
Also heard that the third book would be in Penny's point of view when she's a teenager (?)
Recommend it to people aged 11-17 because some concepts and ideas that the author is trying to get at might be slightly challenging to grasp for anyone younger than that, and the story might seem a bit too cliche and young for adults and the convenience of items suddenly appearing in the book might be off-putting!
In saying that, there are adults on here who have enjoyed the book so do not let me stop you!!
Great books for anyone who likes adventure stories!
Mad fan, hoping to see some more novels from Nadia! :)

[- ̗̀ jessica ̖́- · Rating 5 out of 5]

whilst i think the first book is better (possibly from a nostalgia point of view?), this one was still really good and had all the elements that i wanted. it was fun to learn more about ophalla and the blue line, and have a book more from simon's perspective to see his development as he has got older. would have loved to see more of felix though!

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. I really enjoyed this series. It will be a great addition to our elementary school library. It is a fun adventure that is perfect for reluctant readers that need a lot of action and adventure to keep their interest. The story is full of magic, adventure, mystery, and intrigue. It has a great range of characters and a variety of settings and situations that keep the story interesting and appealing. I would definitely recommend this fun and entertaining book.

[Ciara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very good. It was very detailed and exciting. The down-turn is that I havent read the first book (my own fault for thinking this one was the first) and so I didnt recognise the whole Tamarind scene, but the book was great all in all. At some points it was lacking, but it was a good book.

[Brittney · Rating 4 out of 5]

The worst thing is that he had such a rare mind. If only he would have used it for something better than he did.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one took longer to get started, but when it finally did I had a hard time putting it down. Told from Simon's pov (I missed you Maya!), and now including a 5-year-old Penny, the story showed a new side of Tamarind. I missed other characters too whom I had grown and loved (maybe that's why this one felt a bit disjointed to me?).

I loved how the author wove science and ecology through this--what we do to our environment has a decided effect on our world--and how the small choices we make can have a profound impact. Once again, the children are put in profound danger and put themselves in harm's way by making rash choices (Simon, like Maya, just JUMPS in without thinking, while I'm standing on the sidelines screaming at him and waving my arms, "NO! NO! NO!"). *sigh*

Heads-up readers, there is more swearing and casual violence and neglect of children in this than in the first book (maybe as part of the results of war from the first book, trying to show that?), just so you know. This does affect the children in the book, though they are coping; it affects the adults too. Greed is shown to be bad, and people work together both for ill and for good.

I have the third book checked out, but I'm not in a rush to read it. Not like I was dashing to read this.

[Katie Foth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in the library and enjoyed it despite the fact that I hadn't read the first novel in the series. Ten-year-old Simon is the main character. Four years after his first adventure to the tropical island of Tamarind, Simon and his older sister Maya, his younger sister Penny, and their green parrot friend travel back to island to solve the mystery of the disintegrating blue line that protects the island from the outside world. They find that ruthless outsiders have launched The Red Coral Project to mine and steal the magical mineral ophalla from the island, upsetting the island's equilibrium.

The children cross paths with their adopted brother Helix, who returned to the island to search for ties to his real family. Their exciting adventures through the jungle, swamp city, desert, and caves do seem fantastic--but I was caught up in the delights and didn't mind the elements other readers found contrived (such as the old steam engine in the jungle). Loved the ending!

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second book in the trilogy suffered from the same issues as the first book: a complete lack of regard for distance and time. I get the need for expediency in traveling from one area to another, and I can absolutely support using shortcuts like an ice slide. But where I struggle is that traveling on foot only takes a few hours to get anywhere, but other trips take days using faster means of transportation. You created the island; you get to control how far apart things are, and you should make your maps more reflective of these similarities or differences. Moreover, if you have this secret lake in the mountains that no one has found for generations, then maybe it should be more than a few hours' walk from the nearby town? Especially if it was so well-known in the olden days.

I appreciated the creativity of this book, but I struggled with the simple logistics.

[Amanda Carlisle · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Aguiar’s Tamarind series is just visually spectacular. I love an author that describes the books settings in deep, colorful detail and she definitely delivers in that respect. Initially, it took me a little while to get into the story but once the ball was rolling I was there for it. The only thing I would change about this is that I want more pirates. There were pirates (and mermaids!) in the first book and they didn’t make an appearance this time around. My philosophy is if you can have pirates, you should have pirates."

Read the rest of my review here

[Lara Burley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The squel to my favourite book captures my heart just as much. I love that each book is about a different sibling and I love the way their relationships have shifted in the years between the books as well as the new areas we were able to explore.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay--sort of a Narnia sort of tale. I think enjoying the second may depend more on having read the first book than is the case for some other series books.

[abby ✧.* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both of the Tamarind books are both extraordinary and wonderful! I have not yet read the final third book, however I hope to soon!

[Rosa Macdougall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooooo good

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book, I love this author, this book follows simons joinery to save tamarind. Very creative and made me smile the whole way through.

[Sean Kottke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review submitted to ALAN's Picks, October 11, 2011:
The magical island of Tamarind is a lush tropical paradise, populated by a diverse range of flora and fauna found nowhere else on Earth. Its delicate ecosystem is kept in balance and protected from the dangers of the outside world by a mysterious substance called ophalla. When a shady organization known as the Red Coral Project discovers Tamarind and launches a massive mining operation to extract ophalla for scientific research and possible commercial applications, the island’s fragile environment is threatened.
This imbalance triggers the appearance of a series of mystical signs, messages laid during the Tamarind’s Extraordinary Days to aid future generations should the island ever face ecological disaster. Now, the survival of Tamarind and its unusual inhabitants lies in the hands of Maya, Simon, and Penny Nelson, who once more travel on the schooner “Pamela Jane” to investigate the island’s magic, find their missing parents, and stop the Red Coral Project before it’s too late.

Combining elements of “The Chronicles of Narnia,” “His Dark Materials,” “The DaVinci Code,” and “Lost,” this sequel to “The Lost Island of Tamarind” presents a rollicking fantasy adventure story that also serves as a thinly veiled meditation on environmental catastrophes in our own world. The author’s experiences living in Bermuda inform the novel’s vivid descriptions, providing a note of local color to its fantastical settings. This novel would make an excellent candidate for a middle school read aloud, offering ample opportunities for word study, developing visualization skills and enriching students’ understanding of critical social studies and science concepts through fiction. Familiarity with Nadia Aguiar’s first Tamarind novel is not required to enjoy the riches of “Secrets of Tamarind,” a true feast for the senses.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

BREAKING NEWS!!!I have found the secret to the Bermuda Triangle and the strange happenings in that area of the world. What many people don't realize or just can't imagine is that a whole island world is hiding just beyond the borders of the area called the Bermuda Triangle. It is the world of dreams and imagination, with wondrous creatures and people that you could only imagine. The adventures of Simon and his sisters Maya and Penny to defeat the evil 'red man' and his gang of thieves takes you to this marvelous place with all the excitement, mystery and fantasy that you could hope for. Their companion is a young man they call Helix, who is originally from Tamarind and believes himself to be alone in the world without his friends.
This is a beautifully written story about friendship, family, coming of age and conservation of our natural resources. I think it has something for most people, and that children who are old enough to understand these concepts (probably 10 and up) would truly love to hear the story and would long to be able to with the kids on their adventures.
Thank-you to Good-Reads for the chance to read this advanced readers copy. I truly did enjoy the adventure.

[Sandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC won in a First Reads Giveaway

This is not quite a stand alone book. It makes multiple references to prior events in the first book so that you wonder what you've missed. As you continue to read you find that while it might be nice to know what happened previously it isn't really necessary to follow and enjoy this book.

It's a fairly standard tale of a child straining at the yoke placed on them by a parental authority. They wish to break free and experience life without restraints. Once they are amidst the adventure comes the usual regret and a “careful what you wish for” feeling. What makes this different is the world that's created for these children to adventure in. It's not a Never Never Land or anything even remotely like it. It has a different kind of magic and that was a refreshing change.

The story moves along at a good pace and sometimes things seem to be just a little too convenient but there are enough thrills to engage most young adults. There's little to no graphic violence so it's safe for younger teens as well. I don't think this book translates well for adults but would be a good one to read to your children.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this free through Goodreads First Reads. I really enjoyed this book. Nadia Aguiar has a very descriptive writing style and brings great adventure and suspense to this book. I have to agree with many of the reviews by saying I wish I read the first book before reading this; a felt I missed something here or there. However, this book left me interested enough to seek out the first book and to keep an eye out for Nadia Aguiar and her future works!

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maya, Simon,Penny, and Helix return to the island of Tamarind because the Red Coral project has been mining all the ophalla out of Tamarind that it can find, and if it continues, the island will be destroyed. It's up to the children to find the tools they'll need to close Faustina's Gate once and for all and save their island from Dr.Fitzsimmons and his team. Terrific read.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in an ARC goodreads giveaway a few months ago and since it arrived when I was moving I didn't get a chance to read it until this week. It's a pretty good adventure story, geared towards teenagers, and overall I enjoyed it but would have probably liked it more if I had read the first book before reading this one.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secrets of Tamarind is just as good as the first book. I loved that all of the children, even Penny, were involved and important to the story. The newly introduced characters were just as vivid as the familiar ones and the undiscovered landscapes of Tamarind were exciting and exotic. Well written and a pleasure to read. I hope there is a third in the making!

[Pisces Chic · Rating 3 out of 5]

yeah this book was good, very intriguing, i was 'forever on the edge of my seat'..
but i thought the first one - The Lost Island Of Tamarind was better.
- for those who have read it, who else was sad that they didnt go back to the mermaids ??? or was that in the first one but still they never went back to the mermaids

[Leslie McNew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not read the first book, but received this as a first reads giveaway. I really enjoyed the adventure and the characters. The author wove ecology and adventure really well. I do recommend this book to young readers. I want to read the frist book now.

[Lucee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't think this was as good as the first, mainly because it was told in Simon's POV, and since we got to know and love Maya in the first book, it was just disappointing to leave her POV. It looks like there should be a third book, but I haven't found an evidence to support this theory.

[Sara Westhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in an afternoon!

Really enjoyed this sequel, and would love to see Aguiar write another book in this series. Very strong references as to the importance of protecting our natural resources, and how depleting those resources can wreak havoc on the environment.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

i liked the first book better

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not reading the first book in a series is always tough, and although this book didn't quite do it for me, I can see the tween appeal in this adventure novel through the magical land of Tamarind.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same as first book, but there had better be a third book! She can end a book very well, but the story is so incomplete she needs at least another book!

[S.R.R. Colvin]

I think I should have read book #1 before I tried this one.
:(

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helix! Please be a sequel!