The Best-Kept Secret

by Emily Rodda

The award-winning classic by internationally renowned author Emily Rodda.

Beckoning music, gleaming horses, the lure of the carousel. Cecilia says merry-go-rounds are for little kids, but Jo feels there's something mysterious and not at all childish about the carousel that has appeared overnight in Marley Street. there's something odd about the beckoning music, something strange about the gleaming horses. And why are certain people able to gain entrance to the carousel while others - try as they will - have to give up and turn away? Jo feels she must try to get in. She must buy a ticket - but will she be leading herself and Cecilia into danger?

Ages 9+

Genres: Childrens, Fantasy, Fiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Emily Rodda (real name Jennifer Rowe) was born in Sydney, Australia and graduated from the University of Sydney in 1973 with an MA (Hons) in English Literature. Moving into a publishing career, first as a book editor, and finally as a publisher at Angus & Robertson, Rodda's first book was published in 1984.

Reviews

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, hopeful time slip story. A magic merry-go-round comes to Joanna's town, and those who it chooses to be riders, people who are at sticky bits of their lives (in Joanna's case, her parents wanting to sell her childhood home, and her reluctance to leave childhood behind) get taken seven years in the future, and come back again to their present with (for the most part) unsnarled hearts.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable ♡

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dated kid's scifi.

[Brielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book loves how it revolves around a carousel

[Sarah Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

For school

[Kami Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Years after I read this book it has stuck with me and is one of the few books I would consider worth a re-read. A story that beautifully melds magic and the real world, and makes some very valid points without being preachy.

[Yasemin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book to my kids and they couldn't wait to see what happened in each chapter. A unanimous "Ohhhhhhh" whenever I said "ok, bed time. Let's see what happens tomorrow night in the next chapter".

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I love this book. Especially the ending. A good read

[Kara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read this book in primary school and hated it. Enough said.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful fantasy parable for young readers - made me cry because it was so beautiful.