Secret+of+the+Andes-

Book: Secret of the Andes **
 * Response to Literature Assignment

__ **Chapter 1. Hidden Valley** __
 * Characters: Since I just started this new book, I decided to introduce the characters. There aren’t many characters in this chapter, including some animals. However, there was an Indian boy, Cusi, which I think is the main character of this book. He is just an ordinary, curious Indian boy that didn’t see much people yet since he always was a shepherd to the llamas. Also, there are two men, Chuto and the minstrel. I’m not sure who Chuto is exactly because I’m just in the beginning of the book, but I know that he is an old man that loves Cusi. I think the minstrel is a musician that just sings and composes music with his panpipes. All these characters are Indians, according to the book. There are also some animals; grazing llamas and Suncca, a grey shepherd dog. One particular llama was Misti, a young black llama. I realized from the book that Cusi is a herd boy that shepherds the llamas. Like I said, it’s just the beginning of the book, and I’ll get to know much more about the characters later on in the story.

__Chapter 2. Sunrise Call__**
 * Plot: This chapter is the shortest chapter in the whole book; and so, I decided** **to simply write a short plot for this chapter. The chapter started with Cusi waking up because of the llamas humming and thought of what happened last night, with the minstrel singing about stars and llamas. It seemed as if Cusi enjoyed the event last night. Then Chuto came along to greet the sun with Cusi, in the morning. Then the two people walked through a path (a secret trail), which curved and was steeply going downward between the canyon walls and everything. Finished with the long travel, they reached the bottom of the trail. Suddenly after all the waiting, the sun rose up and Chuto began chanting to the red sun. After he ended the chanting, he told Cusi that he found Cusi over there where the trees are. Cusi was curious and a lot of thoughts were in his brain such as ‘Did I really have a family?’. Finally, they went back home. **


 * __Chapter 3. Llama-Humming__**
 * Setting: Since this is an “Indian-people” book, they live in huts with llamas in a meadow, around mountains and valleys. You can realize that the settings are all within nature while going through the chapter. There are no cars or buildings, just hills and grasslands. Now Chuto and Cusi is getting ready to go to Salt Pits leaving the llamas. They are right now abiding in the Hidden Valley, with the minstrel. I think the time for this chapter is long ago, about a few centuries ago in Peru. The author didn’t classify specific settings of the chapter while the events happened, but I can predict that almost all of the events are happening on the moss-green meadow. However, I still don’t know where the title of the book means- Secret of the Andes. What and where is the Andes? I’ll get to figure it out later in the book with more information on settings.**
 * __Chapter 4. Singer of Songs__**
 * Theme: In this chapter, I decided to write about the theme since I found a perfect one. There might be a lot of themes hidden in this chapter, but I found a particular theme that you can use in your real life. The theme is, ‘If you try hard, the goal comes true’. I thought of this kind of theme since Cusi tried hard on the tasks he had to sacrifice his body for, but he achieved his goal- get ready for the journey coming up. Also, after the hard cooking they tried, Cusi and Chuto came up with great food such as the chuno. I personally think that this theme also goes with our own life. If we don’t try hard on something, it’s obvious that the result won’t be that good. For example, if you don’t try your best (not praticing) on a musical instrument, surely the results after won’t be that wonderful. So let’s try hard on such things, so that your dream can come true. **
 * __Chapter 5. The Steep Trail__**
 * Setting: I chose to describe the setting for this chapter because the author described the setting very well when Cusi and Chuto began their journey, and I could understand the setting perfectly. For example, the author used sentences like ‘Two thousand feet below them tumbled and stormed the roaring rapids of a wide, swiftly moving river.’ However, I’ll explain the settings of this chapter. In the cold and slow morning, Cusi woke up behind the mountain meadows. He had to go with Chuto again to greet the Great Sun Father. After, Cusi, Chuto, and the minstrel had breakfast together with potatoes and corns. Now Cusi and Chuto had to begin on the journey awaiting them- to Salt Pits. The setting included the llamas grazing, where Cusi and Chuto packed on the lonely meadow. The whole morning was silent, with the cold and shivering weather. I’m not sure what season it is right now, but I can predict that it’s close to winter. Finally, the headed the journey, with everything ready. While they were traveling, there were settings such as cliffs, mountains, and of course, the bridge that they crossed. **


 * __Chapter 6. The Long Way__**
 * Characters: Now I’m certain that the main characters are Cusi and Chuto. Cusi, the young Indian boy, who is brave and curious just like any of my friends. Chuto, the old, thin, and wise Indian man, guides Cusi to the world that Cusi never touched. However, it seems that the llamas and the minstrel won’t come out unless maybe at the end. The two men had left their journey, and there will be new characters now. Cusi and Chuto were mainly the only people in this chapter, discovering the nature around them. However, at the end of the chapter, they met a small family, with a few adults and children. The Indian families provided Cusi and Chuto food and shelter. The Indians all seem like nice and polite people. I think Cusi and Chuto will meet a few other Indians through out the journey, which will cause other exciting events. I’m beginning to understand more about Cusi and Chuto, and I will more.**


 * __Chapter 7. Questions__**
 * Plot: Instead of actions, there were much of thoughts and questions inside minds. I think that is why the chapter is called ‘Questions’, since Cusi asks an important question- “Who am I?” However, I’ll explain the plot for this chapter. The chapter began with Cusi and Chuto waking up in the hut, where they were abiding with the Indians that spoke weird words. The Indians happen to be Spanish. They got dried meat and other food to carry with them. Again, they left for the journey to get salt. There were a lot of kinds of flowers and they passed through places where people were farming and working. Then Cusi and Chuto had some conversations together. Tired of the journey, the two men took a bath in the Sacred Bath of the Inca. That time, Cusi had thoughts and questions in his mind, needing to be answered. Cusi’s questions were mostly about who he was and what kind of family, ancestors he had. He knew none. However, Chuto decided to answer later, when Cusi listened well with patience. Finally after the bath, they went on with the journey, leaving Hidden Valley behind. They were just like best companions. Actually, they //are// best companions. **


 * __Chapter 8. Outside__**
 * Theme: The theme for this chapter was hard to find, but as I thought about the chapter carefully, I found a great one. The theme would be something like, ‘The best place of all is home.’ I got this theme from the chapter at the end, where Cusi thought that home was a wonderful place and he would never leave it again. I agree since you can see people that have no home and just lives beside the subway station. It’s now a little rare here, but if you travel to poor countries, than you can realize something. You have the feeling that you should be thankful of your home. I think unless you try it, you don’t know it. Everyone in K.I.S. has a perfect home with a family. So when you go to school, you wonder why you don’t have a bigger house like your friends. Actually, you have a home big enough compared to people that has no home and wants to at least have one. Pretend that you went on a journey to just get salt like Cusi. Then you’ll understand the feeling Cusi has right now- home is a wonderful place to be. **
 * __Chapter 9. Amauta Comes__**
 * Characters: Like I said, Cusi and Chuto are the main characters for this book, and they have returned from the salt trip. However, a new character came. It is the Amauta, the wise teacher to teach Cusi. I’m confused because I have no information on him except that he came to teach Cusi about something, wisely. It seemed that Chuto knew him already, and Chuto looked alike with the tall stranger. Cusi sensed that the Amauta was a royal person and wasn’t ordinary. However, I’ll get to know more about him in the next chapters. As Cusi and Chuto returned to Hidden Valley, they were with the minstrel and the llamas again. Cusi seemed like a normal Indian boy that loved llamas, but I think he’s someone more than just a boy. The history of Cusi is getting mysterious, with this strange royal man saying that it is now time for Cusi. In conclusion, I think something is hidden inside Cusi’s character.**

Setting: There weren’t many different settings in this chapter; it seems that all the actions in this chapter happened in the same place overall- across the ychu grass, behind the Andes Mountain, and on the green meadow. They are still in the Hidden Valley, which can’t be seen from anywhere. Cusi had learned well from the Amauta, and got new golden earplugs. Even Chuto agreed that Cusi was wise now. I’m predicting that the setting won’t really dramatically change since this is just a realistic fiction book. I researched about the Andes, and the mountains were located in Peru. Some pictures of it show the grasslands and meadows; I have realized that the setting for this book was true (even the Hidden Valley!). This chapter was just a chapter to show that Cusi had grown to be a new boy- now wise like ancient nobles. **
 * __Chapter 10. A Mission Unshared__


 * __ Chapter 11. The Sign __**
 * Plot: I chose to write about the plot for this chapter because I thought that this one was a important event for Cusi. The chapter started by Cusi looking for Misti, the black llama. Somehow mysteriously, the llama was telling Cusi to follow him. Then Cusi understood that with Misti and they headed toward a trail. The walls at the sides were built of rocks, to smoothly cut stones. It was like a canyon hallway with moss-covered walls. After the strange trail, Cusi was infront of a temple made of white stones and a particular carved throne. On it, there was a small golden sandal, even too small for Cusi to use. However, he took it, thinking that it belonged to him. After the way back, Cusi met Chuto. Chuto told Cusi that it is time and that Cusi should go to Cuzco. Even though Cusi just wanted to be in a family here, he decided to go, looking at the golden sandal he found. He knew he had to follow the sign for the journey awaiting him. I think the climax starts from now. **
 * __Chapter 12. The Valley Below__**
 * Theme: The theme was clear as crystal for this chapter. As Chuto and the Amauta said, the theme is “Follow your heart.” Simply, ‘follow your heart’ means to follow your heart! If your heart thinks that what you’re doing right now is a horrible thing to do, then don’t do it. For example, you’re taking the most important test in your life and you don’t know the answer. If your heart thinks that the answer is yes, than you should choose yes. In the book, this theme comes out a lot, such as Cusi’s heart choosing to take the golden sandals. After he followed his heart, nothing wrong happened. So the theme that I learned from this chapter is to follow what you think is right. There is nothing wrong with following your own heart. **
 * __Chapter 13. Cuzco Trail__**
 * Characters: This chapter had only a few characters: Cusi, Misti and the llamas, and other people from the Ayllu. However, now Cusi seems to be the main character, leaving Chuto. Now Cusi seems to be a wise and old boy. You can realize from his words that his style of speaking changed. Instead of questioning everytime to Chuto, he now follows his heart along the journey to Cuzco with a different character. His character changed to a much more ‘wise’ style than before, leading his llamas. Misti is now one of the characters that accompany the trail with Cusi. There were some characters that just appeared in a section, such as the people of the Ayllu, who gave food and shelter for him. I still think that there is something hidden in Cusi’s characteristics and his ancestors. In conclusion, I think Cusi is growing to be just like Chuto, wise and noble.**
 * __Chapter 14. The Marketplace__**
 * Setting: The author did a great job of explaining the setting for this particular chapter, so I chose to write about the settings in this chapter. First of all, the story now takes place in Cuzco, the Holy City. After Cusi meets some people, he goes to the marketplace. I can picture the marketplace in my head because the author described it well. For example, it showed the setting (background) of the story when Cusi was walking or traveling. While Cusi was trading with his llama wool, the setting was clearly described: noontime, dogs sleeping by stacks of food, loud, and other little settings. When people say ‘setting’, people mostly think about where the story is happening. However, time is an important part of a setting. The time for this book is probably during the old days, since boys shepherd llamas and people trade in marketplaces. People in Peru don’t do that anymore these days. I personally think that the setting is a very important ingredient for a book since you can’t have a story without a setting. **
 * __Chapter 15. The Family__**
 * Plot: This chapter was just to show that Cusi wanted to belong in a family. The chapter started by Cusi sitting in the shade of a church wall. He was having his lunch, with corns and other Indian foods. However, Cusi saw a variety of people going in and out of the church, even dogs. As he saw the people going in and out of the church, he saw some Indian ladies that Cusi thought they might his sister or his mother. Along with the thoughts in his head and the people he saw, one woman looked like the woman who gave him food and shelter in the Allyu. Thoughts went by and he talked to her, but he noticed that she wasn’t the person he was searching for, only she looked like that someone. Suddenly, a Spanish-Indian man starts talking to him very kindly. The man asked if Cusi would want to join his family. Cusi agreed and the children of the new family called him Nicho, even though he didn’t really want that saint name. Time went by, Cusi playing in the family and realizing how it feels like to join a family. After they all slept, Cusi knew this wasn’t the real family he was looking for, and left. Now he is once again with the llamas, to his real home. **


 * __Chapter 16. Keeper of the Fields__**
 * Theme: There was one theme hidden in this chapter that made me feel that where I am right now is the place I belong. The theme would be, “Home is the place where you belong.” This theme makes place, since if you leave your house and go on a vacation or a trip, the vacation place isn’t your home, your real home would be where you originally belong. This particular theme is complicated, but you’ll get the meaning more if you think of yourself out of home. When you’re out there, you would first be searching for your house, not a new place for a trip. You would first think how you can go to your house right now from here. I think that’s the human instinct, that when you actually leave, you realize that home is the place that gave you shelter and your basic needs. Even Cusi noticed it when he came back from the journey. I mean, where would you belong if it’s not your only home? **
 * __Chapter 17. Written in the Stars__**
 * Characters: This was the last chapter for the whole book, so now I know all I have to know about the characters. I realized that Cusi is a complicated Indian boy. He has thoughts as old as the Keeper of the Fields and his words are as wise as Chuto. When I read the first chapter of the book, I thought that Chuto was just a normal Indian boy, who had no secrets hidden behind him. However, now I know that Cusi’s mother was the woman who gave him food and shelter in the Allyu. Cusi had spoken to her once in his whole life, but her words would never leave his head. Realizing that his mother is dead, Cusi chose a new beginning to live until he dies. He decided to live with Chuto, who is an old Indian just like the Amauta. There were a lot more characters in this book excluding Cusi and Chuto, but the two Indians made up most of the story. I would never forget this book, about a mysterious Indian boy named Cusi. **