49 pages • 1 hour read
AviThe Secret School
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2001A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In 1925 rural Colorado, 14-year-old Ida Bidson strives to keep her one-room schoolhouse open by secretly becoming its teacher after their teacher leaves due to a family emergency, facing numerous challenges, including evading the school board, teaching multiple grade levels, handling farm chores, and preparing for her eighth-grade exit exam to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
The Secret School by Avi captivates readers with its historical setting and determined protagonist, Ida Bidson. The narrative, set in 1925 Colorado, is praised for its inspiring depiction of resilience and the importance of education. However, some critics find the plot predictable and characters slightly underdeveloped. Overall, it’s a charming and motivational read suitable for middle-grade audiences.
Who Should Read The Secret School?
Readers who enjoy The Secret School by Avi are typically young adults who appreciate historical fiction, themes of perseverance, and educational empowerment. Comparable to readers of Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder and Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, they value stories of young protagonists overcoming societal challenges.
RecommendedReading Age
9-12yearsLexile Level
610L