The Name of this Book is Secret

The Name of this Book is Secret
Company type	Novel
Industry	Publishing
Founded	2007
Founder	Pseudonymous Bosch
Products	Fantasy novel for children and young audiences

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article The Name of this Book is Secret, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 10 August 2025

The Name of this Book is Secret is a 2007 fantasy novel aimed at young audiences, authored by Pseudonymous Bosch. The narrative centers on two children, Cass and Max-Ernest, as they delve into the enigmatic death of the magician Pietro Bergamo. A distinctive feature of the book is its self-aware narration, where Bosch frequently breaks the fourth wall for various narrative purposes.

The story unfolds through a series of follow-up novels: If You're Reading This, It's Too Late (2008), This Book Is Not Good for You (2009), This Isn't What It Looks Like (2010), and You Have to Stop This (2011).

Summary

Eleven-year-old survival enthusiast "Cassandra" stumbles upon a box labeled "The Symphony of Smells," which was left at her grandfather’s antique shop by Gloria Fortune, a real estate agent specializing in estates of the deceased. At school, she befriends Max-Ernest, a loquacious boy from divorced parents. Together, they uncover a concealed plea for help within the Symphony of Smells and decide to investigate the late magician Pietro Bergamo’s residence. There, they discover his secret diary. Their exploration is cut short when Gloria arrives accompanied by Ms. Mauvais and Dr. L—figures intent on locating the journal—prompting Cass and Max-Ernest to escape.

Back home, the duo deciphers a riddle on the journal’s opening page; solving it reveals Pietro’s narrative hidden beneath layered pages. Pietro and his twin Luciano were synesthetic performers in a circus. Pietro suspected that a mysterious blonde figure known as the Golden Lady was abducting synesthetic children. While Cass suspects Ms. Mauvais, Max-Ernest points out that the timeline contradicts this theory.

Meanwhile, Benjamin Blake vanishes from their school. Cass becomes suspicious of Dr. L and Ms. Mauvais after witnessing them investigating Benjamin’s artwork and departing in a limousine branded "Midnight Sun Sensorium and Spa." Despite tensions with Max-Ernest, Cass pursues Benjamin on her own.

Disguised as one of the Skelton Sisters, Cass infiltrates the Midnight Sun Spa & Sensorium where she meets Owen, her stuttering butler. Following spa treatments, she confronts Ms. Mauvais and uncovers that spa members are alchemists in pursuit of immortality through the Secret. They also learn that Dr. L is actually Luciano Bergamo.

Cass and Max-Ernest are imprisoned but soon rescued by Owen, revealed to be a spy. They covertly enter the spa’s pyramid to find Dr. L and Ms. Mauvais preparing to extract Benjamin’s brain before an audience of Midnight Sun members. Utilizing vials from the Symphony of Smells, they create a diversion by spelling out "HELP," tricking Dr. L into believing Pietro has arrived. As Dr. L flees up the pyramid, Cass and Max-Ernest escape just before the spa is engulfed in flames, successfully rescuing Benjamin.

Subsequently, Gloria delivers another package to The Fire Sale containing gadgets for both Cass—a backpack—and Max-Ernest—a Decoder disguised as a gameboy.

Characters

Cassandra, known as Cass, is an eleven-year-old survivalist who serves as one of the main characters. She prides herself on her expertise in disaster preparedness and carries a backpack stocked with survival equipment. Initially preferring solitude, she eventually forms a friendship with Max-Ernest. Characterized by her prominent pointed ears and braided hair, Cass lives with her single mother and shares close bonds with her substitute grandfathers. In the third installment of the series, she learns she is adopted.

Max-Ernest is an eleven-year-old aspiring comedian and Cass's companion. His name is a blend created by his divorced parents before separating their residences so he could live with both simultaneously. Believed to have an undiagnosed condition, he enjoys puzzles, magic tricks, and humor. He maintains all his hair at equal length as a symbol promoting equality.

Ms. Mauvais and Dr. L, antagonists affiliated with the Midnight Sun society, are driven by their quest for eternal life through obtaining the Secret. Upon discovering that Cass and Max-Ernest possess an important notebook, they relentlessly pursue it. Dr. L is Pietro Bergamo's twin brother; he is described as tall with silver hair and tanned skin. Ms. Mauvais presents herself like an elegant Barbie doll with icy features; both conceal their aged hands beneath long gloves.

Pietro Bergamo, a synesthetic magician, originally received The Symphony of Smells from Ms. Mauvais years earlier. Cass and Max-Ernest find his journal during their exploration of his home. He performed in the circus alongside his twin Luciano before Luciano was abducted by Ms. Mauvais. Though believed deceased, Pietro communicates with Cass and Max-Ernest through coded messages.

Benjamin Blake, a synesthetic classmate of Cass and Max-Ernest's, earned acclaim after winning an art competition inspired by his condition. Kidnapped by Dr. L and Ms. Mauvais due to his brain’s potential to unlock the Secret, he speaks mostly in near-incomprehensible murmurs.

Grandpa Larry and Grandpa Wayne act as surrogate grandfathers for Cass since her biological grandparents are unknown. Larry was once Cass's mother’s history teacher; Wayne is Larry’s confirmed partner. They manage The Fire Sale—a shop located in an old fire station where they reside alongside their blind and nearly deaf dog Sebastian.

Owen, introduced as Cass's butler during her infiltration at the Midnight Sun Spa & Sensorium, initially appears shy with a stutter but later reveals himself as a Terces society spy assisting Cass, Max-Ernest, and Benjamin Blake’s escape efforts. He possesses talents in disguise, capable of drastically altering both his appearance and voice.

Amber, one of Cass's classmates known for being among the friendliest girls yet occasionally snobbish and gossipy, admires the Skelton Sisters and frequently uses their Smoochies lip balm products—often passing older flavors on to Cass.

Gloria Fortune, a probate specialist or "real estate agent for the dead," handles clearing out properties belonging to deceased individuals and frequently delivers items to The Fire Sale shop. She enjoys gossiping and crosses paths with Cass at the Midnight Sun Spa but later forgets about her visit there.

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Summary

Characters

External links

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