The House of Dies Drear (Dies Drear Chronicle) [Paperback]

Virginia Hamilton (Author), Eros Keith (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1984 | Age Level: 10 and up | Series: Dies Drear Chronicle

"An absorbing mystery (about a Negro boy's house, once part of the Underground Railroad), enriched with perceptive insights into certain aspects of the Negro American's heritage."--Booklist. An ALA Notable Children's Book. A School Library Journal Best of the Best. Winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Award.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A huge, old house with secret tunnels, a cantankerous caretaker, and buried treasure is a dream-come-true for 13-year-old Thomas. The fact that it's reputedly haunted only adds to its appeal! As soon as his family moves in, Thomas senses something strange about the Civil War era house, which used to be a critical stop on the Underground Railroad. With the help of his father, he learns about the abolitionists and escaping slaves who kept the Underground Railroad running. While on his own, he explores the hidden passageways in and under the house, piecing clues together in an increasingly dangerous quest for the truth about the past. Newbery medalist Virginia Hamilton creates a heart-pounding adventure with this absorbing classic for older readers. (Ages 9 to 12) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "A hundred years ago, Dies Drear and two slaves he was hiding in his house, an Underground Railroad station in Ohio, had been murdered. The house, huge and isolated, was fascinating, Thomas thought, but he wasn't sure he was glad Papa had bought it--funny things kept happening, frightening things... The secret of the house is revealed in an exciting final sequence that maintains beautifully the mysterious and dramatic story of a black family caught in an atmosphere of fear and danger. Written with distinction, an imaginiative and imposing book."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse (October 1, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0020435207
• ISBN-13: 978-0020435204
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (117 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #643,399 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Virginia Esther Hamilton was born, as she said, "on the outer edge of the Great Depression," on March 12, 1934. The youngest of five children of Kenneth James and Etta Belle Perry Hamilton, Virginia grew up amid a large extended family in Yellow Springs, Ohio. The farmlands of southwestern Ohio had been home to her mother's family since the late 1850s, when Virginia's grandfather, Levi Perry, was brought into the state as an infant via the Underground Railroad.

Virginia graduated at the top of her high-school class and received a full scholarship to Antioch College in Yellow Springs. In 1956, she transferred to the Ohio State University in Columbus and majored in literature and creative writing. She moved to New York City in 1958, working as a museum receptionist, cost accountant, and nightclub singer, while she pursued her dream of being a published writer. She studied fiction writing at the New School for Social Research under Hiram Haydn, one of the founders of Atheneum Press.

It was also in New York that Virginia met poet Arnold Adoff. They were married in 1960. Arnold worked as a teacher, and Virginia was able to devote her full attention to writing, at least until daughter Leigh was born in 1963 and son Jaime in 1967. In 1969, Virginia and Arnold built their "dream home" in Yellow Springs, on the last remaining acres of the old Hamilton/Perry family farm, and settled into a life of serious literary work and achievement.

In her lifetime, Virginia wrote and published 41 books in multiple genres that spanned picture books and folktales, mysteries and science fiction, realistic novels and biography. Woven into her books is a deep concern with memory, tradition, and generational legacy, especially as they helped define the lives of African Americans. Virginia described her work as "Liberation Literature." She won every major award in youth literature.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Superb! One of the greatest books of all time!!!!, June 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: House of Dies Drear (Turtleback)

Virginia Hamilton does a superb job of combining historical facts with mystery. This book is about a boy who moves in to a house that used to be part of the Under Ground Railroad. When Dies Drear, the original owner of the old house, sends 3 slaves on a mission back to slavery to give slaves money to help them escape to freedom the legend begins. 2 of the three slaves were killed, and one fled to the north, the ghosts of the 2 slaves were said to have murdered Dies Drear the very same week. When Thomas's family moves in, Thomas finds out that there is an exquisite network of tunnels that run all through the house... he also finds out that the ghosts of Dies Drear and the 2 slaves are said to haunt the old, gloomy house. When strange things start happening, Thomas begins to beleive that there really are ghosts. Then, one night, while Thomas and his father are determined to find out who-or what is creating these strange happenings,, the mystery starts to unravel. This book got directly to the point, and kept me hooked. I couldn't stop reading this book, it is one of the best books I have ever read, and I would recommend it to anyone-whether you get scared easily, or love horror novels!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Jessie From Richview Middle School, March 10, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The House of Dies Drear (Dies Drear Chronicle) (Paperback)

This story is about a boy named Thomas and his family, the Smalls, who move int a new house called Dies Drear. This house was used for slaves who wanted to return to savery or escape from it. Many things happen to them where they point to an old that is mysterious, but for a good reason, as the bad guy. Strange things happen to them while they are there, and it panics them because they are worried that something might happen to their family. Mr. Small, Thomas's father, and Thomas try to find their way through this big secret that they know is being kept from them. Finally they capture the old mysterious man and they find out that he isn't the bad guy at all, he was just trying to protect Dies Drear, because he didn't know whether he could trust the Small's or if they were on the other guy's side. He kept the secret of what the winding tunnels under the house held. Together the old man and the Smalls scare off the bad guys, at least for a little while. The old man now knows and trust that the Smalls will kept the treasure of the tunnels safe, so he doesn't have to protect them any more. That is how the story ends.
I like this book because it has a lot a mysery and history to it, and I thought it was really unique. I am not a book-reader, but I can tell you that this book isn't just for people who like to read books it is definitely for every type of book reader. I hope you decide to read this book, because it is a really great book in my opinion.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars House of Secrets, February 6, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The House of Dies Drear (Dies Drear Chronicle) (Paperback)

Thomas Small and his family move into an old, gloomy house that once belonged to the abolitionist Dies Drear in Virginia Hamilton's book The House of Dies Drear. The house is filled with secrets and is said to be haunted by two runaway slaves. The Smalls are skeptical of the old caretaker, Pluto. Locals believe that Pluto is the devil, but the Smalls are not so sure. Thomas is fearful for his family's safety and thinks they should flee the old house. Will the Smalls survive the house of Dies Drear? Middle grade students who are looking for mysteries will enjoy this book.

This novel is appealing for students in grades five through eight, who have studied the Underground Railroad. The vocabulary used in the book will challenge middle school readers. Middle school aged boys and girls will be able to identify to Thomas because he in middle school. Thomas faces several problems that kids face today. One very common situation that many kids are faced with is moving. Thomas and his family are new to Ohio and Thomas is learning to cope with being the new kid in town.

The House of Dies Drear creates a suspenseful mood. At the conclusion of each chapter, readers are captivated by a desire to continue reading to find out what will happen next. An example of Hamilton's suspenseful technique is when Mr. Small states, "Nobody talking about ghosts and chanting verse is going to scare us out of this house. Nobody is going to take it away from us."

The House of Dies Drear brings the Underground Railroad to life for readers. Throughout the book Virginia Hamilton gives vivid descriptions of the secret passages within the house and grounds. Descriptions of the passages provide readers with very detailed pictures of what they look like. Diagrams are added to improve the understanding of the book. With all of the description given, readers will be able to make a clear picture of everything that is going on in the book.

This Newbery Award winning book is certain to keep readers entertained from beginning to end.