Customer Reviews

The Mystery of Drear House: The Conclusion of the Dies Drear Chronicle

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Excellent sequel to THE HOUSE OF DIES DREAR, this book continues the story of the King of the Underground Railroad, some 8 months later. But for the teenage hero, Thomas, and young Pesty, there are so many dark secrets yet to be revealed--which ones to keep and which to share? We thought that "things" were settled, that the Darrows had been scared away from Mr. Pluto's cave for good, that the cataloguing was going on for the Foundation...Not so--those wretched Darrows are still hunting and digging, grimly deteremined to recover the treasure which they feel is their legacy

The plot is as sinuous as the secret passageways used by runaway slaves, while hidden rooms are gradually revealed and we learn the legend of Indian Maiden. Do ghosts still haunt the old place? Why is Pesty suddenly nervous and will Macky choose to be a friend or foe to Thomas? Beware of the effects of living too closely in the past, or it may distort your conception of the present and destroy your future.

Difficult moral choices face both children and adults in this excellent mystery: how long can Right and Wrong coexist in one house? How to protect the obvious treasure as well as the written record--a true historical treasure. Very exciting events happen in one day (90 pp), producing intensive reading in places. I thought I could predict part of the very ending, but my guesses were wrong. I challenge all who read HOUSE to read this sequel and write down your plot predictions before the last few chapters. Mystery buffs and amateur literary sleuths--Don't miss this one!

This book is a sequel to "The house of Dies Drear". It shows the relationship between two arguing families. The Darrow family is out to find gold which they think is hidden on the Small property. The Small family live in the mansion which used to belong to the late abolitionist, Dies Drear. His house used to be part of the Underground Railroad, which explains the secret passgeways and hidden tunnels that Thomas and Pesty find.
Thomas Small is the main character who has to make some difficult choices in this book but has the help of Pesty Darrow, his best friend. Mattie Darrow, Pesty's mother who is very sick has the whole mystery in her hands and knows the answer but she cannot talk or speak due to her illness.
Other characters in the book include, Thomas' father, Professor Small who is investigating the mystery of their house. Pesty's brother, Macky Darrow is the one who wants to find the gold. Mr. Pluto, an old man who lives in a cave and guards the secret of the treasure. I would recomend reading this book if you like to read about mysteries and surprising friendships. I liked the book because it has thrills and an exciting ending.

The House of Dies Drear is a great book. I loved the way the author left you hanging at the end of each chapter. I read it in class. It was really hard not to read to the next chapter. I loved it.

Book Review of "The Mystery of Drear House"

The book I read is a fiction story called, "The Mystery of Drear House". This is an

exciting sequel to "The House of Dies Drear". The author's name is Virginia Hamilton. She is

married to a poet by the name of Arnold Ardoff.

Virginia has written many African American books in the past years including, "Paul

Robeson: The Life and Times of a Free Black Man", and "The People Could Fly: American Black

Folktales".

"The Mystery of Drear House" was about a black family that just moved into an old

abolitionist's house. They find the house has lots of secret passage ways to tunnels leading to

many caves, plus their neighbor's mother's room. The only problem they have is where they're

going to put all the endless fortune of the old abolitionist Dies Drear's, which has been hidden for

hundreds of years in an old cavern..

This book really didn't have any weaknesses in my opinion. "The Mystery of Drear

House" didn't have any wrong turns, or boring places. It was very organized, and didn't stretch

the story line. The book held my interest until the very end. The ending sounded like it could

have a sequel.

I enjoyed reading this book, and I would recommend, "The Mystery of Drear House," to a

middle school student that likes mystery-fiction. First they should read, "The House of Dies

Drear," to get some background information. I would also recommend this to a person that likes

to read about the underground railroad, or that is interested in history.

I really thought that this book was good! It takes place in northern Ohio in the house of Dies Drear, who was a long-dead abolitionist. Thomas Small is the main character who is living with his family in the Drear house. Mattie Darrow is a minor character who is Mac and Pesty Darrow's mom. She is a very ill person. The two scariest parts of the story is when Thomas' twin brothers disappear and when someone sneaks into Mr.Pluto's cave to trick him into getting the teasure! I really liked reading this book. It is so suspenseful and mysterious.

Drear House has dangerous secrets that have never been told. The house is anything but normal with sliding walls, secret passageways, and even gold treasure. Thomas has one secret. He needs to find out who is responsible for the weird things going on. Thomas needs to know fast, before he becomes a secret himself. Do you think the house is hauntd?

THE MYSTERY OF DREAR HOUSE is a thrilling, terrifying, nightmare come true. I am easily scared. Yet, I enjoyed this book thoroughly. Since the descriptions were strong in detail, I was so distracted I was less nervous about the book. This is a book you don't want to miss!

Well, in the begining, Thomas and his family buy a house in Ohio, but it turns out to be more or less than they expected. But, well, you'll have to read it to find out all the exciting plot twists and turns, it kept me guessing throughout the book, and I had to smack myself on the forehead at the end, because it gave me the answer at the begining. A very good read. Buy it for anyone from 3 to 1,003.

In the beginning you would think that this is about ghosts and the devil. But no, it turns out that pluto's got a son who tries to act like the devil. And that Mr.Pluto hates the Darrows, except Pesty! The beginning is good, the end stinks!