The Mystery of Drear House [Hardcover]

Virginia Hamilton (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Greenwillow (1986)
• ASIN: B002W5S8SW
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

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

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GOLDEN TRIANGLES POINT THE WAY, January 13, 1999

By 

Plume45 "kitka12345" (Westchester, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mystery Of Drear House (Apple Signature) (Paperback)

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!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My outlook about "The Mystery of Drear House", April 3, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Mystery of Drear House: The Conclusion of the Dies Drear Chronicle (Apple Signature) (School & Library Binding)

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.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best!, May 10, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Mystery Of Drear House (Apple Signature) (Paperback)

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.