Product Description

An African-American family living in the house of the long-dead abolitionist Dies Drear must decide what to do with his vast treasure, hidden for one hundred years in a cavern near their house. Reissue. SLJ. K. PW.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #283653 in Books
• Published on: 1997-02-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Through young Thomas Small, Hamilton resolves the large questions posed in The House of Dies Drear. Thomas's father is listing the treasures cached in the Underground Railwaytunnels that honeycomb abolitionist Drear's landwhile the boy learns more about the neighboring Darrows from little Pesty Darrow. Thomas feels drawn, too, into a wary rapport with Macky Darrow. Later events involve the Drear caretaker Pluto, Professor Small's grandmother Rhetty and haunting Mrs. Darrow who appears suddenly in a new room in the tunnel. Perhaps no one but Hamilton could invent so thrilling and credible a story about people, sensitively individualized. One feels their relationship symbolizes a treasure to rival the tunnel's fabulous contents. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-9 Hamilton returns to characters she created in The House of Dies Drear (Macmillan, 1968)the Small and Darrow families. Young Thomas Small and his family have moved into the home of Dies Drear, an abolitionist whose house was a major stop on the Underground Railroad. In the first book, the family discovered vast underground passages which led to a great treasure cavern beneath their property, containing gold and riches given to escaping slaves to help finance their trips to freedom. In this sequel, they learn more about Drear and his visitors, and they must decide what to do with the treasure, and how best to protect it (and themselves) from the ``sinister'' Darrows, who have searched for the treasure for years. The characters are colorful and delightful, and Hamilton sustains an eerie, suspenseful mood throughout the novel. Although this dank, murky story could stand on its own, the convoluted plot is best understood by those familiar with the first book. Not Hamilton at her very best, but nonetheless a good solid purchase for school and public libraries. Elizabeth M. Reardon, McCallie School, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author
Virginia Hamilton's books have won many awards and honors. One of these, the first book ever to win both the John Newbery Medal and the National Book Award, M.C. Higgins, the Great, was also the recipent of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award and the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award. The Planet of Junior Brown was a Newbery Honor Book in 1971, and four of Virginia Hamilton's other books have been named Notable Children's books by the American Library Association.

Ms. Hamilton is married to Arnold Adoff, who is a distinguished poet and anthologist. They live with their two children in Ohio.

Customer Reviews

GOLDEN TRIANGLES POINT THE WAY
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!

My outlook about "The Mystery of Drear House"
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 Best!
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.