One hundred years ago, Dies Drear and two runaway slaves hiding in his house, an important station on the Underground Railroad, were murdered. Legend has it that the ghost of Mr. Drear still haunts the lonely old house. But Thomas Small's father, a Civil War history professor, doesn't believe the legends and buys the house. The house is fascinating, thinks Thomas, and it is filled with hidden doorways and secret passages that he can't wait to explore. But funny things keep happening-frightening things that no one, not even Thomas' father, can explain. Is someone playing a prank? Or is the ghost of Dies Drear trying to warn the Smalls of danger? From Virginia Hamilton, the author of the Newbery Medal and National Book Award winning M.C. Higgins, the Great, comes a spellbinding mystery filled with edge-of-the-seat suspense. The House of Dies Drear wraps an important history lesson into a brilliantly imaginative story for all ages.
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"I loved this book! So many people said that it was uninteresting and boring, but I don't see how! It was full of suspense, and nothing turned out how you thought it would. I learned so much about the Underground Railroad and such. I enjoyed this book. :) I liked her style of writing, but it annoyed me at the same time. It bothered me how it was basically from the third person point of view, yet it shared Thomas' emotions and thoughts. If it is from the third person it should stay like that and not switch over."
— Anna (5 out of 5 stars)
“Newbery medalist Virginia Hamilton creates a heart-pounding adventure with this absorbing classic for older readers.”
— Amazon.com, editorial review" I didnt like this book that much. For me it was ok.... "
— Sabrinah, 2/18/2014" hated it!!!!!!!!! "
— Emily, 2/9/2014" The cover was different. I read it along with students in 7th grade as it is a literature circle book. I didn't care for it and the kids thought it was boring. "
— H, 2/1/2014" I read this because of school, no other reason.In fact if it weren't for me being forced to read this, I wouldn't have.Most "forced books" are boring and don't have much action.I didn't enjoy reading it it was just okay. "
— Chloe, 1/31/2014" Its okay, but the begining is confusing "
— Sydney, 1/28/2014" Meh. I would have given this two-and-a-half stars if I could. While the story of a boy and his family moving into a house supposedly haunted by the ghosts and runaway slaves is compelling, the writing is very choppy and difficult to follow at times. The main character, Thomas, seems incredibly cantankerous for a 13 or 14 year old. Other than his fear, we don't get a realy good idea of what's motivating him to make the observations he makes. (And he's always making motivations.)The ending was also completely unsatisfying to me. This is a book that could have been so much better. "
— Chris, 1/9/2014" I wish they had introduced more of the underground railroad part of the story, but still enjoyable (when you remember its a kid's book). "
— K, 1/6/2014" Real slow start for my lit group students. (5th graders) Right now they are calling it boring. As they get into it, I think they will like it better. "
— Stella, 12/18/2013" SIX WORD REVIEW: Read this twenty years too late. "
— Sidik, 12/1/2013" I loved the idea of the plot, but it was a bit slow. I have to admit that I was disappointed. "
— Lori, 11/29/2013" Good characters but lacking in depth in terms of mystery and plot. "
— Pamela, 11/22/2013" Reading it for our mother/daughter book club. "
— Tammi, 11/18/2013" This is a really good book for people who want to read a mystery, with ghosts, and a little bit of slave history. "
— Tylar, 11/18/2013" Geared toward teens but still a good "historical" read. I enjoyed it. "
— Margaret, 6/7/2013" I read this in school! "
— JoeZa, 5/12/2013" I got bamboozled into reading this ... "
— Randee, 7/19/2012" This book lit my imagination on fire when I was a child. Sometimes when I go visit old houses I often have the sense that it reminds me of the "House of Dies Drear." "
— Izetta, 7/12/2012" I know this book is a classic, but it drove me nuts that the first 3/4 of the book was so creepy and atmospheric...and then it turned into Scooby Doo, complete with rubber masks and meddlin' kids. Ugh. "
— Becky, 4/21/2012" I read this to preview it for Annie and was completely caught up in the simple story. "
— Lisa, 2/19/2012" Pretty good book. Saw the movie before reading it though so I knew what was going to happen. I think if I would have read it before I saw the movie I would have enjoyed it more. "
— Abigail, 1/8/2012" I can't tell if it was really super scary, or if the disjointed and confusing writing (in parts) just added to the anxiety and made me feel scared. I often re-read sections because the transitions were so abrupt. Just so-so. "
— Nora, 12/26/2011" scary (=. not that much. but made me think. RECCOMEND OT PEOPLE WHO LIKE THOSE TYPES OF BOOKS. also from a kids point of view. "
— Gjela, 12/9/2011" To me it was a very dull and boring book. It was not interesting and it was hard to read because it was not the type of book that I like. "
— Tatiana, 11/14/2011" Doesn't make much sense "
— Madeline, 11/9/2011" I'm bored and puzzled by the writing style, but I'm intrigued and want to see what happens. ---- I wrote that on a Wednesday, and by Friday I decided I didn't want to waste my time. "
— Jana, 7/30/2011" “The House of Dies Drear” had some really good moments. Hamilton was very good at creating an ominous, creepy mood and leaving you in suspense. Unfortunately, I found the plot to be only mildly interesting and the dialogue slightly unrealistic. "
— Emily, 7/27/2011" Eh. Can see why some of the students I spoke to weren't fond of this. Great concept, clunky, convoluted execution. Not the best read. "
— Kevin, 7/18/2011" Youth fiction- combination historic fiction and mystery. Liked the way each chapter ended with suspense. Would make it a good read-aloud. But some sections moved slowly. "
— Kathy, 6/27/2011" I read this book beacause my teacher had told us to read this book before a certain period amount of time. Like one week or two. <br/> <br/> "
— Aftab, 5/3/2011" I am giving this book 3 stars only because I grinned at the dated writing and the obvious attempt of a female author to write as a teenage boy. Didn't work. Another mentioned a scooby do plot and that is right on the money. I bet this book was the inspiration for the pilot! "
— Alice, 4/27/2011" Disappointing. Started well and built momentum, but in the end it just lost steam and petered clear out. "
— Donna, 4/14/2011" I have read this book a thousand times! I LOVE IT! A boy unravels the mystery in his new house. Although suspensful, it is appropriate for children to read. This would be a great way to start a lesson about slavery and the Civil War. "
— Ashlee, 3/31/2011" I read this book when I was in Jr. High, and it still kind of creeps me out. "
— Meagan, 1/31/2011" I really enjoyed this book. It's an easy, quick read. Definately written for young adults, but still enjoyable. "
— Jerrica, 1/28/2011Virginia Hamilton (1936–2002) grew up in rural Ohio among an extended family and generations of storytellers. Her grandfather, Levi Perry, was brought by his mother from Virginia slavery to Ohio via the Underground Railroad. She received nearly every award in the field of children’s literature, including the Hans Christian Andersen Medal, the Newbery Medal, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, and the Coretta Scott King Award.
Lynne Thigpen (1948–2003), an Earphones Award–winning narrator, was a multitalented actress who performed in community theater and university theater productions while attending the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. During her thirty-year career, she went on to appear in nearly forty movies and numerous television series.