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Summary: House of Dies Drear
Review: This is an excellent book for many readers. Personally, I don't read a great deal, but when I came across this book for a particular class, I was amazed at how quickly I was getting through it. This book was exciting and constantly kept me thinking of what would happen next. There was constant suspense with the haunted house and mysterious openings in the walls. The devilish caretaker also added to the drama in this story. I would encourage others to take the time and enjoy this interesting book.
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Summary: House of Secrets
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good
Review: I really liked this book. At the beginning, I really wished it would get to the good part, but once it did I couldn't put it down. I was so into it I read it in like, 4 hours. Anyway, Thomas and his family are moving into this old slave abolitioners house. They keep finding signs that someone doesn't want them there. Then they find out what is really going on. It is a lot more intrcate then I expected. I had to keep rereading the part about the triangles (sorry, no more imfo there) to actually get it. Anyway, the end suggests a sequal, so I hope there is one.
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Summary: creeepy book!!
Review: This book is about a family who a move into a house that everybody thinks is haunted. A long time ago it was a house on the Underground Railroad that housed slaves. Two slaves were caught and killed but the third slave escaped. Mr. Pluto is the caretaker and everybody thinks he is very creepy. Thomas soon hears about a rumor that Dies Drear's treasure is somewhere in the house but the Darrow family are after it too.
I would give the book four stars because it is very interesting and the book is easy to read. It is interesting because it talks about mystery. The plot was okay since the beginning kind of dragged on and on but it gets better later on. The story is easy to read. Overall, this was a great book.
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Summary: The House of Dies Drear
Review: I loved The House of Dies Drear book.I read this year in reading. Thomas, Mac, Pesty, Billy, and Buster are the kids in this story. In the book Pesty is my favorite charater.
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Summary: Why the HOUSE OF DIES DREAR IS A GOOD BOOK
Review: I think this book is really good because it is very suspenseful and you never know what's going to happen next. The plot is a mystery and you never really know who did all those awful things to the Small family until the end.
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Summary: Father, I'm scared...
Review: You walk throught the woods, somebody is following you. The devil starts to chase you. You will never see light again but your father's hope and faith help you find the truth about sellah, which means freedom to us, but to the slaves, it means a new live from help of sellah, Dies Drear. -Lavender
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Summary: Great learning adventure
Review: I enjoyed reading this book. I learned about the underground railroad while being drawn into the mystery of this story. The characters are quite real and believable. The story kept drawing me back to it until I finished it. Good descriptions made it easy to picture the setting. I would definitely recommend this book.
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Summary: Avoid at all costs
Review: I'm currently in college but I remember being forced to read this piece of literary trash back in elementary school. It was practically impossible to get interested in this book. It just dragged on and on with overdone descriptions. Really, it wasn't even just one thing I didn't like about the book. This book is the perfect example of the sub-par literature becoming required reading in the school systems.
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Summary: An ausome with history of the Underground Railroad
Review: This book was o.k in the begining and then went straight up to an excellent book around the middle. My whole group started makeing wild predictions... there were tons of diff posibilities. We were so exited towards the end and we kept wondering what was gonna happen. We were all totally dissapointed. The end was as simple as anything. I thought it could go on longer. However there is a sequal but I hear it isnt good. This book is totally good. There are only some boring parts. I suggest you read this book. Its ausome.
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