Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #506233 in Books
• Published on: 1984-10-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

From Amazon.com
A huge, old house with secret tunnels, a cantankerous caretaker, and buried treasure is a dream-come-true for 13-year-old Thomas. The fact that it's reputedly haunted only adds to its appeal! As soon as his family moves in, Thomas senses something strange about the Civil War era house, which used to be a critical stop on the Underground Railroad. With the help of his father, he learns about the abolitionists and escaping slaves who kept the Underground Railroad running. While on his own, he explores the hidden passageways in and under the house, piecing clues together in an increasingly dangerous quest for the truth about the past. Newbery medalist Virginia Hamilton creates a heart-pounding adventure with this absorbing classic for older readers. (Ages 9 to 12)

From AudioFile
Thomas Small's world changes radically when he has to go north with his family to Ohio, where his father, a history professor, has rented a house that was formerly an important station on the Underground Railroad. Lynne Thigpen's deep, resonant voice recreates this journey and the faces along the way--from the young and hopeful Thomas, to the deeply troubled Mr. Pluto--until the house of Dies Drear finally gives up its mystery. Thigpen delivers the narrative slowly and methodically but she changes with her characterizations. She sings, screams and intones all the creatures of this classic ghost thriller. This Newbery Medal and National Book Award-winner is a must for any audio collection. P.E.F. An AUDIOFILE Earphones Award winner (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Review
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"A hundred years ago, Dies Drear and two slaves he was hiding in his house, an Underground Railroad station in Ohio, had been murdered. The house, huge and isolated, was fascinating, Thomas thought, but he wasn't sure he was glad Papa had bought it--funny things kept happening, frightening things... The secret of the house is revealed in an exciting final sequence that maintains beautifully the mysterious and dramatic story of a black family caught in an atmosphere of fear and danger. Written with distinction, an imaginiative and imposing book."

Customer Reviews

Dies Drear
I had very high expectations for this book because of all the good comments I heard about it. After I read it, I was VERY disappointed.It was dull and very slow. I had no fun reading it at all. I do not reccomend this book to anyone who enjoys fast-paced and exciting books. It was supposed to be a horror story but turned out to be the opposite.

Jessie From Richview Middle School
This story is about a boy named Thomas and his family, the Smalls, who move int a new house called Dies Drear. This house was used for slaves who wanted to return to savery or escape from it. Many things happen to them where they point to an old that is mysterious, but for a good reason, as the bad guy. Strange things happen to them while they are there, and it panics them because they are worried that something might happen to their family. Mr. Small, Thomas's father, and Thomas try to find their way through this big secret that they know is being kept from them. Finally they capture the old mysterious man and they find out that he isn't the bad guy at all, he was just trying to protect Dies Drear, because he didn't know whether he could trust the Small's or if they were on the other guy's side. He kept the secret of what the winding tunnels under the house held. Together the old man and the Smalls scare off the bad guys, at least for a little while. The old man now knows and trust that the Smalls will kept the treasure of the tunnels safe, so he doesn't have to protect them any more. That is how the story ends.
I like this book because it has a lot a mysery and history to it, and I thought it was really unique. I am not a book-reader, but I can tell you that this book isn't just for people who like to read books it is definitely for every type of book reader. I hope you decide to read this book, because it is a really great book in my opinion.

Taylor From Richview Middle School
This story is about a young boy named Thomas and his family moving to a new house in Ohio. The house that they moved into was known as the House of Dies Drear. Dies Drear was a guy who was in charge of the underground railrad. The underground railroad was used so that slaves could flee to the north and escape slavery. Lets move on to the main plot of the story. The main plot is that the Darrows[ a family] keeps trying to break into the the cave that came with the property of the house. This cave held valubles thst Drear use to own. There was also a guy named Mr. Pluto that lived in the cave so that they could keep up the keep of the cave and to protect it so that no one would steel anything out of it. So once they found out that the Darrows kept trying to steel things they thought of a prank to pull on them. I dont want to give to much a way so t you guys will have to read the book to find out what they do to them. Throughout the book old Mr. Pluto was getting ill so at the end of the story Mr. Pluto gives the belongings to Mr .Small Thomas's dad to look after. I actually really enjoyed this book, and sorry to say but i dont like to read. The book had adventure,mystery, and a little touch of history because of the slavs and all, but other wise I thought the book kept you gussing almost the whole time so that made it a really good.