|
My former fifth grade students, some now twenty years old, still remember the fun we had during the reading of this incredible novel. I have been teaching The House of Dies Drear for ten years, and it continues to arouse the students' curiosity. The sequel, The Mystery of Drear House, is just as good. It is a fine teaching tool, lending itself to very ceative projects. The kids can't wait to read each chapter, as they learn about slavery and treasure, childhood dreams, friendship and loyalty. I will miss teaching it, as I now prepare for an early retirement. If anyone wants the unit, I'll gladly give it up.
The characters behaved normally, including going to church and visiting the town. The House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton was horrible. The reason the book was dull was because it followed the same family (the Smalls) for two days and nothing really happened. Pluto also built an entire lock from scratch, saying "I'm making me the biggest lock you ever did see." He also confused me, and I was never able to form an image of him in my head.
My second reason for disliking The House of Dies Drear was that the characters never seemed really believable, but were more fantastic. I mean, what 60 year old man can move furniture by himself- lifting a heavy chair and carrying it up the stairs. I have many reasons why not to pick it up, but here are a few of my reasons.The book was listed as a "mystery" or a "suspense," but it was the exact opposite. They call it a Newberry Award Winner, but they should chuck that out the window. HuffmanIf you are looking for a good book, look somewhere else.
I always felt that I was far away from the action, like when Thomas Small wondered "is he sleeping there." in reference to Mr. Pluto, who was kneeling on the ground next to his aisle in the church, and when Mr. Small. It was dull. The family moved to Ohio in Chapter Two, and I was left to ask "When will this get interesting." Besides the Smalls, there were also Mayhew, Pesty, McDarrow (otherwise known as "Mac"), and Mr.
Even though they entered the story, it was still boring. The House of Dies Drear ReviewBy: Catherine J. Small says "nothing ever changes in places like these". In my opinion, the book needs a lot of work.
Mr. Pluto was one of the unbelievable ones. I usually can make an image of a character, but he was impossible.
If you're looking to read it, you would be better picking up a baby book. I say the story would have been just as good without him. Pluto (Mayhew's father and the housekeeper).
The reason I thought that it was boring was that I never connected with the characters, except for Mrs. Mr. If you want to read The House of Dies Drear, go right on to it, but expect nothing- nothing at all.
I don't know if the book was a bribe or a gift, or what she expected to happen, but I took The House of Dies Drear home that night and literally could not put it down until I had finished. When I was in 5th grade, my English teacher lent me this book after exacting from me a promise to finish writing out my vocabulary word definitions before reading it. I was a good student, but a lazy one, easily bored by things I found repetitive or unstimulating, and it must have been frustrating to listen to my excuses about why I had failed yet again to do my vocabulary lesson. The next morning I returned the completed book to my teacher -- without my vocabulary homework. Maybe it takes a certain kind of 10-year-old reader, but I loved this book so much that I have never forgotten it, even a quarter century later.
Good book. My daughter really enjoyed reading it over the summer. Could be a really good required reading for classes.
A mystery with twists and turns and. you need to read it rather than this review. Two thumbs up. The House of Dies Drear
|
