#28
Title: Trixie Belden and the Secret of the Mansion
Author: Julie Campbell
Genre: Kid Fiction
Rating: B
Published: 1963
Dates: 6/10/16
– 6/15/10
I’m
re-reading the Trixie Belden series as part of the 16 in 16 challenge. This book begins the delightful series that I
grew up with beginning at age 11. I
remember running into a drugstore at that age, my mom telling me I could choose
a book to read. I got Gatehouse Mystery,
third in the series, fell in love with the Bob-Whites and finally completed
collecting the series after I became an adult.
What!!! I’m still a kid at heart
and continue to get lost in each re-read.
Actually, Trixie is older than I am.
The Secret of the Mansion was first published in 1948. If Trixie was 13 at the time she would be …
you do the math!
Anyway the
story begins with Trixie working with her mom in the garden, bemoaning the fact
that she has got to have a horse or she’ll just die. Her Moms offers her the opportunity to earn
$5 a week towards getting her own horse.
Moms goes on to tell her that their new neighbors have a girl her age. Well, the story progresses beautifully from
there with Trixie meeting Honey, Trixie learning to ride a horse, Honey and
Trixie beginning an instant friendship and of course getting involved with the
secret of the mansion. They dub it the
Miser’s Mansion. I love that everything
moves along so naturally, things like conversations, character building, and
introduction of other necessary characters and details. Campbell is a fun story teller. I think part of the success of this series is
the inclusion of the adult world as it affects the younger generation as it
should. I love the laid-back atmosphere
of country life, fun kid things to do, yet they are taught to be responsible
for their actions, which in turn builds on the work ethic.
