Mia

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 * Book Group Test**

1. The title of this book, //__The House of Dies Drear__//, is a very appropriate title for this book. It relates to the book very well because in the book Thomas Small and his family move into a very mysterious house that had once belonged to a mysterious man named Dies Drear. The town’s people who live near the old house call it the house of Dies Drear. During the times of slavery Dies Drear built a house that helped slaves travel safely to Canada. He built many secret passageways inside and outside of the house. The house is mysterious to many people because there is a legend to the house. In the legend it says that about a month after the house had been finished Dies Drear had helped two slaves continue their journey to Canada. As the slaves were traveling away from the house they were killed by a hunter. About a week later Dies Drear was killed by someone that was unknown. Thomas heard his father say that the ghosts of the two slaves and of Dies Drear still live in the house. If I had written the book I would have made the title the same as how the author had written it because the whole book is about what happens to Thomas and his family after the move into the strange old house. The house had belonged to Dies Drear also so that is another reason why I would have named the book “The **__House__** of **__Dies Drear__**”. Comments From Shirley: Mia, you have written an interesting and accurate response to this question. You have supported your response with some appealing reasoning.

2. The book //__The House of Dies Drear__// is a very mysterious book all together and it includes many mysterious parts to it. In my opinion the most mysterious part of this book was when Thomas was exploring the woods in his back yard at night and the groundskeeper, Mr. Pluto, thought he was a person snooping around on the property and chased Thomas all the way to the house. When Mr. Pluto got to the house he saw Thomas’ parents and realized he had made a mistake. Suddenly after about five minutes of talking to the Small family Mr. Pluto became possessed and started reciting a chant that goes like this: Then as quickly as he came Mr. Pluto backed away into the dark night. That part of the book gave me eerie chills. Thomas and his parents tried and tried to figure out what the saying meant and how and why had Mr. Pluto had suddenly become possessed by something. In my opinion the author (Virginia Hamilton) used very descriptive and vivid language when she wrote the book. Her writing made me want to read on because I wanted to find out what Mr. Pluto meant when he recited the chant. I loved the way the author used mysterious description throughout the whole book and not just in this one part. Comments From Shirley: Very interesting answer to this question with great points of view and opinions about this section. I love your reasoning and decisions.
 * // “When hoot owl screeching, westward flies, gauge the sun, look to Dies, and run”. //**

Hey, Mia! you were really good in question 1 about explaining your reasonings about the book title! :) - SAMMY

Book Group Questions 6 Week 6 Questions - Please write your response here
I thought that the ending to the book was nothing like the suspenseful beginning and middle of this book. The ending did not tie the whole book together. Throughout the course of the book there were many mysteries that I was hoping would be solved. For example when Thomas found the old captain’s chair in his room the author did have the characters find out what it was meant for. Also, Thomas’ father bought the house of Dies Drear because of all of its secret hidden passageways but there were only about two passageways that were vaguely described. I was hoping that Thomas would try to look for more passageways and memorize all of them. In the last chapter when Thomas was sitting on the large ladder with Pesty next to the display of glass, all that was said was that he knew his family would live in that house for years to come. I felt deflated because I wanted to know what would be happening to the characters. I also thought that a glimpse into the future would have satisfied my desire for more. I felt the book should have included Thomas’ feelings about of the night before (when they scared the Darrow’s) and what he was going to learn about town etc. If I could write an epilogue I would have Thomas living in the house of Dies Drear with a family of his own and Thomas knowing every inch of the house. Maybe having Thomas’ family becoming good friends with the Skinner family would have been a good idea also. Perhaps Mayhew could have had a family of his own. I want to know what would happen to all of Mr. Pluto’s great treasures and who would inherit all of it. Even though, the author Virginia Hamilton wrote a fascinating story with a suspenseful and mysterious beginning and middle, I was disappointed that the ending didn’t seem to tie in with the rest of the book.
 * 1. What did you think about the end of the book [|"The House of Dies Drear"]? Do you think it should have been different? Explain in detail with examples (Schyuler’s question). **

If I was in Thomas’ position in the woods, I would not have been scared. I would have known that what I was doing was actually tricking the Darrow family. It was also unrealistic because there were no real ghosts in the forest and the tale of the three ghosts of Dies Drear was just a myth. However, I would have been very restless because of the long wait. I’m sure I would have been uncomfortable lying in the grass and dirt not moving a muscle. The long wait eventually led to darkness by the time the family arrived. I would have been excited to be dressed up and pretending to be a ghost. It would be like a Halloween celebration.
 * 2. If you were in Thomas' place in the woods, would you have been scared? Give reasons for your answer (Schyuler’s Question). **


 * Amelia: Mia, You wrote quite a lot about each question, but every word is meaningful. You use description and your answers are complete. Great Job!**

Joe: Mia great job. You wrote a very good piece. I agree with you. Sam: Mia, i totally agree with you about how it didn't tie the book together! :)

Book Group Questions 3 - Week 3 Questions
I choose question #1: 1. What do you think of the amazing cavern that Thomas and his father found? Describe it in detail and tell what object surprised you the most. **

The cavern that Thomas and his father found has exquisite pieces of artwork that seemed as though they had been made by professionals. To me, the amazing cavern is like a real art museum. Thomas and his father discovered something very unusual when they first climbed into the cavern. They found stalactites hanging from the top of the cave and stalagmites standing up on the cavern floor. Thomas and even Mr. Small were afraid that one of the stalactites would fall and injure or maybe kill them. After Thomas and Mr. Small had gone through the path of stalactite and stalagmites they entered a room filled with hand blown glass and hand weaved cloth. All the glass that had been blown, which were hundreds and maybe even thousands, were all carefully polished and not a speck of dirt was found on any cloth. The neatly polished glass was what surprised me because I did not know who could polish such beautiful glass without breaking it. At the end of the room they came to find old Mr. Pluto sitting at a perfectly carved wood desk that was neatly organized. Thomas and Mr. Small were not surprised to see Mr. Pluto in the desk because that was part of his house. I wish that I could live in a cavern as beautiful as Mr. Pluto's.

Schuyler: Mia I thought your answer was very well done. I agree that it like a real museum. I think you did a very good job at putting your words together. I also think that it was a easy read which is very good. So all together excellent work!!!!!!