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Trixie Belden #2
Trixie Belden and the Red Trailer Mystery
Trixie and Honey’s friend Jim has run away from Sleepyside–before anyone could tell him that he is the only heir to the huge Frayne fortune. The girls set out across upstate New York in a trailer to track him down . . . and stumble onto another mystery along the way!
286 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1950
103 people are currently reading
947 people want to read
About the author
Julie Campbell
56 books178 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Julie Campbell Tatham
aka
Julie Campbell, Julie Tatham and Julie C. Tatham
Julie Campbell was born on the 1st of June 1908 in Flushing, New York and shares the same birthday as her character, Mart Belden. As the daughter of an Army Officer, she travelled widely during her childhood and, at the age of eight, won her first short story contest while living in Hawaii.
Campbell married Charles Tatham Jr. on the 30th March 1933 and they worked together on many magazine stories and articles. Campbell lived in a remodelled farmhouse in the Hudson River Valley with her husband and two sons when she began writing the Trixie Belden series.
She had her own literary agency in the 1940s when Western Publishing invited literary agents to find authors who could produce mystery and adventure books that would be marketed to children at an affordable price. Campbell proposed four series, two that would be written by herself and the others by two of her authors Hal Burton and John Henry Cutler.
Both series were published under her maiden name, Julie Campbell. The Ginny Gordon series consisted of five books published between 1948 and 1956, while her contribution to the Trixie Belden series consisted of six books between 1948 and 1958. At the same time, Campbell stepped in to take over the Cherry Ames and Vicki Barr series and wrote twelve books in total for these series over the same time period. It is believed that Campbell wrote Cherry Ames, Cruise Nurse in three weeks during the same period she was also writing the first Trixie Belden and Ginny Gordon books.
Campbell wrote the series under her married name of Julie Tatham. There are several similarities to the Trixie Belden series. Cherry Ames: Dude Ranch Nurse is set in Tucson, Arizona which is the setting of Campbell's last Trixie Belden Mystery. The last Cherry Ames book Campbell wrote in 1955, Cherry Ames: Country Doctor's Nurse, is set in Sleepyside-on-the-Hudson, the setting of the Trixie Belden mysteries. So is a wonderful book called To Nick from Jan, which has many similarities to Trixie Belden except the main character is almost 17 years old.
She is also credited for writing "Rin Tin Tin's Rinty" for Whitman in 1954, but in an article Campbell denied having written that book and wonders why Whitman credited her with the title.
The Trixie Belden series was set in "Sleepyside" but was based on the town Campbell was living in at the time in the Hudson River Valley near Ossining. Her home, "Wolf Hollow", was the model for Crabapple Farm and Campbell actually lived on Glendale Road.
After completing Trixie Belden and the Mystery in Arizona, Campbell decided to stop. Her experience as a literary agent assisted her in negotiating a royalty on the next six books of the series as she owned the characters, but it meant her giving up the originator rights to this series. Western Publishing decided to continue the books under the pseudonym Kathryn Kenny.
Campbell also relinquished the Cherry Ames and Vicki Barr series when Helen Wells decided to return to writing them. The Ginny Gordon series was not continued.
There is evidence that Campbell sought a writing position with the Stratemeyer Syndicate in 1957. Timothy P. O'Herin spent an afternoon going through the Stratemeyer archives and found correspondence between Campbell and Harriet Adams, the daughter of Edward Stratemeyer.
"The letters occurred around 1957 and they consisted of Ms. Tatham seeking a writing position with the syndicate. Mrs. Adams responded with glowing praise for her work, but questioning whether Julie would want to relocate for the job. Julie indicated she would be willing to commute. There were only a few letters in this brief correspondence..."
Julie Campbell Tatham
aka
Julie Campbell, Julie Tatham and Julie C. Tatham
Julie Campbell was born on the 1st of June 1908 in Flushing, New York and shares the same birthday as her character, Mart Belden. As the daughter of an Army Officer, she travelled widely during her childhood and, at the age of eight, won her first short story contest while living in Hawaii.
Campbell married Charles Tatham Jr. on the 30th March 1933 and they worked together on many magazine stories and articles. Campbell lived in a remodelled farmhouse in the Hudson River Valley with her husband and two sons when she began writing the Trixie Belden series.
She had her own literary agency in the 1940s when Western Publishing invited literary agents to find authors who could produce mystery and adventure books that would be marketed to children at an affordable price. Campbell proposed four series, two that would be written by herself and the others by two of her authors Hal Burton and John Henry Cutler.
Both series were published under her maiden name, Julie Campbell. The Ginny Gordon series consisted of five books published between 1948 and 1956, while her contribution to the Trixie Belden series consisted of six books between 1948 and 1958. At the same time, Campbell stepped in to take over the Cherry Ames and Vicki Barr series and wrote twelve books in total for these series over the same time period. It is believed that Campbell wrote Cherry Ames, Cruise Nurse in three weeks during the same period she was also writing the first Trixie Belden and Ginny Gordon books.
Campbell wrote the series under her married name of Julie Tatham. There are several similarities to the Trixie Belden series. Cherry Ames: Dude Ranch Nurse is set in Tucson, Arizona which is the setting of Campbell's last Trixie Belden Mystery. The last Cherry Ames book Campbell wrote in 1955, Cherry Ames: Country Doctor's Nurse, is set in Sleepyside-on-the-Hudson, the setting of the Trixie Belden mysteries. So is a wonderful book called To Nick from Jan, which has many similarities to Trixie Belden except the main character is almost 17 years old.
She is also credited for writing "Rin Tin Tin's Rinty" for Whitman in 1954, but in an article Campbell denied having written that book and wonders why Whitman credited her with the title.
The Trixie Belden series was set in "Sleepyside" but was based on the town Campbell was living in at the time in the Hudson River Valley near Ossining. Her home, "Wolf Hollow", was the model for Crabapple Farm and Campbell actually lived on Glendale Road.
After completing Trixie Belden and the Mystery in Arizona, Campbell decided to stop. Her experience as a literary agent assisted her in negotiating a royalty on the next six books of the series as she owned the characters, but it meant her giving up the originator rights to this series. Western Publishing decided to continue the books under the pseudonym Kathryn Kenny.
Campbell also relinquished the Cherry Ames and Vicki Barr series when Helen Wells decided to return to writing them. The Ginny Gordon series was not continued.
There is evidence that Campbell sought a writing position with the Stratemeyer Syndicate in 1957. Timothy P. O'Herin spent an afternoon going through the Stratemeyer archives and found correspondence between Campbell and Harriet Adams, the daughter of Edward Stratemeyer.
"The letters occurred around 1957 and they consisted of Ms. Tatham seeking a writing position with the syndicate. Mrs. Adams responded with glowing praise for her work, but questioning whether Julie would want to relocate for the job. Julie indicated she would be willing to commute. There were only a few letters in this brief correspondence..."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
May 17, 2018
Having read Trixie Belden and the Secret of the Mansion(this is the TRUE title, never mind the reprints) I immediately moved on to book 2 because the two are really part of a single longer story. I've mentioned that I think this was the first Trixie Belden book I ever read. I was a weird kid and frequently Did Not Care about publication order or chronological order. I have no idea what I was thinking.
Anyway.
I loved this book because I desperately wanted to take a trip in a trailer like the Wheelers'. Still do, really. I am so done with camping in a tent. So the fact that Honey and Trixie got to go off searching for Jim, accompanied by the ever-patient Miss Trask, just hit all the right notes for me. However, the mystery isn't as solid as the one in the first book, probably because there are THREE mysteries: Jim's disappearance, the trailer thieves, and the mysterious family in the camper Robin. Yes, they're all interlinked, but there's a lot going on and it weakens the story.
However, there are some really great supporting characters, particularly the farmer's wife (I can't remember her name, just that her husband is Nat) who . The bad guys, unfortunately, are cookie-cutter villains, though it's funny to see them outsmarted by three teens.
As before, the heart of the story is the friendships between the kids, and Trixie and Honey's characters are even better developed. I still like Honey better, and I love her kindheartedness toward the various lost souls, as well as her strength in standing up to her would-be kidnappers.
But the book isn't without its ridiculousnesses, chief among which is . And the bad guys aren't as menacing as they really would be, but then, this is a YA mystery written in 1950, so there's that. There's also
The book ends with everyone comfortably taken care of and ready to move on to the next adventure, in which we meet Trixie's brothers who've been away at camp. I have my reservations about book 3, but that can wait for another review.
Anyway.
I loved this book because I desperately wanted to take a trip in a trailer like the Wheelers'. Still do, really. I am so done with camping in a tent. So the fact that Honey and Trixie got to go off searching for Jim, accompanied by the ever-patient Miss Trask, just hit all the right notes for me. However, the mystery isn't as solid as the one in the first book, probably because there are THREE mysteries: Jim's disappearance, the trailer thieves, and the mysterious family in the camper Robin. Yes, they're all interlinked, but there's a lot going on and it weakens the story.
However, there are some really great supporting characters, particularly the farmer's wife (I can't remember her name, just that her husband is Nat) who . The bad guys, unfortunately, are cookie-cutter villains, though it's funny to see them outsmarted by three teens.
As before, the heart of the story is the friendships between the kids, and Trixie and Honey's characters are even better developed. I still like Honey better, and I love her kindheartedness toward the various lost souls, as well as her strength in standing up to her would-be kidnappers.
But the book isn't without its ridiculousnesses, chief among which is . And the bad guys aren't as menacing as they really would be, but then, this is a YA mystery written in 1950, so there's that. There's also
The book ends with everyone comfortably taken care of and ready to move on to the next adventure, in which we meet Trixie's brothers who've been away at camp. I have my reservations about book 3, but that can wait for another review.
February 9, 2018
I adored the Nancy Drew series when I was a preteen. I remember seeing the familiar yellow bindings everywhere while I was growing up. On the other hand, I'm not sure if I ever even heard of Trixie Belden until recently. And now I am hearing that this series is way better than my beloved Nancy Drew stories. So now I get to enjoy a second childhood as I share these books with our girls.
This is the second story in the series and I read it to our oldest (and our youngest listened in for the second half of the book) on my hubby's iPad. We are still new to ebooks, but so far we really like the format and we really enjoyed reading it together.
I loved that the black and white illustrations were part of the ebook format (I thought perhaps there'd just be text) and I thought the story was exciting and engaging. We only read a chapter or two each night, so it took us a long time to read the book, but it was worth it.
The story was entertaining, with lots of suspense and a little danger, but entirely in a wholesome, 1950s-kind of way. There are some dangerous characters and mature themes in the book, but on the whole, it's just an exciting story, filled with mysteries and suspense.
I was a bit surprised by the amount of freedom the girls had in the story (especially since Honey's parents were fearful that she would be kidnapped), but I love that the girls are able to figure out the mysteries on their own, similar to my beloved Nancy Drew tales. And it seems that there's always some adult keeping an eye on them (Regan in the first book and Mary Smith in this one.) We are looking forward to reading the next book in the series, The Gatehouse Mystery.
This is the second story in the series and I read it to our oldest (and our youngest listened in for the second half of the book) on my hubby's iPad. We are still new to ebooks, but so far we really like the format and we really enjoyed reading it together.
I loved that the black and white illustrations were part of the ebook format (I thought perhaps there'd just be text) and I thought the story was exciting and engaging. We only read a chapter or two each night, so it took us a long time to read the book, but it was worth it.
The story was entertaining, with lots of suspense and a little danger, but entirely in a wholesome, 1950s-kind of way. There are some dangerous characters and mature themes in the book, but on the whole, it's just an exciting story, filled with mysteries and suspense.
I was a bit surprised by the amount of freedom the girls had in the story (especially since Honey's parents were fearful that she would be kidnapped), but I love that the girls are able to figure out the mysteries on their own, similar to my beloved Nancy Drew tales. And it seems that there's always some adult keeping an eye on them (Regan in the first book and Mary Smith in this one.) We are looking forward to reading the next book in the series, The Gatehouse Mystery.
August 25, 2021
Trixie and her best friend Honey Wheeler set off to find their new friend Jim, so they can tell him the good news about his inheritance and Honey’s parents’ wish to adopt him so he never has to deal with his evil stepfather again. With Honey’s governess, Miss Trask, and the Belden and Wheeler family dogs, they travel in style in the Swan, the Wheeler family’s luxurious trailer, as they check various boys’ summer camps where they know Jim might be seeking employment. On their journey, they meet a family traveling in the Robin, a lovely red trailer. But then they learn that there’s a gang of trailer thieves afoot — and there was no way that family in the Robin could afford that trailer.This was much more of a proper mystery than the first book in this series was! The search for Jim, the alerts about the trailer thieves, and the plight of the red trailer family were all woven together well. I fell asleep a lot less immediately reading this installment than I did with the first book.
Random comments:
Trixie and Honey have an amazing amount of freedom for a pair of 13-year-olds. Do the adults in this book go talk to the people running the camps to ask after Jim, or just phone them up? Of course not. Trixie and Honey get to rent horses and ride all over the countryside to do the search.
With the exception of the actual crooks, all of the adults in these books are astoundingly friendly, helpful, kind, and generous. It’s a very nice world to visit.
One thing made this book feel ickily dated, though — there is a pet crow called “Jimmy Crow,” which would not fly at all (haha, sorry) as a name these days. I hope.
I had an issue with how cavalierly the dogs are treated, just let out to run all over forests they don’t know, near busy highways. I was not comfortable with that at all.
But overall, this was very enjoyable for what it is. And I have to call out the illustrations in this volume, which were full color and very detailed, and just absolutely gorgeous.
October 14, 2025
5+ stars (7/10 hearts). TALK. ABOUT. A. MYSTERY. Oh my stars!! I was soo confused and soo ready for answers when I was just about 20% through, and the further we got the more mysterious things became… right to the very end! I was so hooked!
I loved how this book started off right where book 1 left off. It was so much fun seeing Honey, Trixie, & Miss Trask travel in that cute little trailer-house and scour the countryside for Jim. I loved how vintage the book was! I loved wonderful Mrs. Smith and her excellent husband so much. Jim was as amazing as ever, of course, and Mr. Lynch, although he barely shows up, was just swell. As was Joeanne's family. AND THE STATE TROOPER AT THE END. My heart, he was simply wonderful. <33
The plot, as mentioned before, is intense and perfectly intriguing. There seemed to be three distinct mysteries—where is Jim? What’s up with the Robin? Where is Joeanne?—and I was delighted with how they converged. I loved how everything was revealed and explained and how normal it was—not like dear old Nancy Drew who pushes even MY suspension of belief. I also appreciated how Trixie didn't do anything she wasn't supposed to do, haha. The climax is epic, the ending is SO perfect and sets us up for a great new book, and really... man, I just loved this book. Basically everything a mystery should be. <3
Content: Mild euphemisms.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Trixie stared at the map for a whole minute before she realized that she was holding it upside down. Even when she had righted it, she was as baffled as ever. ‘I simply can't follow maps,’ she said ruefully. ‘Maybe we'd better go back to the ranch and start all over again.’”
I loved how this book started off right where book 1 left off. It was so much fun seeing Honey, Trixie, & Miss Trask travel in that cute little trailer-house and scour the countryside for Jim. I loved how vintage the book was! I loved wonderful Mrs. Smith and her excellent husband so much. Jim was as amazing as ever, of course, and Mr. Lynch, although he barely shows up, was just swell. As was Joeanne's family. AND THE STATE TROOPER AT THE END. My heart, he was simply wonderful. <33
The plot, as mentioned before, is intense and perfectly intriguing. There seemed to be three distinct mysteries—where is Jim? What’s up with the Robin? Where is Joeanne?—and I was delighted with how they converged. I loved how everything was revealed and explained and how normal it was—not like dear old Nancy Drew who pushes even MY suspension of belief. I also appreciated how Trixie didn't do anything she wasn't supposed to do, haha. The climax is epic, the ending is SO perfect and sets us up for a great new book, and really... man, I just loved this book. Basically everything a mystery should be. <3
Content: Mild euphemisms.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Trixie stared at the map for a whole minute before she realized that she was holding it upside down. Even when she had righted it, she was as baffled as ever. ‘I simply can't follow maps,’ she said ruefully. ‘Maybe we'd better go back to the ranch and start all over again.’”
September 19, 2017
The Trixie Belden series is about a group of teen sleuths who investigate mysteries around their hometown of Sleepyside, NY. Trixie Belden lives on a farm with her brothers and parents. Her bestie, Honey Wheeler, lives nearby at a manor house with her wealthy parents. They have great adventures together. The series was written from 1948-1986. The first six books were written by Julie Campbell. The rest of the series was written by multiple authors all under the penname Kathryn Kenny. The series is similar to Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys.
I loved the Trixie Belden series when I was in middle school back in the '80s. I received a couple books for every holiday and special event until I had the entire series. :) When I noticed that a few of the titles had been re-printed, I wanted to read the series again. I was a bit worried at first because I wasn't sure if I would enjoy re-reading them as an adult, and I didn't want to ruin my happy memories of reading about Trixie's adventures with her friends, Honey and Jim. After reading the first two books again, I'm glad that I decided to revist Sleepyside. The stories are a bit dated, but still so much fun to read!
The second book, The Red Trailer Mystery, is a continuation of the story from book one. Honey and Trixie have made a new friend, Jim Frayne. He came looking for his uncle, only to find out that the old man had passed away in the hospital. Jim runs away at the end of book one, fearing that his mean, abusive step-father is coming to take him away. He never finds out that he has inherited a lot of money from his uncle. In the second book Trixie and Honey, along with Honey's Governess Miss Trask, pack up the Wheeler family travel trailer to go find Jim. The boy expressed interest in finding a camp counselor's job at one of the nearby campgrounds, so they hit the road to find him and bring him home. Along the way, they discover a band of thieves who are stealing trailers and property from travelers. The girls end up in some hot water when the bad guys catch them following them to get proof to take to the police.
This book seems a bit simple and dated to the adult-me, but I still enjoyed it just as much as I did when I was 12. Maybe more for simple nostalgia than the actual story. It was a fun afternoon read, and I'm looking forward to reading more of this series. Only a few of the books were re-printed so I'm going to have to do some hunting to find the complete series to read, but locating all the books will be part of the fun of re-visiting this series.
I always preferred Trixie Belden over Nancy Drew. I'm not sure why. I think I will re-read some Nancy Drew books as well and compare the two. Maybe I can come up with a reason why I loved Trixie and was more meh about Nancy.
I loved the Trixie Belden series when I was in middle school back in the '80s. I received a couple books for every holiday and special event until I had the entire series. :) When I noticed that a few of the titles had been re-printed, I wanted to read the series again. I was a bit worried at first because I wasn't sure if I would enjoy re-reading them as an adult, and I didn't want to ruin my happy memories of reading about Trixie's adventures with her friends, Honey and Jim. After reading the first two books again, I'm glad that I decided to revist Sleepyside. The stories are a bit dated, but still so much fun to read!
The second book, The Red Trailer Mystery, is a continuation of the story from book one. Honey and Trixie have made a new friend, Jim Frayne. He came looking for his uncle, only to find out that the old man had passed away in the hospital. Jim runs away at the end of book one, fearing that his mean, abusive step-father is coming to take him away. He never finds out that he has inherited a lot of money from his uncle. In the second book Trixie and Honey, along with Honey's Governess Miss Trask, pack up the Wheeler family travel trailer to go find Jim. The boy expressed interest in finding a camp counselor's job at one of the nearby campgrounds, so they hit the road to find him and bring him home. Along the way, they discover a band of thieves who are stealing trailers and property from travelers. The girls end up in some hot water when the bad guys catch them following them to get proof to take to the police.
This book seems a bit simple and dated to the adult-me, but I still enjoyed it just as much as I did when I was 12. Maybe more for simple nostalgia than the actual story. It was a fun afternoon read, and I'm looking forward to reading more of this series. Only a few of the books were re-printed so I'm going to have to do some hunting to find the complete series to read, but locating all the books will be part of the fun of re-visiting this series.
I always preferred Trixie Belden over Nancy Drew. I'm not sure why. I think I will re-read some Nancy Drew books as well and compare the two. Maybe I can come up with a reason why I loved Trixie and was more meh about Nancy.
November 24, 2023
Re-read 2023
After the cliffhanger in book 1, Honey and Trixie set out with Miss Trask to find Jim Frayne. But with trailer thieves robbing families on summertime vacation, Trixie and Honey find themselves with more than one mystery to solve.
Love this walk down memory lane with some of New York State's best sleuths.
Goodreads review published 22/11/23
After the cliffhanger in book 1, Honey and Trixie set out with Miss Trask to find Jim Frayne. But with trailer thieves robbing families on summertime vacation, Trixie and Honey find themselves with more than one mystery to solve.
Love this walk down memory lane with some of New York State's best sleuths.
Goodreads review published 22/11/23
August 20, 2020
Jim's run off, and it's up to Trixie and Honey to find him. But trailer thieves and a family on the run complicate things. A very fun book with great characters. And it includes one of my all time favorite scenes in the series, too.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
June 5, 2020
June 16, 2013: Another re-read. One of the things I love about revisiting books is the chance to get another perspective, depending on my own mood, or my experiences since the last read, or whatever. I think I liked this one a bit more than I usually do. I've never disliked it, per se, but I think #1 and #3 are among the best in the series and Red Trailer kind of sits in their shadow. But for whatever reason, I really enjoyed the re-read this time. Certainly lots of excitement packed into one book!
August 11, 2012: A re-read (and I'm still having trouble that it's been since 2004 since I sat down and read entire books in this series) and I still am not crazy about this book, probably more because books 1 and 3 are so great it just makes this one look weak by comparison. But in my fanfic writing, I've become very attached to my Jo (Joeanne Darnell) and this is the only book she appears in, so I'm trying to read between the lines to discover what makes her tick. Hee-hee.
Not as strong as the two books surrounding it in this "trilogy" that starts the 39-book series, but little to dislike as Trixie and Honey search for Jim.
August 11, 2012: A re-read (and I'm still having trouble that it's been since 2004 since I sat down and read entire books in this series) and I still am not crazy about this book, probably more because books 1 and 3 are so great it just makes this one look weak by comparison. But in my fanfic writing, I've become very attached to my Jo (Joeanne Darnell) and this is the only book she appears in, so I'm trying to read between the lines to discover what makes her tick. Hee-hee.
Not as strong as the two books surrounding it in this "trilogy" that starts the 39-book series, but little to dislike as Trixie and Honey search for Jim.
September 29, 2020
Another great and well-written Trixie Belden mystery we have enjoyed as a read aloud...I know I read several of the books in this series as a young teenager back in the day, but I don't remember the plot of any of the books, so it makes it just as fresh for me as I read aloud as it does for my daughter as she listens. We both get to experience the story for the first time! I love the little details in this book, like the ride through the woods on horseback, the swimming race Honey gets into with her cousin, and even what the girls have for meals as they enjoy at their camping trip. Will the girls ever find runaway Jim? And will they solve the mystery of the red trailer and the family using it? Read this enjoyable book to find out!
June 28, 2014
Trixie and her best friend Honey set off in an RV (chauffeured by Honey's governess, Miss Trask) in search of their runaway friend, Jim. Along the way, they find even more mysteries to solve: a sad, mysterious family; missing trailers; a runaway child; and a stolen locket. It's interesting how differently one views a book from childhood one re-reads as an adult. Although I do recall this one issue (detailed below) bothering me as a child, it almost enraged me as an adult. I'll be honest, I don't like this book very much for one primary reason: the repeated irresponsible care (or should I say "lack thereof?") toward the girls' dogs, Reddy and Bud. First off, they should have left them behind rather than take them on the trip. Secondly, the dogs need to be put on leashes rather than let free to run loose all over the countryside. I mean, my word, poor Bud is but a mere puppy, and both dogs are in very unfamiliar territory. And, thirdly, if your dog is lost, you move Heaven and Earth to find it. It's not just an animal or a possession; it's family! Had it not been for that aspect of the book, I likely would have given it four stars. (In my rating system, two stars means "disliked" rather than "it was okay.") In general, I thought the mysteries were interesting, but I had a hard time understanding how two 13-year-olds are permitted to run around on their own in unfamiliar woods. And, did I miss why Miss Trask didn't just drive the girls around to the three boys’ camps? That would have been more efficient and likely increased the probability of their finding Jim in a timely manner. I also found it rather odd (although nice) that Trixie's attitude had greatly improved in one short week. And, could they have harped anymore on Mrs. Smith's weight? I mean, really! Besides the plot and subplots, there were some very likable characters. I'd love to have a Mr. and Mrs. Smith in my life! They seem like good people. And, I do sincerely love the ending of this book (except as it pertains to Bud). Although there are some things I don’t understand about this story and one thing I clearly don’t like, I don’t hate the book (which would be a rating of one star, per my system) – just that one aspect. Of note, this is not the version of books I was exposed to as a child. I found the drawings often did not match the photos in my head, which greatly bothered me. It also finally dawned on me that, in my head, much of the setting is in Petit Jean State Park in my beloved home state of Arkansas.
January 2, 2020
At the end of book one in the series (The Secret of the Mansion) we are left with a cliff-hanger--because Mr. Frayne dies, Jonesy (the nasty step-father)shows up, the mansion is set on fire, and Jim runs away before learning that he really is the heir. So, Honey and Trixie must convince their families to let them head for the boys' camps in the north where Jim had mentioned he'd try for a job if he had to run away again....
Of course, the families agree and Miss Trask--Honey's governess--takes the girls and the Wheelers' camper on their next adventure in The Red Trailer Mystery. While the main objective is to find Jim, tell him about his inheritance, reassure him that the Frayne's family lawyer and executor of his uncle's will won't let Jonesy take him back, and then convince Honey's parents to adopt him, the girls also get caught up two more mysteries. The mystery of the down-trodden family traveling in a red camper and the outbreak of camper thefts that has Miss Trask worried about how long they can stay and look for Jim. The kind-hearted girls just can't help wondering why the family in the red trailer seem so sad and when the oldest girl runs away they can't help but search for her while they look for Jim. Trixie is convinced that if they solve the mystery of the camper thieves then they will find both Jim and Joeanne. It winds up that she's right as usual...though not quite in the way she expects. A happy ending is in store for everyone...
I loved the first two books. I have always enjoyed the stories that introduce us to Trixie and her core group of friends. I loved meeting Jim and Honey and the adventures they all got up to around the mansion. These were definitely two of my favorites of the series while growing up and I was able to enjoy them now as an adult. Overall, a fun reading trip down memory lane.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting review content. Thanks.
Of course, the families agree and Miss Trask--Honey's governess--takes the girls and the Wheelers' camper on their next adventure in The Red Trailer Mystery. While the main objective is to find Jim, tell him about his inheritance, reassure him that the Frayne's family lawyer and executor of his uncle's will won't let Jonesy take him back, and then convince Honey's parents to adopt him, the girls also get caught up two more mysteries. The mystery of the down-trodden family traveling in a red camper and the outbreak of camper thefts that has Miss Trask worried about how long they can stay and look for Jim. The kind-hearted girls just can't help wondering why the family in the red trailer seem so sad and when the oldest girl runs away they can't help but search for her while they look for Jim. Trixie is convinced that if they solve the mystery of the camper thieves then they will find both Jim and Joeanne. It winds up that she's right as usual...though not quite in the way she expects. A happy ending is in store for everyone...
I loved the first two books. I have always enjoyed the stories that introduce us to Trixie and her core group of friends. I loved meeting Jim and Honey and the adventures they all got up to around the mansion. These were definitely two of my favorites of the series while growing up and I was able to enjoy them now as an adult. Overall, a fun reading trip down memory lane.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting review content. Thanks.
February 8, 2018
OK, I've been reading these books from my youth lately, and it's high time I gave 1950s girl-sleuth Trixie Belden her due. The original books in this series were written in the late 1940s / early 1950s, in a time when girls were Betty Crockering-it-up, yet Trixie and gal pal Honey Wheeler are about as feisty, fun, and fierce as any girl besties of recent years - maybe more so.
In the first book in the series, Trixie's knowledge of first aid and cool head in a crisis save her younger brother from a deadly snake bite. In this second series installment, Honey out-swims an entire group of boys from a Summer Camp, then saves another swimmer who goes in a bit too deep. Both girls take tumbles from horses and bicycles, but jump right back up and are back in the saddle minutes later. Crying is for sissies and for girls who are NOT Trixie Belden or Honey Wheeler. These girls camp and hike, ride and swim, paddle and persevere; Trixie kicks a bad-ass trailer-thief off of a ladder, then Honey stands up to the thieves and pretends to be streetwise to buy both girls time to escape. Bear in mind, this is rich-girl Honey who started out in Book One a "poor little rich girl" that Trixie fears will be a sissy. Forget that, by this book it's "Go, Honey, go!" No wonder I liked these girls when I was their age! Dang it all, I like them now!!
This installment was probably my favorite growing up. It has a great mystery involving a ring of thieves who steal luxury trailers (still a novelty at the time this was written), strip them of their appliances, then abandon the trailers and sell the like-new appliances for big bucks. Trixie and Honey claim to be terrible at reading maps, and they do get lost on bridle trails more than once. Yet, using their wits - 'cause these girls are no dummies - maps, trail markers, and a little bit of chance, they find not one but two hide-outs and solve the mystery.
Along the way, they also find missing-heir Jim from The Secret of the Mansion and help solve a second mystery reuniting another young runaway with her migrant worker family. All sorts of fun stuff from an era that feels both bygone and classically timeless with its like-ably smart heroines. (Side note: I vividly recall the food, especially the canned food "camping" concoctions they cook in the trailer and Mrs. Smith's spiced grape juice and layer cake, from reading this in my youth. I found their meals both oddly different from anything I ever ate and kind of fascinating. What kid doesn't like to read about food?) Enjoy!
In the first book in the series, Trixie's knowledge of first aid and cool head in a crisis save her younger brother from a deadly snake bite. In this second series installment, Honey out-swims an entire group of boys from a Summer Camp, then saves another swimmer who goes in a bit too deep. Both girls take tumbles from horses and bicycles, but jump right back up and are back in the saddle minutes later. Crying is for sissies and for girls who are NOT Trixie Belden or Honey Wheeler. These girls camp and hike, ride and swim, paddle and persevere; Trixie kicks a bad-ass trailer-thief off of a ladder, then Honey stands up to the thieves and pretends to be streetwise to buy both girls time to escape. Bear in mind, this is rich-girl Honey who started out in Book One a "poor little rich girl" that Trixie fears will be a sissy. Forget that, by this book it's "Go, Honey, go!" No wonder I liked these girls when I was their age! Dang it all, I like them now!!
This installment was probably my favorite growing up. It has a great mystery involving a ring of thieves who steal luxury trailers (still a novelty at the time this was written), strip them of their appliances, then abandon the trailers and sell the like-new appliances for big bucks. Trixie and Honey claim to be terrible at reading maps, and they do get lost on bridle trails more than once. Yet, using their wits - 'cause these girls are no dummies - maps, trail markers, and a little bit of chance, they find not one but two hide-outs and solve the mystery.
Along the way, they also find missing-heir Jim from The Secret of the Mansion and help solve a second mystery reuniting another young runaway with her migrant worker family. All sorts of fun stuff from an era that feels both bygone and classically timeless with its like-ably smart heroines. (Side note: I vividly recall the food, especially the canned food "camping" concoctions they cook in the trailer and Mrs. Smith's spiced grape juice and layer cake, from reading this in my youth. I found their meals both oddly different from anything I ever ate and kind of fascinating. What kid doesn't like to read about food?) Enjoy!
February 11, 2025
This is instalment #2 of The Great Trixie Belden Re-Read of 2025!
A fairly strong sequel that I honestly didn’t remember much of. There were quite a few different mysteries threaded throughout the narrative and they all had satisfying endings. I like that Trixie still hasn’t picked up on the fact that she’s actually quite good at solving mysteries. This wasn’t as good as the first one but I’m excited for #3 because the gang is really going to start forming soon.
A fairly strong sequel that I honestly didn’t remember much of. There were quite a few different mysteries threaded throughout the narrative and they all had satisfying endings. I like that Trixie still hasn’t picked up on the fact that she’s actually quite good at solving mysteries. This wasn’t as good as the first one but I’m excited for #3 because the gang is really going to start forming soon.
Read
April 26, 2021Why yes. Yes I did read four Trixie Belden books over the weekend, and why not? I read a lot of these as a kid, even though I thought they were dumb (if you're going to have a secret club, you should name it something better than the BWG, and 'gleeps' isn't much of a catch-phrase). As an adult, I can see that these are actually pretty nice mysteries. Trixie is a fun heroine.
July 11, 2010
The second book of the series picks up right from the end of book one, so I guess these books would be best read in order (but that is the way I like to read a series anyway). Trixie and Honey are trying to find Jim (you'll have to read book one to find out who Honey and Jim are cause I don't want to add spoilers). While searching for Jim they manage to get themselves involved in two other mysteries. There might not be dead bodies but there are definitely adventures. Yes, as an adult I figured out where Jim was before the girls found him but that was okay, it was still a fun read.
I like the "old fashionedness" (that probably isn't a word but it describes what I wanted to say) of the books. They aren't so old that they would be historical novels (unless you are in your teens or twenties then maybe they would be considered historical lol) but they remind you that not that long ago there wasn't TV as we know it, no cell phones, etc. In this book one of the travel trailers in the story is equipped with a television and that is a big deal.
I'm looking forward to getting the next book, The Gatehouse Mystery and seeing what mischief the girls get into this time.
I like the "old fashionedness" (that probably isn't a word but it describes what I wanted to say) of the books. They aren't so old that they would be historical novels (unless you are in your teens or twenties then maybe they would be considered historical lol) but they remind you that not that long ago there wasn't TV as we know it, no cell phones, etc. In this book one of the travel trailers in the story is equipped with a television and that is a big deal.
I'm looking forward to getting the next book, The Gatehouse Mystery and seeing what mischief the girls get into this time.
December 7, 2014
Trixie, Honey and Miss Trask head off in the Wheelers' trailer to find Jim Frayne, who's run away before his mean stepfather finds him. On the first night, they camp next to a red trailer with a sad family inside, and the girls suspect something's wrong. They meet the family again the next day when they stop for lunch at a lake, and the eleven year old daughter walks away from her family. After arriving at the Autocamp where they're staying for the next week, Trixie and Honey ride horses to three boys' camps where Jim had said he wanted to find a job. When they get lost in the woods, they meet Mrs. Smith, the farmer's wife. She tells them that they have hired a new man to help with the bean crop, and the girls suspect it's the man from the red trailer. Meanwhile they find Jim's tent pitched in the woods and hide in an abandoned barn where they overhear a fight between two trailer thieves, and learn that Jim had let the air out of their van's tire, and are shortly arrested by the state troopers. Eventually they find Jim and the 11 year old girl who are now working at the Smith farm picking beans, and Honey's parents meet them at the Autocamp and agree to adopt Jim. Trixie and Honey are ecstatic and look forward to going to school with Jim and their brothers. This was a fun read, and I'm amazed at how much freedom the girls had for a book set in 1950.
October 2, 2021
I know. I’m not 8 years old anymore. But the other night this 50+ year old had some major insomnia and thought maybe if I read something I’d already read (so I didn’t get new adrenaline) that it would help. Well. Not only did I suffer from major insomnia maybe getting 2 hours of sleep but I finished the damn book.
No regrets. But it did make me realize that the writing was so incredibly juvenile…perfect for an 8 year old. But I also found lots of typos and grammatical errors. The storyline was sweet and predictable and nostalgic. Then I got to the end of the book. Read page 334. Then the next page was 325 (same as the earlier 325). Then the final page of 336.
There really is something to be said about re-reading childhood favorites. But also as we get older and wiser we learn that we want more meat in the stories we read. I will continue to go through my cherished Trixie Belden series but know I need to lower my expectations. My book club picks for October are American Predator (TCF book club) and The Other Wes Moore (other book club). Have been looking forward to both so excited!!!
Also at the top of my list are Songs in Ursa Major, House in the Cerulean Sea, and The Bell Jar. Love that I just hit 50 books for the year!!!
No regrets. But it did make me realize that the writing was so incredibly juvenile…perfect for an 8 year old. But I also found lots of typos and grammatical errors. The storyline was sweet and predictable and nostalgic. Then I got to the end of the book. Read page 334. Then the next page was 325 (same as the earlier 325). Then the final page of 336.
There really is something to be said about re-reading childhood favorites. But also as we get older and wiser we learn that we want more meat in the stories we read. I will continue to go through my cherished Trixie Belden series but know I need to lower my expectations. My book club picks for October are American Predator (TCF book club) and The Other Wes Moore (other book club). Have been looking forward to both so excited!!!
Also at the top of my list are Songs in Ursa Major, House in the Cerulean Sea, and The Bell Jar. Love that I just hit 50 books for the year!!!
August 21, 2019
I read this book the first time when I was a child my son’s age (9). I was totally obsessed with Trixie Belden, and May have read all 39 books, I’m not sure. At any rate, I basically had no recollection of this one, the second in the series. My son loved the first one so much, I went out (to Amazon) and bought the next 2. We started this one right away, but it got interrupted while he was in Italy with his Nonni.
Anyway, I just finished reading it to him and it was a lot of fun! I recalled random things, but didn’t remember how convoluted the “mystery” was! A regular opera plot! Those girls kept happening upon bits and pieces and how it all came together in the end was quite heart warming.
I was struck over and over how much simpler and kind the world was back in the 50s. It didn’t struck me so much as a kid reading, but life was just different in the US 40-60 years ago. Can kids just wander off on foot or on horseback by themselves at all these days? And people just showing up at a farmhouse asking for work? And the farmer’s wife taking them in (whole families even) “no questions asked???” I’m sure it doesn’t happen that way anymore.
Anyway, I just finished reading it to him and it was a lot of fun! I recalled random things, but didn’t remember how convoluted the “mystery” was! A regular opera plot! Those girls kept happening upon bits and pieces and how it all came together in the end was quite heart warming.
I was struck over and over how much simpler and kind the world was back in the 50s. It didn’t struck me so much as a kid reading, but life was just different in the US 40-60 years ago. Can kids just wander off on foot or on horseback by themselves at all these days? And people just showing up at a farmhouse asking for work? And the farmer’s wife taking them in (whole families even) “no questions asked???” I’m sure it doesn’t happen that way anymore.
December 7, 2014
I read a few of these 1950s gems as a child, when I stumbled upon my mother's stash of girlhood books. I'd never read them in order and had missed Book #2 all together. While the overall series is enjoyable, I find the later books better when more of the 'Bobwhite Gang' (how cute!) works together to solve mysteries. Trixie and Honey alone act as flighty as you would expect two unempowered tween girls wearing dungarees (oh my!) to act. This book included bonus treasures from un-PC land including this quote: ""She's the fattest woman I ever saw, but she has a pretty face" and a pet blackbird named Jimmy Crow. The entire series is great and Trixie Belden is a much better Nancy Drew, but the dated books are hard to read as an adult.
July 16, 2018
Book 2
Another good Trixie Belden Book! The race to find Jim leads them to find two other mysteries with stolen caravans/trailers, farmers thieves and a family in crisis. Just get some leashes on those dogs! The adventurers are off for sleuthing and solving problems for a happy ending.
Another good Trixie Belden Book! The race to find Jim leads them to find two other mysteries with stolen caravans/trailers, farmers thieves and a family in crisis. Just get some leashes on those dogs! The adventurers are off for sleuthing and solving problems for a happy ending.
January 23, 2019
Not enough Jim. *pouts*
November 20, 2018
I'm glad I finally read this one. (The perks of being an adult with a good library system--my childhood library was missing this crucial installment in the series.) To be honest, while I love Jim just as much as I ever did, I now occasionally get annoyed that Trixie never trusts adults with any real information, or sometimes even the truth. I think I'll end my re-read of the series here, because I'm sure it just would get worse the farther I go, but I am really glad to have re-visited the series as much as I did.
December 27, 2022
Picked this up to read when the book I was reading went missing. Still need to find that one.
Anyway, this is a good series, and apparently I am into books for kids late elementary to middle school these days. Probably has something to do with the fact that I have kids those ages. This series isn’t as old as some of them I have been collecting, but it is a good one.
Anyway, this is a good series, and apparently I am into books for kids late elementary to middle school these days. Probably has something to do with the fact that I have kids those ages. This series isn’t as old as some of them I have been collecting, but it is a good one.
December 3, 2024
Listened to the audiobook
April 27, 2012
While I didn't read more than a book or two of this 1950's-era girls' mystery series as a child, I remembered it from a friend's library when I saw a bunch on close-out at Powell's for $1. I picked up a copy of the earliest number on the shelf to see if it might be suitable and enjoyable for my 8 year old niece.
Trixi and her friend Honey (yeah, really. "Buffy" doesn't seem quite so bad in this company...) are 13, and in this book are fresh from solving an important mystery that revealed the true identity of a friendly teen named Joe they'd met camping in their woods after he ran away from home. They're hunting for him again, this time with Honey's governess providing transportation (and very little else) in the family's travel trailer. Along the way they find yet another mystery to investigate concerning a trailer theft ring and a down-on-their-luck wandering family whose own trailer seems a bit too good to be true.
I actually found the book surprisingly enjoyable. Thoroughly dated as it is, it was fun to see the way the American culture was perceived and written for children 50+ years ago. Overall it's wholesome and reasonably well written without too much in the way of cringe-inducing dialog. I wonder, however, if my niece may find certain elements a tad bit unbelievable, though. Were 13 year old girls really allowed to rent horses and wander about through miles of woods without the slightest bit of supervision? Would anybody really hire a 15 or 16 year old boy for any sort of labor without ID or any sign of a parent or guardian? Were there really no *leash laws?* (Seriously, the girls let their dogs roam free wherever they choose through strange territory, and usually don't notice they're missing for hours or longer, then slap themselves on the forehead and say "oh, what bad pet owners we are. Oh well, we'll go look for him tomorrow!" This is central to the plot. Really.) I will probably give this book to my niece, but I have my doubts whether it will hold her attention against her current pre-teen talking animals and various mythological characters fantasy!
Trixi and her friend Honey (yeah, really. "Buffy" doesn't seem quite so bad in this company...) are 13, and in this book are fresh from solving an important mystery that revealed the true identity of a friendly teen named Joe they'd met camping in their woods after he ran away from home. They're hunting for him again, this time with Honey's governess providing transportation (and very little else) in the family's travel trailer. Along the way they find yet another mystery to investigate concerning a trailer theft ring and a down-on-their-luck wandering family whose own trailer seems a bit too good to be true.
I actually found the book surprisingly enjoyable. Thoroughly dated as it is, it was fun to see the way the American culture was perceived and written for children 50+ years ago. Overall it's wholesome and reasonably well written without too much in the way of cringe-inducing dialog. I wonder, however, if my niece may find certain elements a tad bit unbelievable, though. Were 13 year old girls really allowed to rent horses and wander about through miles of woods without the slightest bit of supervision? Would anybody really hire a 15 or 16 year old boy for any sort of labor without ID or any sign of a parent or guardian? Were there really no *leash laws?* (Seriously, the girls let their dogs roam free wherever they choose through strange territory, and usually don't notice they're missing for hours or longer, then slap themselves on the forehead and say "oh, what bad pet owners we are. Oh well, we'll go look for him tomorrow!" This is central to the plot. Really.) I will probably give this book to my niece, but I have my doubts whether it will hold her attention against her current pre-teen talking animals and various mythological characters fantasy!
January 22, 2023
Since book 1 ends on a bit of cliffhanger, we roll right into book 2. How annoyed were you all in 1977 when book 2 wasn't published yet? Julie Campbell, well played. Thousands of middle schoolers were anxiously awaiting the adventures of Trixie, Honey, and Jim.
As we return to the implausible life of Trixie Belden, her parents let her take off on a quest to track down the missing Jim Frayne. Now hey, this 13-year-old isn't alone. No, Honey's wonderful governess, Miss Trask, offers to drive the RV around upstate New York to search the boys' camps where they think Jim might be applying for work. Back in the days of no cell phones, no internet, and most modern conveniences, I'm going to go with ok, fine. So off they go and step right into a stolen trailer ring, a mysterious family, and yes, camps. Oh, and horses. Always horses, which is why I loved these books so very much growing up.
Pluses: Jimmy the Crow, the farm couple, and Miss Trask.
Minuses: Honey's decision about her dog, no Reagan, and the ridiculous state trooper. Julie Campbell, have you ever met a cop in your life?
But I still dearly love these books, so 3 stars.
As we return to the implausible life of Trixie Belden, her parents let her take off on a quest to track down the missing Jim Frayne. Now hey, this 13-year-old isn't alone. No, Honey's wonderful governess, Miss Trask, offers to drive the RV around upstate New York to search the boys' camps where they think Jim might be applying for work. Back in the days of no cell phones, no internet, and most modern conveniences, I'm going to go with ok, fine. So off they go and step right into a stolen trailer ring, a mysterious family, and yes, camps. Oh, and horses. Always horses, which is why I loved these books so very much growing up.
Pluses: Jimmy the Crow, the farm couple, and Miss Trask.
Minuses: Honey's decision about her dog, no Reagan, and the ridiculous state trooper. Julie Campbell, have you ever met a cop in your life?
But I still dearly love these books, so 3 stars.
Read
June 4, 2022Once again a fabulous read. Coupled with the first book in the series, The Secret of the Mansion, this is my favorite mystery of all time ... of course it's written for very young teens, but I have loved it since I was that age, and the fascination of this story, even though it is a bit preposterous that two young teens would have such adventures, has never left me. I think it is just the "daydream" of many girls this age, and re-reading it takes me right back to my own childhood.
2017 -- fun again!
Even though I re-read this earlier this year, a new edition purchased on our trip made me read it again ... and I enjoyed it just as much! The first two in this series, especially, are fantastic mysteries and I love reading them over and over.
2022 - having driven through upstate New York I was excited to begin reading the series again, and am once again enjoying my favorite sleuth.
2017 -- fun again!
Even though I re-read this earlier this year, a new edition purchased on our trip made me read it again ... and I enjoyed it just as much! The first two in this series, especially, are fantastic mysteries and I love reading them over and over.
2022 - having driven through upstate New York I was excited to begin reading the series again, and am once again enjoying my favorite sleuth.
March 21, 2016
The Red Trailer Mystery was basically about Trixie and Honey. There wasn't enough relationship stuff going on for me. This story didn't really advance our understanding of Trixie and Honey. We didn't meet any new characters that would continue on with us, except for a brief mention of Mr Lynch and his family of five children.
It made me realise that I read my Trixie's over and over again not for the mysteries or the crime solving, but for the connections, the friendships and burgeoning romances of the main characters.
The whole way through The Red Trailer Mystery I was impatient with the whole secrecy surrounding the red trailer. I wanted to get past all that annoying amateur sleuthing, which I considered mere fluff, and just find Jim!
http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com.au/20...
It made me realise that I read my Trixie's over and over again not for the mysteries or the crime solving, but for the connections, the friendships and burgeoning romances of the main characters.
The whole way through The Red Trailer Mystery I was impatient with the whole secrecy surrounding the red trailer. I wanted to get past all that annoying amateur sleuthing, which I considered mere fluff, and just find Jim!
http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com.au/20...
September 20, 2020
The second book in the Trixie Belden series, and I’m not sure if I’d read this one before or not. I didn’t remember the plot, and I really only read what I had available when I was a kid which was a few here and there from the series.
Anyway, this one didn’t carry quite the charm of the first book. I found the characters quite judgemental in this one and not as likeable.
The first half of the book was pretty slow going, but I really liked the way the mystery came together and wrapped up. Most of the clues are pretty darn obvious as a reader, but I’m a bit older these days I guess
Anyway, this one didn’t carry quite the charm of the first book. I found the characters quite judgemental in this one and not as likeable.
The first half of the book was pretty slow going, but I really liked the way the mystery came together and wrapped up. Most of the clues are pretty darn obvious as a reader, but I’m a bit older these days I guess
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2013
Book 2 of this, my favorite youth detective series. It is somewhat a continuation of book 1, and while a little unbelievable, it's a very fun, quick read. Certainly a light read for enjoyment.
August 2013 ... just re-read, and just as good as ever. One of my favorites, though a bit far-fetched in some ways. Lots of good fun, delightful skills of deduction, and characters that I've come to love over the years.
August 2013 ... just re-read, and just as good as ever. One of my favorites, though a bit far-fetched in some ways. Lots of good fun, delightful skills of deduction, and characters that I've come to love over the years.
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