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Trixie Belden #5
The Mystery Off Glen Road
When a storm blows through Sleepyside, the Bob-Whites’ clubhouse is crushed by a fallen tree. Trixie, Honey, and their brothers set to work at the Wheelers’ game preserve to raise the money to repair it. Of course, no one expected Trixie to stumble across the trail of a dangerous poacher!
236 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1956
71 people are currently reading
641 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 120 reviews
August 3, 2018
I know I liked this better this time around than when I was young, but I'm not sure why. Possibly because the central conflict (as opposed to the mystery) is heart-warming: Trixie's brother Brian is unable to purchase the jalopy (this is the greatest bit of period language ever) he's saved up for because he uses the money to fix the clubhouse, and Trixie sacrifices every bit of dignity she's ever had to ensure he can get it, after all.
There is a lot of goofiness centered on Trixie pretending to be in love with Honey's cousin Ben (introduced in this book), but the thing is, despite what her parents say at the end of the book, I'm convinced no one would have let Trixie use the diamond ring as collateral, and Brian certainly would have objected. So goofy as it is, I admire it, and there are some genuinely funny moments.
As opposed to the previous book, this is one of the "Trixie's imagination turns out to be false" books, but not in a bad way. Most of her assumptions are reasonable because she lacks all the information, and is never in a position to gain that information. Of course, everything all works out, there's nothing actually sinister going on, and everybody has a happy ending, so this is weak as far as the "mystery" goes. But the fun is still in seeing the interactions they all have with each other, as well as seeing Brian and Mart's characters evolve. This is probably the first time Mart shows that he really does respect Trixie, for all the teasing he does, and I love how intrepid Trixie and Honey are.
I'm not sure what to make of the "Trixie and Honey both suck at directions" thing because, on the one hand, that's so typically old-fashioned an assumption about women, but on the other hand, I never got the sense that they thought it was because girls don't have a good sense of direction--it was just their dumb luck to be directionally challenged (which came up again in Trixie Belden and the Red Trailer Mystery). So I'll give the book a pass on this one.
There is a lot of goofiness centered on Trixie pretending to be in love with Honey's cousin Ben (introduced in this book), but the thing is, despite what her parents say at the end of the book, I'm convinced no one would have let Trixie use the diamond ring as collateral, and Brian certainly would have objected. So goofy as it is, I admire it, and there are some genuinely funny moments.
As opposed to the previous book, this is one of the "Trixie's imagination turns out to be false" books, but not in a bad way. Most of her assumptions are reasonable because she lacks all the information, and is never in a position to gain that information. Of course, everything all works out, there's nothing actually sinister going on, and everybody has a happy ending, so this is weak as far as the "mystery" goes. But the fun is still in seeing the interactions they all have with each other, as well as seeing Brian and Mart's characters evolve. This is probably the first time Mart shows that he really does respect Trixie, for all the teasing he does, and I love how intrepid Trixie and Honey are.
I'm not sure what to make of the "Trixie and Honey both suck at directions" thing because, on the one hand, that's so typically old-fashioned an assumption about women, but on the other hand, I never got the sense that they thought it was because girls don't have a good sense of direction--it was just their dumb luck to be directionally challenged (which came up again in Trixie Belden and the Red Trailer Mystery). So I'll give the book a pass on this one.
October 14, 2025
5+ stars (6/10 hearts).. Man, I keep getting blown away by how much I love these books. When I start this one, I’m always really frustrated with Trixie (although upon the third reread, I ended up not even being super bothered by the second hand embarrassment that just about killed me the first two times… so I guess those things comes and go) but I invariably end up being won over by her loving intentions… and her brothers’ excellent sense of humour. Also their sensitivity. (I could reread that one part between Jim and Brian and Trixie and Bobby a couple more times over… it’s SO good).
I love how the book is so twisty and adventurous, yet in the everyday life type of way—and did I mention I love how all the characters are real and not automatons, and the books follow each other LOGICALLY instead of being a chaotic unchronological mess like dear old Nancy D.? And I love how much the kids all come together and work and are friends, and I just have to repeat once more that their sense of humour is THE BEST—especially Mart’s.
So yeah. This is a delightful addition to the series—it’s really one of my favs—and I am so very eager for the next book!
Content: euphemisms; Trixie lies/acts out a lie, but confesses and is forgiven.
I love how the book is so twisty and adventurous, yet in the everyday life type of way—and did I mention I love how all the characters are real and not automatons, and the books follow each other LOGICALLY instead of being a chaotic unchronological mess like dear old Nancy D.? And I love how much the kids all come together and work and are friends, and I just have to repeat once more that their sense of humour is THE BEST—especially Mart’s.
So yeah. This is a delightful addition to the series—it’s really one of my favs—and I am so very eager for the next book!
Content: euphemisms; Trixie lies/acts out a lie, but confesses and is forgiven.
September 25, 2017
The Mystery Off Glen Road is the 5th Trixie Belden Book. Trixie and the other members of their club, The Bob Whites of the Glen, worked hard to earn the money to repair their new clubhouse, the neglected old gatehouse on the Wheeler Estate. But a big storm hits, knocking down many trees around Sleepyside, NY, damaging the roof and one wall. The kids band together and volunteer to act as gamekeepers for Mr. Wheeler's game preserve on his large estate to earn money, and to ensure that Trixie's brother Brian can still buy the old car he's had his eye on for some time. While patrolling the game preserve looking for poachers, Trixie and Honey come across a dead deer and a rabbit in a snare. Someone is poaching on the Wheeler Estate after all! They need to catch the poachers to earn the $50 they need.
This story really isn't a mystery. It's more of an adventure with the kids trying to find out what is going on in the woods. It's also a heart-warming story about a sister who works really hard to make sure her brother gets his first car. The Bob Whites have a rule -- the only money they can use for the club has to be worked for and earned. They can't get money from their parents to help. So, it took a lot of work and effort to fix the old building up. The storm damage to their club is devastating for them because they have to earn enough to repair the damage quickly before the interior and furnishings are damaged. They all band together to solve the problem. I enjoyed this story! It was enjoyable to read about all the kids chipping in to repair their club house and help Brian.
The characters make me smile. Six year old Bobby is loud and precocious. Trixie's brother Mart likes to use big words to annoy his sister. They all roll their eyes at Brian and Jim a bit because they are so good and never do anything wrong. Trixie always seems to get them embroiled in a mystery or difficult situation. And....when faced with a dilemma....they all decide NOT to tell their parents, other club members, or the police. It always has to be a big secret because they are afraid of being in trouble or getting made fun of, etc. As an adult, I want to scream WILL YOU JUST TELL SOMEONE! But as a kid, I probably would have made the same decision to not tell any adults, or my friends, brothers, etc. :)
The Trixie Belden series has 39 books, written between 1948 and 1986. It's very similar to Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys. The first six books were written by Julie Campbell. The rest of the series was written by various authors, under the pen name Kathryn Kenny. The first four books were reprinted about 10 years ago. The rest of the series is OOP. I found this book available online as a scan from OpenLibrary. They use Internet Archive to make available many OOP books. They also list ebooks available from Project Gutenberg and list publication information for any print books that are available. Some of the scans you can read online (several formats including pdf and mobi are available) and others you can borrow for a set period of time, just like a lending library. The site follows copyright laws. Only OOP books in public domain are available for download. Sign up for a free OpenLibrary account here: https://openlibrary.org/ It is a fabulous resource for finding older books that just aren't available any more! They have quite a few of the Trixie Belden books!
The photo accompanying the review is from the 1980s reprints of the books. I chose the picture because that's the version I owned as a girl. :)
This story really isn't a mystery. It's more of an adventure with the kids trying to find out what is going on in the woods. It's also a heart-warming story about a sister who works really hard to make sure her brother gets his first car. The Bob Whites have a rule -- the only money they can use for the club has to be worked for and earned. They can't get money from their parents to help. So, it took a lot of work and effort to fix the old building up. The storm damage to their club is devastating for them because they have to earn enough to repair the damage quickly before the interior and furnishings are damaged. They all band together to solve the problem. I enjoyed this story! It was enjoyable to read about all the kids chipping in to repair their club house and help Brian.
The characters make me smile. Six year old Bobby is loud and precocious. Trixie's brother Mart likes to use big words to annoy his sister. They all roll their eyes at Brian and Jim a bit because they are so good and never do anything wrong. Trixie always seems to get them embroiled in a mystery or difficult situation. And....when faced with a dilemma....they all decide NOT to tell their parents, other club members, or the police. It always has to be a big secret because they are afraid of being in trouble or getting made fun of, etc. As an adult, I want to scream WILL YOU JUST TELL SOMEONE! But as a kid, I probably would have made the same decision to not tell any adults, or my friends, brothers, etc. :)
The Trixie Belden series has 39 books, written between 1948 and 1986. It's very similar to Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys. The first six books were written by Julie Campbell. The rest of the series was written by various authors, under the pen name Kathryn Kenny. The first four books were reprinted about 10 years ago. The rest of the series is OOP. I found this book available online as a scan from OpenLibrary. They use Internet Archive to make available many OOP books. They also list ebooks available from Project Gutenberg and list publication information for any print books that are available. Some of the scans you can read online (several formats including pdf and mobi are available) and others you can borrow for a set period of time, just like a lending library. The site follows copyright laws. Only OOP books in public domain are available for download. Sign up for a free OpenLibrary account here: https://openlibrary.org/ It is a fabulous resource for finding older books that just aren't available any more! They have quite a few of the Trixie Belden books!
The photo accompanying the review is from the 1980s reprints of the books. I chose the picture because that's the version I owned as a girl. :)
November 26, 2023
Re-read 2023
The Bob-Whites(Trixie,Honey, Jim, Brian, Mart and Diana) have finally finished their club cabin. Until a November storm destroys the roof! Now the gang has to band together and what better way than helping Miss Trask and Regan. It isn't too long until Trixie senses another mystery. There just might be a poacher on the Wheeler estate grounds!
I think this might be one of my favorites in the series because of Trixie's determination to help her eldest brother, Brian get his dream car. And her silly pretend crush on Honey's cousin, Ben, makes for some giggles along the way.
I wish the whole series was available but for now I will read the remaining books that have been republished.
Goodreads review published 25/11/23
The Bob-Whites(Trixie,Honey, Jim, Brian, Mart and Diana) have finally finished their club cabin. Until a November storm destroys the roof! Now the gang has to band together and what better way than helping Miss Trask and Regan. It isn't too long until Trixie senses another mystery. There just might be a poacher on the Wheeler estate grounds!
I think this might be one of my favorites in the series because of Trixie's determination to help her eldest brother, Brian get his dream car. And her silly pretend crush on Honey's cousin, Ben, makes for some giggles along the way.
I wish the whole series was available but for now I will read the remaining books that have been republished.
Goodreads review published 25/11/23
August 6, 2022
3-1/2 stars
Note: This appalling cover is not the edition I read, but I can't get GR to let me switch via the book page, and there is no ISBN in the front of my lovely illustrated hardcover copy -- when did ISBN's start getting used?
This was another very fun read, and brought in a number of townspeople from Sleepyside. I did start finding all these Bob-Whites to be just a little too perfect, though. >:-( But that's my cynical adult view, and they're admirable role models for kids.
Note: This appalling cover is not the edition I read, but I can't get GR to let me switch via the book page, and there is no ISBN in the front of my lovely illustrated hardcover copy -- when did ISBN's start getting used?
This was another very fun read, and brought in a number of townspeople from Sleepyside. I did start finding all these Bob-Whites to be just a little too perfect, though. >:-( But that's my cynical adult view, and they're admirable role models for kids.
February 4, 2017
So this one is another favorite of mine in the Trixie Belden series. Mostly because of this:
" 'What's all this about a ring?' Ben interrupted. 'It sounds as though you two were engaged or something.'
Trixie sniffed. 'If Jim were the last man on earth I wouldn't marry him.'
'Is that so?' Jim gave her a gentle push and Trixie found herself sitting in the snowbank with Di. "
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
(As you can probably tell, I ship Jixie HARD. SO CUTE. But this is supposed to be a review...woops...you can't expect all of my reviews to be sensible, right?!)
" 'What's all this about a ring?' Ben interrupted. 'It sounds as though you two were engaged or something.'
Trixie sniffed. 'If Jim were the last man on earth I wouldn't marry him.'
'Is that so?' Jim gave her a gentle push and Trixie found herself sitting in the snowbank with Di. "
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
(As you can probably tell, I ship Jixie HARD. SO CUTE. But this is supposed to be a review...woops...you can't expect all of my reviews to be sensible, right?!)
May 1, 2022
Rated 5 stars for the nostalgia and joy that comes from revisiting my childhood favorites.
October 23, 2022
I liked this one much better at fifty-something than I did at ten-something (and then at all of the re-read ages since). Back then it was never a favorite, possibly due to my youthful lack of interest in game preserves and poachers. I have retained that lack of interest as a grown-up but something about the whole story - the storm, the ring, the wrecked clubhouse, Trixie dressing up, the venison stew at Mr Maypenny's and the Thanksgiving party - all just struck me as so lovely.
October 26, 2023
I picked this up at my favorite new/used bookstore in Star Valley, Wyoming: Dog-Eared books. I used to collect and read these as a teenager, and though I couldn’t remember if I had read this or not, I couldn’t pass up this lovely edition. I read about half of it on that trip and set it aside, picking it up and finishing it today.
So how to review this 1950s era book? It is cute and fun and I definitely enjoyed it even now. However, there are a couple things that are problematic.
The first thing is the casual use in a very 1950s way of a word that I now know is a derogatory slur about Native American women. No way around it, that is racist, sexist, and awful. While I don’t believe in changing texts to modernize them for modern readers, it certainly is tempting to say those could be easily lifted out without effecting the story at all.
What can’t be lifted out is the hyper-sexist world the characters inhabit and themselves embrace. The protagonist and hero, Trixie, a teenage tomboy, and her best friend, Honey, are not trusted - even by themselves - to do some simple “boy” things, like understand directions, use a compass, or help build the clubhouse, because they are girls. They aren’t necessarily believed, because they “probably just imagined it,” they don’t even trust their own senses sometimes for this reason. The sexism is so integral that the story couldn’t exist in another world. Because Trixie and Honey go against the type set upon them, even by themselves by being adventurous, smart, and independent, we get this charming story where the “silly girls” solve the problems and solve the mystery (even if their “silly” behavior contributes to the misunderstandings that make up parts of the mystery.) 🤷♀️ I honestly don’t know how to finally feel about that, it’s illuminating and maddening, and somehow also still “fun” and appealing.
So how to review this 1950s era book? It is cute and fun and I definitely enjoyed it even now. However, there are a couple things that are problematic.
The first thing is the casual use in a very 1950s way of a word that I now know is a derogatory slur about Native American women. No way around it, that is racist, sexist, and awful. While I don’t believe in changing texts to modernize them for modern readers, it certainly is tempting to say those could be easily lifted out without effecting the story at all.
What can’t be lifted out is the hyper-sexist world the characters inhabit and themselves embrace. The protagonist and hero, Trixie, a teenage tomboy, and her best friend, Honey, are not trusted - even by themselves - to do some simple “boy” things, like understand directions, use a compass, or help build the clubhouse, because they are girls. They aren’t necessarily believed, because they “probably just imagined it,” they don’t even trust their own senses sometimes for this reason. The sexism is so integral that the story couldn’t exist in another world. Because Trixie and Honey go against the type set upon them, even by themselves by being adventurous, smart, and independent, we get this charming story where the “silly girls” solve the problems and solve the mystery (even if their “silly” behavior contributes to the misunderstandings that make up parts of the mystery.) 🤷♀️ I honestly don’t know how to finally feel about that, it’s illuminating and maddening, and somehow also still “fun” and appealing.
February 24, 2017
This Trixie Belden book was so boring, there is no mystery to this book and no villain at all. It's more an adventure type story, there is no sleuthing and not much suspense. I'm also incredibly irritated by the idea that anyone would consider shooting their own dogs, when it's the owners responsibility not to let them run wild through the woods unattended and you can't blame a dog for acting like an animal. Regardless of the year this was written that is so wrong and deeply offensive.
So far my experience with Trixie Belden books runs hot an cold. I'll love one book and absolutely despise the next one. This book left such a bad taste in my mouth I think I'll wait a while before reading the next one.
So far my experience with Trixie Belden books runs hot an cold. I'll love one book and absolutely despise the next one. This book left such a bad taste in my mouth I think I'll wait a while before reading the next one.
June 13, 2017
There's not really a 'mystery,' but there's a lot of character building and family bonding and I love it.
I'm not really a fan of how Mart calls Trixie and (sometimes) Honey 'squaw' but the special sibling relationship between Mart and Trixie is the greatest.
Recommended 9/10+ for scary situations.
I'm not really a fan of how Mart calls Trixie and (sometimes) Honey 'squaw' but the special sibling relationship between Mart and Trixie is the greatest.
Recommended 9/10+ for scary situations.
July 6, 2021
Trixie and the Bob Whites have just put the finishing touches on their clubhouse when a nasty fall storm hits Sleepyside. It brings strong winds and cold air and downs trees on the Belden and Wheeler properties (as well as the neighboring area). This includes a big spruce that knocks out the rear wall of the clubhouse and makes a hole in the roof. The Bob Whites had spent the last of their club savings on the previous work done to make the old gatehouse into a clubhouse. How will they be able to make the repairs before the predicted next storm?
Brian, Trixie's eldest brother, had been saving up for a car and decides to donate that money to the cause. His friends hate to see him give up the dream of a car, so they ask to work as temporary gamekeeper for the Wheeler's huge estate until Honey and Jim's dad can get a full-time man on the job. While doing their rounds, Honey and Trixie stumble upon evidence of a poacher and the Bob Whites have another little mystery to solve.
I have to emphasize the word "little" from that last sentence. While this is a very pleasant read and it was nice to visit with my childhood friends again, I realize now (as an adult) that this one just doesn't have much of a mystery to it. Trixie makes a mystery out of the possible poacher, but it is more her lack of information and a tendency to make assumptions from what little she does know than the fact that there is a mystery to solve. Some of the stories do have real mysteries and sometimes they have downright villainous characters, but this one...not as much.
But that's okay--it's still a nice adventure and we get a good family and friendship story. It's nice to see the lengths that Trixie will go to in order to make sure her big brother is able to have the used car of his dreams.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
Brian, Trixie's eldest brother, had been saving up for a car and decides to donate that money to the cause. His friends hate to see him give up the dream of a car, so they ask to work as temporary gamekeeper for the Wheeler's huge estate until Honey and Jim's dad can get a full-time man on the job. While doing their rounds, Honey and Trixie stumble upon evidence of a poacher and the Bob Whites have another little mystery to solve.
I have to emphasize the word "little" from that last sentence. While this is a very pleasant read and it was nice to visit with my childhood friends again, I realize now (as an adult) that this one just doesn't have much of a mystery to it. Trixie makes a mystery out of the possible poacher, but it is more her lack of information and a tendency to make assumptions from what little she does know than the fact that there is a mystery to solve. Some of the stories do have real mysteries and sometimes they have downright villainous characters, but this one...not as much.
But that's okay--it's still a nice adventure and we get a good family and friendship story. It's nice to see the lengths that Trixie will go to in order to make sure her big brother is able to have the used car of his dreams.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
July 31, 2018
Oddly sexist and racist, this one required so much on-the-fly editing in reading aloud I can’t recommend it even for big kids you’ve given the old-book-let’s-discuss talk to. I wish they had adjusted the text and at least replaced the “lazy squaw” commentary with something else when they reissued it. Gleeps.
I am reminded of the pro-segregation Bobbsey Twins mystery I read in second grade.
I am reminded of the pro-segregation Bobbsey Twins mystery I read in second grade.
August 3, 2019
I know these were written in the 50's and are extremely dated so I'm kind of skimming over that, but this one got offensive enough that I had to put it down, then after some discussion I was able to pick it back up. Mart's calling Trixie a squaw several times, actually made me angry.
I'm also wondering how much I was influenced by these books when reading them the first time when I was 13.
Making it clear, I am not a believer of taking old books and changing them to make them acceptable in today's world, I had to rate this one low.
I'm also wondering how much I was influenced by these books when reading them the first time when I was 13.
Making it clear, I am not a believer of taking old books and changing them to make them acceptable in today's world, I had to rate this one low.
May 3, 2015
a HUGE and most dedicated fan of Trixie and her crew. This is odd, of course, because they were MEANT for teen and pre-teen girls, but I was a young boy that read everything he could get his hands on and when I first stumbled on my first TRIXIE BELDON book I was instantly hooked!
I immediately sat about reading them all, as quickly as I could get my greedy little paws on them. Trixie is the star, or "lead" character, followed by Jim and Honey (who quickly became the love of my young life, I had a total crush on a fictional character that only existed in ink) and this brave trio was constantly getting into trouble, solving mysteries and murders; that sort of thing.
It falls along the line of the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew and other similar series, but the Trixie series carries more of the teenage angst and a subtle love triangle of conflicted who likes whom mystery that battles back and forth throughout the series. All of the while though, the same cheerful, effervescent and energetic positive attitude and domineering never quit/never let them see you down philosophy is the major subtext all through the books.
It is simply impossible to read these and NOT feel good about yourself and about LIFE, to have a sense of "all is well" in the world and a cheerful demeanor just naturally permeate your soul. I know, it SOUNDS crazy, but it is true.
I lost all of my Trixie books years ago, lending them to friends and that sort of thing. Since then, I have been on a quest to rebuild my collection of hardbacks. I find most of them at "Friends of the Library Sales" and things like that, but I am ever watchful at garage sales and places, for I do not have even a third of them built back
I immediately sat about reading them all, as quickly as I could get my greedy little paws on them. Trixie is the star, or "lead" character, followed by Jim and Honey (who quickly became the love of my young life, I had a total crush on a fictional character that only existed in ink) and this brave trio was constantly getting into trouble, solving mysteries and murders; that sort of thing.
It falls along the line of the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew and other similar series, but the Trixie series carries more of the teenage angst and a subtle love triangle of conflicted who likes whom mystery that battles back and forth throughout the series. All of the while though, the same cheerful, effervescent and energetic positive attitude and domineering never quit/never let them see you down philosophy is the major subtext all through the books.
It is simply impossible to read these and NOT feel good about yourself and about LIFE, to have a sense of "all is well" in the world and a cheerful demeanor just naturally permeate your soul. I know, it SOUNDS crazy, but it is true.
I lost all of my Trixie books years ago, lending them to friends and that sort of thing. Since then, I have been on a quest to rebuild my collection of hardbacks. I find most of them at "Friends of the Library Sales" and things like that, but I am ever watchful at garage sales and places, for I do not have even a third of them built back
January 31, 2014
I think i must finally be an adult. I spent a lot of this book thinking over and over "why not just *tell* someone????" [because then there wouldn't be a story, of course!] But i still have a lot of residual love for this series (and this particular book - i remembered way more scenes than i expected).
July 27, 2011
Almost always makes my short list of favorites, despite the preposterous "non mystery", for the wonderful bond between the Belden siblings and the fabulous fall setting.
January 28, 2018
I think it's safe to say that this was my least favorite of the series thus far. And if I never hear the phrase "lazy squaw" again it will be too soon.
June 3, 2022
Vejam a minha opinião em vídeo, AQUI.
June 4, 2022
Not my favorite of the series, but still enjoyable. So much fun to be revisiting these friends of my childhood!
October 19, 2023
I still love this series so much
January 20, 2021
There is a lot of Native American racism in this one. Was disappointed.
February 20, 2025
The great Trixie Belden Re-Read of 2025: instalment #5!
Less of a mystery in this book and more like just a bunch of shenanigans with lots of soft familial goings-on. Trixie is a really great protagonist and I'm surprised by how much I'm enjoying Mart's character. Child me was extremely devoted to red-haired Jim (who's shocked) but he's sharing the spotlight with Trixie's almost-twin this time around.
I'm planning to insert "what cooks, gang?" into my everyday vocabulary because I think it's awesome. Very excited for #6 as I remember it being one of my favourites.
Less of a mystery in this book and more like just a bunch of shenanigans with lots of soft familial goings-on. Trixie is a really great protagonist and I'm surprised by how much I'm enjoying Mart's character. Child me was extremely devoted to red-haired Jim (who's shocked) but he's sharing the spotlight with Trixie's almost-twin this time around.
I'm planning to insert "what cooks, gang?" into my everyday vocabulary because I think it's awesome. Very excited for #6 as I remember it being one of my favourites.
March 13, 2017
In this outing we only get low-stakes tension (dudes being jerks and the inability to have a conversation to resolve problems). We’re a third of the way into the book before the possibility of poachers is introduced. But there’s no actual poachers (because of the failure to have conversations), and the only weird clue is an Encyclopedia Brown mystery. Pacing is off and the teen angst is thick.
Going in I didn’t remember anything about this book, nor do I recall anything about the next, so hopefully things get better once the ghost writers come in with book #7.
Going in I didn’t remember anything about this book, nor do I recall anything about the next, so hopefully things get better once the ghost writers come in with book #7.
August 2, 2020
The girls become temporary game wardens for Honey's father when a storm wrecks the clubhouse and they need funds to fix it. Of course adventure ensues. And the dogs! Someone keep them inside! And of course there's someone out there in the preserve. Honey and Trixie match wits with what looks like a poacher in this story which turns out not so much to be a mystery so much as a good adventure.
I love the early Trixie's best, but they're all wonderful. This one just made me feel chilly reading it (which makes it great summertime reading). I love how much this series has held up over the years.
I love the early Trixie's best, but they're all wonderful. This one just made me feel chilly reading it (which makes it great summertime reading). I love how much this series has held up over the years.
July 14, 2022
The mystery does not actually start until about 80 pages in, but I appreciated that (unlike some of the others in this series) this had a plausible plot and outcome with no violence and with non-stereotypical bad guys. More fun for young mystery lovers - and something of a lesson in 1950s gender roles. As usual, poor Trixie who is so NOT a 1950s homemaker, has to put up with all the teasing about her tomboy ways. (Published in the early '50s.)
September 8, 2013
Good again ... enjoying these kids who were my friends when I was their age ... so nice that they haven't grown up!
August 2013 ... good read, again. Good, fun reading, easy and quick, and nostalgic, too, as I recall spending so much time with these friends in my youth.
August 2013 ... good read, again. Good, fun reading, easy and quick, and nostalgic, too, as I recall spending so much time with these friends in my youth.
September 17, 2008
I miss Trixie Belden...maybe I should see if I can find the series in some old book store...
February 11, 2022
Fierce gale winds destroy the roof of the Bob Whites' clubhouse in the week leading up to Thanksgiving. Only Brian has saved enough money to pay for necessary repairs, but everyone knows he'd intended to purchase a secondhand car from Mr Lytell - a once-in-a-lifetime sort of bargain. Trixie thinks hard to come up with a solution enabling them to fix their roof without Brian's sacrifice. It partly involves some gamekeeping work on Mr Wheeler's estate, since the current gamekeeper has quit in a huff. Trixie and Honey stumble across evidence that a sneaky poacher may be at work. What's more, he seems to be a weird, elusive character who rides a unicycle. How will they pin him down?
* The car that Brian plans to buy from Mr Lytell is a jalopy, a term I was unfamiliar with. It turns out it's simply what I know as an old bomb.
* I don't really like the idea of Mr Wheeler setting up a huge game reserve where lots of lovely animals can be fed and feel at home just so he can blast through and shoot them when he feels like it. The whole set-up strikes me as very Watership Down, and this guy has more of a British Squire vibe the more I hear about him.
* Trixie's plan to win back Brian's car involves some hilarious, fake romantic play-acting on her part. Chapter 6 in particular is laugh-out-loud funny, and I actually did laugh out loud.
* We are introduced to a new recurring character, Mr Maypenny, a senior gentleman who lives a semi-reclusive lifestyle on a small patch of land surrounded by the Wheelers' game reserve which his own family has actually owned for generations.
* Honey's cousin, Ben Riker appears again. Although most people get browned off with his practical jokes, he's really not a bad guy, and seems to get saddled with way more than his fair share of looking after Bobby Belden, as far as I see it.
* Oh oh, Trixie and Honey are already at it. That is they make occasional condescending remarks about Di Lynch, along the lines of, 'Oh, she's not good enough to come with us, so let's think of something else for her to do, to make her feel important.' (Not in those words of course, but that's the gist of it.) Sometimes their treatment of Di is no different from the way they'd fob off Bobby. And then, they assign her a few arduous jobs to take the pressure off themselves! (Entertain Ben and babysit Bobby.) If that's their tactful way of making Diana feel valued, it serves a double purpose. In effect, they're using her and telling each other they're doing her a favour.
* Mr Lytell has the hots for Miss Trask. I don't think that one's going to launch.
* For quote of the book, I choose the moment when Brian discovers his sister's schemes on his behalf and says, 'Of course I'm mad, you lame-brained idiot. Mad with joy.'
* It's a satisfying ending all round, but did this mystery itself manage to launch? Or did it fizzle out? I can't quite decide. Anyway, it doesn't matter, because I thoroughly enjoyed it.
* The car that Brian plans to buy from Mr Lytell is a jalopy, a term I was unfamiliar with. It turns out it's simply what I know as an old bomb.
* I don't really like the idea of Mr Wheeler setting up a huge game reserve where lots of lovely animals can be fed and feel at home just so he can blast through and shoot them when he feels like it. The whole set-up strikes me as very Watership Down, and this guy has more of a British Squire vibe the more I hear about him.
* Trixie's plan to win back Brian's car involves some hilarious, fake romantic play-acting on her part. Chapter 6 in particular is laugh-out-loud funny, and I actually did laugh out loud.
* We are introduced to a new recurring character, Mr Maypenny, a senior gentleman who lives a semi-reclusive lifestyle on a small patch of land surrounded by the Wheelers' game reserve which his own family has actually owned for generations.
* Honey's cousin, Ben Riker appears again. Although most people get browned off with his practical jokes, he's really not a bad guy, and seems to get saddled with way more than his fair share of looking after Bobby Belden, as far as I see it.
* Oh oh, Trixie and Honey are already at it. That is they make occasional condescending remarks about Di Lynch, along the lines of, 'Oh, she's not good enough to come with us, so let's think of something else for her to do, to make her feel important.' (Not in those words of course, but that's the gist of it.) Sometimes their treatment of Di is no different from the way they'd fob off Bobby. And then, they assign her a few arduous jobs to take the pressure off themselves! (Entertain Ben and babysit Bobby.) If that's their tactful way of making Diana feel valued, it serves a double purpose. In effect, they're using her and telling each other they're doing her a favour.
* Mr Lytell has the hots for Miss Trask. I don't think that one's going to launch.
* For quote of the book, I choose the moment when Brian discovers his sister's schemes on his behalf and says, 'Of course I'm mad, you lame-brained idiot. Mad with joy.'
* It's a satisfying ending all round, but did this mystery itself manage to launch? Or did it fizzle out? I can't quite decide. Anyway, it doesn't matter, because I thoroughly enjoyed it.
January 23, 2020
I was a little disappointed in this one after I finished it, simply because the mystery wasn't quite so mysterious. Other than that it was a very interesting read!
Trixie and the other Bob-Whites are excited for school to end for the Thanksgiving holidays. With Tom and Celia married and off on a honeymoon and the Thanksgiving parties at both the Beldens' house and the Wheelers' house, they are all in a hubbub, helping to get things ready and taking the place of their absent staff.
But not only do they have to take the places of Tom and Celia, but the role of gamekeeper as well. While a blizzard sweeps through Sleepyside, destroying part of the B.W.G.'s clubhouse, Mr. Fleagle, the current, lazy gamekeeper, quits, leaving Mr. Wheeler's game preserve unprotected from poachers!
Brian Belden contributes his hard-earned money towards fixing the clubhouse: money that was intended for a car purchase from the local grocery owner. Enter Trixie Belden and her genius plan.
Through much begging and bargaining, Trixie and her friends take on the gamekeeper's job. They'll get paid $50 a week to patrol the preserve, keeping an eye out for illegal trapping and poaching. And, Brian Belden will get his car after all! But no one knows about Trixie's plan except Honey. Can they keep it a secret from nosy Bobby Belden and Trixie's own dear parents?
As Trixie struggles to hide her noble actions, she and Honey stumble upon something mysterious, setting Trixie's detective mind in motion. An illegally poached deer? Strange tire tracks through the woods? A secret cabin, illegally situated in the middle of the game preserve? With so much going on, Trixie and her friends have a lot to handle this vacation!
Though I do really enjoy reading about Trixie and the other Bob Whites of the Glen, I do not care much for the blatant disrespect that Mart, Brian, and Jim show their sisters. The girls are constantly being called names and ordered around as if they were slaves. Even for the time period in which this story was set, this attitude is a bit extreme!
Also, as I mentioned above, the mystery was a bit disappointing. Once again, the mysterious events were explained away by totally un-mysterious reasons.
All-in-all, I give it two stars. I hope the next of Trixie Belden's adventures that I read is more to my liking!
Trixie and the other Bob-Whites are excited for school to end for the Thanksgiving holidays. With Tom and Celia married and off on a honeymoon and the Thanksgiving parties at both the Beldens' house and the Wheelers' house, they are all in a hubbub, helping to get things ready and taking the place of their absent staff.
But not only do they have to take the places of Tom and Celia, but the role of gamekeeper as well. While a blizzard sweeps through Sleepyside, destroying part of the B.W.G.'s clubhouse, Mr. Fleagle, the current, lazy gamekeeper, quits, leaving Mr. Wheeler's game preserve unprotected from poachers!
Brian Belden contributes his hard-earned money towards fixing the clubhouse: money that was intended for a car purchase from the local grocery owner. Enter Trixie Belden and her genius plan.
Through much begging and bargaining, Trixie and her friends take on the gamekeeper's job. They'll get paid $50 a week to patrol the preserve, keeping an eye out for illegal trapping and poaching. And, Brian Belden will get his car after all! But no one knows about Trixie's plan except Honey. Can they keep it a secret from nosy Bobby Belden and Trixie's own dear parents?
As Trixie struggles to hide her noble actions, she and Honey stumble upon something mysterious, setting Trixie's detective mind in motion. An illegally poached deer? Strange tire tracks through the woods? A secret cabin, illegally situated in the middle of the game preserve? With so much going on, Trixie and her friends have a lot to handle this vacation!
Though I do really enjoy reading about Trixie and the other Bob Whites of the Glen, I do not care much for the blatant disrespect that Mart, Brian, and Jim show their sisters. The girls are constantly being called names and ordered around as if they were slaves. Even for the time period in which this story was set, this attitude is a bit extreme!
Also, as I mentioned above, the mystery was a bit disappointing. Once again, the mysterious events were explained away by totally un-mysterious reasons.
All-in-all, I give it two stars. I hope the next of Trixie Belden's adventures that I read is more to my liking!
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