Intruders at Rivermead Manor

American Girl Mysteries

by Kathryn Reiss, Sergio Giovine (Illustrator)

To help her family make ends meet, Kit takes a job helping an elderly lady at a rundown mansion called Rivermead Manor. When she discovers a hidden room in the old house, she is sure its secrets will make a great newspaper article. But then Jessamine, Kit’s long-lost friend, appears and seems to be in trouble, yet she won’t confide in Kit. Determined to help, Kit follows clues, but will both of these mysteries lead to a story that’s bigger than she could have imagined, or will they stay hidden at Rivermead Manor?

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Historical, Fiction, Time Travel

194 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 25, 2014

About the author

Kathryn Reiss was born in Massachusetts, grew up in Ohio, and received B.A. degrees in English and German from Duke University, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Michigan. After college, she lived in Bonn, Germany as a Fulbright Scholar, and during this time wrote the first draft of her first novel, Time Windows.

Ms. Reiss is an award -winning author of 20 novels for kids and teens. She has been a Writer in Residence for the Princeton Arts Council, a recipient of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Grant for Writers, and has been a featured speaker with (among others) Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, The Northern California Library Association, The International Reading Association, Fresno County Office of Education, California Reading Association, The American Library Association, and the National Council of Teachers of English. She lives in Northern California with her husband and the last of her seven children still in the nest. She is a Full Professor of English at Mills College at Northeastern University, and also teaches in the low -residency MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Reviews

[Miranda Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I need work desperately."
Uncle Hendrick's voice was brisk. "Mrs. Addison, I don't need a housekeeper. ..."
"But I told you - I've lost everything!"

Poor Mrs. Addison, the laundress of Uncle Hendrick's neighborhood, lost her home - which resulted with her five children being put into an orphanage for the time being.

When she comes begging for a job, Uncle Hendrick sweeps her away with little care. With incredible guilt, Kit works for her cantankerous uncle after school...but then she hears a cry for help from the nearby Rivermead Manor.

Miss Mundis, Uncle Hendrick's neighbor, fell down and couldn't get up on her own. Realizing that she needs assistance, she also hires Kit to help out a few days a week. But Kit quickly realizes that Miss Mundis is a bit...strange.

"I'm not alone anymore," she whispered, and her eyes sparkled as if she were in possession of a special secret.

The elderly lady loves science fiction and insists that time travelers are helping her from inside her own house. And as odd as that is...a paying job is a paying job and Kit's family needs money.

Meanwhile, Kit reconnects with an old friend, Jessamine, who seems to be embroiled in a secret plot of her own - and after a bit of investigation, Kit comes to a horrible conclusion about the nearby orphanage.

"It was wrong for such a person to be in charge of children, and it would be wrong for Kit to stay silent about what she'd seen that day."

But time travelers, a terrible orphanage, and poverty-stricken families may be more than Kit can handle!

This is the first book that Kathryn Reiss wrote in the Kit-verse and I am beyond impressed! Sometimes with the spin-off mysteries, the characterization or the era can feel a bit off...but this one was spot on!

One thing that got me right out of the gates was the complexity of the plot - there was a lot going on! And I love it when the authors take the time to really set up an interesting set of twists for us.

The science fiction element was really cool as well - I've read over 190 of the historical American Girl books and this is the first one that delved into that genre!

I was also impressed by the inclusion of race for the first time in Kit's stories - and it's definitely better late than never! In this one, Kit learns about the Underground Railroad and reconnects with Jessamine (a black friend).

Up until that point, Kit hasn't really thought about race and how it affects other people's lives. I appreciated that growth and development as she learns some harsh truths about the world.

And speaking about harsh truths, whew. There was on line delivered by Kit's mother that really hammered home the depths of the depression and its affect on families. To set the scene, Kit comes to her mother with what she's seen at the orphanage and begs to rescue the children.

"We can't bring the children here, dear."
"Why not, Mother?"
Mrs. Kittredge stared out the window as if trying to see through the darkness of the Depression. "Because the children can't pay rent."

If that isn't the most chillingly realistic line I've read in an American Girl book, then I don't know what else could compete. That alone bumped this story up to five stars.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Kit mystery is marvelous. I remember enjoying it when it originally released in 2014, but I liked it even better after rereading it. The multiple different story threads fit together in a deeply satisfying way, and the story has a strong emotional core. I love how the author introduced and explored new parts of Kit's world while connecting this book so well with canonical people, places, and experiences, and appreciate the Black history angle that comes in related to the Underground Railroad.

I gasped when I read the historical note at the end, which said that the Civil War era was approximately seventy years prior to Kit's time. That's the difference between World War II and now. Kit's era is further away from me, in 2022, than the Civil War was to her. It's so surreal to think about that, and to consider the ways that my perception of time gets skewed by how I mentally block things together in terms of technological developments and social norms.

Of course, it seems quite natural to have all of these revelations after a book that focuses on science fiction and the possibility of time travel. I love that this author brought science fiction into Kit's world near the end of her run. The historical note shares some vivid illustrations from popular pulp magazines of the time, and shares context for when and why this genre became popular. Kit would definitely like science fiction, and it's fun to imagine her having this interest later in life, when science fiction and fantasy properties I'm familiar with came out.

Overall, I found this book tremendously entertaining and satisfying. I had forgotten many of the details, so I got to be surprised again, and I really loved this. I believe that this was the last American Girl mystery that released before the BeForever reboot, and it is a beautiful, pitch-perfect farewell to that era of American Girl.

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very fun walk down memory lane for me, AG mysteries were my absolute faves growing up

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The great AG marathon continues. Again, reading for the first time as an adult.

There is a ton going on in this one, and it is all exactly my jam. A big mysterious houses, secret spaces, sci-fi stories, time travel?? Yes, please.

Plus, it just has more complexity that many AG mysteries, which can be pretty singleminded in pushing the plot forward (See Missing Grace, for example, or The Jazzman's Trumpet). This one has a distinct b-plot, and maybe a c-plot. Granted, they ultimately feed into the a-plot, but it gives you a lots of puzzle pieces.

And on top of that, we have... a redemption arc for old Scrooge himself, Uncle Hendrick. (Which, I suppose, is part of the Scrooge model, so there you go.) Val Tripp tends to keep Hendrick on the cranky side of life, but here Reiss lets him show the potential for something like empathy and tenderness.

Kit's helping out at Uncle Hendrick's again - seems he's come to appreciate her - and she winds up helping his neighbor as well. Kit finds Miss Mundis when she has twisted her ankle, and she quickly befriends the quirky old woman. Miss Mundis loves sci-fi stories and is perhaps too ready to believe in time travel. She's a delight.

As in many Kit books, there's a keen awareness of people who are in truly dire straights. We quickly encounter a woman who has had to leave her own children at an orphanage while she tries to find work and a place to live. The KIttredges also have a new boarder who has strong feelings about people who live alone in large houses. Hmm, interesting...

And then there's Jessamine. I'm pretty sure this marks the first time we've seen any explicitly non-white characters in any of the Kit books. It's way overdue, so I'm game for the slightly awkward introduction of this prior (but never previously mentioned) relationship. I have reservations about how the plot uses Jessamine, however. For one, there's a lot of coincidence needed to make her part of the plot work, perhaps more than with any other element. For another, she doesn't get a ton of characterization, so she feels plot device-y. And, without spoilers, she does a lot to help others at some risk and no great benefit to herself, which feels we're asking the Black character to do the heavy lifting. And I really don't like the way Kit badgers Jessamine into revealing a secret she didn't want to tell (even though I wanted the answers, too). I'm glad Jessamine's here, but her presence feels forced.

Speaking of friendships, this is finally a Kit mystery that makes good use of Ruthie, who for keeps getting sidelined for reasons I don't understand - she's the perfect foil and sidekick for Kit. Here, Miss Mundis' love of speculative fiction pairs well with Ruthie's established love of fairy tales, leading to good character-driven conflict with Kit as they puzzle through the truth about Miss Mundis' mystery visitors.


More Kit babble

Meet Kit | Kit Learns a Lesson | Kit’s Surprise | Happy Birthday, Kit | Kit Saves the Day | Changes for Kit

Really, Truly Ruthie

Kit’s Home Run | Kit’s Tree House | Kit’s Short Story Collection

Danger at the Zoo | Midnight in Lonesome Hollow | A Thief at the Theater | Missing Grace | Intruders at Rivermead Manor | The Jazzman’s Trumpet | Menace at Mammoth Cave

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This AmericanGirl™ mystery finds Kit helping an elderly lady with housework during the Great Depression. Miss Mundis is sure there are time travelers hiding in her mansion, which Kit investigates. A budding reporter, she senses a story. Kids at a neighboring orphanage, rumors of the Underground Railroad, and Uncle Hendrick’s nearby estate figure into this light and wholesome mystery. It’s not difficult to guess what’s going on while the story presents an important history lesson in an entertaining manner.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here's what happens whenever I go into the children's section at a library: I want to get all the books because they either look interesting or appeal to my nostalgia factor. As a lot of books fall into those categories it's probably good that I don't go into the children's section very often. (Mainly because the shelves are so tiny and I feel like a creeper.)

Anyway, I was visiting a new library branch with my family, and I walked past this book and felt the strong pull of nostalgia and I had to grab it. It's funny because I can still remember when Kit was brand new, so part of me was still like "OOH, SHINY." when I saw this book.

I've realized I'm still very much drawn to the American Girl franchise. This makes me want to go add all the other American Girl books to my goodreads shelf...

[Bailey Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.4: Because I ship the Uncle and the next-door neighbor)

[Evelyn Kostal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little orphan Annie and a girl named Jessamine? It’s like I wrote this book

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Kit takes a job working for Uncle Hendrick at his mansion, she unexpectedly stumbles across Rivermead Manor next door, and its owner, the lonely Miss Mundis. Kit quickly befriends Miss Mundis, even though Uncle Hendrick calls her a crazy old loon. Kit believes him, too, for Miss Mundis reveals that she is a lover of science fiction and tells Kit that time travelers visit her through a time portal in her house.

But then strange things begin to happen at the manor. Objects disappear and are replaced with new ones. It seems that perhaps little green martian men really are running around the house, and when Kit hears noises in the basement she questions whether Miss Mundis is as crazy as she believed her to be. Not to mention the sudden appearance of Kit's old friend, Jessamine, who is acting suspicious and won't answer any of Kit's questions.

This is an eerie, intriguing, and well-written story for young readers about helping others, friendship, and lost love, and the mystery keeps you guessing until the last page. It's funny, at times sad, and yet still manages to have its "aww" moments. The historical facts interwoven throughout the plot are interesting, but not overwhelming.

This isn't so much a "guess-who-the-bad-guy-is" mystery; but it contains enough suspense and confusion so that it's as good as some of my favorite American Girl Mysteries, including Peril at King's Creek: A Felicity Mystery, Shadows on Society Hill: An Addy Mystery, Danger at the Zoo: A Kit Mystery, and Secrets at Camp Nokomis: A Rebecca Mystery. You'll also definitely learn a new thing or two about some of the old characters.

[Rachel B · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I was surprised at how much I liked this book! It explored many topics I found very interesting, including racial segregation, impacts of the Great Depression, and fairness between the haves and the have nots. Kit felt very much like herself, and seeing her exploring the manor house was very cool, similar to how I felt about Samantha and Nellie when they visited the castle in England. I'd never thought before about how it would have felt for poor people during the Great Depression to see rich people living in huge houses and that they might have thought it was unfair for those people not to rent out their homes as boarding houses or even to allow poor people to live in them. Today, poor people might think it's unfair that rich people have so much, but they wouldn't necessarily think the solution is for rich people to literally let poor people come live with them. But in the 1930s, things were different, boarding houses were normal, and expectations around privacy were different. Mr. West's idea of getting rich people to rent out their extra rooms is clever, and the rich people's reactions to it are also very interesting.

The macro and micro levels of this issue are interesting. On a macro level, yes, of course it would make sense for rich people who have large houses to let poorer people live in them. On a micro level, it seems unfair to pester individual humans who own their houses to let other people move in, especially when the person you're pestering is a child like Ruthie. Mr. West is right about what would be socially valuable, but that doesn't obligate Ruthie's family to rent out their home. At the same time, the wealthy people who have the most will never rent out their homes to the people who have less, it's only the people who are downwardly mobile (who have less to begin with) who will do that, so more and more people get squeezed into less and less space. So Mr. West absolutely has a point. And also it isn't right to FORCE people to share their homes with strangers. And also, poor people are forced into doing that simply by economic circumstances. But also, the Great Depression isn't the fault of individual rich people or their families, and just because others are suffering doesn't obligate them to alleviate that suffering. Like it might be a kind thing to do, but being kind isn't morally obligatory. This book gave me a lot of food for thought, and I love that!

I liked Kit starting to understand segregation and the reality of racism, and that her understanding stemmed from her natural traits of wanting to help and wanting to learn about other people's experiences (know better, do better). Racism and segregation are topics left out completely of Kit's main series, so I liked that this book brings them into the story and shows, for example, Jessamine's class sitting at the back of the library even though they weren't the last to arrive, Kit's class having no black kids and Jessamine's class having no white kids, etc. This book also made me curious to know more about segregation in Cincinnati during the Great Depression. Is Jessamine's family allowed to use the same soup kitchen as Kit has been volunteering at, or is it only for white families? Do black families have places that support them? Are those places well funded (almost certainly NOT)?

I loved the place-based research that went into this book. The mention of Cincinnati three way chilli was a lovely touch, and I was glad the book explained why the Underground Railroad was particularly salient to Cincinnati, being just across the river from a slave state. I also really liked the science fiction aspects of the book; that felt accurate to the 1930s, and Miss Mundis's obsession with science fiction was cute, as was her character in general. And it was sweet to get to see a different side to Uncle Hendrick, both in relation to Miss Mundis and also him being nice to Kit for once, even driving her home! It makes sense to me that Uncle Hendrick is mean to cover up his actual warm feelings towards people, including Miss Mundis and apparently now also Kit.

I was ready to roll my eyes at the scene of Kit in Ruthie's attic wishing for an old diary and then just magically finding one on the exact topic she's interested in...but I LOVED the twist of it being fake. I can understand Ruthie wanting to create this kind of experience for Kit, given that she's been so excited about it, and also I can understand why Kit is so furious. I'm glad they make up in the end! Kit can be a bit hot headed in her relationship with Ruthie (as in Kit's Surprise), but it always feels realistic both to ten-year-old girls and to Kit's character. And I like Kit realizing how much she appreciates both Stirling and Ruthie.

The orphanage plot line made sense with the manor house plot line, and I liked how the two intersected. The orphanage did seem a bit cartoonishly evil, but I guess it's a children's book, so it's fine. I liked Kit deciding to write an article about it. Such a sensible girl using her voice to make a difference! And I liked that Miss Mundis thought about things and decided to let the kids and their mom stay with her and help around the house; it's a win for both her and them.

The mystery wasn't a solve along, but I found it genuinely engaging and well constructed. Kit investigating the manor house also made me think of mysteries people SHOULDN'T investigate. In this case, Kit and Uncle Hendrick and Miss Mundis all tried to help the kids that were hiding in the manor (it's an American Girl book after all), but in real life, that may not have been the case, and the kids may have been sent back into a dangerous situation. I thought about the actual history of the house being used as a safe house during slavery times, and I considered if a girl like, say, Marie-Grace had decided to investigate why there are strange noises coming from the attic in the 1850s and the answer could have been escaped slaves, and that sometimes "solving a mystery" in fact can lead to serious consequences for the people involved. Imagine a girl in the 1940s in Eastern Europe wondering about noises in the attic or barn or wherever and the answer is Jews hiding from the Nazis. The American Girl books (and children's books in general) treat solving a mystery as an inherent good, but not all mysteries are meant to be solved.

[Donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful book by Kathryn Reiss.
I want the charming romance that begins in this tale to continue.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful story that brought me back to when I read the core Kit series as a little girl. So nostalgic and fun.

[V. Arrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. Loved the twists and layers, and I also love how realistic Kit's priorities and personality come across in this book.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second time I've read this story. I feel that I got more out of it this time around than the last. The last time I read it, I had to check it out from the library and this time I'd bought a copy because I'd really enjoyed reading it and wanted to read it again. It made a bit more sense to me. Also, this time around since I've done some research on Cincinnati, I thought there was a mistake in the book, but as the story went on I realized I was reading more into it than what the author was intending. At first I thought the author was trying to imply that schools in Cincinnati were segregated and knew from research I've done on my grandfather's growing up in the city that they weren't at least the city schools were not segregated. In the story the author seems to be implying that a black friend of Kit's doesn't go to her school and also only goes to school with black children because of segregation. However, I think the author was actually referring to the race relations in Cincinnati at that time and in the 1930s and that it wasn't the norm for blacks and whites to socialize with each other.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, but very interesting mystery, set in Cincinnati during the Great Depression. Kit works after school for her great-uncle, and one day she finds his next door neighbor, Miss Mundis, in need of help, so she pitches in. At the same time, at school, she learns about the Underground Railroad, and that Rivermead Manor, where Miss Mundis lives, has a secret room that was used then. But Miss Mundis won't let her see it, insisting that it is being used by time-travelers! Odd things happen, homeless people roam the streets, looking for work, and living in hobo camps, while children are sent to the orphanage, where they must work hard. But what can Kit do to help? She and her friends try to puzzle this out, as well as the strange events at Rivermead Manor. Enjoyable. Recommended.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think there's just too much going on here. Too many plot elements and barely used historical details. I want to give Reiss credit for acknowledging segregation in Cincinnati at all, and Kit's musings about race relations are actually fairly perceptive. But then the entire topic gets almost entirely dropped, because there's simply too much to do. I was also disappointed that the book brought up the pulps, but then very much sidelines them, and paints the one character who is a devoted reader of genre fiction as being overly fanciful and easily duped. And I have to admit, I don't like anything that tries to humanize Uncle Frederick. It misses the point of the character, I think. But I do like Kit, and I liked that Ruthie and Stirling both have parts to play in this book.

[BRBRB · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Kit and the Great Depression.
The story is great. Kit comes across Riverbed Manor while helping Uncle Hendrick, and she helps the owner, Miss Mundis, too. I don't really like the ending, though. It ended with Uncle Hendrick sending love letters to Miss Mundis, which is weird. Overall, it was great. If you like this, you may like The Jazzman's Trumpet: A Kit Mystery.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few months ago I was in the American Girl store in the Mall of America, which was about to permanently close. Feeling nostalgic and sad that it would no longer be there, I bought a couple of these American Girl mystery books. I didn't expect them to be deep literature by any means, but I thought they would be fun. And this one was. A little on the cheesy side, and the mystery wasn't scary or super difficult to figure out, but the characters were charming and it very nicely fed my nostalgia craving. I can definitely see kids enjoying this.

[Tess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favorite of the mysteries I read for this vlog (coming in June probably tbh). While Kit did have some growth in this story, I feel like Uncle Hendrick and and Miss Mundis had the most growth. It was cute and ended in a satisfying way, which is exactly how I like mysteries to end. If you want a cozy and quick mystery, look no further than an American Girl mystery. The characters are familiar and the mysteries are fun to try and solve

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved how the author incorporated the Underground Railroad! I was currently reading this book while learning about the Underground Railroad, so this really brought interest to me! Also, the story, in general, was super interesting and fun to read. I would recommend this book to the girls that love American Girls; I did too!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love the AG mysteries and Kit's stories. And with this one it's the same. But that's it. I liked the story, or the concept, really. The writing seemed so choppy and an event would start and then finish within one page. The mystery was kinda all over the place and I was not sure how everything tied together, and even at the end it still seemed a little loose.

[°❀.ೃ࿔* Saga ⋆｡‧˚ʚ 🍪 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ Author in Training · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sup ppl! So I'm going to get to the point here: It's a pretty good mystery, but, I didn't like that much. I mean it was good, but not eye-popping amazing. if you've been here for a little bit AT LEAST! You know I would've sped through this book. But as you can see I didn't. 3 stars from me.

[Zadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a thrilling mystery, and I lived it!

[Stasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this was written in a really rushed way, but I was glad to see that Uncle Hendrick may finally get a happy ending!!

[Kristen]

Love to read about my good friend, Margaret Mildred Kittredge.

[Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in 5th grade but don’t remember it

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved finally seeing some character growth out of Uncle Hendrick!

[Jaime]

enjoyed it, but it wasn’t the best one i’ve read

[Little Seal]

Lore behind Uncle Hendrick? Wild. I honestly can't believe he let Jessamine ride in the car because I would assume he would be racist.

[Shayla Salazar · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know I feel like this book was a stretch. It tried to combine a lot and at the expense of some characters.