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Secrets in the Attic
Great adventure story where things in the attic come to life.
Paperback
First published January 3, 1986
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 8, 2016
When I was a young reader, I didn't like stories that were honest about death. I didn't like stories that featured bickering adults or grieving protagonists or family drama.
But for some reason, I loved Secrets in the Attic.
The story centres around Jodie - who's implied to be about eleven or twelve years old - and her visit to see her extended family one Christmas. Her father, along with her uncle, had died in a car accident a year earlier, and other events surrounding it created a massive rift in the family.
Jodie's side of the family has been antagonised, and she wants to clear her father's name. She finds a buried memory that doesn't sit right, and pursues it in the hope that it will solve the family mystery.
One thing I found interesting about this book is that it's written in a way that children will understand, but allows adults to find new and unspoken hidden meaning among the pages of the story. Jodie's Aunt Claire is a horrible witch of a woman; she's shallow, greedy and incredibly rude to Jodie and her mother. A keen eyed reader could interpret this as her way of dealing with the death of her husband, although this is never mentioned outright. Cousin Lisa isn't much better, but she's been heavily pressured and influenced by her mother and isn't as horrid as Jodie seems to think. The main character herself is an amazing young woman - she's dealt with the death of her father incredibly well, and is a beautiful, humble human being.
I think this book probably struck me more now then it did when I was a kid. It feels so undeniably classic; for a start, it doesn't have a specific time or place setting tying it down. Although it's implied that Jodie lives somewhere in the colder parts of America, no cities or even states are ever mentioned. There are very few clues that give away the era, although the limited mentions of automobiles and telephones and televisions and snow jackets lead us to assume that it's probably set in the very early 90s, around the time the book was published - but it could just as easily be set in 1955, and I loved that the author didn't get caught up on these details. Additionally, the characters are well-described but not detailed so specifically that we feel distanced from them. I found both of these factors stopped the story from dating like the other Apple Paperbacks, and instead allowed you to get lost in a fantasy that wasn't constantly reminding you that this isn't someplace you've never visited, a time that you never lived in or a family that's nothing like your own.
In summary, the book is an amazing, quick read that can be equally enjoyed by both children and adults.
But for some reason, I loved Secrets in the Attic.
The story centres around Jodie - who's implied to be about eleven or twelve years old - and her visit to see her extended family one Christmas. Her father, along with her uncle, had died in a car accident a year earlier, and other events surrounding it created a massive rift in the family.
Jodie's side of the family has been antagonised, and she wants to clear her father's name. She finds a buried memory that doesn't sit right, and pursues it in the hope that it will solve the family mystery.
One thing I found interesting about this book is that it's written in a way that children will understand, but allows adults to find new and unspoken hidden meaning among the pages of the story. Jodie's Aunt Claire is a horrible witch of a woman; she's shallow, greedy and incredibly rude to Jodie and her mother. A keen eyed reader could interpret this as her way of dealing with the death of her husband, although this is never mentioned outright. Cousin Lisa isn't much better, but she's been heavily pressured and influenced by her mother and isn't as horrid as Jodie seems to think. The main character herself is an amazing young woman - she's dealt with the death of her father incredibly well, and is a beautiful, humble human being.
I think this book probably struck me more now then it did when I was a kid. It feels so undeniably classic; for a start, it doesn't have a specific time or place setting tying it down. Although it's implied that Jodie lives somewhere in the colder parts of America, no cities or even states are ever mentioned. There are very few clues that give away the era, although the limited mentions of automobiles and telephones and televisions and snow jackets lead us to assume that it's probably set in the very early 90s, around the time the book was published - but it could just as easily be set in 1955, and I loved that the author didn't get caught up on these details. Additionally, the characters are well-described but not detailed so specifically that we feel distanced from them. I found both of these factors stopped the story from dating like the other Apple Paperbacks, and instead allowed you to get lost in a fantasy that wasn't constantly reminding you that this isn't someplace you've never visited, a time that you never lived in or a family that's nothing like your own.
In summary, the book is an amazing, quick read that can be equally enjoyed by both children and adults.
December 10, 2023
“Secrets in the Attic” by Carol Beach York is a book from Scholastic in 1986. It is a fiction book for students in grades three through six. This book deals with family drama and getting to the truth. Jodie visits with her great-aunt while her aunt and cousin are also visiting. But Jodie’s mom and brother stay home because her aunt blames her dad for stealing money. In the end, Jodie finds out who took the money - her uncle Philip.
March 21, 2024
Beach York Ball #1
Well there wasn't many secrets in the attic and it took a while to get there, and then ended quite abruptly.
there were some good moments, but the good story that there could have been wasn't the one we got. Ok but it could have been a lot more.
Well there wasn't many secrets in the attic and it took a while to get there, and then ended quite abruptly.
there were some good moments, but the good story that there could have been wasn't the one we got. Ok but it could have been a lot more.
March 23, 2018
My favorite book when I was a kid ☺️
September 16, 2019
unengaging & forgettable
Read
February 7, 2022great book even as an adult I loved this book
is this book an out of print book
is this book an out of print book
Read
September 7, 2010Recommended for ages 9-11
"Something in the attic held the key to the mystery. Jodie wants to go back to East Hill for Christmas more than anything. East Hill was where she grew up-until her father was killed in a car accident. Nothing was the same after that, especially when people started saying her father had stolen some money. Jodie knows her father is innocent. But so far, she hasn't been able to expose the real thief... "
"Something in the attic held the key to the mystery. Jodie wants to go back to East Hill for Christmas more than anything. East Hill was where she grew up-until her father was killed in a car accident. Nothing was the same after that, especially when people started saying her father had stolen some money. Jodie knows her father is innocent. But so far, she hasn't been able to expose the real thief... "
August 28, 2021
Second reading: I’m surprised by what I wrote last time. I really enjoyed reading the book this time around, maybe because I didn’t go into it with any high expectations.
First reading: I wasn't overly impressed with this book. I thought it would be more of a mystery. I was also surprised that the main character had all of these interactions with people, and yet none of them were relevant to the main plot!
First reading: I wasn't overly impressed with this book. I thought it would be more of a mystery. I was also surprised that the main character had all of these interactions with people, and yet none of them were relevant to the main plot!
August 19, 2012
Good quick read
October 9, 2012
It leaves you hanging!!
Read
March 25, 2009JF-Yor
February 21, 2014
Oh man, I loved this book so much as a kid that I read it twice.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews