Secrets At Hidden Valley

by Willo Davis Roberts

After the death of her father, Steffi lives with her disagreeable grandfather in a recreational vehicle park where everyone seems to have a secret.

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade

Hardcover

First published April 1, 1997

About the author

Willo Davis Roberts was an American writer chiefly known for her mystery novels for children and young adults. She won Edgar Allan Poe awards in 1989, 1995, and 1997 for best juvenile and best young adult mysteries. Her books included The View from the Cherry Tree, Twisted Summer, Don't Hurt Laurie, Megan's Island, Baby-sitting is a Dangerous Job, Hostage, The Girl with Silver Eyes, The One Left Behind and Scared Stiff.

Reviews

[Int'l librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good story, without much in the way of suspense. 11-year-old Steffi Thomas hops a bus across country and sets up a new home in an isolated rundown trailer park, with her very cranky grandfather. Steffi does what she can to make the best of her circumstance – she works hard, and looks for signs of acceptance.

There’s a believable and satisfying progression to her successes and setbacks. This makes up for the less satisfying element of mystery. Roberts repeats her indicators of the suspicious mood more than necessary. And the solutions don’t justify the buildup. The secrets at Hidden Valley are a bit of a jumble – it’s what’s out in the open that counts.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. I didn't think it was up to par with the usual books written by Willo Davis Roberts, who is a great author, but I didn't hate it either. It was well written but rather mundane until the very end when it got slightly more exciting.

Steffi is sent to live with her grandfather in the woods of Michigan while her mother is acting in a B-grade movie. She had never met the grandfather, who had a long standing feud with Steffi's now deceased father, and the old man, who didn't know she was coming, is less than pleased to see her. Grandfather, who says Steffi can call him Vic, runs a run-down camping site well hidden in the woods. The people who live there have their own secrets. Vic is stern and unloving and certainly non-appreciative even when Steffi, only 11 years old, takes over all of the cooking and cleaning. Things blow up when Vic is hurt falling off a ladder and Steffi has to also take over running the campground- still with no appreciation from her grandfather.

My book is hardcover and not the one shown here.

[Piera Delacruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

i like this book."secrets at hidden valley". i will admit this the first time i started readinq it .it inspired mii 2 keep readinq it even more.i think people that are really into action ; settinq all kinds of thinqs like that.ok now to tell u some thinqs about this book well this book is about a girl named steffii that she steps off the bus and that she knows that the place that she is now is the last place she wants 2 be in she goes there cause her mother and her grandfather chose to live in the woods instead of livinq in a town. she dosent understand why are they so afraid of strangers ..stefii investigate y are they so afraid of them but all she noes and learn is that when she moved 2 the woods at hidden valley is that she dicovers somethinq she neva new bout herself alonq the way as she walks..
peoplle who are interestinq in readinq this book you can find this book in ms.stoddard realstic fiction books.....

[ACS Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good story, without much in the way of suspense. 11-year-old Steffi Thomas hops a bus across country and sets up a new home in an isolated rundown trailer park, with her very cranky grandfather. Steffi does what she can to make the best of her circumstance 13 she works hard, and looks for signs of acceptance.

There 19s a believable and satisfying progression to her successes and setbacks. This makes up for the less satisfying element of mystery. Roberts repeats her indicators of the suspicious mood more than necessary. And the solutions don 19t justify the buildup. The secrets at Hidden Valley are a bit of a jumble 13 it 19s what 19s out in the open that counts.

[Miri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the very best of Willos books. But will probably hold the attention of a 10-12 year old very well.

[Rose]

JF Rob

[M Baldrica]

Youth Dept book