The House of Dies Drear

The House of Dies Drear is a novel by Virginia Hamilton. It is the story of 13-year-old Thomas, a modern black boy who moves into a house that was once part of the Underground Railroad. His father, Mr. Small, tells Thomas that the caretaker of the house is Mr. Pluto. When they actually live in the house, strange and scary things begin to happen. They meet a malicious family next to them, the Darrows. In the end, they learn that the Darrows are doing the sinister things so they could scare away the Smalls and get the treasure under the house. The story takes place during 1961, where Thomas Small moves from his great-grandmother's home to a house with many secrets.

Darrows, Mr. Pluto, Mayhew,and the Small Family, and Pesty

The Smalls

The Smalls are an african american family that has moved from South Carolina]] to the north, . The family consists of Mr. Small, who is going to take a job in Ohio at the college, his wife Mrs. Small, and their three sons, Thomas, Billy and Buster. The family feels that the House of Dies Drear is a bit strange, but better than the racist community from where they came from.

The main character, Thomas, is 13 and interested in things that frighten him. He also likes whittling. Thomas makes wood carvings. He also likes to explore. Thomas, the elder son, first believes the old legend about the old house and is scared of what might happen. Thomas was quiet and he was very brave. He wanted to solve the mystery of the house but was worried about others Sucking him!!!!!!

Mr. Pluto

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Pluto, or Henry Skinner, is the caretaker of the House of Dies Drear, and a mysterious man indeed. When the Small family moved in they accused Mr. Pluto of arranging their furniture, which he did do. The Small family also accused Mr. Pluto of ransacking their kitchen, but it turns out to be none other than some unruly "neighbors" called the Darrow boys. He also likes to scare people off his land because of the Darrow boys who try to hurt him.

Pluto has a son named Mayhew Skinner.

The Darrows

The Darrows have had a feud with Pluto since Grandpa Darrow's time. Mr. Pluto and the Darrow's grandpa were once friends when they were little children. They are trying to find the treasure (hidden in a cavern underneath the hill behind Dies Drear's house) that Pluto is hiding from them. One of the youngest Darrow children, oros, wishes to make a friend out of Thomas, but is punished for attempting to do so. The Darrow boys were responsible for ransacking the Smalls' kitchen when the Small family wasn't at home. They also found a little girl named Pesty who helped scare the Darrows at the end of the book.