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Trixie Belden #22
Trixie Belden and the Mystery at Mead's Mountain
When the Bob-Whites struggle to find money to pay for their car insurance, Mr Wheeler offers them a job investigating a ski lodge he is considering buying. The teenagers become involved in some strange occurrences at the lodge. Who wants them off Mead's Mountain? What isthe mystery behind the strange white-haired man in the mountain?
210 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1978
3 people are currently reading
409 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Kenny
54 books100 followersThe Kathryn Kenny pseudonym was created by Western Publishing House in 1961, three years after Julie Campbell wrote her last book (#6) of the Trixie Belden series. There were several ghost writers who wrote Trixie Belden stories under this pseudonym. Some have been identified and later credited but some are still unknown.
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http://www.trixie-belden.com/books/Ka...
The Kathryn Kenny pseudonym was born in 1961, three years after Campbell wrote her last book of the Trixie Belden series. Did it take Western Publishing several years to find a suitable author? The answer is unknown and the identity of the authors of the 33 Kathryn Kenny books are not known for sure but there is some information about the ghost writers.
Nicolete Meredith Stack
Nicolete Meredith StackStack is thought to be the first author to tackle the Trixie Belden series, although there is much debate about which books were actually written by her. She was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1896 but lived in Webster Groves in St. Louis, Missouri for most of her adult life. Stack wrote other children's books under her own name and various pen names, including the Robin Kane series by Eileen Hill for Whitman between 1966 and 1971.
Stack is said to have written five books in the Trixie Belden series between 1961 and 1971, but Who's Who in the Midwest claims that she wrote eight titles between 1961 and 1966. There were eight Trixie Belden titles published between 1961 and 1966, but it is doubtful that she wrote them all.
James Keeline in his article, Trixie Belden "Schoolgirl Shamus", believes that books 7, 9 and 16 can be attributed to Stack but there are others that may have been written by her.
Virginia McDonnell
Virginia Bleecher McDonnell was born in 1917 and was a registered nurse who trained at Russell Sage College in Troy, New York. McDonnell wrote the Nurses Three series from 1963 to 1965 using the pen name Jean Kirby, and the Kim Aldrich series as Jinny McDonnell, both for Whitman. She is also wrote volume six of The Waltons.
McDonnell and her husband were avid skiiers and many of her books featured details of nursing or skiing. It seems likely that she wrote three Trixie Belden books, The Mystery of Cobbett's Island (1964), The Mystery of the Emeralds (1965) and The Mystery of Mead's Mountain (1978). Skiing is mentioned early in The Mystery of Cobbett's Island, although this is not the theme of the book.
McDonnell also wrote another book called Country Agent that has a number of similarities with The Mystery at Happy Valley, although her book was published in 1968. Read a review of this book, and see what you think.
There is little biographical information available on McDonnell, but the three books attributed to her are three of the most widely loved books in the Trixie Belden series.
Gladys Baker Bond
Gladys Baker BondGladys Baker Bond was born in Berryville, Arkansas on the 7th of May, 1912. On September 2, 1934, she married Floyd James Bond and had one son, Nicholas Peter. Bond's childhood years were spent in the Ozarks of Arkansas. She lived in Idaho and Washington all her adult life and was an officer of the Idaho Writers League between 1952-54.
Bond's books for children cover a wide range of subjects and are often autobiographical. Mrs. Bond wrote under the pseudonymns, Jo Mendel (The Tucker series) and Holly Beth Walker (the Meg series), as well as her own name. She also wrote volume five of The Waltons.
She is credited with writing The Mystery of the Uninvited Guest (1977), The Mystery of the Castaway Children (1978), and The Sasquatch Mystery (1979). However, with her childhood spent in the Ozarks, she could be the author of The Mystery at Bob-White Cave (1963).
Carl Henry Rathjen
Carl Henry RathjenRathjen was born on the 28th of August 1909 in Jersey City, New Jersey and died in 1984. His ambition was to become a mechanical engineer, but when things didn't go
***
http://www.trixie-belden.com/books/Ka...
The Kathryn Kenny pseudonym was born in 1961, three years after Campbell wrote her last book of the Trixie Belden series. Did it take Western Publishing several years to find a suitable author? The answer is unknown and the identity of the authors of the 33 Kathryn Kenny books are not known for sure but there is some information about the ghost writers.
Nicolete Meredith Stack
Nicolete Meredith StackStack is thought to be the first author to tackle the Trixie Belden series, although there is much debate about which books were actually written by her. She was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1896 but lived in Webster Groves in St. Louis, Missouri for most of her adult life. Stack wrote other children's books under her own name and various pen names, including the Robin Kane series by Eileen Hill for Whitman between 1966 and 1971.
Stack is said to have written five books in the Trixie Belden series between 1961 and 1971, but Who's Who in the Midwest claims that she wrote eight titles between 1961 and 1966. There were eight Trixie Belden titles published between 1961 and 1966, but it is doubtful that she wrote them all.
James Keeline in his article, Trixie Belden "Schoolgirl Shamus", believes that books 7, 9 and 16 can be attributed to Stack but there are others that may have been written by her.
Virginia McDonnell
Virginia Bleecher McDonnell was born in 1917 and was a registered nurse who trained at Russell Sage College in Troy, New York. McDonnell wrote the Nurses Three series from 1963 to 1965 using the pen name Jean Kirby, and the Kim Aldrich series as Jinny McDonnell, both for Whitman. She is also wrote volume six of The Waltons.
McDonnell and her husband were avid skiiers and many of her books featured details of nursing or skiing. It seems likely that she wrote three Trixie Belden books, The Mystery of Cobbett's Island (1964), The Mystery of the Emeralds (1965) and The Mystery of Mead's Mountain (1978). Skiing is mentioned early in The Mystery of Cobbett's Island, although this is not the theme of the book.
McDonnell also wrote another book called Country Agent that has a number of similarities with The Mystery at Happy Valley, although her book was published in 1968. Read a review of this book, and see what you think.
There is little biographical information available on McDonnell, but the three books attributed to her are three of the most widely loved books in the Trixie Belden series.
Gladys Baker Bond
Gladys Baker BondGladys Baker Bond was born in Berryville, Arkansas on the 7th of May, 1912. On September 2, 1934, she married Floyd James Bond and had one son, Nicholas Peter. Bond's childhood years were spent in the Ozarks of Arkansas. She lived in Idaho and Washington all her adult life and was an officer of the Idaho Writers League between 1952-54.
Bond's books for children cover a wide range of subjects and are often autobiographical. Mrs. Bond wrote under the pseudonymns, Jo Mendel (The Tucker series) and Holly Beth Walker (the Meg series), as well as her own name. She also wrote volume five of The Waltons.
She is credited with writing The Mystery of the Uninvited Guest (1977), The Mystery of the Castaway Children (1978), and The Sasquatch Mystery (1979). However, with her childhood spent in the Ozarks, she could be the author of The Mystery at Bob-White Cave (1963).
Carl Henry Rathjen
Carl Henry RathjenRathjen was born on the 28th of August 1909 in Jersey City, New Jersey and died in 1984. His ambition was to become a mechanical engineer, but when things didn't go
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
May 19, 2023
5 stars. Mmm, is it just me or are the Bob-Whites getting more and more disbelieving of Trixie as the series goes on?? Granted, she does jump to conclusions far more in the later books, but she’s still usually right! I enjoyed this mystery, though; it twisted right at the end and ended up really different than I expected! I wish there had been a little more information about the aftermath though! The first time I read this the angst in this book bothered me a little just because I don’t handle characters being embarrassed well, and poor Trixie is often embarrassed in this book; but ion my second reread I didn’t find this to be the case at all, and I enjoyed this book a lot.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Oh, that sounds like fun!” exclaimed Di. “Wouldn’t our parents be surprised if we brought home some maple syrup we had made ourselves?”
“Surprised? They’d probably award us the Pulitzer prize for achieving the impossible,” commented Mart. “Sorry, Di, but the sap doesn’t start running until mid-February at the earliest.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Oh, that sounds like fun!” exclaimed Di. “Wouldn’t our parents be surprised if we brought home some maple syrup we had made ourselves?”
“Surprised? They’d probably award us the Pulitzer prize for achieving the impossible,” commented Mart. “Sorry, Di, but the sap doesn’t start running until mid-February at the earliest.”
September 12, 2024
I read these as a kid. They were wholesome and described a life that appealed to me as an only child. Here there were lots of close friendships and positive family time with affectionate ribbing. The mysteries weren't so terribly complicated but they occasionally give you a good twist. They help point out that not everyone who does the wrong thing does it for the wrong reason and not to judge a book by its cover. Making assumptions about someone will most likely mean you will have to be proved wrong later. Over all I love these books and the characters with in. It's fun even though they're a bit dated.
July 29, 2022
Vejam a minha opinião em vídeo, AQUI.
April 10, 2011
Unlike the last new-to-me Trixie I read, this one did not completely suck! In fact, it is a perfectly respectable specimen of ghostwriting.
I am, however, terribly amused by the appearance of a little 1970s temporal color, to wit, a vegetarian restaurant with a folk singer performing in it.
I am, however, terribly amused by the appearance of a little 1970s temporal color, to wit, a vegetarian restaurant with a folk singer performing in it.
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
September 21, 2016
Now, before you mention the embarrassing amount of time it took me to read this book, that's only because I lost it and couldn't find it for the life of me for 3 months. When I did find it it took me about 2 days. So there. :P
I really enjoyed this book, half of it was for the setting. This book took place at a natural ski resort in Vermont, and I live very close to Vermont (the closest town with grocery stores and a Walmart and everything, and my church, are both in Vermont). The way the author described Vermont made it sound as if it was the North Pole or something, though. :P
The plotline was interesting and the mystery was something I enjoyed. The Bob-Whites besides Trixie and Honey didn't get much attention, however, and Dan got left behind...again...surprise. :(
Overall, I enjoyed the book but I've seen better from the series. 3.5 stars out of five.
I really enjoyed this book, half of it was for the setting. This book took place at a natural ski resort in Vermont, and I live very close to Vermont (the closest town with grocery stores and a Walmart and everything, and my church, are both in Vermont). The way the author described Vermont made it sound as if it was the North Pole or something, though. :P
The plotline was interesting and the mystery was something I enjoyed. The Bob-Whites besides Trixie and Honey didn't get much attention, however, and Dan got left behind...again...surprise. :(
Overall, I enjoyed the book but I've seen better from the series. 3.5 stars out of five.
January 28, 2023
Dan isn’t in it and I’m upset. The case itself is somewhat involved but because the MCs are under 18, there’s only so much you can do.
Recommended 10+ for threats, mentioned kidnaping, and other topics younger readers may not understand.
Recommended 10+ for threats, mentioned kidnaping, and other topics younger readers may not understand.
July 1, 2022
It's time to get into an Alpine mood. The Bob Whites are offered the chance to stay at a breathtaking mountain lodge and learn cross country skiing. Mr Wheeler is thinking of buying the resort and asks the gang for feedback of their impressions. Nobody anticipates the hostile activity of a disgruntled ghost beginning as soon as they arrive. Is there really a human agency behind the nasty attempts to scare them away? And why? What's really going on around here?
* Hooray, it's high time the Bob Whites travel to a new and exciting location. The last six books have been set around home in Sleepyside. I'm well and truly ready for a different setting. But I'm so sad that once again, Dan is unable to go along. Especially when he's right there with them for the first chapter, eagerly asking questions about Mead's Mountain. He can't hide his misery at having to miss out yet again, and that makes us Dan fans upset too. Come on all you Kathryn Kennys, give our boy a break.
* The Bob Whites discover the down side of owning a car. The overheads are darned expensive.
* The legend of Thomas Mead's destructive, cantankerous ghost is such a fun premise. He was one of those infamous characters remembered solely for being a cranky old grump to the extent that he was executed for it. (Come to think of it, he sounds a bit like Mr Lytell back in Sleepyside.) Apparently Mead refuses to rest, but is still intent in driving visitors off his precious snowy slopes, even though he's no longer there to enjoy them. Not that it sounds like he was ever the type of guy who ever actually enjoyed anything, as such, while he was alive.
* I assumed the Bob Whites were going to be something like Secret Shoppers, only as guests at a ski resort. But it was no secret. Everyone knows upfront this group of teens is the 'investigation team' sent by Matthew Wheeler. In retrospect, things would have been far easier and more hassle free if they'd been able to do their job incognito. And there would have been a whole lot less hostility from people who took umbrage at the fact that they were teenagers. But then, I guess, there would have been no mystery.
* Honey loses her jolly antique heirloom watch again! It seems she hasn't learned her lesson from The Black Jacket Mystery. Remember when it disappeared while she was wearing it out riding in the game preserve, and Trixie jumped to the conclusion that Dan stole it? Same scenario, different setting. This time it could be anywhere on the ski slopes, and Eric, the lodge's young ski instructor, is Trixie's new scapegoat. For heaven's sake Honey, please lock that watch in a safe!
* Oh wow, a heated swimming pool out by the snow! Yes please!
* The sense of place is superb, as usual. I love this passage when they reach a cliff summit. 'Down in front of them was the chair lift, a mere thread connecting them with the miniature lodge below. They could see the Tan Van, looking more like a toy, and the swimming pool resembling the jeweled setting in a ring. Beyond the lodge was the village of Groverville, pavement ribbons extending from it.' Well done, Kathryn Kenny. With that one paragraph, we're right on the spot without the killer climb.
* Diana is mustering some sort of enthusiasm for her academic future at last. It's Art. She's the one who instantly recognises the celebrated Carl Stevenson's print in the resort's foyer. And it turns out Art is one of her school subjects, with that friendly Mr Crider from Mystery of Old Telegraph Road as her teacher. Yay, you go, Di.
* After witnessing some beautiful grazing deer, Di expresses her sorrow at having eaten the roast venison at the Wheelers' before their trip. I tell you, Matt Wheeler has set up Watership Down in his backyard!
* The incident when Mart gets caught in the avalanche is one of those moments of the series that made a long-term impression on me. Sure, we know they'll find him, but how dramatic is savage Mother Nature! And back in my teens, I didn't even fully understand the full risks of suffocation, hypothermia and broken bones.
* Is it just me, or is Miss Trask a bit breezy and remiss at times? Mart gets spun off his feet in a Mack truck load of sliding snow, is buried for a good 20 or 30 minutes, dug out by a stroke of mere luck, and she doesn't take it upon herself to inform Peter and Helen Belden what happened. Sure he's safe now and there's nothing they can do anyway, but as a parent, it doesn't sit right with me that she doesn't insist on telling them the very same night. Wouldn't you agree, if he was your 15-year-old son?
* The Bob Whites get to dine at The Purple Turnip, an eclectic vegetarian restaurant. Wow, what goes around comes around. Back in the seventies when this book was written, it was a very popular type of alternative restaurant. And its same vibe would appeal to the hipsters of our new young generation too. There's something about the makeshift tables, mismatched cutlery and vego food that is very contemporary yet again.
* The picture on my oval cover edition is startling. During the scene it depicts, Jim mentions the guy's 'grotesque' red and green ski mask. I can't help thinking a garish mask is an unwise choice for a crook who turns out to be doing something underhanded that he wants to keep hidden. He should have gone for something neutral and camouflaging.
* Brian gets a chance to use his on-the-spot first aid skills not once but twice in this story. First casualty is his brother, of course, after that shocking avalanche. That one's highly emotion charged for Brian. And second is a crusty old man skiing out of control and colliding with a tree. (Better not say too much about him.) Woot woot, go Brian! He makes a vast generalization about sunburn though, commenting that he and Di tan nicely, yet all the blondes and redheads frizzle in the glare of sun off the snow. Nope, not always the case. I'm a brunette who burns like a lobster if not careful.
* Jim's muscle man moves become necessary in this story too. He's definitely the guy for those fan girls who admire shows of brute strength. I don't think we ever see Dan or the Belden boys put on the spot in this manner even once. I wonder what would happen if they were.
* Hmm, it seems the Bob Whites themselves are crime suspects on another amateur investigator's list, at least for a little while. That's one for the books. They don't think they're remotely suspicious.
* (Aww, how about this exchange.) Di: He certainly is very good looking (talking about Eric). Mart: You would think so. Maybe I should grow wild curls myself. They seem to drive the ladies mad. Di: Don't you dare. We like you just the way you are. You're a real individual, Mart. Mart: Goodbye wild curls - Hello Di! (These two are so cute, but I wish she'd gone ahead and cajoled him to do it. Since he has the potential to grow a careless, tousled mop, it seems such a waste not to, simply out of pride. Ask any guy with thinning hair.)
* I think my quote of the book goes to Carl Stevenson. 'I always found that art understood me a lot better than people did.' I'm always drawn to hermit characters, and he's no exception. They strike me as wise and enlightened, with something elusive that compensates for human society.
* Okay, this book finishes on New Year's Eve, presumably one exact year after the ending of Mystery in Arizona. The girls were still thirteen then, and now they're fourteen. I scrapped my timeline as far back as Mystery on the Mississippi, yet it's still glaringly evident to any reader who keeps track of dates that this is only a matter of four complete months before Trixie will turn 15 on May 1st. We all know the KK authors don't intend to take her to her next birthday, yet we've only just tipped the halfway point. More precisely, there are 17 books yet to come. That's a lot to squeeze into four months. But bring it on.
* Hooray, it's high time the Bob Whites travel to a new and exciting location. The last six books have been set around home in Sleepyside. I'm well and truly ready for a different setting. But I'm so sad that once again, Dan is unable to go along. Especially when he's right there with them for the first chapter, eagerly asking questions about Mead's Mountain. He can't hide his misery at having to miss out yet again, and that makes us Dan fans upset too. Come on all you Kathryn Kennys, give our boy a break.
* The Bob Whites discover the down side of owning a car. The overheads are darned expensive.
* The legend of Thomas Mead's destructive, cantankerous ghost is such a fun premise. He was one of those infamous characters remembered solely for being a cranky old grump to the extent that he was executed for it. (Come to think of it, he sounds a bit like Mr Lytell back in Sleepyside.) Apparently Mead refuses to rest, but is still intent in driving visitors off his precious snowy slopes, even though he's no longer there to enjoy them. Not that it sounds like he was ever the type of guy who ever actually enjoyed anything, as such, while he was alive.
* I assumed the Bob Whites were going to be something like Secret Shoppers, only as guests at a ski resort. But it was no secret. Everyone knows upfront this group of teens is the 'investigation team' sent by Matthew Wheeler. In retrospect, things would have been far easier and more hassle free if they'd been able to do their job incognito. And there would have been a whole lot less hostility from people who took umbrage at the fact that they were teenagers. But then, I guess, there would have been no mystery.
* Honey loses her jolly antique heirloom watch again! It seems she hasn't learned her lesson from The Black Jacket Mystery. Remember when it disappeared while she was wearing it out riding in the game preserve, and Trixie jumped to the conclusion that Dan stole it? Same scenario, different setting. This time it could be anywhere on the ski slopes, and Eric, the lodge's young ski instructor, is Trixie's new scapegoat. For heaven's sake Honey, please lock that watch in a safe!
* Oh wow, a heated swimming pool out by the snow! Yes please!
* The sense of place is superb, as usual. I love this passage when they reach a cliff summit. 'Down in front of them was the chair lift, a mere thread connecting them with the miniature lodge below. They could see the Tan Van, looking more like a toy, and the swimming pool resembling the jeweled setting in a ring. Beyond the lodge was the village of Groverville, pavement ribbons extending from it.' Well done, Kathryn Kenny. With that one paragraph, we're right on the spot without the killer climb.
* Diana is mustering some sort of enthusiasm for her academic future at last. It's Art. She's the one who instantly recognises the celebrated Carl Stevenson's print in the resort's foyer. And it turns out Art is one of her school subjects, with that friendly Mr Crider from Mystery of Old Telegraph Road as her teacher. Yay, you go, Di.
* After witnessing some beautiful grazing deer, Di expresses her sorrow at having eaten the roast venison at the Wheelers' before their trip. I tell you, Matt Wheeler has set up Watership Down in his backyard!
* The incident when Mart gets caught in the avalanche is one of those moments of the series that made a long-term impression on me. Sure, we know they'll find him, but how dramatic is savage Mother Nature! And back in my teens, I didn't even fully understand the full risks of suffocation, hypothermia and broken bones.
* Is it just me, or is Miss Trask a bit breezy and remiss at times? Mart gets spun off his feet in a Mack truck load of sliding snow, is buried for a good 20 or 30 minutes, dug out by a stroke of mere luck, and she doesn't take it upon herself to inform Peter and Helen Belden what happened. Sure he's safe now and there's nothing they can do anyway, but as a parent, it doesn't sit right with me that she doesn't insist on telling them the very same night. Wouldn't you agree, if he was your 15-year-old son?
* The Bob Whites get to dine at The Purple Turnip, an eclectic vegetarian restaurant. Wow, what goes around comes around. Back in the seventies when this book was written, it was a very popular type of alternative restaurant. And its same vibe would appeal to the hipsters of our new young generation too. There's something about the makeshift tables, mismatched cutlery and vego food that is very contemporary yet again.
* The picture on my oval cover edition is startling. During the scene it depicts, Jim mentions the guy's 'grotesque' red and green ski mask. I can't help thinking a garish mask is an unwise choice for a crook who turns out to be doing something underhanded that he wants to keep hidden. He should have gone for something neutral and camouflaging.
* Brian gets a chance to use his on-the-spot first aid skills not once but twice in this story. First casualty is his brother, of course, after that shocking avalanche. That one's highly emotion charged for Brian. And second is a crusty old man skiing out of control and colliding with a tree. (Better not say too much about him.) Woot woot, go Brian! He makes a vast generalization about sunburn though, commenting that he and Di tan nicely, yet all the blondes and redheads frizzle in the glare of sun off the snow. Nope, not always the case. I'm a brunette who burns like a lobster if not careful.
* Jim's muscle man moves become necessary in this story too. He's definitely the guy for those fan girls who admire shows of brute strength. I don't think we ever see Dan or the Belden boys put on the spot in this manner even once. I wonder what would happen if they were.
* Hmm, it seems the Bob Whites themselves are crime suspects on another amateur investigator's list, at least for a little while. That's one for the books. They don't think they're remotely suspicious.
* (Aww, how about this exchange.) Di: He certainly is very good looking (talking about Eric). Mart: You would think so. Maybe I should grow wild curls myself. They seem to drive the ladies mad. Di: Don't you dare. We like you just the way you are. You're a real individual, Mart. Mart: Goodbye wild curls - Hello Di! (These two are so cute, but I wish she'd gone ahead and cajoled him to do it. Since he has the potential to grow a careless, tousled mop, it seems such a waste not to, simply out of pride. Ask any guy with thinning hair.)
* I think my quote of the book goes to Carl Stevenson. 'I always found that art understood me a lot better than people did.' I'm always drawn to hermit characters, and he's no exception. They strike me as wise and enlightened, with something elusive that compensates for human society.
* Okay, this book finishes on New Year's Eve, presumably one exact year after the ending of Mystery in Arizona. The girls were still thirteen then, and now they're fourteen. I scrapped my timeline as far back as Mystery on the Mississippi, yet it's still glaringly evident to any reader who keeps track of dates that this is only a matter of four complete months before Trixie will turn 15 on May 1st. We all know the KK authors don't intend to take her to her next birthday, yet we've only just tipped the halfway point. More precisely, there are 17 books yet to come. That's a lot to squeeze into four months. But bring it on.
October 3, 2024
Another read to get me into the winter feeling. I really enjoy the Trixie Belden series because it is a bit more realistic than some of the other children mystery series. Trixie gets angry and jealous. She is impulsive and sometimes jumps to conclusions without any real proof. She is actually wrong in who she suspects. Also, the books are a little bit longer than Nancy Drew or the Bobbsey Twins. Twenty pages can make it seem so much longer. It gives that little bit more insight into their daily lives that gives it more texture.
This one takes place in a New England ski resort that reminds me of such places in the 70s, 80s and early 90s. Here the characters spend more time cross-country skiing than down-hill but the lodge is the same. I never spent a week at such a lodge but I can imagine it being like this. Anyway, a fun read and helps take my mind off the rain and I can kind of picture it snowing instead.
This one takes place in a New England ski resort that reminds me of such places in the 70s, 80s and early 90s. Here the characters spend more time cross-country skiing than down-hill but the lodge is the same. I never spent a week at such a lodge but I can imagine it being like this. Anyway, a fun read and helps take my mind off the rain and I can kind of picture it snowing instead.
July 6, 2020
October 2008 ... another nice re-read ... good fun.
July 2020 ... another nice re-read ... something really light and fun for troubled times
July 2020 ... another nice re-read ... something really light and fun for troubled times
October 2, 2024
"The Mystery at Meads Mountain" by Kathryn Kenny is an exciting adventure that really gets you thinking! This book follows a group of friends who decide to explore the mysterious Meads Mountain, and it’s packed with suspense and twists that kept me on my toes.
The main characters are relatable and fun, each bringing their own strengths to the group. I loved how they worked together to solve the mystery, and their friendships felt genuine. It reminded me of my own friends and the adventures we have!
One of the best things about this book is the setting. Meads Mountain is described in such detail that I could easily picture the beautiful yet eerie landscape. The descriptions make you feel like you’re right there with the characters, exploring caves and uncovering secrets.
The plot is full of surprises! Just when you think you’ve figured something out, another clue pops up that changes everything. The pacing is great, with a nice balance of action and quieter moments where the characters reflect on what they’ve discovered. It kept me engaged and eager to turn the page!
While there are some parts that could be a bit predictable, the mystery itself is intriguing and well-crafted. I appreciated how Kenny weaved in themes of friendship, courage, and perseverance throughout the story.
Overall, "The Mystery at Meads Mountain" is a fantastic read for anyone who loves adventure and solving puzzles.
I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to read more from Kathryn Kenny!
The main characters are relatable and fun, each bringing their own strengths to the group. I loved how they worked together to solve the mystery, and their friendships felt genuine. It reminded me of my own friends and the adventures we have!
One of the best things about this book is the setting. Meads Mountain is described in such detail that I could easily picture the beautiful yet eerie landscape. The descriptions make you feel like you’re right there with the characters, exploring caves and uncovering secrets.
The plot is full of surprises! Just when you think you’ve figured something out, another clue pops up that changes everything. The pacing is great, with a nice balance of action and quieter moments where the characters reflect on what they’ve discovered. It kept me engaged and eager to turn the page!
While there are some parts that could be a bit predictable, the mystery itself is intriguing and well-crafted. I appreciated how Kenny weaved in themes of friendship, courage, and perseverance throughout the story.
Overall, "The Mystery at Meads Mountain" is a fantastic read for anyone who loves adventure and solving puzzles.
I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to read more from Kathryn Kenny!
March 26, 2018
I loved the Trixie Belden books as a kid (nice to see they got republished). I'm still unsure how they ended up in my corner of the world. I slowly amassed the whole series as first editions (it seemed so glamourous as a kid owning precious books that were older than me!) by saving all my pocket money to buy them from the local secondhand store. I can only guess that some adult (probably having moved to our sleepy town from overseas) had sold them off in bulk. They sat in a back corner of the store, thankfully ignored by everyone else, as I slowly acquired them through pocket money and then in a mass swoop for Christmas. It helped that back then secondhand books sold for anywhere from 10 cents to 50 cents rather than $7-10 as they do these days!
They were wonderful mystery books for children of a similar ilk to Famous Five, Secret Seven, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, The Three Investigators etc.; set in a time long before cellphones when sleuthing into mysterious mansions, smugglers, and strange sounds in the night wouldn't cause any real harm to befall our child investigators.
They were wonderful mystery books for children of a similar ilk to Famous Five, Secret Seven, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, The Three Investigators etc.; set in a time long before cellphones when sleuthing into mysterious mansions, smugglers, and strange sounds in the night wouldn't cause any real harm to befall our child investigators.
March 2, 2026
Finished last night for #BobWhiteBuddies I did not remember much about this one from childhood & it wasn’t my favorite (the mystery was a little convoluted) but still a pick for nostalgia. In this one the Bob-Whites (no Dan) spend their Christmas vacation at a mountain resort that Mr. Wheeler is thinking of investing in & “reviewing” it. I had to laugh that the gang went to a vegetarian restaurant & at the description of all of the different entrees they each ordered, it was very 70s. Especially the avocado soufflé, the cheese & beansprout salad with lentil soup & the mushroom goulash. 😆😋☮️🌈
May 4, 2020
3.5 stars.
Another weekend, another Trixie mystery. This one sees the gang out to Vermont, 'investigating' a potential new business venture for Mr. Wheeler. Of course, there is more than just business to - investigate. A ghost, missing items, general weirdness about the place - all the things that makes Trixie's mind whirl.
Not a bad offering, not the best one either. Consistency fairly good, considering the ghostwriters have been known to slip up a time or two.
Another weekend, another Trixie mystery. This one sees the gang out to Vermont, 'investigating' a potential new business venture for Mr. Wheeler. Of course, there is more than just business to - investigate. A ghost, missing items, general weirdness about the place - all the things that makes Trixie's mind whirl.
Not a bad offering, not the best one either. Consistency fairly good, considering the ghostwriters have been known to slip up a time or two.
December 9, 2025
#22 ramps up the danger level with more threats to life and limb and bad guys who aren't afraid to wave a gun around AND attack an old man when his back is turned. I did appreciate the attempt to showcase a new state and a desire to make a ski area into a resort that accentuated the natural areas. Something is made of other people (men) with longish style hair LOL. Oh this trip takes place on winter break after Christmas and straight to New Year's Eve.
January 31, 2018
Although I read the first 16 or 17 books in this series repeatedly when I was young, I only got the rest of the books as an adult. I've collected them as I've found them at flea markets and antique stores. So this was a "new" story to me. I still enjoyed it even though it was written for a young reader.
January 21, 2022
Great story, though it seems no one wants to include Dan! ( the authors I mean. Seems like they don't know what to do with him!) He became a member and the poor guy is always working and never included in the fun activities.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2022
This book is an easy read for me. It is a good book but I think it lacked something. Maybe it was because I had high expectations for this book but again it's still okay. Will probably re-read it soon.
June 20, 2022
Can’t afford to go skiing this winter so this will have to do - great descriptions of ski lodges with roaring fires, cross country skiing, long views to distant mountains and still deers in silent snow fields. Just watch for the avalanches..
June 20, 2024
So I’ve read this book in one day. It was an amazing book. I loved how it was about skiing. There was all sorts of mystery in it. I love these books because everything falls into place like two chapters before it ends.
December 27, 2019
An enjoyable mystery, with surprising twists and turns.
January 13, 2022
This was a good little mystery.
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July 10, 2023I remember this cover so vividly.
September 29, 2024
Loved the book. loved how it was about skiing. here was all sorts of mystery in it. I love these books because every thing falls in place like 2 chapters before it ends.
May 14, 2014
For Christmas one year, my parents grabbed me the entire Trixie Belden set and I couldn't put them down. After I finished with them, they continued to purchase them as quickly as I could read them. Even with a learning disability, I devoured the books. I look back now and I find that Trixie Belden was much more age related to young girls, particularly to me, reading the books than Nancy Drew. There was something in these books that I found to be a greater escape than I did ND, too. I found that they weren't so "over the top" or dated. I will be doing the same thing with my granddaughters, if and when I have them, even if I have to stalk every used bookstore to get them
March 1, 2014
Trixie and her friends are spending the week between Christmas and New Year's at a ski lodge in Vermont. But when they are greeted by an ominous warning, it appears there is more happening here than meets the eye. The plot is great with some twists I didn't expect - at least the first time I read it. The characters are their true selves as well. The pacing of the book could be better, but it's still one of the better of the later books.
Read my review at Carstairs Considers.
Read my review at Carstairs Considers.
January 1, 2017
12/31/16: An apropos reread for the end of the year, as the book ends at midnight on New Year's Eve. And I reached my Good Reads goal of 75 books for 2016 with four hours to spare. :)
Despite the wintery setting, and the fact that Dan is absent (of course), I really enjoy this one. The avalanche scene is amazing, the mystery is good (if slightly Scooby-Dooish) and, if nothing else, my beloved Robert Frost gets a nod. :)
Despite the wintery setting, and the fact that Dan is absent (of course), I really enjoy this one. The avalanche scene is amazing, the mystery is good (if slightly Scooby-Dooish) and, if nothing else, my beloved Robert Frost gets a nod. :)
July 19, 2016
This was never one of my favorite books of the series and after re-reading on a whim (who doesn't want to read about winter in July?), it still remains one of my least favorite stories. I'm not sure why, it just doesn't speak to me.
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March 9, 2008Book 22
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