The Trespassers

by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

It all starts the summer after Neely finishes fifth grade. She is trying to entertain her little brother, Grub, when they accidentally find a way to sneak into Halcyon House, a magnificent mansion that has been deserted for years. Inside they discover a wonderful surprise -- a playroom full of fabulous old-fashioned toys. Despite the spookiness of the house and the rumors about a ghost that haunts it -- and despite the fact that they don't belong there -- the playroom becomes their secret hideaway.

Then the owners suddenly return to Halcyon House. Neely befriends Curtis, a boy her own age whose wild boasts and black moods make her uneasy. When Neely is warned to protect her little brother, she thinks first of the ghost -- or could there be a present-day evil lurking in Halcyon House?

Zilpha Keatley Snyder's mesmerizing characters and vivid details will pull readers into an everyday world charged with mysterious menace in this suspenseful, haunting story.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Fiction, Middle Grade, Ghost Stories, Childrens, Juvenile

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Zilpha Keatley Snyder was an American author of books for children and young adults. Three of Snyder's works were named Newbery Honor books: The Egypt Game, The Headless Cupid and The Witches of Worm. She was most famous for writing adventure stories and fantasies.

Reviews

[Linda Lipko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuing my quest to read, not only the Newbery award winning books, but also other works by these authors, I discovered The Trespassers on a sale table at my local library. For .10 I couldn't go wrong!

Zilpha Keatley Snyder has the distinct achievement of three Newbery honor and ALA notable books. And, while The Trespassers is not one of her award-winners, it certainly is well worth the time spent in reading.

The setting is the coast of Northern California where high up on the cliff is an old, beautiful mansion. A sister and a brother who live nearby are fascinated with the stories surrounding this marvelous empty castle-like structure. Climbing a trellis the children enter the abandoned house wherein they find a beautiful play room filled with antique toys.

Shortly thereafter members of the rich family move into the mansion, including the creepy, emotionally disturbed grandson of the original builder.

There is suspense and a presumption of haunting, but truly the story is not portrayed in a hokey, silly manner. Rather, there is a deep abiding love between brother and sister and a protectiveness that shines through.

A quick, delightful read that is fun. I'll now look for the author's Newbery honor books.

[Carissa]

I love zilpha keatley snyder. I could never get my little sister to read anything (except captain underpants) until I started reading these books to her. They're great bedtime/ camping books as they're filled with suspense and enchantment. It's your own imagine and the way it wanders that really makes the books great.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This juve. fiction book was better than a lot of adult fiction I've read lately. And I even finished it in a day, compared to spending several days on adult fiction. This was an intriguing mystery involving an old mansion and several weird accidents and strange deaths. A sister and brother snoop around the mansion that happens to be close to their house. One day, they sneak in an open window and explore the mysterious house. (I could sooooooooo see myself doing this when I was young)! They find a lot of dust and an awesome playroom with all these cool, old toys. They even communicate with a young girl ghost. They sneak back again and again until finally their sneakiness turns into trouble. Well, don't want to ruin the end for ya there, so I'll quit blabbing.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books a few years ago, but my copy basically died in a flood and I hadn't read it and couldn't even remember the title or how it ended until yesterday, when I found it at the library.
Frankly, it's still one of my favorite middle school novels. It's not super long but it does make for a good afternoon's read. It has its own strange air, not akin to your usual mystery novel, but something more-almost wistful. It's sharp, fast, and clear at the same time as being soft, sleepy, and one of the most confusing kid's books I've read in quite a while. I'll definitely be reading this one again.

[Dan Poblocki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowzers. What a bold story. Not your typical "haunted house" tale. The Trespassers reminded me of why I loved Zilpha Keatley Snyder so much when I was young. Understated and lyrical, yet pitch dark and chilling in moments throughout. There is so much going on underneath the surface of this story. Even the title is layered... Without giving anything away... Reminds me of a line from the Our Father prayer: "Forgive us out trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." This book is much more than it seems. Snyder is a genius. I'm going back to read more of her books.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this author's writing style! Every book of hers that I've read has been delightful but also... different, weird, indescribable. This one is a sweet story about two siblings who find a playroom in an old mansion, and then things take a dark turn. I won't spoil it for you, but it deals with child psychology and it's definitely strange.
There's always that one character in all her books that is intriguing and creepy and you just never know what insanity is going to develop. It certainly keeps things interesting!
I read this book all in one sitting; it really grabbed my attention. I love the close relationship between brother and sister in this story! Every character is so unique and complex. The plot is a bit one-track and fairly simple, but never boring.
I recommend this for any kid to read! Great children's book!

[Alison C · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Trespassers," by Zilpha Keatley Snyder, tells the story of Neely and her little brother Grub, who live in Carmel, California. One summer, they find their way into a long-empty mansion known as Halcyon House, a place full of secrets and tragedy. When the house is re-occupied by relatives of the original owner, they start trying to unravel the mysteries of the family, and the secrets of the house…. I remember reading at least one book by Zilpha Keatley Snyder as a child, and I was surprised to find this novel, written as recently as 1995! Clearly she had a long career as a writer, and that shows in the ease of her characterizations and her understanding of the inner lives of children and young teenagers. Quite enjoyable, especially if like me, you still like reading children’s novels.

[mom2wah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neely and her brother have a free summer
That empty house on the hill looks exciting
Will they actually go in
Of course
Thus the trespassers
Will they get caught
Of course
But it's not what you think
Part of the family moves back in
They think the house is haunted
Is it and what else is weird about the new remnants
Great kid book

[Alyss · Rating 3 out of 5]

A newer book by my favorite children's book author. I recognized a lot of themes from her earlier books (e.g., The Velvet Room), and enjoyed it enough to want to re-read the originals.

[Melissa Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breath Taking. It will twist your brain around.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in 6th grade. I got it from the school library. I still have it.

[Alecia · Rating 3 out of 5]

good book. page turner. but a rushed and therefore unsatisfying ending.

[Lani Duke]

It was surprisingly readable with a good story line.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa, that was a quite an ending for a children's book. I still feel like a lot was unresolved, but my fifth graders were literally on the edges of their seat at the end.

[Anna Ciddor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun kids' ghost story

[Skylar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was very interesting, exciting, and extremely plot twisting at the end. I could picture Halcyon house so clearly, from the nursery to the portrait of the family. I loved the main characters-Neely and Grub, although I do feel quite sorry for Grub because he is so worried and sad throughout the whole story. And even though we're supposed to as readers-I really couldn't stand Curtis. The lying and the bragging was so annoying, and some of the things he "jokes" about, are just plain awful. I do fully understand though that Curtis is not a well child so of course that is an excuse for some things I guess. I also really wasn't expecting the end, him shooting his cousin, Halcyon burning down, those last few chapters sure were intense. Something that bothers-or rather disappoints me is the fact that the Monica mystery never gets told. Did she get murdered? If so then why and by who? So many unanswered questions. But I did really like this book despite that, Zilpha Keatley Snyder was such a talented children's writer and I would definitely recommend this book.

[Shanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neely and her brother Grub like to play in the garden areas around an old, fancy mansion. One day they discover an unlocked window and explore the inside of the house. Neely and Grub begin sneaking into the house and playing in the children's nursery, filled with fascinating toys. Their fun fantasy comes crashing to an end when a family moves into the house. The boy of the family is mean and annoying, but they try to be friends with him because a) they're nice kids, and b) they want to keep playing in the nursery.

Neely and Grub are very likable and the narrative style, from Neely's point of view, flows nicely. The mysterious aspects of the unexplained death of a young girl who used to live in the house, and the feeling of her presence in the house, keeps the chill factor and moves the story along.

[Blythe · Rating 2 out of 5]

This isn't a bad book at all. It's well-written, and the plot has an interesting concept. But somehow I just never connected with it. The characters didn't particularly move me, and all I can say about it is that the experience of reading it was...okay. I didn't hate it, I didn't love it, and once I was done, it didn't linger in my mind. I've enjoyed other books by Snyder, but somehow this one just left me completely unmoved.

Despite my rating, I wouldn't say this is a book to necessarily stay away from--I think other readers would certainly get a lot more from this book then I did. But if you pick it up hoping for another "Egypt Game", you're probably going to be disappointed.

[Tia · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so boring. I read it in between small breaks I had at a school I work at because it was on a shelf. I'd never make a kid read this book. It wasn't scary at all. They mention a ghost named Monica, but you never hear much about her or see her. Nothing was haunted. There was really no character development, or at least very little. It wasn't even about what you think it'll be about. And who names their dog Lion? And what's with the horse on the back cover? There were no horses. Don't let the cover fool you. This book was stupid.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again, I'm not sure how I feel about this one. It's not the first book of the author's to feature trespassing - there is The Egypt Game, after all. But I think I sympathized more with those characters than I do Neely and Grub. The book builds slow, and the danger at the end is obvious to the reader before it is obvious to Neely. That can work, but it just felt off to me, for some reason.

Still, it wasn't a bad book and there's enough description that I wish, if nothing else, that the house and its contents, including the dollhouse, were real.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read & loved many of this author's books, but it's been years since I read one. This book doesn't match the quality I remember. It seemed disjointed and confused. The characters seemed unfinished, the plot muddy. It couldn't quite decide whether to be a ghost story or not. I found myself struggling to pick up & keep reading to the end.

[E · Rating 1 out of 5]

I remember reading Zilpha Keatley Snyder's books and enjoying the supernatural scares as a kid, but this one felt more like an episode of Law & Order SVU than an elementary school ghost story. I think if I had read this as a kid when I was reading the rest of her books it would have freaked me out miserably.

[Partridge Public]

Snyder, Zilpha K.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like Zilpha Keatley Snyder... but this was a familiar plot for her.

[Chazzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

School is out and Neely and her brother, Grubb, have the days to themselves. Living the country area near Carmel, California, there could be a lot to do and explore.

Nearby was Halcyon House, built in 1910 by a Mr. Harold Hutchinson. A magnificent summer house to behold, but it has been empty for a good number of years. The house is rumoured to have a number o tragic stories about it and its owners. Fenced off from access, only Ruben Flores the watchman/caretaker lives on the premises with his watchdog Lion, a large mastiff who has run of the property when Ruben goes into town. Both are deterrents to trespassing, except to Neely and Grub. Grub had made friends with Lion a couple of years back and this gave them access to the property, unbeknownst to Ruben.

This summer Neely and Grub would gain access to the mansion and discover some of the secrets and history, true and false, of the house and the family.

Neely and Grub’s access went from secret to known when the current owners moved back and Neely becomes friends with Curtis, the owners’ son. Curtis is a boy of big boasts and mood swings. At one point Neely is warned to keep an eye on her young brother. It seems some of these stories do have truth to them.

As some of the stories come to light, there is a bit of a chill. There is also the magic of an earlier time in the house that the children learn of. A happier time.

Zilpha Keatley Snyder is an award winning children’s author with a long list of books. I’ve read a number of them and enjoyed them all.

[Pamela Bronson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Thought provoking. There are two quite different kids who don't fit in, but the family love and support they get, or don't, makes a huge difference.

I didn't like it as well as most of her other books.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid psychological crime story, interesting even for adults!