Spyhole Secrets

by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

Hallie Meredith is angry at God and feeling sorry for herself. Her beloved father died in a car accident, and her whole life has turned upside down. Her mother has had to find a job, and they’ve moved to a cramped apartment in an old mansion, away from Hallie’s old friends and her school. Looking for somewhere–anywhere–to hide from her lousy life, Hallie discovers the old mansion’s mysterious attic, and a secret window where she can spy straight into another family’s life.At first it’s a game, sneaking up to the attic, forgetting her own troubles for a while as she watches the strange doings of this oddly dysfunctional family. But as the mystery of what is going on on the other side of the window deepens, Hallie becomes increasingly involved in the intimate lives of people she really doesn’t know, and the game turns into a kind of addiction. When she sees signs of danger, Hallie tries to help, and that may be the best way she can help herself as well.

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Novels, Realistic Fiction

186 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

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

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't be misled by the weird cover up there next to the blurb. There is not one single bit of "woo-woo", not a sniff of the paranormal. The manager of the apartment house threatens Hallie with ghosts in the attic, but that's just to keep her out of there. Nothing up there but heat and dust--and other people's stuff, which is the point; the manager wants to keep her from snooping through the boxes, as many kids would.

But Hallie is a Snyder kid, not just any kid. And Snyder's girl protagonists all have a penchant for hiding, for finding secret places where they can do as they like, from The Velvet Room on. There's not much Hallie can get up to in the attic--until she discovers the spyhole, a chink in the cover of a window through which she can watch the neighbours. She spends quite a few weeks watching them and coming to conclusions about who they are and what they're up to. Maybe all kids like to "see without being seen", particularly those of the television generation--after all, we grew up watching fictional lives, and now with "reality TV" (an oxymoron if ever there was one) kids stare at fictionalised "real life". Right back to Harriet the Spy, monitoring the lives of others in secret gives the protagonist a sense of power, one that Hallie desperately needs as she comes to terms with her father's unexpected death in a multi-car pileup. But what she does with that "power" is more believable than in most books of this type.

Hallie is a middleschool kid, with all the limitations that implies--no Mary Sue here. She deals not only with her own loss (which includes just about everything from her dad to her home and community to her pets), but with the reactions of her school friends. Even her erstwhile bestie can't seem to remember that Hallie was her friend, a person who shares many good memories; now she's a "case" that has to be handled with kid gloves.

A short, fast read even for its target audience, but nonetheless some of Snyder's best work. She captures how kids think and feel and react. I really liked the fact that God and prayer get a positive look-in without the need to make it formal or sanctimonious. He is there, and Hallie talks to him (or did, before she got mad at Him) "as a man speaks to his friend" which is as it should be; a real relationship without an agenda or "look at this character, isn't she wonderful." No, she's a normal kid in an abnormal situation. Very well done.

[Kidsmomo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review by Karen, intended for young readers:

I have to admit, I didn’t have high expectations for this book when I first picked it up. Sadly, I was judging the book by its cover. I mean, look at it.

But once I started reading the book, I was pleasantly surprised! I was immediately drawn to the main character, Hallie. She and her mom have just moved to a new town after Hallie’s father died in a car crash. Things are obviously tough: Not only does Hallie have to deal with a new school, no friends, and a crummy new apartment, but she’s still grieving for her dad.

As a welcome distraction, Hallie starts spying on an apartment across the street from her building. She quickly gets caught up in solving the mystery of who lives there and why the occupants always seem to be upset with each other. Why is the golden-haired teenage girl crying? What is the relationship of the three adults yelling at each other? And could the kid Hallie meets at the local library really be the same person she’s spotted hiding in the shadows of the living room?

If you’re looking for a spooky book with lots of gripping action, this is not it. Yes, there are tense moments that Hallie witnesses, but the mystery here is more quiet and contained — and ultimately the real story may be more about what these neighbors mean to Hallie than what’s actually happening in their lives for real…

I think you’ll enjoy this book if you’re a fan of Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead.

This review also appears on Kidsmomo.com.

[Elinor Loredan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was riveted by the story and read it in two sittings. Snyder skillfully makes the struggles of her characters feel real and relatable, particularly with the descriptions of Hallie's grief and how she inflicts her pain on others. I was a bit disappointed that the mystery of the family she spies on is not as exciting as I (and Hallie) thought, but the mystery is not the point of the story. The point is that Hallie is able to begin healing because she becomes less focused on herself and instead cares about the troubles of others. Self forgetfulness is often the best way for us to cope with our pain. I love the Rapunzel references and the description of the elderly couple as a pair of curious, timid rabbits. I also appreciate the inclusion of God and Mrs. Tilson's statement that looking at people out of windows is healthier than looking in mirrors.

[DeAnna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tedious and disappointing. Hard to believe this was written by the same person who wrote The Egypt Game and The Changeling. Definitely would NOT recommend.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Snyder's descriptions of how people appear through stained glass. And Hallie feels real in her thoughts, emotions, and reactions as a grieving tween.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hallie’s life has been turned upside down. The trauma of her father’s death leads to having to sell their home, begining junior high at a new school, and adopting out her pets. Hallie is angry and withdrawn. One afternoon while looking for a hiding place, she goes to the forbidden attic room and peeks though a small hole in a boarded over window. She sees the living room of an apartment in the next building. Hallie becomes obsessed with watching the lives of the family through the spy hole.

[LeAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

*spoilers* An excellent read up until the ending, which I didn't like at all. All the things she thought dangerous or mysterious turned out to be innocent. There is no resolution of whether or not she will go on spying on the next family in the apartment. The only resolution is that she stops dwelling on her own problems. There are some positive references to talking to God, blaming God for her father's death and then talking to him again in the end.

[Astraea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not among her best. Still think Gib Rides Home and the Below the Root trilogy win that prize.

[Kathryn McCary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sooner or later every writer starts coasting on technique. Snyder was definitely at that stage when she wrote this one. We've seen it all before--the secret in the attic, the single parent and troubled child, the weird, smart little kid, even the old mansion. This one is all form and no content

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book left me hungry for more!! What happened when Zachary called her on Monday!? Does she visit? Does she ever meet Tiffany?? Does she ever tell Zachary about the spyhole! AGH TELL ME MORE!!!!

Somehow I found myself liking Zachary's character. Thinking he's a witch doctor! Hahahaha

[Kristian · Rating 4 out of 5]

i already worte a book report for this book

[Krys Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was weird

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

While not the best of her books, its an interesting perspective on grief and children.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun idea. Girl sees the condo across the way from a hole in her attic. She becomes involved in their lives.

[Beka Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

some of it was strange, but i still liked it!!

[Angela · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried this on audio but it was so slow-going I gave up on it!