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Uncle Robert's Secret
Three children are drawn increasingly deeper into a secret that involves the mysterious old man living next door.
- GenresFiction
159 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1972
About the author
Wylly Folk St. John
18 books42 followersWylly Folk St. John was a popular and successful author of children's mystery books and an Atlanta journalist whose work was much admired across America in the mid 20th century.
She was born in 1908 in Bamberg County, SC. She loved to read and maintained an interest in reading and writing from an early age; she even published a poem at the age of 9. She grew up in Savannah where her family had moved and was graduated from Savannah High School. She received a A.B. in Journalism at the University of Georgia in 1930.
She was hired for the staff of the Atlanta Journal and Constitution Sunday magazine in 1941 and remained there until 1954 when she joined her husband, an Army officer who was stationed at a hospital in Germany. When they returned home, she resumed working for the newspaper and began freelancing stories.
Redbook magazine published several of her book-length novels, which focused on mysteries but with a wide range of appealing young characters whose adventures were sometimes "torrid," in one coleague's words. When it came to writing children's stories, she said in 1966, "You have to be careful about what expressions might offend parents, teachers and librarians." But she nonetheless took pleasure in surprising her reading with some unexpected words.
Her mystery novels for young readers included "The Ghost Next Door," "Uncle Robert's Secret," "The Secret of the Seven Crows," "The Mystery of the Other Girl," "Christmas Tree Mystery," "The Mystery of the Mystery Book," "The Mystery of the Gingerbread House," "The Secret of Hidden Creek" and "The Secrets of the Pirate Inn," the latter of which was adapted for a television series by Walt Disney. She was named Georgia author of the Year by the Dixie Council of Authors and Journalists in 1968.
She spent the last years of her life in Social Circle in Waltson County with her family, and she died there of cancer in 1985.
~Georgia Center for the Book
She was born in 1908 in Bamberg County, SC. She loved to read and maintained an interest in reading and writing from an early age; she even published a poem at the age of 9. She grew up in Savannah where her family had moved and was graduated from Savannah High School. She received a A.B. in Journalism at the University of Georgia in 1930.
She was hired for the staff of the Atlanta Journal and Constitution Sunday magazine in 1941 and remained there until 1954 when she joined her husband, an Army officer who was stationed at a hospital in Germany. When they returned home, she resumed working for the newspaper and began freelancing stories.
Redbook magazine published several of her book-length novels, which focused on mysteries but with a wide range of appealing young characters whose adventures were sometimes "torrid," in one coleague's words. When it came to writing children's stories, she said in 1966, "You have to be careful about what expressions might offend parents, teachers and librarians." But she nonetheless took pleasure in surprising her reading with some unexpected words.
Her mystery novels for young readers included "The Ghost Next Door," "Uncle Robert's Secret," "The Secret of the Seven Crows," "The Mystery of the Other Girl," "Christmas Tree Mystery," "The Mystery of the Mystery Book," "The Mystery of the Gingerbread House," "The Secret of Hidden Creek" and "The Secrets of the Pirate Inn," the latter of which was adapted for a television series by Walt Disney. She was named Georgia author of the Year by the Dixie Council of Authors and Journalists in 1968.
She spent the last years of her life in Social Circle in Waltson County with her family, and she died there of cancer in 1985.
~Georgia Center for the Book
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 8, 2018
Wylly Folk St. John is an unparalleled authoress for youths whom I discovered a few years ago. I am surprised I did not encounter her tantalizing titles at my school library. I held off on reading “Uncle Robert’s Secret”, which hails from my birth year, 1972, because it is my last of her oeuvres. Thankfully, I see a few more to seek. Mine is a perfect first edition, with a compelling colour and title that were a delight to finally open. I do not know how anyone can wield diverse originality every time she devises a plot but this story is like none of her others, either. Part of the intrigue of “Uncle Robert’s Secret” is not knowing what the titular secret is, even though it emerges early as a staple to the plot.
It appears that in the American south the poor, comfortable, and wealthy live close together. In Canada, many of us live paycheque to paycheque in middle class but wealthy and poor have distinct neighbourhoods. The protagonists are from a comfortable large house they have occupied a few years, next to a wealthy gentleman who keeps to himself and does not seem to spruce up his land and home. They are on large lots that are semi-rural and a little graveyard on his side intrigues the children. When their parents are away visiting the newborn of their elder sister, their two hard-of-hearing Aunts are no hurdle to some serious sleuthing they feel compelled to embark on.
Wylly Folk St. John is an unparalleled authoress for youths whom I discovered a few years ago. I am surprised I did not encounter her tantalizing titles at my school library. I held off on reading “Uncle Robert’s Secret”, which hails from my birth year, 1972, because it is my last of her oeuvres. Thankfully, I see a few more to seek. Mine is a perfect first edition, with a compelling colour and title that were a delight to finally open. I do not know how anyone can wield diverse originality every time she devises a plot but this story is like none of her others, either. Part of the intrigue of “Uncle Robert’s Secret” is not knowing what the titular secret is, even though it emerges early as a staple to the plot.
It appears that in the American south the poor, comfortable, and wealthy live close together. In Canada, many of us live paycheque to paycheque in middle class but wealthy and poor have distinct neighbourhoods. The protagonists are from a comfortable large house they have occupied a few years, next to a wealthy gentleman who keeps to himself and does not seem to spruce up his land and home. They are on large lots that are semi-rural and a little graveyard on his side intrigues the children. When their parents are away visiting the newborn of their elder sister, their two hard-of-hearing Aunts are no hurdle to some serious sleuthing they feel compelled to embark on.
The subject matter are serious and sobering; dipping into abuse, attempting to take advantage of the elderly, outmoded prejudice of marital circumstances, and family forgiveness. However nothing distressing is depicted, leaving this novel suitable and unforgettably educational for children to read; while making an exciting, action-packed, and gratifying mystery for grown-ups.
It appears that in the American south the poor, comfortable, and wealthy live close together. In Canada, many of us live paycheque to paycheque in middle class but wealthy and poor have distinct neighbourhoods. The protagonists are from a comfortable large house they have occupied a few years, next to a wealthy gentleman who keeps to himself and does not seem to spruce up his land and home. They are on large lots that are semi-rural and a little graveyard on his side intrigues the children. When their parents are away visiting the newborn of their elder sister, their two hard-of-hearing Aunts are no hurdle to some serious sleuthing they feel compelled to embark on.
Wylly Folk St. John is an unparalleled authoress for youths whom I discovered a few years ago. I am surprised I did not encounter her tantalizing titles at my school library. I held off on reading “Uncle Robert’s Secret”, which hails from my birth year, 1972, because it is my last of her oeuvres. Thankfully, I see a few more to seek. Mine is a perfect first edition, with a compelling colour and title that were a delight to finally open. I do not know how anyone can wield diverse originality every time she devises a plot but this story is like none of her others, either. Part of the intrigue of “Uncle Robert’s Secret” is not knowing what the titular secret is, even though it emerges early as a staple to the plot.
It appears that in the American south the poor, comfortable, and wealthy live close together. In Canada, many of us live paycheque to paycheque in middle class but wealthy and poor have distinct neighbourhoods. The protagonists are from a comfortable large house they have occupied a few years, next to a wealthy gentleman who keeps to himself and does not seem to spruce up his land and home. They are on large lots that are semi-rural and a little graveyard on his side intrigues the children. When their parents are away visiting the newborn of their elder sister, their two hard-of-hearing Aunts are no hurdle to some serious sleuthing they feel compelled to embark on.
The subject matter are serious and sobering; dipping into abuse, attempting to take advantage of the elderly, outmoded prejudice of marital circumstances, and family forgiveness. However nothing distressing is depicted, leaving this novel suitable and unforgettably educational for children to read; while making an exciting, action-packed, and gratifying mystery for grown-ups.
March 27, 2009
I don't know why, but this book totally stuck with me. Probably read it in third or fourth grade. Very dark for little kids, as I recall. Wish I still had it around to re-read.
April 20, 2013
its amazing what kids can do when they dont have video games............
September 27, 2012
My 8 year old daughter loved this book! She was so sad when it was coming to end. She wanted to know more. Clear sign of an amazing book. :)
Full review is here: http://momonthemake.com/uncle-roberts...
Full review is here: http://momonthemake.com/uncle-roberts...
February 26, 2009
I suspect these were some of the original "spunky kids doing too much on their own", and I loved every book in the set for it.
May 18, 2022
This is a pretty heavy story for a children's book, but it's original, and books just aren't written like this anymore.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews