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arnoldad1's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I remember going downstairs in the Murphys Five and Dime everytime we went into town when I was a kid to see if there were any new editions of the Trixie Beldon series. #9 was always my favorite. I no longer have my original copy with all of the passages that showed Jim and Trixie being affectionate underlined, so I reunderlined all the same passages in a book I found at a used book store.
I gave it a 5 for sake of nostalgia, but it is definitely dated and I could not really recommend it to any kids today. The memories of reading this series will always be important to me.
I gave it a 5 for sake of nostalgia, but it is definitely dated and I could not really recommend it to any kids today. The memories of reading this series will always be important to me.
govmarley's review against another edition
3.0
Still adjusting to the change in writing styles. If I remember correctly, it evens out in a bit, or I just get further away from the first six books and forget how they read.
Trixie and the Bob-Whites are headed to the most exotic of locations: Iowa. As a midwestern girl, this one hits home for me. I grew up just across the border, Trix. You're gonna love your sheep farm adventure. Uncle Andrew invites the Bob-Whites to stay at his farm while he is in Scotland. Ok...a little weird on the host's side, and kinda crappy on his farm help team, but whatever. They hop on a plane and boom, Iowa, folks. And there is a mystery, natch, about missing sheep which Trixie is bound and determined to solve. Will she? Let's hope so, or no one will buy book 10.
We get some fun references to life in the midwest - 4-H, school dances in the gym, skating on the pond - and a scary flood, plus a little teen romance at the end. Not gonna lie, I've been waiting for this. Still enjoyable, even with the writing change. 3 stars.
Trixie and the Bob-Whites are headed to the most exotic of locations: Iowa. As a midwestern girl, this one hits home for me. I grew up just across the border, Trix. You're gonna love your sheep farm adventure. Uncle Andrew invites the Bob-Whites to stay at his farm while he is in Scotland. Ok...a little weird on the host's side, and kinda crappy on his farm help team, but whatever. They hop on a plane and boom, Iowa, folks. And there is a mystery, natch, about missing sheep which Trixie is bound and determined to solve. Will she? Let's hope so, or no one will buy book 10.
We get some fun references to life in the midwest - 4-H, school dances in the gym, skating on the pond - and a scary flood, plus a little teen romance at the end. Not gonna lie, I've been waiting for this. Still enjoyable, even with the writing change. 3 stars.
imzadirose's review against another edition
5.0
My 2nd favorite Trixie ever. I love the flood scene and the last page of the book. So darling. I loved it as a kid and I love it still now all these years later. Such a cute and wonderful series.
isabellejohnston's review against another edition
4.0
Just like all other Trixie Belden books, The Happy Valley Mystery was suspenseful and cleverly written. I love this series because it's right in the middle of "too confusing to understand" and "so easy that I could figure it out myself." I think this book is more realistic because normally, Trixie and Honey find a clue or two their first day on the job. Whereas in this book it took them a whole week to find something. In this book I really found Trixie annoying. All she wanted to do was solve the mystery and that is good ambition but not when you're on vacation! At least I was able to relate to Mart who also noticed this fact in the book. If you have read this series before, then you will like this one. Also, if you haven't read this series before this is a great place to start. Though it is number nine in the series, it actually gives some background information about Trixie and Honey's success as detectives. This isn't the type of serried that you have to go in order. You can jump in anywhere and understand what's going on. There is a part in the book that takes up a couple of chapters that are really suspenseful. If you're into that, I rally suggest this book!
bev_reads_mysteries's review against another edition
5.0
The Bob Whites (minus new member Dan Mangan, who must work hard to catch up on schoolwork so he can stay in the same class as Jim and Brian) are off to Iowa for a Spring Break adventure. The Beldens' Uncle Andrew stops by Sleepyside for a visit on his way to Scotland. When he finds that his niece, nephews, and their friends will be at loose ends during their school holiday, he offers to send them all to his sheep farm in the Midwest.
Uncle Andrew expects the kids to learn about sheep, have some fun helping out around the farm, and maybe enjoy a dance at the local high school. But as soon as Trixie hears that her uncle's sheep have been disappearing at regular intervals, she knows that she and the Bob Whites have another job to do...and another mystery to solve. There's a mysterious bearded man to check out, a hired hand who acts a bit suspiciously, and the men who are selling sheep carcasses on the cheap for the school's barbecue. And what about the mysterious lights in the dark and dangerous Walnut Woods nearby?
Trixie's curiosity lead her, Jim, and Honey into a dangerous situation when the river starts rising and the bridge washes out behind them. But the brave threesome manage to get themselves to safety atop a barn and Trixie spots the sheep-rustlers from their perch. Once she and her fellow Bob Whites are rescued, she convinces her uncle's manager to send the police after the crooks and saves the day for Uncle Andrew's farm.
This was one of my all-time favorite Trixie Belden stories when I was growing up. Iowa is close enough to Indiana that it brought the story into familiar territory for me and, of course, I loved that it ends with Jim presenting Trixie with the silver ID bracelet and telling her that she's his special girl. The added danger at the end made it all the more exciting--but safely exciting because we all knew that Trixie, Jim, and Honey would be okay in the end. When I spotted this vintage edition at an antique mall last year, I knew I had to get it and revisit the adventure with the Bob Whites. The stroll down memory lane was well worth it and I enjoyed going back to a simpler time in my mystery reading. It was a lot of fun to visit again with Trixie and the Bob Whites. ★★★★★ then and now--for nostalgia's sake.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
Uncle Andrew expects the kids to learn about sheep, have some fun helping out around the farm, and maybe enjoy a dance at the local high school. But as soon as Trixie hears that her uncle's sheep have been disappearing at regular intervals, she knows that she and the Bob Whites have another job to do...and another mystery to solve. There's a mysterious bearded man to check out, a hired hand who acts a bit suspiciously, and the men who are selling sheep carcasses on the cheap for the school's barbecue. And what about the mysterious lights in the dark and dangerous Walnut Woods nearby?
Trixie's curiosity lead her, Jim, and Honey into a dangerous situation when the river starts rising and the bridge washes out behind them. But the brave threesome manage to get themselves to safety atop a barn and Trixie spots the sheep-rustlers from their perch. Once she and her fellow Bob Whites are rescued, she convinces her uncle's manager to send the police after the crooks and saves the day for Uncle Andrew's farm.
This was one of my all-time favorite Trixie Belden stories when I was growing up. Iowa is close enough to Indiana that it brought the story into familiar territory for me and, of course, I loved that it ends with Jim presenting Trixie with the silver ID bracelet and telling her that she's his special girl. The added danger at the end made it all the more exciting--but safely exciting because we all knew that Trixie, Jim, and Honey would be okay in the end. When I spotted this vintage edition at an antique mall last year, I knew I had to get it and revisit the adventure with the Bob Whites. The stroll down memory lane was well worth it and I enjoyed going back to a simpler time in my mystery reading. It was a lot of fun to visit again with Trixie and the Bob Whites. ★★★★★ then and now--for nostalgia's sake.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
sunflower87's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
markmeavery's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
nday's review against another edition
1.0
The ninth book in the Trixie Belden series, and another trip away for the BWG’s. I’m not sure what it is about the books when the characters are away from Sleepyside-on-Hudson but I find the characters they meet generally quite horrid.
The Gorman’s, who were meant to be the parental homely-type farm folk who are looking after the BWG’s on the Belden’s uncles farm were pretty much awful for most of the book.
Everyone spent most of the book making fun of or being mean to Trixie and yeah, that wasn’t enjoyable.
What I did like was the end of the book – that had to be the most action-packed finish to a Trixie Belden book to date. While I had serious doubts about the circumstances building to their predicament, I really enjoyed reading it and had trouble putting it down wanting to know what happened next.
Then, to cap it off, one of my all time favourite Trixie Belden moments is right at the end of this book between Jim and Trixie with the bracelet. So sweet.
So, I utterly disliked about two thirds of the book, and loved the ending. Just not sure if the ending was enough to salvage this one.
The Gorman’s, who were meant to be the parental homely-type farm folk who are looking after the BWG’s on the Belden’s uncles farm were pretty much awful for most of the book.
Everyone spent most of the book making fun of or being mean to Trixie and yeah, that wasn’t enjoyable.
What I did like was the end of the book – that had to be the most action-packed finish to a Trixie Belden book to date. While I had serious doubts about the circumstances building to their predicament, I really enjoyed reading it and had trouble putting it down wanting to know what happened next.
Then, to cap it off, one of my all time favourite Trixie Belden moments is right at the end of this book between Jim and Trixie with the bracelet. So sweet.
So, I utterly disliked about two thirds of the book, and loved the ending. Just not sure if the ending was enough to salvage this one.