The Mysterious Visitor

I love all the Trixie Belden books - or at least the first twenty or so (there may be more since I got older and didn't buy them). Wonderful atmosphere, wonderful characters, cute plots, this is something every girl of 10 or so should read. And every grown woman should re-read. I wish life was really like this! But in lieu of that, I'll take Trixie Belden books.

I was once an avid Nancy Drew fan... until a friend let me read her Trixie Belden book. I was hooked, and never looked back. Trixie is a well-developed, realistic character. She's not perfect, so she is easy to relate to. Her friends and family are realistic as well, and are integral to the stories - not just as plot conveniences, but as real people that Trixie loves and depends upon. Despite their imperfections, they are great role models because they are caring people and strive to improve themselves and help others. "The Mysterious Visitor" was the book that got me hooked on Trixie Belden. Trixie and her friends show a great deal of care and patience as they help unhappy classmate Diana through a tough family problem. Kids will appreciate Trixie's challenge in this story only too well: she is sure of something, but no one believes her. Trixie must decide whether to just drop it, mind her own business, and maintain the peace; or find the proof to persuade her friends and keep Diana's family from making a big mistake. It's a simple decision for Trixie, who never takes the easy way out of anything other than housework. I don't know what prompted Trixie's return to print, but I'm delighted. I believe the illustrations are from the original editions, although the cover artwork may be new (the girl on the cover doesn't look anything like the drawings inside, or the writer's description). The text appears not to have changed at all. Therefore, these stories may seem dated to young readers. Heck, they seemed dated to me 25 years ago. I didn't mind at all, and I hope the new generation of readers don't mind either.

This one introduces Diana Lynch to the Bob-Whites club, as she despairs of her recently arrived obnoxious uncle. Di doesn't bring much but bubbleheadedness to the party, but she does make Trixie look like a rocket scientist in comparison. And we get to see some of Trixie's snarky side as she makes sarcastic comments to Di on the school bus at the beginning of the book (but Trixie does come around later, thanks to Honey's gentling influence).If you can find a copy of the old Deluxe (aka "Tall") edition illustrated by Marvin Besunder in 1965, note especially the ominous picture of Trixie alone on a field investigation to a seedy neighborhood. (For a discussion of the various illustrators, editions, and authors, check out some of the Trixie Belden websites, such as trixie-belden or the trixie belden home page.)This book climaxes with one of my two favorite scenes from the entire series (the other being in the Mystery of the Blinking Eye). Let's just say that it can be advantageous to stay on good terms with one's occasionally annoying siblings.

This is the one that introduces Diana Lynch to the Bob-Whites club, as she despairs of her recently arrived obnoxious uncle. Di doesn't bring much but bubbleheadedness to the party, but she does make Trixie look like a rocket scientist in comparison. And we get to see some of Trixie's snarky side as she makes sarcastic comments to Di on the school bus at the beginning of the book (but Trixie does come around later, thanks to Honey's gentling influence). Note especially the ominous picture in the Deluxe edition (illustrated by Marvin Besunder) of Trixie alone on a field investigation to a seedy neighborhood. (For a discussion of the various illustrators, editions, and authors, check out the Trixie Belden Library website.) This book climaxes with one of my two most memorable moments from the entire series (the other being in the Mystery of the Blinking Eye). Let's just say that it can be advantageous to stay on good terms with one's occasionally annoying siblings.