Phyllis A. Whitney: Willow Hill

Our last book by Phyllis A. Whitney is Willow Hill. Published in April 1975 by Signet, This is a story about kids whose high school becomes integrated and how they and their parents react to the new racial tension. Val was a senior and the editor of the school paper, so she had a front row seat to the events of her school and how her friends react.

Allan Kass gives us a typical cover of high school teens. Our heroine clearly has a choice between the two guys behind her. Note the detail and the African American boy in the background. It's a great cover and story.

Phyllis A. Whitney: The Vanishing Scarecrow

The Vanishing Scarecrow by Phyllis A. Whitney was published by Signet in January 1975. Jean and her mother inherited Rainbow Island, an amusement park, from her uncle and they wanted to keep it running but someone was trying to shut them down by scaring the customers and ruining the exhibits.

This is a suitably scary cover by Allan Kass with the heroine teen  walking through a field of scarecrows and one about to grab her! It's closer to the adult gothic covers with only the heroine and the ubiquitous mansion with a glowing light inside! 

Phyllis A. Whitney: Secret of the Tiger's Eye

Secret of the Tiger's Eye was published by Signet in October 1978. Phyllis A. Whitney pens a story about a cave in the garden of Benita's Aunt's home in Cape Town, South Africa. It is rumored to be the den of a ghostly tiger. Two boys make fun of Benita's imagination after she sees the ghostly tiger, but they all band together to figure out the mystery.

Allan Kass shows our teens entering the cave which is sufficiently mysterious to see! Our heroine carries a lit candle while an older teen watches from behind. We see a spooky mansion outside in the moonlight. I like the heroine's overalls and cute bob haircut.

Phyllis A. Whitney: Secret of the Stone Face

May 1978 is the Signet publication date for Secret of the Stone Face by Phyllis A. Whitney. Joanna Baird is wondering who carved the angry face in the rock wall of the hotel maze? She was worried that her mother's fiance, the hotel's manager, might be mixed up in this mystery.

Allan Kass shows our teens as they watch someone climb the rock wall. We see the hotel in the background and a beautiful view beyond. My copy, unfortunately, has a tear over the water but it doesn't take away from the beauty of Allan's work.

Phyllis A. Whitney: Secret of the Spotted Shell

Secret of the Spotted Shell was published by Signet in September 1974 for Phyllis A. Whitney, prolific author of mysteries. Wendy was visiting her cousins in St. Thomas when she got caught up in an island wide mystery about the spotted shell which contains a clue that Wendy is determined to find!

We get a glimpse of the Caribbean in this cover by Allan Kass. Our heroine spies on a pirate while she leans against a brightly blue house! I like the iron decoration and the houseplant details.

Phyllis A. Whitney: Secret of the Samurai Sword

Phyllis A. Whitney's Secret of the Samurai Sword was published in October 1974 and is the story of Celia and Stephen who are spending the summer in Kyoto with their grandmother. When they find a ghost haunting their garden they wonder if it is a hoax since it has upset their neighbor so much?

This cover by Allan Kass has an oriental flavor as we see our teens spying on the samurai warrior with the figure, the statue, and our heroine's outfit! Allan's children are always great to see because he has the ability to make them age appropriate in both face, expression, and size. I hope you enjoy these covers.

Phyllis A. Whitney: Secret of the Missing Footprint

December 1974 is Signet's publication date for Phyllis A.Whitney's Secret of the Missing Footprint. This is a story about Marcie who had to stay the summer with her aunt and uncle while her parents vacationed in Europe! She meets Timothy and he shows her the old quarries nearby. Soon some of her uncle's prehistoric rocks are stolen and they decide to find out who is taking them and why.

Allan Kass does a great job illustrating teens. I'm surprised that he didn't get more jobs after seeing all of these covers. I like this book with the kids sleuthing at the cave and the menacing house sitting behind them. Note that he signs this book with his initials.

Phyllis A. Whitney: Secret of the Haunted Mesa

Secret of the Haunted Mesa was published by Signet in December 1977. Author Phyllis A Whitney sets a story at a ranch in Arizona where Jenny and her friend Greg find an Indian boy who is stealing carvings and things from the ranch. When they inquire further, they find a mystery that is surrounded in the old Indian ruins nearby!

Allan Kass creates a scary cover for this photo with the menacing figure behind the teens who are out late at night sleuthing. I like the use of turquoise and the 70's feel of the clothing.

Phyllis A. Whitney: Secret of Goblin Glen

Secret of Goblin Glen by Phyllis A. Whitney was published by Signet in November 1974. Camberhill's one claim to fame was the unsolved bank robbery! Several generations tried to find the hidden money with the treasure map but all had failed. Trina was visiting and wanted to find the treasure to clear the name of an ancestor who was implicated in the crime.

Allan Kass illustrates two teens digging for the treasure in an eerie spot. I like the action pose of the cover and the expressions on the their faces as they check to see if someone is coming. There is an urgency that Kass gets across to the reader that they need to find the treasure and quickly!

Phyllis A. Whitney: Secret of the Emerald Star

Secret of the Emerald Star was published by Signet for prolific author Phyllis A. Whitney in February 1979. Robin Ward meets a blind girl named Stella who lives with her very odd grandmother and a mysterious lodger. Stella wants the lodger out but can't figure out his seemingly hold over her grandmother and asks for Robin's help!

Allan Kass shows our young couple watching a dancing lady on the lawn of a dark mansion. I like the Victorian mansion and the feeling of space as you see the grounds. Our couple are dressed warmly for evening sleuthing with jackets and jeans. It's cute that they're holding hands because that seems to give evidence that they care for each other. I also like the gleaming green glow that Allan uses on this cover which echoes the title!

Phyllis A. Whitney: Mystery of the Strange Traveler

Mystery of the Strange Traveler was published in May 1974 by Signet for famous gothic author Phyllis A. Whitney. Laurie and her sister Celia were visiting their Aunt Serena on Staten Island and were intrigued by the gloomy house next door. They wondered why Norman, the boy who lived there, was unfriendly and were trying to figure out a way to get inside the house!

Allan Kass illustrates our kids from the back as they sit in a tree and watch the house for clues. I like that he felt secure enough to only give us a profile of the girl and none of the boy! The house has some grand Victorian details. It's a great, imaginative cover that I hope you enjoy!

Phyllis A. Whitney: Mystery of the Scowling Boy

The Mystery of the Scowling Boy was published in February 1975 by Signet. Phyllis A. Whitney writes a story about Jan and her brother Mike who visit the Poconos over Christmas and are determined to meet their favorite movie star when they realize she is visiting also. However a mystery is swirling around her and her son who are determined to keep their distance.

Allan Kass was an avid skier, so he must have enjoyed illustrating this cover! We see the siblings on skis as they look down at a mansion with a mysterious person walking away from it. I like the snow covered tree next to them and their chunky coats and hats. Great cover!

Phyllis A. Whitney: Mystery on the Isle of Skye

Phyllis A. Whitney wrote Mystery on the Isle of Skye in May 1974 and it's the story of Cathy MacLeod who is given a letter from her grandmother as she leaves to visit cousins on the Isle and finds it full of mystery and adventure. Can she and her cousin, Don, find out the mystery and solve it?

Allan Kass shows our young people near a mysterious castle and ripe for adventure. I like all of the purple shades and the relatively few details of this cover. As always, Allan's people illustrations are correct and to scale.

Phyllis A. Whitney: Mystery of the Hidden Hand

January 1980 was the Signet publication of Mystery of the Hidden Hand by Phyllis A. Whitney. Gale and her brother Warren were visiting their uncle in Greece and got caught up in a mystery about their family and a secret that threatened to destroy them!

Allan Kass shows our two siblings near some Grecian ruins and digging for clues. They look as if they've been startled by someone or excited at their find.  I like that the children look enough alike to be siblings and are dressed casually. It's a neat cover and I like Allan's detail with the ruins.

Phyllis A. Whitney: The Mystery of the Gulls

May 1974 is the Signet publication of Phyllis A. Whitney's young adult mystery entitled The Mystery of the Gulls. Taffy Saunders was new to Mackinac Island where her mother has inherited a hotel! Sunset House is scaring guests and her mother has to manage it for the summer in order to claim ownership! Can Taffy figure out what's happening?

Allan Kass illustrates our young couple near the lake where the hero is protective of the heroine as they search for clues on a stormy day. I like their large collars and sweaters which seem very 1970's. Otherwise, both are just too cute for words. It's neat, too, seeing Allan's illustrations of teenagers. Enjoy!

Phyllis A. Whitney: Mystery of the Golden Horn

July 1974 is the publication date for Mystery of the Golden Horn by Phyllis A. Whitney. Vicki Stewart was spending the summer in Istanbul and was told by a gypsy that a golden horn was the key to her fortune! She and her friend Adria end up searching all over the city for clues to the mystery!

Allan Kass illustrates the two teenage girls with the shadows of Istanbul behind them as they climb onto a roof of a castle. He shows them being physically active and imaginative. I like their colorful shirts and jeans which is perfect sleuthing clothing!

Phyllis A. Whitney: Mystery of the Black Diamonds

Mystery of the Black Diamonds by Phyllis A. Whitney was published in May 1974 by Signet. Angie and Mark were given a map to buried treasure. Now they needed to figure out the symbols to figure out where it was!

Allan Kass shows our young couple in a ghost town. I like the creepy feeling we get along with the tinge of romance as we see our pair holding hands as they walk down the deserted street. It's neat to see Allan Kass illustrate modern dress. I hope you enjoy!

Phyllis A. Whitney: Mystery of the Angry Idol

August 1974 is Signet's publication date for Whitney's Mystery of the Angry Idol! Jan Pendleton was visiting her grandmother for the summer and was prepared for a long dull vacation until she met Neil, Patrick, and saw a stranger lurking nearby! It all had to do with a strange Chinese idol in the house and Jan was determined to solve this mystery!

Allan Kass gives us a picture of a stormy day with our young sleuths as they walk along a dock and look for clues. I like that the boy carries a flashlight and we see an indistinct man on the boat that looks very mysterious!

Phyllis A. Whitney: Linda's Homecoming

Phyllis A. Whitney was a famous author of young adult books and gothic mysteries. Linda's Homecoming was published by Signet in October 1971 and is the story of Linda who has moved with her newlywed mother from Manhattan to a small town called Cedarhill.

Allan Kass told me in a letter that this series of young adult books were some of his favorite to read and illustrate! I hope you enjoy all of the covers. This one shows our young hero and heroine sitting in a lush green glade. I like the purple of her skirt and am always amazed at how this cover would fit a book published now in 2014!