Bellairs, John

The House With a Clock In Its Walls (Lewis Barnavelt)

Average customer rating:

Great Read Reminiscent of Poe
No Cigar....
Lewis Barnavelt and the Ticking Walls
The walls are alive with the sound of ticking
Some of the best 'spooky' juvenile fiction out there!

The House With a Clock In Its Walls (Lewis Barnavelt)
John Bellairs
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142402575

Amazon.com

Lewis always dreamed of living in an old house full of secret passageways, hidden rooms, and big marble fireplaces. And suddenly, after the death of his parents, he finds himself in just such a mansion--his Uncle Jonathan's. When he discovers that his big friendly uncle is also a wizard, Lewis has a hard time keeping himself from jumping up and down in his seat. Unfortunately, what Lewis doesn't bank on is the fact that the previous owner of the mansion was also a wizard--but an evil one who has placed a tick-tocking clock somewhere in the bowels of the house, marking off the minutes until the end of the world. And when Lewis accidentally awakens the dead on Halloween night, the clock only ticks louder and faster. Doomsday draws near--unless Lewis can stop the clock!

This is a deliciously chilling tale, with healthy doses of humor and compassion thrown in for good measure. Edward Gorey's unmistakable pen and ink style (as seen in many picture books, including The Shrinking of Treehorn and Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats) perfectly complements John Bellairs's wry, touching story of a lonely boy, his quirky uncle, and the ghost of mansions past. (Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

John Bellairs, the name in Gothic mysteries for middle graders, wrote terrifying tales full of adventure, attitude, and alarm. For years, young readers have crept, crawled, and gone bump in the night with the unlikely heroes of these Gothic novels: Lewis Barnavelt, Johnny Dixon, and Anthony Monday. Now, the ten top-selling titles feature an updated cover look. Loyal fans and enticed newcomers will love the series even more with this haunting new look!

Customer Reviews:

Great Read Reminiscent of Poe.......2007-06-24

The House with a Clock in It's Walls is about a young boy named Lewis who's parents have died recently and has now gone to live with his uncle Jonathan. His uncle Jonathan is this wonderfully strange man who lives in a wonderfully strange mansion with a wonderfully strange neighbor by the name of Mrs. Zimmerman. Lewis soon learns that Uncle Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmerman both dabble in magic...he also learns of a clock buried in the walls of the mansion, and of his uncle's strange obsession with clocks.

Lewis is also going through a rough adjustment process. He's in a new town with new relatives and is trying to make friends. But he's a little chubby kid who's horrible at sports. When one of the popular boys at school shows an interest in him, he does everything he can to keep him as a friend. He goes as far as jumping into aspects of magic and necromancy that he knows nothing about. In doing so, Lewis may have awakened something that can't be put back to rest.

I really enjoyed this first book in the trilogy that was illustrated perfectly by Edward Gorey.

No Cigar...........2007-06-12

A bit boring, ho hum! Of the children I gave this to they would read a while and then find other things to do and then read a little more later. I read it - not enough to hold interest for any period of time and the artwork is strange - more adult. Give it to your child to read in between waiting for the good books to arrive. Okay, but!

Lewis Barnavelt and the Ticking Walls.......2007-02-27

Joey 2/26/07
The House with a Clock in Its Walls, John Bellairs, 0-7607-1142-9

"Doomsday not come yet! I'll draw it nearer by a perspective, or make a clock that shall set all the world on fire upon an instant". In this realistic fiction thriller, Lewis Barnavelt is a young, husky boy whose parents both died recently and is going to live with his uncle Jonathan. Inside the walls of Jonathan's mansion, comes a ticking noise set there by the previous owner who was a crazy warlock named Isaac Izzard. This clock is supposed to bring the world to an end and Lewis, Jonathan, and Mrs. Zimmerman must stop it.

I thought that this book should be rated a 8 out of 10 on my ratings list because I enjoy fantasy and fiction novels and also enjoy nonfiction stories as well. I thought that this book was a phenomenal example of realistic fiction because it wasn't about dragons and gremlins and basilisks, but it did have witches and warlocks mixed with nonfiction times in the 1940's.
I would definitely recommend this book, but mainly to young adults ages 13 (like myself) to 20 because it was about a juvenile and had some fiction in it so it most likely wouldn't be a great choice for more sophisticated adults. This book for me was definitely a page turner because every time something exciting ended another exciting thing started anew. This book was also a cliff-hanger because when I finished a chapter and had to leave I would ponder my thoughts and form a prediction and predict what I thought would happen. I couldn't wait to find out what actually did happen. I thought that this genre would probably be my second favorite genre because of the fact that John Bellairs mixed Fiction with Nonfiction and never have I read a book before that has done that. This is my second favorite genre, right after science fiction such as Halo, Star Wars, and Lord of the Rings.

The walls are alive with the sound of ticking.......2007-01-21

John Bellairs is best known as the author of sixteen gothic mystery novels for young adults comprising the Lewis Barnavelt, Anthony Monday, and Johnny Dixon series. "The House with a Clock in its Walls" (1973) is the first in the Lewis Barnavelt series.

Lewis is a newly orphaned, plump ten-year-old, who wears "purple corduroy trousers, the kind that go `whip-whip' when you walk." The author often claimed that his imagination got stuck at ten, and here is Lewis, age ten, going to live with his Uncle Jonathan in New Zebedee, Michigan. The year is 1948, and New Zebedee bears a strong resemblance to Marshall, Michigan, where the author was born--- The Cronin House and the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) Hall still stand in Marshall, just as their counterparts do in New Zebedee.

"The House with a Clock in its Walls" is a whimsical horror tale involving a deceased wizard's scheme to end the world. The book was illustrated by Edward Gorey (speaking of whimsical horror), and was at one time transformed into a made-for-tv movie for children.

So far from what I've read of Bellairs, his characters tend to be elderly eccentrics, or ordinary children (no superkids, here). Lewis is resourceful, but with a child's fears and limitations. Most especially, he is afraid that his uncle won't like him, that the kids in his new school will make fun of him, and that he'll never have a friend. His uncle Jonathan and neighbor, Mrs. Zimmerman are skilled in magic, and are very likeable. They perform magic tricks for Lewis and make him chocolate chip cookies and coca, and generally treat him as a small adult. The one thing Uncle Jonathan is reluctant to talk about is the ticking noise within his old house.

Lewis discovers that his uncle makes midnight excursions throughout the house, stopping and restarting all of the old clocks. He slowly gets involved in the mystery of the undiscovered clock. The wizardly Izzard couple who used to live in the house are both dead, but what did they leave behind and why?

There are some genuinely frightening scenes in "The House with a Clock in its Walls"---most especially when Lewis tries to impress a new friend by stealing one of his uncle's magic books and taking it to the graveyard at midnight on Halloween---but I don't want to spoil the story for you (Hint: there's a scene straight out of "Count Magnus" by M.R. James when the lock pops off of the crypt). Let me say that this is a truly scary book, and if the author's imagination got stuck at ten, he must lived an awesomely spooky tenth year

Some of the best 'spooky' juvenile fiction out there!.......2006-10-16

I'm 37 years old and I still love John Bellairs, particularly this series, which features a great cast of characters: Lewis Barnavelt, the orphan who comes to live with his Uncle Jonathan, a wizard, who lives next door to a witch, Mrs. Zimmermann. It's a wonderfully 'spooky' tale entirely appropriate for kids, but enjoyable for adults as well. I can't wait until my nephew is old enough to read these.

Average customer rating:

A great read from one of my favorite childhood authors!
Very Good
Bellairs' most ambitious novel.
Back through time
Constantinople Rocks

The Trolley to Yesterday
John Bellairs
Manufacturer: Dial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0803705816

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

A great read from one of my favorite childhood authors!.......2006-06-27

I am in the process of collecting all of John Bellairs books because I loved them so much when I was younger. I just finished reading this one as I added it to my collection and I was reminded of how great of an author John Bellairs was. I think every child should give his books a chance because I'm sure they will get hooked on reading for life!

Very Good.......2004-06-23

"The Trolley to Yesturday" was very well done but once the plot starts to develop and they trapped in 1453 everything that can go wrong seems to go wrong. They are very smart characters and pass many tests but sometimes seem to lack a little common sence. I could be wrong but either way this book is still very enjoyable. Although it is not really one of those books that you can NEVER put down it still offers very much. Once again Bellairs writes another good book.

Bellairs' most ambitious novel........2004-01-21

Well, Johnny, Fergie, and the Prof are back at it again. Only this time their adventure lies on another continent, in another century.

This is John Bellairs at his absolute peak of creative ability. The cast of characters ranges from an amusing, tongue-in-cheek ancient Egyptian god (in the form of a floating bird statue of course), and an inventor who's harebrained schemes rival that of the professor's, to the more frightening gothic images of medieval ghosts, and talking stone heads. The locations are more exotic than ever before. And the fact that the main characters find themselves in the middle of the Ottoman Turkish siege of Constantinople, lends itself to a great deal of drama almost by default.

True, Bellairs asks the reader to suspend their disbelief a little more than ususal, (I mean, how likely is time travel in an old trolley?) but the rewards are even greater than normal.

The most different, and also the best of the John Bellairs collection.

Back through time.......2003-04-08

Time travel in fantasy is now such a cliche that it's a bit hard to write anything original about it. But John Bellairs managed. "Trolley to Yesterday" has a bunch of intriguing twists and unexpected events, and while it doesn't have as much supernatural content, it still is an enjoyable read.

Professor Childermass is acting even more oddly than usual, which is saying something. When Fergie and Johnny try to investigate his weird behavior (including sand on his carpet and talking to himself), they find the professor having a conversation with Brewster, a magical Egyptian statue. He admits his secret: Behind a bricked-up wall is a time-travelling trolley. And the boys hitch a ride when Childermass travels back in time to save the city of Constantinople from invasion.

The problem? They arrive a little too late, and the city is being overrun by Turkish soldiers. As they struggle to make their way back to the trolley and the safety of the future, they encounter the trolley's creator (who accidently got left behind during one of its previous excursions), a deranged monk, and a group of ghostly Crusaders. But then Johnny is poisoned, and the only cure means going back to Constantinople -- and back into danger.

Usually time travel books are full of cliches, and this one has a few, but you probably won't notice them. Kids who read this book may become interested in the Byzantine Empire -- while Bellairs doesn't present huge amounts of historical detail, he gives enough to be very, very interesting. (There's also a dash of Egyptian stuff too) There's adventure, humor and the odd way of getting around.

Johnny and Fergie remain the surprisingly courageous duo of previous books, the shy boy and his brasher, jokier pal. Professor Childermass is crusty, sometimes a bit irrational, but very lovable. And Brewster (a deity of Upper and Lower Egypt) really steals the show with his dry little comments. .

This book proably has one of the lowest amounts of supernatural stuff of Bellairs' books. Certainly it doesn't have much in the way of horror. But there is a great twist about halfway through, where our heroes are aided by a group of ghostly Crusaders, who are trying to make amends for sacking the city centuries before. I suppose Brewster technically counts as supernatural, and he provides a lot of the humor (such as translating a Turkish soldier's words as "Butter and eggs, and a pound of cheese!").

"Trolley To Yesterday" isn't Bellairs' best novel, but it is an intriguing and informative historical book that adults may enjoy as well, especially if they're Byzantine buffs. Good fun.

Constantinople Rocks.......2002-12-28

I had never read John Bellairs books before, but stumbled upon this because the it was based on Byzantine History, which I like.

I enjoyed the book tremendously. The author manages to convey the fear and desperation of a populace about to be subjugated, while at the same time giving a rip roaring fantasy aspect to it. When reading fantasy books (and this IS a fantasy book) one has to suspend disbelief.

Leaving the fantasy aspect aside, I was impressed at the historical accuracy of the book. It also helped that there is a map of the city at the front of the book to give readers an idea of the set up of The City.

Book Description

"Gravely ill." The haunting words keep repeating themselves over and over in Johnny Dixon's brain. After all the tests, doctors still can't find any earthly reason why Johnny's father lies unconscious. Could it be that Johnny's tangles with a malevolent creature have caused his father to be its latest victim? To save him, Johnny and his friends Professor Childermass and Fergie Ferguson must not only enter into battle with the fearsome fiend, they must fight it in the realm of its own unearthly world!

Customer Reviews:

More of a smirk than a grin.......2000-11-10

I have been an avid fan of John Bellairs for a number of years and when he died a few years ago, I was relieved and pleased when Brad Stickland took up where Bellairs had left off. However, the Wrath of the Grinning Ghost...while entertaining, never quite captures the level of suspense and spookiness that Bellairs always managed and that Strickland himself has accomplished up to this point. Some of the characters are never really developed...the fortune teller is an example...and the main characters that we have all come to know and love, just seem like half hearted shadows of their former selves. While not Strickland's best, it's still worth reading. But, if this is your first taste of Bellairs, you may be better off trying some of his pre-Strickland offerings. Any one of them would be worth your time.

Good to see Johnny again.......2000-08-31

I found Brad Strickland's imitation of John Bellairs good, though in the end it clearly lacked the soul of Bellairs work. However, I am glad that Johnny is back, along with the rest of the gang. I have been a Belliars fan for a long time and am happy that strickland is keeping bellairs characters alive

Good, but not Bellairs.......1999-12-17

Johnny Dixon is one of my favorite literary characters and I was glad to see someone keep him alive after the untimely death of Bellairs. The book was good and began well enough, but was missing the dark and sinister elements that made Bellairs so brilliant. The humor interjected by Brewster felt out of place and the plot did not compare to those of past books. The whole fortune teller and other world travel seemed a bit hokey...I miss the Catholic undertones and grim scenarios faced by Johnny in the past. The Professor was also denied the passages that make him such an old (but lovable) crab. I hope Strickland writes future novels with darker villans and plots as well as greater involvement of Father Higgins and Prof. Coote. Overall, it was enjoyable and I look forward to new titles.

Strickland has created an excellent book........1999-11-11

Another worthy sucessor to John Bellair's books. Kudos for the return of Brewster!

The Figure In the Shadows (Lewis Barnavelt)

Average customer rating:

Second in a Great Trilogy
2nd book in the 'Lewis Barnavelt' series
An interesting story, but the ending is confusing...
A very well written little thriller!
Great spooky book

The Figure In the Shadows (Lewis Barnavelt)
John Bellairs
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142402605

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Second in a Great Trilogy.......2007-06-25

The second book in John Bellairs trilogy, The Figure in the Shadows, delighted me as much as the first. This book follows our same characters as the first book: Lewis, his Uncle Jonathan, and Mrs. Zimmerman, and adds Lewis' new best friend Rose Rita.

Lewis is still quite the unpopular kid at school as he was in the first book. He's still chunky, still no good at sports, and is still quite clumsy. He's getting picked on quite a bit at school. To try to cheer him up, his Uncle Jonathan goes through an old chest with Lewis and they root through all kinds of old treasures. Among them is an old "lucky coin." Mrs. Zimmerman declares that the coin has no magical value, but Lewis is not convinced and decides to wear the coin aware his neck. Things start to look better for Lewis, but with things looking better, a not so friendly side of Lewis appears (can we say "my precious"). A figure in the shadows also appears as do some haunting messages.

The Figure in the Shadows is another delightfully creepy tale by John Bellairs and I'm so glad that chose to read this series! Next up is the Letter, The Witch, and the Ring...the final book in the trilogy.

2nd book in the 'Lewis Barnavelt' series.......2007-01-25

John Bellairs is best known as the author of sixteen gothic mystery novels for young adults comprising the Lewis Barnavelt, Anthony Monday, and Johnny Dixon series. "The Figure in the Shadows" (1975) is the second book in the Lewis Barnavelt series and is preceded by "The House with a Clock in Its Walls" (1973).

So far from what I've read of this author, his characters tend to be elderly eccentrics, or ordinary children (no superkids, here). Lewis is resourceful, but with a child's fears and limitations. Most especially, he is afraid that his uncle Jonathan might send him off to reform school if he discovers that his nephew has been dabbling in magic.

Lewis is a newly orphaned, plump, pre-adolescent boy who wears "purple corduroy trousers, the kind that go `whip-whip' when you walk." He went to live with his Uncle Jonathan (who is also a wizard) in New Zebedee, Michigan after his parents were killed in an automobile accident. It is the late 1940s, and New Zebedee bears a strong resemblance to Marshall, Michigan, where the author was born--- The Cronin House and the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) Hall still stand in Marshall, just as their counterparts do in New Zebedee.

Lewis wants desperately to believe that an old coin belonging to his Great-Grampa Barnavelt has magical powers. He and his best friend, Rose Rita sneak a book out of Uncle Jonathan's occult library and perform a ceremony to `activate' the coin or `magical amulet' as Lewis likes to think of it. He is being bullied at school by a nasty character who stole his new Sherlock Holmes hat, so Lewis starts to wear the old Civil War coin around his neck for protection. Finally he turns on the bully and beats him up, but soon learns that the coin has other, even darker powers.

Late one night, Lewis hears the mail slot on the front door clang. When he picks up the postcard addressed to him, a line of writing appears on the back: "Venio" which means "I come" in Latin.

Lewis picks up a crumpled piece of notebook paper on the sidewalk with the same Latin message, and soon he begins to see a shadowy figure in a long coat. One night as he is walking home from the library, Lewis spots the figure standing under a street lamp. He goes up to it and "the figure walked forward out of the circle of lamplight. Now it was standing before Lewis. Lewis smelled something. He smelled cold ashes. Cold wet ashes."

After he manages to escape, Lewis is so frightened that he asks his friend, Rose Rita to take the coin and throw it away. She wrestles the coin away from him, but instead of throwing it into the storm drain, she hides it.

The bully starts in on Lewis again, and he decides he'll do anything to get the coin back again, even steal it from Rose Rita.

By the time we figure out who the shadowy figure is and why it smells like wet ashes, this story has taken a very frightening turn. Lewis has disappeared and it is up to his Uncle Jonathan, his neighbor, Mrs. Zimmerman, and his friend, Rose Rita to rescue him from a particularly unpleasant fate.

An interesting story, but the ending is confusing..........2005-09-18

John Bellairs' "The Figure in the Shadows" is sequel to the now classic children's thriller, "The House with a Clock in its Walls," and I must say that perhaps, "The Figure in the Shadows" suffers mostly from being a sequel; Compared to the original book and following sequels, this one is rather disappointing in story and atmosphere. High points in this book are once again the great combination of everyday life with magic and sureal happenings as well as the introduction of a fantastic character, Rose Rita Pottinger, Lewis' new best friend who I found more likeable and interesting than our little hero.

Lewis Barnavelt does it again; After he is given Grandpa Barnavelt's 1859 lucky coin, he is sure that nothing bad can happen to him, unfortunately he won't feel completely safe until some sort of magic is involved so he decides to lurk around some forbidden books where he finds the formula to unleash the power of the coin, not knowing that that is not all that's been unleashed.
In this book, Lewis has to confront a big bully named Woody Mingo who is giving him a lot of trouble at his school and even in the streets. Lewis does not quickly realize that some uncontrolable power is surrounding him, his strength seems to have increased as well as his rage, it takes Rose Rita's intelligence to realize that the coin is making Lewis do things he doesn't want to do and that Lewis' life might be in danger. Unfortunately, being able to stand up to a bully and even fight him was always no more than a fantasy for Lewis, but now that power is within him, so giving up the coin would be a great sacrifice. Now Lewis has another problem, he's under the control of an unknown being and giving up the coin is against this soul's wishes, for this Lewis cannot get rid of the coin even if he wants to. Lewis begins receiving letters, all with just one message, "Venio" and eventually a visit from an evil spirit who's come back from the dead only for evil.

That's as far as I can extend the storyline of the book, for I've never been able to fully understand the ending myself. The book is easy to read, as it uses everyday language rather than big words, I would advise the reader to beware of a few moments of profanity use. The bottomline is that this book isn't quite as good as "The House with a Clock in its Walls" or "The Letter, the Witch and the Ring" and the ending is a bit hard to understand, still enjoyable, three stars out of five.

A very well written little thriller!.......2004-12-09

I bought this book for my 11 year old son and he has read it several times, he says he enjoyes this book more than the Harry Potter series and that is talking. The first time he read it he needed help with many of the words so I got to know the story pretty well, after lurking where he is not supposed to, Lewis Barnavelt awakens a terrifying demon who will take control over him and put his life in terrible danger. The books is extremely well written with a lot of details and very good characters, my son liked Rose Rita the best. I recommend this book to any parent who would like to reward their child with a good kid's thriller, my son Alex has it on his favorites list.

Great spooky book.......2004-07-08

I was about 8 or 9 when I first read Figure in the Shadows. It's about orphaned Lewis who comes to live with his uncle Jonathan. Uncle is a wizard but Lewis is too miserable to discover that until much later. Lewis is an extremely well written character. He's a nice kid whom the readers will identify with. He's smart, and funny but becuase he's shy and overweight the town bullies turn on him. His unhappiness at school leads to what he thinks is a gift. Instead it's a trap that takes all his uncle's strength and his best friend Rose Rita's love to fight.

Book Description

Lewis Barnavelt is back! And this time, our lovable underdog/hero has stumbled upon something more powerful than even his overactive imagination can dream up. A camping trip with his Scout troop leads Lewis straight to an old grave and a mysterious, magical whistle. When Lewis discovers that this whistle has the power to stop the boys who insist upon bullying him, he is left with a tough decision. Does he continue to use the whistle, which he suspects might not be fully benign? Is Lewis strong enough to face the potent spirit that he is unknowingly summoning?

Brad Strickland continues to attract readers to the best-selling series begun by the late John Bellairs. Fans of the series will delight in the familiar cast of Lewis, his uncle Jonathan, and best friend Rose Rita Pottinger. Those new to the books will be lured in by the masterfully written supernatural elements and hair-raising situations.

Customer Reviews:

Exceptional chiller.......2003-10-22

After the death of kid-horror author John Bellairs, fan/author Brad Strickland took over the duty of finishing his manuscripts -- and then writing new novels based on the older books. Though his first few books were wobbly, "The Whistle, the Grave, and the Ghost" shows that Strickland has settled solidly into Bellairs' niche.

Lewis Barnavelt, on a camping trip with his Scout troop, wanders away from the campfire. He soon finds a dirty silver whistle, and a strange grave with the inscription "Hic Iacet Lamia" (Here Lies Lamia). That night, something rips a hole in his tent. Uneasy about the whistle and grave, Lewis investigates further, and discovers that a lamia is an ancient female vampire. Rose Rita dismisses the idea, but Lewis is dubious -- especially when he has dreams about an eyeless creature sniffing him out.

Mrs. Zimmerman and Uncle Jonathan investigate the woods, and don't find anything odd. But when Lewis is cornered by a couple of bullies, he finds the whistle in his pocket, and blows it. A snakelike creature appears and attacks the boys, who are hospitalized with a strange blood problem. And Lewis learns that there was something in that grave that wants not just his blood -- but his life. His friends seek out the help of the only person who can stop the lamia...

It's getting harder and harder to tell the difference between vintage Bellairs and the newer stuff by Strickland. Strickland has gained the knack for creepy dreams, horrific monsters with visceral shocks, and bits of old myth and legend. He's also incorporated the Roman Catholic elements that Bellairs did, in the priest Father Foley, who plays a key part.

The pacing and descriptions are spot-on, and the creepy visions and gradual buildup of tension are well-done. Lewis's subtle changes as the lamia starts to take him over are especially well-done. The primary flaw is that the climactic battle is rather fragmented (it just isn't fair to end a chapter like Chapter Thirteen was).

Lewis is well-written here, the bullied underdog with the occasional dark impulse; Rose Rita is the matter-of-fact counterpart whose duty it is to work out what is going wrong in her friend. Mrs. Zimmerman and Jonathan Barnavelt are their old lovable selves.

With "The Whistle, the Grave and the Ghost," Strickland's steady footing on the Bellairs series is reestablished. Creepy, icky, and tightly written, this is among his best.

Brad, youýve raised it to a whole new level!.......2003-08-19

I'm a huge fan of the Bellairs/Strickland books. The Whistle, the Grave and the Ghost has everything all of the best Bellairs books have. It also has more. Much more. In this book we dig deeper into almost every character. We learn more and more things about them. Lewis Barnavelt, for example, is just as he's always been; shy, a bit chubby, thoughtful and persistent. But, in The Whistle, the Grave and the Ghost, he's a few years older, and with those years comes just a little bit more wisdom. It's wonderful to read about how he deals with his trials through slightly, very slightly, more mature eyes. Jonathan Barnavelt is, as always, caring and jolly. We get a broader sense of his magical abilities, and for how much he truly cares for his nephew. Rose Rita Pottinger has also grown. It's a young woman (with that same heart and spirit of steel) that helps save the day. Mrs. Zimmermann, Jonathan's neighbor and bona fide good witch is, perhaps, the character that changes least. And that's as it should be. She was already just about perfect. The most profound difference, and welcomed improvement, between The Whistle, the Grave and the Ghost and most, if not all, of the previous Bellairs and Strickland books, is the antagonist. There's no campy explanation of world conquest a la Scooby Doo in this book: "Well, since you're going to die anyway, why not tell you my brilliant plan! Ha! Ha! Haaaa!" This villain doesn't care for such things. There's no husband/wife or master/servant team of adversaries. This villain is alone. There's no bumbling magician trying to conjure an enormous and lethal spell he can barely control. This villain is very capably deadly. This villain is pure evil. Plain and simple. This is the most primordially terrifying villain of all the Bellairs and Strickland books. We get inside this villain's head, too. We learn not only what she does, but why she wants to do it. In the end, there are no loose ends. Every loop has closure. Everything works and makes sense. Finally, this book, in all the right moments, is very funny. My compliments, again, to you, Brad Strickland, for bringing us the rare gift of a fabulous story. Not just that. A well-written fabulous story. Please keep it up. To the reader, the Bellairs/Strickland veteran and beginner alike, pick up this book

The Ghost in the Mirror (Lewis Barnavelt)

Average customer rating:

The Girls From New Zebedee Take A Spooky Roadtrip
The Ghost in the Mirror
"Ghost" a solid thriller
Scary Book
The Ghost in the mirror

The Ghost in the Mirror (Lewis Barnavelt)
John Bellairs , and Brad Strickland
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140349340

Customer Reviews:

The Girls From New Zebedee Take A Spooky Roadtrip.......2004-12-20

This nice addition to the series gives Rose Rita and Mrs. Zimmerman a chance to hit the road, spend some time together and develop their friendship ... while fighting unearthly dangers of course!

If possible, you should read the earlier books first, but don't miss this one. The story is just fine by itself, but it will make you want to read the earlier and later books as well.

I especially liked the description of early American farm life (which was a hard life indeed!) There were also a couple of nice puzzles for Rosa Rita to solve and I challenge the reader to try to figure them out before she does!

The Ghost in the Mirror.......2003-05-30

Mrs.Zimmermann a witch goes on a vacation with Rose Rita Pottinger. Mrs.Zimmermann and Rose Rita discover that instead of going to their vacation spot they travel back to 1928 in Pennslvania Dutch country when it's winter time. When Mrs.Zimmermann and Rose Rita are in Pennslvania Dutch they have different adventures. Mrs.Zimmermann even loses her memories and her magic powers. Without Mrs.Zimmermann's powers how will Rose Rita Pottinger ever be able to get home? I thought this book was very entertaining because it was interesting.

"Ghost" a solid thriller.......2002-09-23

"Ghost in the Mirror" is one of several books that the late John Bellairs left unfinished at the time of his death. Those books were finished by Brad Strickland, utilizing the author's remaining outlines. It's a solid thriller with a few seams showing, but overall a good read for those not yet ready for Stephen King.

Kindly witch Mrs. Zimmermann has lost her magic, except for a sixth sense and a residual aura of unusable protective magic, and Rose Rita Pottinger has broken her ankle. Her friends Jonathan and Lewis Barnavelt have left the two behind, while on their European vacation. But suddenly Mrs. Zimmermann is called on a mission into the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, and Rose Rita comes with her. Naturally, nothing proceeds as expected. Their car is transported back in time and crashes, leaving the two staying with the kindly Weiss family.

But the mystery deepens when the reason for their time travelling is revealed -- the ghost of the witch Hilda Wetherbee tells them that she has transported them back in time to save a good wizard, Grandpa Drexel, who is fated to die on the first of April. But an evil presence disrupts the message from Granny Wetherbee, and Mrs. Zimmermann becomes stricken with partial amnesia Rose Rita becomes increasingly suspicious that a hexer -- an evil witch -- is trying to drive out the Weiss family. But how can a de-magicked witch and a bespelled modern girl hope to stop a hexer -- and a demon?

This is neither the spookiest nor the tightest of Bellairs' fantasy-horror books, and it suffers slightly from an unfortunate cliche (time travel) and a dependence on previous Bellairs books. But it's a solid time-travel/ghost-story, with some hideously chilling scenes and some interesting new characters. There's a bit of a dull section in the middle, but Strickland picks up the pace near the end with some delightfully Bellairsian scenes of horror when Rose Rita inadvertantly conjures up the demon Aziel. And for people looking for a little educational info, there's some enlightening passages about the Pennsylvania Dutch.

Rose Rita is shown without the shadow of Lewis here, and while she is not quite as interesting as the timid ex-altar boy, she's a good heroine who shows a lot of the characteristics of her best friend. Mrs. Zimmermann is given extra dimension as she tries to regain her magical powers and gets stricken with amnesia. We also get to see two dimensions of Hilda Wetherbee -- as the ghost of a crabby old witch, and as a little girl who befriends Rose Rita. Favorites Jonathan and Lewis Barnavelt even show up for a cameo appearance.

While not the most outstanding of Bellairs' books, this is a good, spooky read, especially for fans of Rose Rita and Mrs. Zimmermann. Not to be missed.

Scary Book.......2002-07-25

I recommend this book to anyone who is 12 years old and older. This book is a story of friendship and bravery. One of the brave things that Rose Rita did was when she started reading a spell book that would let out a monster, but she couldn't stop reading the book. For example, she was thinking, "What was it? A smart person could get out of the trap-if he took every step backwards! That was it! But what did that mean?" She was brave because she wouldn't let the monster out. One of the things that Grampa Drexel showed was his friendship. For example, when Rose Rita asked Grampa Drexel this "Can I ask you a big, big favor? Will you help Mrs. Zimmerman get her magic back?" This was a sign of friendship because he helped get her magic back. This book should be recommended to anyone who likes mysteries and fantasy.

The Ghost in the mirror.......2002-03-21

John Bellairs's THE GHOST IN THE MIRROR was not a very good book. I thought the book was dull and slow moving. I also thought it was unrealistic.
It was about a girl named Rose Rita, who was very excited when her parents ler her go on a two week summer vacation with her friend Mrs. Zimmermann (who was a witch). She was expecting a dangerous trip, but she doesn't expect that when they come out of a highway tunnel they end up in the snowbound winter of 1828. they end up in the Pennsylvania dutch country. Mrs. Zimermann took them back there so she coul regain her magical powers from her first teacher she learned them from.
To tell the truth I thought there was no point to this book. Ot wasn't really even about ghosts or ghosts in the mirror. It was about a witch and her friend. So thats why I didn't like the book THE GHOST IN THE MIRROR.

The Curse of the Blue Figurine (Johnny Dixon)

Average customer rating:

This book made me fall in love with reading, and remained my favorite for 5 years
Curse of the blue figurine
Exceptional
Suspense Masterpiece!
A MUST READ

The Curse of the Blue Figurine (Johnny Dixon)
John Bellairs
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142402583

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

This book made me fall in love with reading, and remained my favorite for 5 years.......2006-04-20

I read this book in 4th grade, and it remained my favorite novel until well into high school. At one point, the characters are going down a dimly lit staircase, and the tension was so vivid that I had to put my covers over my head. It was only then that I realized the book wasn't real. John Bellairs is an exceptional writer. Before this book, I didn't like reading much; after this book, I became a fanatic.

Curse of the blue figurine.......2004-12-09

The Curse of The blue Figurine
I thought that this book was very and exiting. It takes place in 1951 in Massachusetts . The main character is johnny a boy that is 12.He wearsglasses likes to eat chocolate and to read books. Professor Childermss lives across the street from Jhonny.His friend professor childermass . He is old he also likes chess.He has a really bad temper.The book is told by Johnny.It is a little long it is 200 pages.If you like long mysteries you will probably like this book.

Johnny finds a blue figure in his school churches basement. Then a boy that bullies him breaks his arm and Johnny thinks that the blue figure is cursed. One night in the church he meets a man that gives him a ring that is magic.A couple nights later a man appearsthe man says that he should come to a certain park at midnight and to bring the blue figure with him. Man also says that if he takes the ring of he dies.The professor gets worried so he takes Jonhhy to a doctor. The doctor puts Johnny to sleep and takes the ring off . Then the professor takes Johnny on a trip.

I think boys and girls between nine and eleven who like mysteries should read this book.

Exceptional.......2004-06-23

This was a very good book and I encourage everybody to read it. It deals with curses which is awesome and obvious from the title. The story flows very smoothly and I could read it again and again. It is my favorite book by Bellairs.

Suspense Masterpiece!.......2004-06-23

I read this book as an early teen and loved the characters, the plot and the suspense. It was terrifying without being cornball, sympathetic to the characters, and written on a level that children could understand and adults could still enjoy. The mythological undertones of Father Baart and Lucifer are spine-chilling. I love this book, and it got me hooked on the series. I actually find them more enjoyable than Harry Potter. Happy reading!!

A MUST READ.......2004-03-12

The title of this book is The Curse of the Blue Figurine written by John Bellairs. This is an awesome book. This story takes place in the past. The main character's name is Jim. Jim is kind of nerdy. The problem in this story is that Jim finds this blue figurine that is cursed.
This book is a must read! This is a horrifying and cool story and is something some people can relate to. It has Lusafur in it, has awesome details like: how they described the whole story line, especially how they described how Santin was vanished back to Hell where it came from, and some people like Gothic people would like this book. All theses factors are the reasons why the story is interesting or is a must read.
John Bellairs is the author of The Curse of the Blue Figurine. John is a Gothic Mystery novel writer. He was born in 1938 and died in 1991. Before he wrote 15 books he went to the University of Chicago. John Bellairs is a great author. He has the most artistic details I have ever read.

The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring (Lewis Barnavelt)

Average customer rating:

An uncommonly scary witch
The best in the Lewis Barnavelt series!
Rose Rita takes center stage
Rosa Rita,Mrs Zimmerman, and the MAGIC RING.
Cool Review

The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring (Lewis Barnavelt)
John Bellairs
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142402613

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

An uncommonly scary witch.......2007-01-27

John Bellairs is best known as the author of sixteen gothic mystery novels for young adults comprising the Lewis Barnavelt, Anthony Monday, and Johnny Dixon series. "The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring" (1976) is the third book in the Lewis Barnavelt series, although the story is really about his friend, Rose Rita.

So far from what I've read of this author, his characters tend to be elderly eccentrics, or ordinary children (no superkids, here). Rose Rita is a tomboy with a great pitching arm, but she is currently mad at the world. Her friend, Lewis Barnavelt is going to Boy Scout camp for the summer, and he is the only one who appreciates her for what she is: a girl who has no interest in growing up into a world of "skirts and nylons, lipsticks and powder puffs, dating and dancing" which are all waiting for her in Junior High---It's a shame Rita Rose feels obligated to make a choice between sports and dating, but this is early 1950s America.

When old Mrs. Zimmerman offers to take Rose Rita on a trip to see the farm she just inherited from her cousin, Oley, she jumps at the chance. Her father is reluctant to let her go because Mrs. Zimmerman is reputed to be the town screwball, but he finally gives in to Rose Rita and her mother.

Luckily he doesn't know that Mrs. Zimmerman is a witch.

Rose Rita sees her friend pull up in her brand-new 1950 Plymouth and off they go for a couple of weeks in the woods of Northern Michigan.

Unfortunately the new green Plymouth runs out of gas a few miles from Mrs. Zimmerman's newly inherited farmhouse, and the two must trek to the nearest gas station. A really nasty old woman overcharges Mrs. Zimmerman for a can of gas, and Mrs. Zimmerman recognizes her as Gert Bigger, an old rival in love. (Rose Rita has difficulty believing that either one of them could have loved or been loved).

When Mrs. Zimmerman and Rose Rita finally arrive at the farmhouse in the woods, they realize that it has been ransacked. The ring that Oley had found and believed to be magic has been stolen.

When Mrs. Zimmerman herself disappears, it is up to Rose Rita to solve the deepening mystery.

Don't expect milksop magic or easy solutions from this author. Rose Rita has to confront both interior and exterior demons, and comes very close to death before Bellairs winds down to his usual cocoa and cookies (well, roasted marshmallows in this story) ending.

The best in the Lewis Barnavelt series!.......2005-09-19

John Bellairs' "The Letter, the Witch and the Ring" was the last in his Lewis Barnavelt series that he saw through completion before his death in 1991, Brad Strickland then continued the series, but never reached near the great thrill involved in this outstanding adventure. "The Letter, the Witch and the Ring" follows "The Figure in the Shadows" which I found rather disappointing and is the third in "The House with a Clock in its Walls" or Lewis Barnavelt series, this one however, hardly includes Lewis, instead, Rose Rita Pottinger introduced at the end of the first book stars in this great sequel.

Rose Rita Pottinger isn't looking forward to summer, her best friend Lewis is going away to camp and she'll be left all alone, there's an opportunity for her to join a girls camp, but she does not want to spend summer with other girls, mainly because she is a tomboy and believes that boys get to have all the fun. Nearby, Mrs. Zimmermann receives a letter from her late cousin Oley inviting her to pay a visit to the now deserted farm up in Wisconsin, which Mrs. Zimmermann has now inherited as well as an old snake-shaped ring which Cousin Oley believes might be magic. Mrs. Zimmermann invites Rose Rita in what-seems like an ordinary trip to the north, instead what they encounter is a thrilling unforgettable adventure facing the wicked witch Gert Bigger!

When Mrs. Zimmermann and Rose Rita arrive at Oley's Farm in the old green 1950 Playmouth (Named Bessie), they find that the place has been broken into and the ring stolen. Now the mystery is, who would want the ring and for what? Things go very wrong and seem to be getting worse and worse, more frightening for Rose Rita, especially after Mrs. Zimmermann mysteriously disappears. Luckily for Rose Rita, she's able to meet some new friends there, for instance, the Sipes family, who although sometimes become trouble for the girl, their intentions are always good.

What I loved most about this great book was its atmosphere, it seems surrounded by a somewhat gloomy, yet cozy feeling and the different events are chilling, sometimes you might even feel your heart-rate speed up enourmously. Indeed the greatest among all of the Lewis Barnavelt series I have read! A winner!

Rose Rita takes center stage.......2004-06-24

Rose Rita Pottinger, introduced in THE FIGURE IN THE SHADOWS, takes center stage with the elderly witch Mrs. Zimmermann in this book.

Mrs. Zimmermann, who lost her powers in the last book, takes Rose Rita with her on vacation after Rose Rita's best friend Lewis goes off to Boy Scout camp. They start off visiting a farm that Mrs. Z has inherited, but find that a ring that her cousin had believed to be magic is missing. Mrs. Z dismisses it but Rose Rita isn't so sure. As they continue on their trip, they find themselves stalked by supernatural events, and it comes to a head when they return to the old farm and confront their enemy, a person with a bitter grudge who will go to any length to get revenge.

This book deals with the problems of growing up; Rose Rita isn't sure she wants to grow up, and as a tomboy is afraid of the whole dresses-and-dating thing, something a lot of girls deal with. The writing is full of evocative passages describing the small towns they go through on their vacation, reminding me of many of my own childhood vacations. The villain is evil, to be sure, but also fairly tragic when we get a flash that they're a victim of longtime domestic violence.

This is good fun, moving at a leisurely pace at times, but also with genuinely chilling moments. The central message is to be at peace with who you are, and to make the best of yourself, rather than wanting to be something you're not.

For a long time, this was the last in the Barnavelt series, until THE GHOST IN THE MIRROR was published after Bellairs' death, with additional material by Brad Strickland.

Rosa Rita,Mrs Zimmerman, and the MAGIC RING........2004-03-16

Rosa Rita had nothing to do this summer, because her best friend Lewis is going to a camp. But her friend Mrs. zimmermman had a letter from her cousin, that he was dead, and the farm he had it has passed to her. And he had also found a magic ring. Mrs. Zimmermman invited Rosa Rita to try and find out more about the MAGIC RING.
I did like the book, because I did'nt have anything better to do in class.

I recomended the book if you don't have anythig better to do, but if you have opportunity to play soccer, or any of your favorite sports don't read it.

Cool Review.......2004-02-24

This book talks about a young girl named Rose Rita. She is 16yrs old and she likes this boy named Lewis,but Lewis went on a boy scout camp. She was very disappoited about this,and Mrs.Zimmermann asked Rose Rita to come along with her to Oley's Farm. But Rose Rita told Mrs.zimmermann that she needed to ask her parents for permission.She was very excited that she was going on a trip with Mrs.Zimmermann. On the way to Oley's farm they run out of gas,and they have to walk a few miles to the Gas Station.Throught out this story Rose Rita meets new people and she rescues Mrs.Zimmermann from Mrs.Bigger.

Customer Reviews:

The story.......2003-12-06

This book is actually based on a town. In fact its the one i live in. Their is an old opera house that is all run down and John Bellairs wrote a book about it. He also based "The House With the Clock in its Walls" off a Marshall house.

"The dead will rise...".......2002-09-23

"Doom of the Haunted Opera" is one of my favorite books by John Bellairs/Brad Strickland, a good mix of spookiness, humor, supernatural megalomania, and a dash of real human fears. Lewis Barnavelt and Rose Rita Pottinger are at their best here.

Jonathan Barnavelt receives the news that a friend -- another wizard -- has recently died, and posthumously asks that Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmermann take care of his old magical objects. The two leave New Zebedee, and Rose Rita and Lewis are left to their own devices. They explore an old opera house and find a crumbling old opera called "Day of Doom," by Immanuel Vanderhelm. As Lewis finds the opera, he sees a ghostly dead man who calls out "Beware the doom of the haunted opera! He means to be King of the Dead!"

Then a strange man appears in the town, claiming to Vanderhelm's grandson. He means to put on as performance of the opera, and at first everything appears to be all right. But soon all the adults in the town are enamored -- and enspelled -- by Henry Vanderhelm, communications with the outside world are cut off, wizards are locked in their houses, and Lewis sees a tomb statue come alive in the graveyard. With the help of a well-meaning ghost and a grandmotherly witch, can Rose Rita and Lewis hope to stop the raising of the dead?

Anyone who has suffered through a badly-performed opera will enjoy the idea of one being a necromancer's spell. The imaginative plot base is only one of the appealing things about "Doom." The incredibly grim and tense plot is leavened by humor, such as Jailbird the whistling cat and Finster, a ghost who inadvertantly freaks out Lewis with ghostly intonations, then makes himself sound more friendly. Aside from the usual fears of evil sorcerers, there is also the chilling fact that the capable adults are not present throughout much of the book -- we get to see how Lewis and Rose Rita can try to handle the situation on their own. Any kid who has had to deal with a crisis on their own can relate to the fear and frustration of the heroes in this book.

Lewis is, as always, a sweet timid boy who has more guts than he knows. Rose Rita is his equal friend (she can't really be classified as a sidekick) who has to take matters into her own hands when Lewis vanishes. Mrs. Jaeger is a little too vague to be entirely believable, but the idea of an absent-minded grandmotherly witch is a nice one. The deceased Finster is a good source for plot-related info, and mildly amusing as well. And Vanderhelm is an outstandingly sinister villain.

Full of the funny and the spooky, this is a first-rate thriller for fans of fantasy, horror, and John Bellairs. Excellent read.

A good book for those into mystery, and horror stories........2000-02-29

I felt that this book really drew me into its plot. The evil man trying to produce this opera made me realize how charming and innocent people sound when you don't have all the pieces of their life story. It was also exciting to see Rose Rita, and Mrs. Jaeger coming together to thicken and enrich the plot. The only criticism is that there's not much of an epilogue at the end of this story.

This was a pretty good book.......1998-02-11

I have reviewed this book as 8. It was a great book but it needed a better ending. Rose Rita and Lewis go searching through a sealed up opera house when Lewis finds a lost piece of Music. Little did he know he was bring a evil ghost back to life to try to take over the world.

Very smooth transition from author to author.......1998-01-03

Brad Strickland must have faced a considerable task when he began the completion of John Bellair's books. For years, John's heroes of Anthony Monday, Johnny Dixon, Lewis Barnavelt and Rose Rita Pottinger kept the reader busy as they explored and fell into all sorts of settings and supernatural events. From the Windrow curse to the dark secret of Weatherend, the books that Bellairs wrote captivated me, and it certainly wasn't just because of the plot twists and ever-changing settings. Bellairs had a style of writing that made his books close to the reader, even with a setting in another time or even another dimension. Brad Strickland has proved that the transition from the now unfortunately late Bellairs to him is going smoothly. His Hand of the Necromancer did not fail as he went "solo", and neither does the Doom of the Haunted Opera, which was begun by Bellairs as a sketch and finished by Strickland.

Our Lewis Barnavelt and Rose Rita are stuck in cozy (But boring) little New Zebedee, waiting for excitement. Discovering an old opera score, the excitement quickly comes when all adults in the town are swept up in the music rush. The composer of the opera's grandson comes to town, and it is quickly revealed that he has more interests with New Zebedee's inhabitants than just performing a dusty old work and setting up shop at the local Four Seasons Hotel. But unfortunately, pending the performance of an aria from the opera called "The Sealing", a mysterious fog has descended upon New Zebedee and trapped everyone inside it. And the sinister machinations of our dear villain (posing as the willing opera conducter, and world famous singer as well) go deeper and deeper...

This book was very good; it provided the familiar characters fans of Bellairs' have grown to love yet produced a new predicament (the sealing off of the town, though this curiously resembles Lewis's imprisonment inside Barnavelt Manor in a previous Bellairs/Strickland novel, The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder) and a new villain. Certainly Brad Strickland has pulled it off; Doom of the Haunted Opera is true Bellairs, yet Strickland has also managed to add a little of his own flavor into the story without warping its style. Not as climactic and eerie as the Ghost in the Mirror (which I consider to be an incredible achievement) or as creepy as The Drum, the Doll, and the Zombie, but very good. With the new books out, Bellairs' series have not died. Brad Strickland has managed to continue the Bellairs spirit, but also with something new.

The Mummy, the Will, and the Crypt (Johnny Dixon)
Average customer rating:

Great Read!!

What a story!!!!!!

excellent book but pretty dark themes for a kid

Wonderful Book

Amy's View: The Mummy, the Will & the Crypt

The Mummy, the Will, and the Crypt (Johnny Dixon)
John Bellairs
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 014240263X

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Great Read!!.......2006-03-15

I got into John Bellairs when I was a kid of course and I enjoyed his books back then. I am 33 years old now with a kid of my own and I recently thought of him as well as other great books that I got into in my younger years and ordered a few of his books, among others. This was one of the books that I ordered and it is just as good now than it was when I was younger. I totally suggest this book as well as all the Johnny Dixon series. If you love magical stories, then this is the book for you.

What a story!!!!!!.......2004-12-14

This story by John Bellairs has a suspensing and mysterious plot. Johhny Dixon's persistence and determination won him 10,000 dollars. Although he is smart enough to figure out Mr. Glomus's riddle and will, he would also have to escape from a mummy to get the will. I would recommend this book to everyone because this story could inspire many people to go out on their own and have their own adventures. Although he wanted to find the will for the 10,000 dollars, he wanted it to save his grandma. This shows that he is not greedy.

excellent book but pretty dark themes for a kid.......2004-03-26

I loved this entire series when I was a kid and read them all repeatedly. There is no question that the author is talented... the plots are facinating and the characters are vivid and sympathetic. This series is sure to catch the imagination of any child that is interested in mystery or the supernatural.

One caveat, however: these books are pretty dark. There's a lot of evil and anger portrayed, and I'm not sure if that's the sort of thing a child should be dwelling on. The protagonists are healthy role models and their intentions are good, but the book paints a pretty dark and scary picture of the rest of the world.

Wonderful Book.......2001-11-30

I read this book when I was in third grade. Here I am, about to go to law school, and I still remember the details. The story keeps you hanging on the whole length of the book. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves a good mystery, loves to be held in suspense, and who can handle staying up late, because you won't want to put it down.

Amy's View: The Mummy, the Will & the Crypt.......2001-06-05

I liked this book very much because I like reading mysteries. What made it good? First, it kept my interest because it was very exciting. I was very eager to know what happened next. I liked learning about the characters. Their lives were very exciting. Finally, the last 3 chapters were very freaky! Johnny, the main character, was sneaking into the Glomus mansion and he kept hearing weird noises. I would recommend this book to any kids over 7 years of age.

Authors:

Authors

Authors