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Book Review By Bridgette Redman
The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs

Lewis is a lonely boy, and not just because his parents are dead. He suffers in the way that only outcast children can. He is sent to stay with Uncle Jonathan his new guardian. Uncle Jonathan is a wizard.

An athletic boy from school, Tarby, befriends Lewis while Tarby is recovering from a broken arm. They find they have things in common and start hanging out together. But Lewis decides he needs to prove his friendship, to do something extra special for Tarby to prove that Lewis is a worthy friend. So he brags about his uncle's magical talent.

While Uncle Jonathan is able to make good on Lewis' boastful promise to Tarby, Lewis soon learns that friendships can be fragile and that his "friend" will require more proofs and more sacrifices.

Strange things begin happening and they increase when Lewis tries his own hand at magic in order to impress Tarby. There is a clock is ticking within the walls of Uncle Jonathan's mansion. Uncle Jonathan and his neighbor, fellow wizard Mrs. Zimmerman, have been unable to find it and they are uncertain what it portends. They tell Lewis that the house was once owned by an evil warlock, Isaac Izard and his wife Selenna. The clock is a doomsday clock. The three must find and stop it before it causes the end of the world.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book - humorous or laughable
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy story on current Earth
Coming of age Yes
Youngster becomes - a powerful magician
Is this an adult or child's book? - Kid's book (ages 7-14)
Horror story? Yes
Horror plotlets - the haunted house chased me!
Descript. of chases or violence - 20 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10 %

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - a kid
Really unusual traits?

Main Adversary
Identity: - magical being
Age: - long-lived adults
Has magical powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can fly - Invisibility
Eccentric: Yes
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
Earth setting: - 20th century
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript
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