“Lewis Barnavelt fidgeted and wiped his sweaty palms on the seat of the bus that was roaring toward New Zebedee.”

From John Bellairs’ The House with a Clock in Its Walls.

When a fatal accident leaves young Lewis an orphan, he moves across the country to live with a relative that he’s never met before: his Uncle Jonathan.  While slightly odd, Jonathan is also extremely kind and funny, instantly welcoming Lewis into his home and life.  Lewis is quickly introduced to Jonathan’s neighbor Mrs. Zimmermann who regularly cooks meals for her bachelor best friend.  Jonathan and Lewis live in an amazingly huge and fascinating house that has rooms filled with crazy furniture, antique clocks, slightly-magical windows, and the never-ending ticking of a clock in every wall.  Lewis is scared by the mysterious clock in the walls, until Uncle Jonathan explains that he is a warlock and Mrs. Zimmermann is a witch; they also explain that before Jonathan, a wicked warlock lived in the house and he left the constantly-ticking clock behind.  When a dare has terrible (and unintended) consequences, it is up to Lewis, his uncle, and elderly neighbor to find and stop the clock before it causes the end of the world.

Bellairs’ novel is delightfully simple, yet super captivating; the story perfectly walks the line of a quick read that is also full of memorable moments.  The main characters are unique, and even though some of Lewis’ (poor) choices can be frustrating to readers, the writing makes the main character feel real.  While it is only a few quick mentions, some parents may not be comfortable with younger readers being exposed to the witchcraft ideologies or methods, but the book never goes past mentioning an item.  The illustrations scattered throughout the book are also quite beneficial to the reader.  Overall, The House with a Clock in Its Walls is a story filled with enough magical moments to make a truly fascinating story.