The House With a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs

Puffin Books, 179 pages, $7.99 (c1973)

John Bellairs wrote some mighty fine scary books for children before he died in 1991. Young Gothic. His first series starred Lewis Barnavelt, an awkward ten-year-old who has a penchant for magic. “The House With a Clock in Its Walls” was the first in the series, and it is being re-released because there is a movie version coming out in September. I say read the book version first. The movie will no doubt be padded by special effects and celebrity mugging. I hope the movie retains what the story is at its heart: how a lonely young boy who has a hard time fitting in becomes a little braver, a little smarter, and a little more confident. That should be the takeaway and that is the loveliness of Bellairs’ books.

Lewis is orphaned — all the best books about intrepid children seem to begin that way, parents being more impediments than mentors — and sent to live with Uncle Jonathan, a man he has never met. Uncle J has a next-door neighbor, Mrs. Zimmerman, who spends a lot of time in Uncle J’s house when they aren’t spending a lot of time at her house. Mrs. Z is a witch, Uncle J explains, just as he is a warlock. Oh.

Within Uncle J’s spooky mansion is a ticking clock. It is an evil clock that proves reluctant to reveal its location. Can Lewis find the clock, render harmless whatever curse exists, and make friends at school? Despite some truly spooky stuff (The Hand of Glory!), “The House” is delightful and nonsensical in the best way, and the version I have has Edward Gorey illustrations. Score!

Crossing my fingers that the movie retains half the charm and quirks of the book!