Summary:
When Lewis Barnavelt, an orphan, comes to stay with his uncle Jonathan, he expects to meet an ordinary person. But he is wrong. Uncle Jonathan and his next-door neighbor, Mrs. Zimmermann, are both magicians! Lewis is thrilled. At first, watching magic is enough. Then Lewis experiments with magic himself and unknowingly resurrects the former owner of the house: a woman named Selenna Izard. It seems that Selenna and her husband built a timepiece into the walls—a clock that could obliterate humankind. And only the Barnavelts can stop it!
My take: 3 looks
Originally reviewed October 4, 2018
With a motion picture out (and starring Jack Black, to boot!), I wanted to pick up this juvenile mystery before seeing it on the big screen.
Keeping in mind that this is a children’s book, I am giving it three looks. For a 10-12 year old, this would be quite a scary story! The story mixes fun with Uncle Jonathan, seriousness with Miss Zimmerman (when she is not exchanging hilariously funny names with Jonathan), angst with Lewis trying to fit in at a new school, and scary with wizards, witches, and a long-dead sorceress.
Very quick and easy to read, the book did what I wanted it to do: give me a foundation for comparison when I see the movie. However, there were some questions that I continued to have at the end, like exactly WHAT is happening to Jonathan and Miss Zimmerman when the clocks are striking, what is the significance of the color purple for Miss Zimmerman, and exactly what is the nature of the relationship between the wizard and witch who are now raising Lewis.
There are 12 titles in the Lewis Barnavelt series, so at least some of these questions may very well be answered in future spooky tales.
Recommended.
