John Bellairs – The House with a Clock in its Walls [Film Tie-In Edition] (Literature Review)

Lewis Barnavelt doesn’t know that much about his eccentric Uncle Johnathon. But the last thing he expected to find is a house full of magic and mystery. Soon his new life is filled with experimentation and excitement, until suddenly he discovers that his new home is literally a ticking time bomb. There is an evil clock within Uncle Johnathon’s home and if Lewis and his family can’t find it and destroy it, human kind will be in mortal danger.

This is the premise of John Bellairs 1973 classic children’s novel, The House with a Clock in its Walls – the first in a series of twelve books. Upon its release, the novel received all kinds of praise from readers and critics, and was recently adapted into a film starring Jack Black and Cate Blanchett.

On the surface, The House with a Clock in its Walls may seem to lack the ambition and intrigue of juvenile novels that came after it, like Harry Potter or A Series of Unfortunate Events. But for me, this book is more than that, serving as something of an introduction to children’s fantasy for those who have not explored the genre as yet, regardless of whether you read it in 1973 or as a follow up to watching the 2018 movie.

The House with a Clock in its Walls stands the test of time as an enjoyable fantasy-adventure book that is light-hearted yet still mysterious enough to capture the imaginations of younger readers.

There’s an innocence to this novel – and presumably the books that follow – that sets it apart from others in children’s literature, and that’s down to the way John Bellairs has chosen to tell this particular story.

The book is written with his audience in mind, using language that is familiar to readers and constructed in a way that keeps the momentum moving at a pace children will be able to keep up with. While some have said the ending comes a little to abruptly for their liking, I think it ended at just the right time, particularly when you consider the somewhat limited attention span of those who are most likely to read the book, and the fact that it is the first in a series.

It doesn’t linger in areas that would not interest young readers, or in the aftermath of life getting back to normal when the mystery is over. Combine this with Edward Gorey’s illustrations and you’ve got a book that is engaging for children of all ages.

There is a reason this book is a classic. Whether your child is a big fan of the fantasy genre, or just starting out on their reading journey, you’re sure to find something to love about The House with a Clock in its Walls.

The film tie-in edition of The House with a Clock in its Walls was published by Allen & Unwin/Piccadilly Press. To find out more about this title, and others they publish, visit their blog.