Parents' Guide to

The House with a Clock in Its Walls: Lewis Barnavelt, Book 1

By Mary Eisenhart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Ten-year-old raises the dead in creepy Gothic classic.

Book John Bellairs Horror 2004
The House with a Clock in Its Walls: Lewis Barnavelt, Book 1 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 9+

Based on 4 parent reviews

BabyG0tVax
BabyG0tVax Parent
October 30, 2022
age 9+

Perfectly spooky but not too scary

I read this before giving it to my 9 year old around Halloween. It is spooky but not terrifying. Lewis is a lovely character... not a perfect boy and very relatable. The Edward Gorey illustrations add just the right touch. Definitely recommend.
jcmcdowell
jcmcdowell Adult
April 11, 2022
age 8+

Spooky and bizarre…

This is a book worth reading at least once. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to younger readers interested in a good spook fest in a gothic setting. I did not find it particularly spooky compared to other horror/thriller books, but this one was bizarre in a good way. It is appropriate for kids and adults alike. I recommend it to kids age 8 and up, since some kids younger than that might not understand what is happening, since there are a lot of supernatural events depicted in the book. I have not see the movie yet, but this is a good book that is not terribly long. The main concerns are the violence and scariness, but there is no mature content besides that. Throughout the book, there are both positive messages, like perseverance and bravery, and positive role models, like Lewis, Uncle Jonathan, and Mrs. Zimmermann, who are all involved in stopping the clock in the walls from ending the world. Overall, this is a mind-bending thriller that many people would enjoy.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS is the new home of 10-year-old Lewis Barnavelt, whose parents have just died in an accident. It's 1948, and the house belongs to his uncle Jonathan, a stranger to Lewis, who has been warned that the man smokes, drinks, and plays poker. As it turns out, Uncle Jonathan is also a warlock (a male witch/sorcerer). So was the house's original owner, who may have something to do with the mysterious ticking that never goes away. Lewis is starting to enjoy his new life and even thinks he's made a friend -- but when the new friend turns mean, Lewis is desperate to impress him, so he goes to the cemetery on Halloween to raise someone from the dead. What could possibly go wrong?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (4 ):

John Bellairs' tale of a 10-year-old orphan, his warlock uncle, and world-destroying villains back from the dead -- first in a long series -- has entertained and spooked readers since 1973. Edward Gorey's classic illustrations manage to be both creepy and endearing. There's more than a bit of "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" as young Lewis Barnavelt gets in way over his head raising people from the dead, and a strong sense of loving (if really strange) family and friends to set things right.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the magic spells in The House with a Clock in Its Walls. How does the magic in this book compare with that in other stories you've read or seen in movies?

  • Do you think you'll go see the movie of The House with a Clock in Its Walls when it comes out? What do you think might be better in the movie -- and what seems like it would be better in the book version?

  • Do you think that the story being set in 1948 is important? What might be different if it happened now?

Book Details

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