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we_are_all_mad_here26's review
3.0
I actually liked this much better than [b:The House with a Clock in Its Walls|295801|The House with a Clock in Its Walls (Lewis Barnavelt, #1)|John Bellairs|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388467935l/295801._SY75_.jpg|1098801]. Just the right amount of creepiness for MG and a protagonist with very relatable MG problems (and a new best friend that I absolutely love).
schottjm's review
4.0
I appreciate Bellairs’ knack for building a story, and letting the creepiness build slowly. While probably tame by today’s standards, I like his style.
nyan7's review
3.0
I would give it a 2 star, but I see how this is middle grade and I am not the target audience.
It was not as exciting as the first one, I can say that much and it was slow pace for such a short read.
It was not as exciting as the first one, I can say that much and it was slow pace for such a short read.
mckenzierichardson's review against another edition
4.0
For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle
Honestly, I liked this one more than [b: The House with a Clock in its Walls|295801|The House with a Clock in Its Walls (Lewis Barnavelt, #1)|John Bellairs|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388467935s/295801.jpg|1098801]. The style was very similar but I think the ending worked better in this one. My big problem with the first one was that there was the huge, ginormous, world-changing problem that was solved so quickly. It felt so disappointing. I wanted more from it. On the whole, the problem in this book was not so big and dire, so the quick-ish ending worked better.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. From what I remember the first one kind of dragged on at times, but this one I finished in a few days. I really wanted to know what was going on and what would happen next. Great read.
I was a little annoyed that Bellairs thought he had to spoon feed the answers to the reader at the end. I feel like you could cut off the last few pages and actually feel more satisfied with the ending. He just makes it a point to answer ever single question. I usually like when all the ends are tied up, but I think the answers were just so in your face that it was almost insulting.
Despite that, this was a very good read.
Honestly, I liked this one more than [b: The House with a Clock in its Walls|295801|The House with a Clock in Its Walls (Lewis Barnavelt, #1)|John Bellairs|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388467935s/295801.jpg|1098801]. The style was very similar but I think the ending worked better in this one. My big problem with the first one was that there was the huge, ginormous, world-changing problem that was solved so quickly. It felt so disappointing. I wanted more from it. On the whole, the problem in this book was not so big and dire, so the quick-ish ending worked better.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. From what I remember the first one kind of dragged on at times, but this one I finished in a few days. I really wanted to know what was going on and what would happen next. Great read.
I was a little annoyed that Bellairs thought he had to spoon feed the answers to the reader at the end. I feel like you could cut off the last few pages and actually feel more satisfied with the ending. He just makes it a point to answer ever single question. I usually like when all the ends are tied up, but I think the answers were just so in your face that it was almost insulting.
Despite that, this was a very good read.
calistareads's review against another edition
4.0
I flew home from my holiday today and this was the perfect book to read on the plane. I was able to finish it in one sitting.
This is the second book in the Lewis Barnavelt series. Lewis has made a friend in tomboy Rose Rita. They make a good pair. Lewis needs Rose to help him grow up a bit. Lewis is mostly a coward and he has weight issues. He is still, a likable character. Rose Rita is tough and stands up to bullies.
Lewis is given his Grandfathers 'magic coin' and he believes it will make him brave. When he figures out it has turned him into a puppet, he gets scared and he needs all the help he can get.
I really enjoy reading these books. John Bellairs has an amazing style. He is good at setting mood and his characters are different. There is more magic and sorcery in this book. The setting is winter from October to Christmas and they do exchange presents. I love all the snow in the book. I have not seen any this year, so it was nice to read about weather we should be having.
This is the second book in the Lewis Barnavelt series. Lewis has made a friend in tomboy Rose Rita. They make a good pair. Lewis needs Rose to help him grow up a bit. Lewis is mostly a coward and he has weight issues. He is still, a likable character. Rose Rita is tough and stands up to bullies.
Lewis is given his Grandfathers 'magic coin' and he believes it will make him brave. When he figures out it has turned him into a puppet, he gets scared and he needs all the help he can get.
I really enjoy reading these books. John Bellairs has an amazing style. He is good at setting mood and his characters are different. There is more magic and sorcery in this book. The setting is winter from October to Christmas and they do exchange presents. I love all the snow in the book. I have not seen any this year, so it was nice to read about weather we should be having.
librarygirl94's review against another edition
3.0
This was another good John Bellairs read. I really enjoyed the characters from the first book so it was nice to continue their story in this one. I also enjoyed Mercer Meyer's illustrations and thought it was neat to see him do something different from his norm.
ramseyhootman's review
5.0
Compared with other re-reads of my favorite childhood books, Bellairs is way ahead of his time. This is a book about
The conclusion you'd expect from this narrative - even if written today - is that Lewis "should" discover that there's no shortcut to confidence, and that he needs to learn to stick up for himself on his own.
That is not what happens. Lewis just gets himself deeper and deeper into trouble, and in the end, Rose Rita comes to his rescue a second time. And that's... JUST FINE. His uncle Jonathan is also regularly pulled out of hot water by his friend, Mrs. Zimmerman. Some people are fighters. Some people, like Lewis, are gentle souls. On the last page, when the Charles Atlas booklet he orders at the beginning of the book finally arrives, you know he's not going to stop eating cookies and get fit. He's discovered that it's okay to be comfortable exactly as he is.
Spoiler
a fat kid who is embarrassed that his best friend (a girl) fights off the bully that has been tormenting him. He decides he's going to get fit and strong, and ends up in possession of a sinister amulet that encourages him to be confident and aggressive.The conclusion you'd expect from this narrative - even if written today - is that Lewis "should" discover that there's no shortcut to confidence, and that he needs to learn to stick up for himself on his own.
That is not what happens. Lewis just gets himself deeper and deeper into trouble, and in the end, Rose Rita comes to his rescue a second time. And that's... JUST FINE. His uncle Jonathan is also regularly pulled out of hot water by his friend, Mrs. Zimmerman. Some people are fighters. Some people, like Lewis, are gentle souls. On the last page, when the Charles Atlas booklet he orders at the beginning of the book finally arrives, you know he's not going to stop eating cookies and get fit. He's discovered that it's okay to be comfortable exactly as he is.