The Tower at the End of the World

September 1, 2001
Gr 5-8-This sequel to The House with a Clock in Its Walls (Puffin, 1993) is a thematically rich story pitting good against evil, black magic against white, and life against death. Lewis Barnavelt and his Uncle Jonathan once again encounter danger in the form of an evil wizard. While vacationing near Lake Superior, Lewis begins to see specters summoned by Ishmael Izard. When Uncle Jonathan and their friends Rose Rita and Mrs. Zimmerman discover Izard's sinister plan to destroy the world using a new doomsday clock, the group literally races against time to discover how to destroy it. The search leads the friends to an island that only appears when a magical spell surrounding it is lifted. It is there that the group members must face their nemesis and Lewis must confront his fears. The boy's cautious and pessimistic personality contrasts nicely with Rose Rita's adventurous, outgoing nature, and the humorous banter between Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmerman lends a soft spot to the eeriness of the story. The whereabouts of Izard's clock remains elusive to the group until Lewis discovers that it is the giant sundial on the very island on which they are trapped. This absorbing tale has all the elements of a good mystery: a despicable villain, a dark tower, and a frightening monster. Characters are interesting and appealing individuals, and the chapters are well crafted and descriptive, maintaining a high level of suspense. A wonderful blend of suspense, adventure, ghost story, and friendship that is a sure-to-please page-turner.-Janet Gillen, Great Neck Public Library, NY

Copyright 2001 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2001
Gr. 4-6. Strickland adds another supernatural mystery to the late John Bellairs' Lewis Barnavelt series, which began with " The House "with a Clock in Its Walls (1974). In this adventure, Lewis, Uncle Jonathan, Rose Rita, and Mrs. Zimmerman travel to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where an island mysteriously appears and disappears from the waters of Lake Superior. Ominous warnings and malicious manifestations of evil throw Lewis into a state of terror, but with the caring and sometimes magical help of his uncle and their friends, good triumphs over evil yet again. Recommended for collections where this long-running series has a popular following.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2001, American Library Association.)