Author:
John Bellairs

Number of pages:
200

What age group is this book written for?
Elementary School
Middle School

Category:
Fiction

Brief summary:
This is the first in a series of eight books about Johnny Dixon and his friend Professor Childermass.

Johnny Dixon is living with his grandparents in Duston Heights, Massachussetts during the Korean War. His father is in the Air Force and his mother has recently died. In this first book, Johnny finds a figurine in the basement of his church, which leads him to an encounter with a mysterious stranger who tries to control Johnny in an effort to gain something he has lost.

This book and others in the series are exciting yet non-threatening Gothic-style mysteries written for 10-14 year-olds, and early editions include some illustrations by the well-known artist Edward Gorey.