The Mysteries of John Bellairs

Master of the Gothic Young Adult Novel

Aug 15, 2008 Catherine Owen

For over 25 years, John Bellairs wrote best selling mystery novels for young adults. Following his death in 1991, Brad Strickland now writes this gripping series.

If one is looking for a series of mysterious and haunting tales featuring compelling characters, look no further than John Bellairs' range of books on the supernatural, literature and human relationships.

The Characters

John Bellairs was famous for creating memorable characters who defy the usual conventions of the mystery genre. His most well-conceived quartet are the ones who grace his trilogy:

• The House with the Clock in its Walls
• The Figure in the Shadows
• The Letter, the Witch and the Ring

These are the chubby orphaned boy, Lewis Barnavelt, his caretaker Uncle Jonathan, the wizard, their next door neighbour, the wacky old lady, Mrs Zimmerman and Lewis's best friend, the bespectacled and brave Rose Rita Pottinger. These characters are realistic portrayals of intergenerational relationships, presenting flaws and fears along with their feats of sorcery.

Bellairs' books all feature young adult male protagonists. Another series that begins with The Treasure of Alpheus Winterborn introduces us to Anthony Monday who escapes his parents' continual arguments at the town library. There he becomes entangled in adventures with his friend, the librarian Miss Eels, a clumsy and sympathetic figure.

Later tales such as The Curse of the Blue Figurine and The Mummy, the Will and the Crypt present Johnny Dixon who again has an older companion in his spooky quests.This time it's Professor Roderick Childermass who warns, advises and assists him in his hunt for answers. Bellairs' characters remain fresh in the imagination for years.

The Plots

All of Bellairs's books contain elements of the supernatural. Often these are in the guise of witches or wizards who return to the world to avenge themselves against the living, to create conditions ripe for apocalypse and to attempt to reclaim secret texts or jewels.

His characters usually discover a key to unlocking the mystery, whether in the form of a code, a strange deserted house or a ghostly appearance. They then determine, with the help of their friends, to go on a quest. This quest for the recovery of treasure or for renewed peace often takes place in and around creepy mansions or abandoned farms in the New Zebedee countryside.

The quest is full of perils: characters become ill, break limbs, fall into traps and are held captive by spells. In the end, however, the evil is countered and destroyed. Ghosts are laid to rest. The books end satisfyingly, with characters eating a meal together, watching the symphony, and embracing with relief. Bellairs' tales are richly textured stories.

They never speak down to their reader, but include references to history, literature (especially Shakespeare) and other forms of culture. The relationships the characters share are marked by humour, warmth and the sense that the gap between generations can easily be bridged on the path to a common goal. Bellairs' paints a deliciously horrific picture of evil's threat and then, time and time again, enables his characters and audience to triumph over it.

The copyright of the article The Mysteries of John Bellairs in Teen Fiction is owned by Catherine Owen. Permission to republish The Mysteries of John Bellairs in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Bellair's Books are Full of Scary Apparitions