The Spell of the Sorcerer's Skull: Amazon.ca: John Bellairs, Edward Gorey: Books

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When Johnny Dixon takes a tiny skull from a haunted dollhouse, demonic forces are released, capturing Professor Childermass and leading Johnny on a harrowing chase to a deserted island off the coast of Maine. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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"Phooey! Phooey on winter and snowy white snow and jingle bells and walking in winter wonderlands! Read the first page

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Customer Reviews

9 Reviews

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4.8 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)

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4.0 out of 5 stars A very haunted clock, Nov 2 2002

By	E. A. Lovitt "starmoth" (Gladwin, MI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Spell Of The Sorcerers Skull A Johnny Dixon Mystery (Paperback)

Grownups remain out of sight for the most part in this spooky addition to the Johnny Dixon mystery series by John Bellairs. Crusty old Professor Childermass (a series regular) vanishes early on, to be replaced by crusty old Irish-American priest, Father Higgins, who brandishes a silver crucifix and rescues Johnny in the nick of some very frightening situations.

Johnny is a shy, likeable boy who tries to act brave in spite of thinking himself a coward. His lower lip quivers almost continuously as he and his friend Fergie set out to find the missing professor. (He has every reason to be nervous in a story that reminds me of "The Haunted Doll's House" by that master of horror himself: M. R. James). For reasons that remain a mystery until the last few pages, our youthful hero is plagued by a tiny human skull and an ominous jack-o-lantern after his friend, Professor Childermass disappears.

As skeletons, demons, and a haunted clock all conspire to make Johnny's life miserable, Fergie and Father Higgins pitch in to help him. The climax to "The Spell of the Sorcerer's Skull" takes place on a remote rock off the coast of Maine, appropriately named 'Cemetery Island.'

The book is set in the nostalgic early 1950s (Johnny's father is a fighter pilot in Korea), but you won't have much time to feel nostalgia. You'll be too busy feeling scared. One of the reliable features of John Bellairs's adolescent fiction is that he doesn't try to make his ghosts cuddly or mawkish, like so many so-called 'teen-age horror' authors.

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5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Action/Adventure Mystery that any reader will love!, Sep 1 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Spell Of The Sorcerers Skull A Johnny Dixon Mystery (Paperback)

I'm a big fan of John Bellairs and have read about 6 of his books....The Spell of the Sorcerer's Skull is by far the most thrilling. Johnny Dixon and his funny friend, Fergie find themselfs in the middle of a mystery. Johnny has taken a strange small skull (that he beleives to be good luck) from a miniture room that Professor Childermass's granduncle was murdered in. Just after that they're friend the Professor has suddenly disappeared. And it's up to Johnny, Fergie, and Father Higgins to find the Professor before it's too late. I hope this review helped you and I hope you enjoy the book as I did.

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5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Action/Adventure Mystery that any reader will love!, Sep 1 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Spell Of The Sorcerers Skull A Johnny Dixon Mystery (Paperback)

I'm a big fan of John Bellairs and have read about 6 of his books....The Spell of the Sorcerer's Skull is by far the most thrilling. Johnny Dixon and his funny friend, Fergie find themselfs in the middle of a mystery, Just after Johnny takes a strange small skull (that he beleives to be good luck) from a miniture room that the Professor's granduncle was murdered in, they're friend, Professor Childermass has suddenly disappeared. And it's up to Johnny, Fergie, and Father Higgins to find the Professor before it's too late. I hope this review helped you and I hope you enjoy the book as I did.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars what happened
John Bellairs was my favorite author when I was in fifth grade and this was my favorite book. Any kid will absolutely be enthralled by it. Read more

Published on Jul 6 2001 by Adam Halterman

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book
Hi my name is Jeffrey Goldsmith . I live in Charlse County and Iam going to tell you about a book called The Spell of the Sorcerer's Skull. Read more

Published on May 23 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars everyone HAS to read this book......or else!
I first got this book ages ago, and I was almost too scared to read it then! Since I've read it about a million times, I just love it! Read more

Published on Mar 20 2000 by Arwen Evenstar

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!
I love Bellair's books. I am twenty-one and remeber fondly the first time I read this book. I was drawn into the marvelous story and could not put it down. Read more

Published on Mar 17 1999 by Daniel A. Swick