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manwithanagenda's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
One of my favorite Bellairs books, this and 'Eyes of the Killer Robot' were what finally got me to pay attention to whiney ol' Johnny Dixon and his curmudgeonly friends 'Prof' and Fergie, who never chooses not to use the phrase "Johnny-baby". Even in 50s Michigan that wouldn't fly.
...anyway, the Professor has been acting unusual, because he's found a time-traveling trolley-car that goes to, among other uninteresting places, Constantinople! In the year 1453! Wikipedia this information.
Veerry interesting, hmm?
Well, for those of you reading this book past the age of ten there isn't much about that there, there's more about evil Inquisition monks, penitent crusader ghosts and euro-centrism. But, I got very interested in history in part because of this book, so I'm willing to cut it a lot of slack.
Johnny Dixon
Next: 'The Chessmen of Doom'
Previous 'The Eyes of the Killer Robot'
...anyway, the Professor has been acting unusual, because he's found a time-traveling trolley-car that goes to, among other uninteresting places, Constantinople! In the year 1453! Wikipedia this information.
Veerry interesting, hmm?
Well, for those of you reading this book past the age of ten there isn't much about that there, there's more about evil Inquisition monks, penitent crusader ghosts and euro-centrism. But, I got very interested in history in part because of this book, so I'm willing to cut it a lot of slack.
Johnny Dixon
Next: 'The Chessmen of Doom'
Previous 'The Eyes of the Killer Robot'
emrsalgado's review against another edition
2.0
I remember loving the incredibly spooky Bellairs books I read as a kid, all from the Louis B. series, but I never read any others, so I don't know how spooky or scary a kid would find this one, or whether I'd find those other books spooky now. The book had a slow start and I almost put it down. It did get more exciting but it was choppy, and would probably be hard to follow for a kid who didn't know the relevant history, which would include the Crusades, the fall of Constantinople to the Turks, the 1890s, and the 1950s. I'm curious how the books I remember so fondly will seem to me now, but also a little afraid, on the basis of this book, to try them and be disillusioned.
mabith's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of those *those* books for me. I dragged my feet about reading chapter books on my own as a kid because I loved comics (grew up on Asterix and Carl Barks' work) and my parents read chapter books to me at night (I was a bit lazy). When I finally felt pressured enough in our extremely book-heavy family to pick up a real chapter book it was some horrible thing about young kids solving a crime.
Luckily the second chapter book I read was Trolley to Yesterday. It was exciting, spooky, and interested me in both science and history. Johnny Dixon is an odd and wonderful main character - not a hero, just a normal kid who liked chess and history. I read, and loved, all of John Bellairs' other Johnny Dixon books.
Oddly enough I've never been partial to any other similar books and definitely don't like the supernatural Stephen King type of books, and I don't like horror movies. They've always seemed tame and predictable, whereas some of the Johnny Dixon books still creep me out even after countless re-readings (Eyes of the Killer Robot is the creepiest, I think).
Luckily the second chapter book I read was Trolley to Yesterday. It was exciting, spooky, and interested me in both science and history. Johnny Dixon is an odd and wonderful main character - not a hero, just a normal kid who liked chess and history. I read, and loved, all of John Bellairs' other Johnny Dixon books.
Oddly enough I've never been partial to any other similar books and definitely don't like the supernatural Stephen King type of books, and I don't like horror movies. They've always seemed tame and predictable, whereas some of the Johnny Dixon books still creep me out even after countless re-readings (Eyes of the Killer Robot is the creepiest, I think).