calistareads's review against another edition
4.0
This book is the 8th in the Johnny Dixon series and it take Johnny over the pond to Bristol, England and the Isle of Lundy. Their good friend Father Higgins has been possessed by a powerful spirit. They have to find a way to break the spell. The Professor and Fergie work with Johnny to save the world from this evil spirit.
John Bellairs sets a great tone and he has excellent pacing. John is simply a master at writing spooky for younger children. He hits all the right notes. If only there were some women in these stories. That is what is missing.
This one was a good read and it does the series proud. I really enjoy these books. They are wonderful and need to continue to be read.
John Bellairs sets a great tone and he has excellent pacing. John is simply a master at writing spooky for younger children. He hits all the right notes. If only there were some women in these stories. That is what is missing.
This one was a good read and it does the series proud. I really enjoy these books. They are wonderful and need to continue to be read.
easolinas's review against another edition
4.0
Gruff and lovable Father Higgins is one of the better supporting characters in John Bellairs' many books.
And in "The Secret of the Underground Room," the evil-battling priest slips into the spotlight in an intriguing ghost story. Though not Bellairs' best, it's a chilling and fast-paced thriller for the pre-Stephen King set -- sleepwalking, undead pirates, and a situation that Johnny and Professor Childermass can put right.
Johnny Dixon is depressed when his friend Father Higgins is transferred to a different parish. Father Higgins isn't much happier, since he dislikes his new congregation, and his estranged mother has just died. Soon he visits his friends Johnny and Professor Childermass, claiming that a ghost has been trying to contact him, that he is sleepwalking, and he shows them a strange glassy half-plate with golden fishes in it, and a cryptic rhyme.
Soon afterward, Father Higgins vanishes. The professor, Johnny, and Fergie go to England in an effort to track him -- and find that he is in the grip of a demonic dead knight, part of the pirate De Marisco knights that died long ago -- after some sold their souls to the devil. Now the evil knight known as Masterman is trying to set his old comrades free...
"The Secret of the Underground Room" has all the staples of a good Bellairs book -- evil creatures that will either destroy the world or conquer it, spinechilling cliffhangers, cryptic rhymes, and a lot of witty banter between Childermass and other characters. But the strongest part of it is the good-hearted characters who are never quite overwhelmed by evil.
Perhaps its greatest weaknesses are that the pacing seems to meander, and some of the plot twists are a bit strained. (Where did Bellairs get the line, "And in case you're wondering, he has developed his powers of ESP"?) But he imbues the story with an eerie, unnverving quality, where dark shadowy things can be found in half-forgotten places.
Johnny and Fergie are good as always, the meek Charlie Brown altar boy and the cocky gutsy kid who complement each other like peanut-butter and jelly. Father Higgins is given extra dimension, provided with his sad past with his estranged mother and his wish that he had reconciled with her. And Professor Childermass is his usual grumpy, irritable, generous and brave self.
"Secret of the Underground Room" is not Bellairs' best, but it's definitely a solid ghost-story with plenty of wit and chills.
And in "The Secret of the Underground Room," the evil-battling priest slips into the spotlight in an intriguing ghost story. Though not Bellairs' best, it's a chilling and fast-paced thriller for the pre-Stephen King set -- sleepwalking, undead pirates, and a situation that Johnny and Professor Childermass can put right.
Johnny Dixon is depressed when his friend Father Higgins is transferred to a different parish. Father Higgins isn't much happier, since he dislikes his new congregation, and his estranged mother has just died. Soon he visits his friends Johnny and Professor Childermass, claiming that a ghost has been trying to contact him, that he is sleepwalking, and he shows them a strange glassy half-plate with golden fishes in it, and a cryptic rhyme.
Soon afterward, Father Higgins vanishes. The professor, Johnny, and Fergie go to England in an effort to track him -- and find that he is in the grip of a demonic dead knight, part of the pirate De Marisco knights that died long ago -- after some sold their souls to the devil. Now the evil knight known as Masterman is trying to set his old comrades free...
"The Secret of the Underground Room" has all the staples of a good Bellairs book -- evil creatures that will either destroy the world or conquer it, spinechilling cliffhangers, cryptic rhymes, and a lot of witty banter between Childermass and other characters. But the strongest part of it is the good-hearted characters who are never quite overwhelmed by evil.
Perhaps its greatest weaknesses are that the pacing seems to meander, and some of the plot twists are a bit strained. (Where did Bellairs get the line, "And in case you're wondering, he has developed his powers of ESP"?) But he imbues the story with an eerie, unnverving quality, where dark shadowy things can be found in half-forgotten places.
Johnny and Fergie are good as always, the meek Charlie Brown altar boy and the cocky gutsy kid who complement each other like peanut-butter and jelly. Father Higgins is given extra dimension, provided with his sad past with his estranged mother and his wish that he had reconciled with her. And Professor Childermass is his usual grumpy, irritable, generous and brave self.
"Secret of the Underground Room" is not Bellairs' best, but it's definitely a solid ghost-story with plenty of wit and chills.
manwithanagenda's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Duston Heights' Catholic community has been struck a terrible blow. Father Higgins has been transferred! The good father has featured a few times before in the series, but he's very much the focus of 'The Secret of the Underground Room'.
Soon after settling in his new parish, some ten miles away, Father Higgins reports to Prof. Childermass strange occurrences. Cryptic notes have been left for him that seem like nonsense, but then an apparition of a girl leads him to a curious piece of stained glass.
The Professor's skepticism, which is odd considering everything they've been through, is shaken by Higgins' belief in the matter.
Some time after this last meeting, Johnny wakes up to find Father Higgins in his bedroom. (Uh-oh). It's okay, its a GHOST Father Higgins. The spirit leaves behind a silver apostle spoon tagged with chemical formulae.
The next morning the Professor tells Johnny that Father Higgins' new church has phoned him, saying the Father has vanished! The spoon offers the important clue.
In no universe was that spoon a clue. The tag was a list of elements which made up the alloy that the spoon was made of. Like so many of the riddles in Bellairs' books, no reader on Earth, let alone a child, could figure it out. I suppose public schools are to blame. No one is taught the composition of Britannia metal these days.
Naturally, a trip to England wouldn't be complete without Fergie who insists on mocking Johnny's crucifix while on their way to a haunted island.
The book has some highlights that will entertain a young reader, but adult me couldn't believe that Bellairs didn't take the time to describe England very much and the trip there not at all. What an opportunity lost to describe vintage air travel and a young person's impression of London from above. Bellairs did insert some bits about the Marisco family and piracy on Lundy Island, but we could have used a little more.
I only have one Dixon book left now, and that was finished by Brad Strickland from an outline. It's too bad this didn't have more punch to it.
Johnny Dixon
Next: 'The Drum, the Doll, and the Zombie'
Previous: 'The Chessmen of Doom'
Soon after settling in his new parish, some ten miles away, Father Higgins reports to Prof. Childermass strange occurrences. Cryptic notes have been left for him that seem like nonsense, but then an apparition of a girl leads him to a curious piece of stained glass.
The Professor's skepticism, which is odd considering everything they've been through, is shaken by Higgins' belief in the matter.
Some time after this last meeting, Johnny wakes up to find Father Higgins in his bedroom. (Uh-oh). It's okay, its a GHOST Father Higgins. The spirit leaves behind a silver apostle spoon tagged with chemical formulae.
The next morning the Professor tells Johnny that Father Higgins' new church has phoned him, saying the Father has vanished! The spoon offers the important clue.
In no universe was that spoon a clue. The tag was a list of elements which made up the alloy that the spoon was made of. Like so many of the riddles in Bellairs' books, no reader on Earth, let alone a child, could figure it out. I suppose public schools are to blame. No one is taught the composition of Britannia metal these days.
Naturally, a trip to England wouldn't be complete without Fergie who insists on mocking Johnny's crucifix while on their way to a haunted island.
The book has some highlights that will entertain a young reader, but adult me couldn't believe that Bellairs didn't take the time to describe England very much and the trip there not at all. What an opportunity lost to describe vintage air travel and a young person's impression of London from above. Bellairs did insert some bits about the Marisco family and piracy on Lundy Island, but we could have used a little more.
I only have one Dixon book left now, and that was finished by Brad Strickland from an outline. It's too bad this didn't have more punch to it.
Johnny Dixon
Next: 'The Drum, the Doll, and the Zombie'
Previous: 'The Chessmen of Doom'
More...