John Bellairs

(1938-1991)
John Bellairs is most famous for his novel
The Face on the Frost. All of these novels are mystery/horror/fantasies suitable for children. Later books (after 1990) were coauthored with
Brad Strickland who continued the series after
John Bellairs’ death. There are excerpts and plenty of other information at the John Bellairs / Brad Strickland
website.
The Ghost in the Mirror by John Bellairs
I may not be the best person to review John Bellairs' The Ghost in the Mirror, since it is clearly one book of many in a series, and I've only just arrived. When I picked up my copy from the library, I had no idea that it was part of a larger set, when in fact, Bellairs has written sixteen books that contain the characters found within this book.
I should say at this point that Bellairs' passed away in 1991, leaving behind several unfinished manuscripts. Brad Strickland has completed many of his stories, including this one. But I certainly couldn't see a drop in quality, or any obvious change in style. But then again, I'm a newcomer and this review can only judge the merits of this one particular book. It may therefore be inadequate in assessing its worth as part of a longer-running seri... Read More
The Face in the Frost by John Bellairs
Thanks to Tantor Media for giving us a wonderful audio edition of The Face in the Frost, John Bellairs’ short classic fantasy novel which was first published in 1969. It’s performed by Eric Michael Summerer and is 5 hours long.
Prospero is a small-time wizard who lives in a small kingdom. Lately he’s been noticing some odd occurrences around his house and starts to suspect that something sinister is going on.
When his studious and adventurous friend Roger Bacon (also a wizard) arrives for a visit, the two friends decide to investigate. They suspect that an evil wizard may be stalking them. To get off Prospero’s property without being seen by the evil wizard’s minions, they shrink themselves and escape down the stream on a toy boat.
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More fantasy novels for children by John Bellairs
Anthony Monday — (1978-1992) Ages 9-12. Publisher: Fourteen-year-old Anthony Monday of Hoosac, Minnesota, and his friend Miss Eells, the Hoosac librarian, try to stop an evil wizard from turning the world into an icy wasteland.




 The Pedant and the Shuffly — (1968) Ages 9-12. Publisher: The evil magician Snodrog ensnares his victims with his inescapable logic and transforms them into Flimsies (stained handkerchiefs)…until the kindly sorcerer, Sir Bertram Crabtree-Gore (Esq.) enlists the help of a magical Shuffly (Latin name: Scuffulans Hirsutus)… and Snodrog meets his match!voices in young adult fiction.