The Westing Game
Ellen Raskin
Like Bellairs, Raskin fills a crowded house with odd characters, clues, and a puzzle that rewards careful attention. Its playful mystery suits readers who enjoyed the house's secrets in Lewis's story.
12 books to read next
Books Like The House With a Clock In Its Walls
If you loved The House With a Clock In Its Walls by John Bellairs
Readers who love The House With a Clock in Its Walls usually come for its cozy-creepy atmosphere: an orphan boy, an old house full of secrets, and two eccentric magician neighbours who make everyday life feel strange. John Bellairs builds suspense slowly, with plenty of gentle humour and warm friendship alongside the gothic chills. It is a read for children who enjoy being frightened a little while feeling safe, and who like magic that comes with consequences.
Magic with a warm heart
The Girl Who Drank the Moon
Kelly Barnhill
Magic here is tender and morally complicated, much like the Barnavelts' uneasy spells. Its bittersweet, fairy-tale tone rewards readers who love a story where kindness matters as much as power.
Howl's Moving Castle
Diana Wynne Jones
A witch's curse, a crooked house, and a lot of bumbling wizardry make this a comic fantasy with real danger underneath. Readers who enjoyed Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmermann's mischief will recognise the same spirit.
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
Joan Aiken
A gothic old house, a frightened orphan girl, and a menacing villain create a Victorian-style adventure close to Bellairs's atmosphere. Aiken's lively narration makes danger feel exciting rather than bleak.
A lighter, funnier read
The Phantom Tollbooth
Norton Juster
A bored young hero travels into a world of wordplay and whimsy, mirroring Lewis's delight in discovering magic. Juster's witty, imaginative voice suits readers who enjoyed the humour in Bellairs's book.
Matilda
Roald Dahl
A clever, neglected child finds that her own abilities are stranger than anyone expected. Dahl's sharp humour and eccentric grown-ups echo the quirky neighbours of The House With a Clock in Its Walls.
Holes
Louis Sachar
A boy sent to a harsh camp uncovers a long-buried mystery, with twists that tie together neatly. Sachar's dry humour and satisfying puzzle structure will appeal to readers who liked Bellairs's clever plotting.
Go deeper into classic children's fantasy
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A Wrinkle in Time
Madeleine L'Engle
Children confront a dark, mechanical threat using courage and love, with a strong sense of wonder. Readers drawn to the cosmic stakes of Bellairs's clock will find the same mix of science, magic, and moral clarity.
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh
Robert C. O'Brien, Zena Bernstein
A widowed mouse seeks help from a community of clever rats, and the story combines science, magic, and a sober sense of peril. Its thoughtful tone suits readers who appreciated the grave stakes in Bellairs's novel.
The Secret Garden
Frances Hodgson Burnett
A lonely orphan arrives at a mysterious old house and slowly uncovers its hidden history. Burnett's atmospheric setting and gentle sense of wonder recall the house-centred mood Bellairs created so well.
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