The Ghost in the Mirror

Rating:
Summary: "Ghost" a solid thriller
Review: "Ghost in the Mirror" is one of several books that the late John Bellairs left unfinished at the time of his death. Those books were finished by Brad Strickland, utilizing the author's remaining outlines. It's a solid thriller with a few seams showing, but overall a good read for those not yet ready for Stephen King.

Kindly witch Mrs. Zimmermann has lost her magic, except for a sixth sense and a residual aura of unusable protective magic, and Rose Rita Pottinger has broken her ankle. Her friends Jonathan and Lewis Barnavelt have left the two behind, while on their European vacation. But suddenly Mrs. Zimmermann is called on a mission into the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, and Rose Rita comes with her. Naturally, nothing proceeds as expected. Their car is transported back in time and crashes, leaving the two staying with the kindly Weiss family.

But the mystery deepens when the reason for their time travelling is revealed -- the ghost of the witch Hilda Wetherbee tells them that she has transported them back in time to save a good wizard, Grandpa Drexel, who is fated to die on the first of April. But an evil presence disrupts the message from Granny Wetherbee, and Mrs. Zimmermann becomes stricken with partial amnesia Rose Rita becomes increasingly suspicious that a hexer -- an evil witch -- is trying to drive out the Weiss family. But how can a de-magicked witch and a bespelled modern girl hope to stop a hexer -- and a demon?

This is neither the spookiest nor the tightest of Bellairs' fantasy-horror books, and it suffers slightly from an unfortunate cliche (time travel) and a dependence on previous Bellairs books. But it's a solid time-travel/ghost-story, with some hideously chilling scenes and some interesting new characters. There's a bit of a dull section in the middle, but Strickland picks up the pace near the end with some delightfully Bellairsian scenes of horror when Rose Rita inadvertantly conjures up the demon Aziel. And for people looking for a little educational info, there's some enlightening passages about the Pennsylvania Dutch.

Rose Rita is shown without the shadow of Lewis here, and while she is not quite as interesting as the timid ex-altar boy, she's a good heroine who shows a lot of the characteristics of her best friend. Mrs. Zimmermann is given extra dimension as she tries to regain her magical powers and gets stricken with amnesia. We also get to see two dimensions of Hilda Wetherbee -- as the ghost of a crabby old witch, and as a little girl who befriends Rose Rita. Favorites Jonathan and Lewis Barnavelt even show up for a cameo appearance.

While not the most outstanding of Bellairs' books, this is a good, spooky read, especially for fans of Rose Rita and Mrs. Zimmermann. Not to be missed.

Rating:
Summary: It's So Good You Won't Want It To End
Review: I really like The Ghost in the Mirror. I have read most of John Bellairs books. Every book that I have read so far has been excellet, but I have to say this is one of my favorites. It is about a girl named Rose Rita and her friend Mrs. Zimmerman. It is summer time. Mrs. zimmernman invites Rosa Rita to come with her on a trip. As the trip begins, they travel back in time. There is never a boring page in this book. That's probably why I like it so much.

Rating:
Summary: Scary Book
Review: I recommend this book to anyone who is 12 years old and older. This book is a story of friendship and bravery. One of the brave things that Rose Rita did was when she started reading a spell book that would let out a monster, but she couldn't stop reading the book. For example, she was thinking, "What was it? A smart person could get out of the trap-if he took every step backwards! That was it! But what did that mean?" She was brave because she wouldn't let the monster out. One of the things that Grampa Drexel showed was his friendship. For example, when Rose Rita asked Grampa Drexel this "Can I ask you a big, big favor? Will you help Mrs. Zimmerman get her magic back?" This was a sign of friendship because he helped get her magic back. This book should be recommended to anyone who likes mysteries and fantasy.

Rating:
Summary: Scary Book
Review: it was so cool. it had suspense,action,mystery,drama,and caring . uit was so cool.

Rating:
Summary: it like totally rocks
Review: it was so cool. it had suspense,action,mystery,drama,and caring . uit was so cool.

Rating:
Summary: Rose Rita and Mrs. Zimmerman might be stuck back in time!
Review: It's really been such a pleasure to read this book. To all of you Belliar's fans, read it. I promise you wont regret doing so. I got so excited when I saw it in the library. I hunger for John Belliars so much. I am Arabic,I like to swim, I love animals, and I love to write too,I am thirteen.No, seriously, this book was great. I'd recommend it to thirteen year olds and under, and to all you guys out there on the net!In this book, Rose Rita and Mrs. Zimmerman go to the country for a little holiday,but one the way they go through a time warp. The themes relate to how good always conquers evil and how growing up isn't easy. JB speaks for all you lost souls out there, and this is one of his most modern books. Sincerely, *You don't know who I am*

P.S.I am not a bedouin.Come to Qatar sometime. It's great.

Rating:
Summary: The Ghost in the mirror
Review: John Bellairs's THE GHOST IN THE MIRROR was not a very good book. I thought the book was dull and slow moving. I also thought it was unrealistic.
It was about a girl named Rose Rita, who was very excited when her parents ler her go on a two week summer vacation with her friend Mrs. Zimmermann (who was a witch). She was expecting a dangerous trip, but she doesn't expect that when they come out of a highway tunnel they end up in the snowbound winter of 1828. they end up in the Pennsylvania dutch country. Mrs. Zimermann took them back there so she coul regain her magical powers from her first teacher she learned them from.
To tell the truth I thought there was no point to this book. Ot wasn't really even about ghosts or ghosts in the mirror. It was about a witch and her friend. So thats why I didn't like the book THE GHOST IN THE MIRROR.

Rating:
Summary: This was one of his best
Review: Lewis is at boy-scout camp while he has left Rose Rita home by herself. So Miss. Zimmermann takes her on a road trip. As they go through a tunnel, they go to a different world!

Rating:
Summary: Best horror book ever
Review: Many people will enjoy this action packed thriller, and be delighted to read such a great book. Bellairs acully makes things seem really realistic. this is awesome!

Rating:
Summary: One of the best!
Review: Mrs. Zimmerman takes Rose Rita to a different time to help save her powers.