The Curse of the Blue Figurine

The Johnny Dixon Series, Book 1

By: John Bellairs

Narrated by: Johnny Heller

A boy sneaks into an old church to confront a mad ghost in this adventure by the author of The House with a Clock in Its Walls.

It’s the 1950s when Johnny Dixon’s mother dies, his father goes to fight in the Korean War, and he goes to live with his grandparents. Although life in a new house is strange, Johnny’s “Grampa” listens to his favorite ballgames, takes him on long walks, and tells him stories of the strange mysteries that lurk in the shadows. Best of all, he’s friends with Professor Childermass, an eccentric academic who’s about to take Johnny on the adventure of a lifetime.

When the professor learns Johnny loves ghost stories, he tells the boy the spookiest legend in Duston Heights, Massachusetts—the tale of the haunted church on the edge of town, with demonic carvings on its altar, and the troubled spirit of mad Father Baart, who is said to have killed two people before vanishing long ago. With the professor as his guide, Johnny sets out on a quest that will put him face-to-face with the crazy, long-dead priest.

©1983 John Bellairs (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

So happy these exist.

I am 50 and I still listen to these every once in a while. They bring me back to a young age. A little bit of boy magic joy in this crazy world.

Re-reading a YA favorite

I remember this book from my childhood. Re-reading this years later, it still stands up well. It’s no The House With A Clock In It’s Walls, but the Johnny Dixon books had many more titles, and have similar themes. I’m very happy to see that Audible is getting more Bellairs titles, as I loved these as a kid, and have since introduced others kids to these great books.

Good Story

Overall a good story written by John Bellairs it reminds me of the Lewis B series which is my favorite of all John Bellairs series

Revisiting

I originally read this series when I was pretty young and it was a huge influence on me wanting to become an author. hearing this version brought me so much joy. I think this is a wonderful and very faithful performance that captures different voices for characters without becoming irritating

A great reading of a story that I have held dear since childhood!

Great reading of a great story! It brought me back to junior high at a Christian school! I’d hide them in the spine of a school book.