The House With the Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs

This is a book Ryan bought for me to read in aid of my general goal of getting a handle on a broader base of YA lit. Published in 1973, this book is a great deal older than many of the things I've been reading and so describes a world that many of my students would find odd, even above the ideas of magic clocks and wizarding uncles.

Lewis's parents have died and as a result he must now live with his notorious Uncle Jonathan. Jonathan lives in huge house in Zeebedee, Michigan. Jonathan is also a wizard. Lewis is overweight and awkward. He doesn't play sports and he doesn't make friends easily. So when he does make a friend, Tarby, he'll do anything to keep a hold of him. This includes sharing the secret of his uncle's power and trying a few tricks of his own.

Of course, things go wrong. Ancient evils unleashed. All that fun stuff.

Good solid read with a well imagined world. In many ways the relationships between the characters make it seem like a precursor to Harry Potter.