The Treasure of Alpheus Winterborn - John Bellairs
People claimed that old Alpheus had discovered something strange and wonderful, something really valuable. No one knew for sure what the thing was or who it was who had started the rumors, but there were many people in the town of Hoosac who would swear on a stack of Bibles that Alpheus Winterborn had made a find.
I read a few books by John Bellairs when I was in elementary school and junior high, and I remember being very creeped out by most of them. This one is the least creepy of those that I read; it doesn't involve the supernatural or the occult, and is more of a straight treasure-hunt story (with the requisite greedy bad guy). I recently read it to Robyn as a bedtime story and enjoyed it this time, too.
Anthony Monday's parents argue about money all the time, and as a result he worries about money, too. He gets a job at the Hoosac Public Library, which is housed in a bizarre castle which was designed by the (now-decesased) eccentric millionaire Alpheus T. Winterborn, known for his practical jokes. When Anthony discovers a clue in the library about a treasure, he becomes obsessed with the idea of finding it. Unfortunately, so does Hugo Philpotts, Winterborn's nephew and the vice-president of the bank.
The book is intended for young readers, but there is a bit of strong language at some points in the book. Probably the scariest thing is the way Philpott uses his position as a prominent citizen and an adult to go after Anthony when he suspects Anthony is on to something. Anthony himself is sometimes infuriatingly dumb, but I suppose it's been a long time since I was a kid.
Fed to jonathan's brain | April 15, 2008
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