The Drum, the Doll, and the Zombie (Hardcover)

by John Bellairs (Author), Brad Strickland (Editor) "Charley, I'm throwing this shindig for you..." (more)
Key Phrases: Professor Childermass, Father Higgins, Mama Sinestra (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7-Completed posthumously, this book offers readers another taste of Bellairs's macabre writing. During a party, noted folklorist Dr. Coole shows Professor Childremass, Johnny Dixon, and his friend Fergie a small drum and tells them a strange story about voodoo cults in Haiti and the Caribbean. A few casual taps on the drum set in motion a tale of terror that includes zombies, evil spells, and death threats. Set in the mid-1950s, the horror is subtle, yet detailed enough to appeal to fans of the television show Tales from the Crypt and readers too young for Stephen King. The "gee whiz" tone lends a touch of naivete, and some plot turns are a bit obvious, but readers of Dixon's last escapade, The Secret of the Underground Room (Dial, 1990), will not be disappointed.
Jeanette Larson, Texas State Library, Austin
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 5-7. Flopping and thrashing about on the desk was a weird form, repulsive, slimy, drooling. The sounds it made were horrible, like the bawling of a baby animal in terrible pain. Descriptions in R. L. Stine's horror oeuvre can't match this stuff, which has the added benefit of being part of a story that has a tight plot and characters who actually have some personality. Readers may recognize Johnny Dixon, Fergie Ferguson, Father Higgins, and Professor Childermass from such books as The Secret of the Underground Room (1990). This time the group is battling zombies and exorcizing voodoo demons invoked by vicious Madame Sinestra, who has come to America in search of a drum that has special significance for her evil cult. There's suspense and action aplenty as Johnny, Childermass, and Fergie investigate the weird goings-on, with the spookiness nicely balanced by comedy that comes direct from the pompous but good-hearted professor. This ably devised bit of supernatural fun, completed by Strickland after Bellairs' death, is perfect for the preStephen King set. Stephanie Zvirin

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Dial; 1st edition (September 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803714629
• ISBN-13: 978-0803714625
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,868,591 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #63 in	Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( B ) > Bellairs, John
  #72 in	Books > Teens > Authors, A-Z > ( S ) > Strickland, Brad

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Harry Potter -- move over!!, January 25, 2001

By	M. Bouchard (Trumansburg, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Drum, the Doll, and the Zombie: A Johnny Dixon Mystery (Paperback)

I got interested in John Bellairs books after I read a reader review of a Harry Potter book which talked about these books as even better than HP -- and you know, he was right! These are really well-written books. I've read about 6 Bellairs books with my kids (ages 10 and 11) and this was by far the scariest. This one seemed to have more: more humor, more fright, more heart, as well as the usual excellent character development. (oh yeah, my kids really enjoyed the book too.) The scary scenes are really vivid, but ideal for my boys' age group. They just love this stuff.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the scariest Bellairs/Bellairsesque novels ever!, July 16, 2000

By	E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Drum, the Doll, and the Zombie: A Johnny Dixon Mystery (Paperback)

Good grief, this was amazingly, shriekingly good!

Johnny and Professor Childermass take a detour into the darkest side of voodoo, known as voudon. When, at a get-together with one of the professor's friends, Fergie begins playing and singing ("Babaloo") a tiny leather drum, the lights unexpectedly go out.

Soon the friend is ill, raving and finally falling into a coma. A creepy old woman and a mysterious man are lurking nearby. Some of the most affecting scenes is where the professor finds the hideous creature growing in a pillow, and when he battles the horrifying snakelike demon.

But taking the prize is the zombie mentioned in the title. Holy cow.

This is a genuinely scary book-for heaven's sake, don't read it at night.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting little mystery, August 16, 2001

By	"evilgrrlfriday" (the US of A) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Drum, the Doll, and the Zombie: A Johnny Dixon Mystery (Paperback)

I'm not quite sure where John Bellairs finished and Brad Strickland started, and that's probably a good thing. All the characters from the other Johnny Dixon mysteries are back: timid Johnny, the outrageous professor, meek Dr. Coote, practical Father Higgins and matter of fact Fergie.

The book begins when Dr. Coote shows his friends a drum that was given to him by a mysterious young man. As usual, the professor scoffs at it, although Dr. Coote is still worried, because of his extensive knowledge of voudon, an evil voodoo cult on a fictional Caribbean island. Fergie then takes the drum and beats it while screaming "babaloo! babaloo!" which sets a chain of terrifying events into action.

Dr. Coote has a nervous breakdown and a horrible old woman stalks Johnny and his family to find the drum, all while the friends scramble to figure out where the drum is and save their own necks in the process. There are some genuinely scary scenes involving a zombie, and later an exorcism.

Bellairs and Strickland have done an excellent job creating the mythology of Baron Samedi and the Priests of the Midnight Blood, the evil voudon cult on a French Caribbean island. It's a bit formulaic, and not absolutely perfect, but a taut, enjoyable mystery/horror book.