SOLVED. Children's/ Middle Grade Fantasy. Main character could merge with walls and objects, pass through items, temporarily become one with the wall. He was taught by mysterious creature or person. Read in 1990s. [s]

[Lauren]

I've been looking for a book for awhile now. It was likely categorized as fantasy and, from what I remember of it, the main character was taught by a mysterious creature or person how to merge with walls and objects. He could pass through items and at least temporarily become one with the wall. I don't know when the book was released, but definitely before 2000. It was in my the library at my elementary school in the 1990s, so I'm guessing it was geared towards kids aged about 8 to 10.

Update: "The Looking Glass Factor." Thanks Adele!

[Ayshe]

Christopher maybe?

[Lauren]

Hmmm. Maybe! I can't find enough information about it online, but maybe I'll order it just to see. I don't remember there being a haunted house element in the story. I want to say the main character's mentor was a human-like creature with a cat head, but I may be conflating this story with something else I read around the same time. I also feel like the cover had a clock on it, but it's been like 25 years so I'm not sure about that.

Thanks for your suggestion!

If anyone has any other suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

[Kris]

Google Books preview of Christopher (also: "Christopher and His Powers) by Richard M. Koff - Ayshe's suggestion:

- https://books.google.com/books?id=YeI...
- There are different cover images.

Quotes from the book:

- ... walls came in to touch his shoulders. He crouched down, but this time kept his eyes open as he reaching into his body and pulled it tight one last time. Now he could see the walls move up around him. He took two steps forward...
- ... wall just lifted itself up and started moving toward him, crowding him into a corner.

I copied a few book details to the topic header. Feel free to edit it.

[Capn]

The book is available to borrow from OpenLibrary in its entirety:
https://openlibrary.org/works/OL48468...

It's also searchable by keyword without borrowing. "Cat" brings up a cat v. squirrel encounter, but no cat headed person.



(if a passing librarian cares to improve that last edition's image, there's a better one on Abebooks:)

https://pictures.abebooks.com/invento...

[Adele]

I bet you are thinking of The Looking Glass Factor

[Lauren]

Oh my goodness! It's definitely "The Looking Glass Factor!" I could cry, I've seriously been looking for this book for 15 years. Thank you so much!

[Adele]

You're very welcome. Happy to help. :-)