This book is one of my personal favorites. Granted, I’ve said that about every book I’ve reviewed so far. But why wouldn’t I share great stuff with you?
Let’s start at the beginning. What’s this book about?
Aidan Thomas is miserable. Within two weeks, Aidan’s life is completely uprooted as his parents move the family across the country to care for his ailing grandfather. The quiet but imaginative Aidan is struggling with attending a new school and fitting in with a new group of friends. But when he begins having nightmares and eerie events occur around his neighborhood, Aidan finds himself drawn to his grandfather’s basement―where he discovers three ancient scrolls and a mysterious invitation to another world.
No longer confined to the realm of his own imagination, Aidan embarks on an adventure where he discovers a long-fought war between good and evil. With the fate of two worlds hanging in the balance, Aidan faces Paragory, the eternal enemy with unfathomable power. Will Aidan be willing to risk everything and trust the unseen hand of the one true King?
Amazon Blurb
The first time I read this… I wasn’t riveted. I was fifteen at the time, granted, and this book is intended for tweens. But this is the sort of series that grows with you. If you keep going, you will get attached. I thought it was obvious and a little dumb and cliched at first. But then I was caught.
Batson’s series is an allegory, and it doesn’t fail to make that clear. I’ve heard complaints about how the names are so silly and obvious — though not to the extent of Pilgrim’s Progress. But I would argue that it’s multi-faceted, and by digging deeper, new layers of the allegory are exposed — such as the Bridge Between Worlds and ties to some Tolkien-like archetypes. Besides, in the grand style of Narnia, sometimes we just need some simplicity and straightforwardness.
The thing I like best about the Door Within and its companion The Blackwood is the characters. Nock and Mallik, really, but all of them have a LotR sort of depth. Maybe we don’t know every single thing about their backstory — or anything at all, in the cases of some, but they’re distinct from the start and they pop off the page. They interact with each other naturally, and grow and develop throughout the course of the series. Furthermore, the fact that regions of both the characters’ backstory and the world are left unmentioned leave room for the mind to play. I’ve written more fanfiction set in the Realm than in anywhere else. (Unfortunately I can’t share it. Publishing fanfiction on a personal blog is illegal, turns out.)
Now, given that this is features knights, battles, and deep dark evil, you can’t expect it to be squeaky clean violence-wise. But for tweens, it is perfectly within the limits of acceptable. It fits in along with the levels of the Green Ember and the Wingfeather Saga. It’s no thriller, and it’s certainly not going to keep you up at night. There’s plenty of humor to keep it light. (Great moonrascals!) And of course, in all other regards it’s quite clean. Crushes are implied but never grow into anything further, two side characters get married, but it’s not sappy or gross, and the romance ends there. The series advocates for strong families, for kids making their faith their own, and ultimately, the message is one that will stick with you no matter your situation — or age.
So then, never alone, my friend. Ciao!
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