Reviews for The door within
Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
Gr. 4-7. The first in a projected trilogy begins in Aidan Thomas' new home; his family has moved to help his ailing grandfather. Aidan is unhappy about almost everything, but life really turns upside down when he discovers several ancient scrolls in his grandfather's basement. In short order, he finds himself opening the door within ; on the opposite side is a world of noble kings and treacherous knights, and the inevitable struggle between good and evil. In the frame story about sacrifice and redemption, Batson has borrowed from C. S. Lewis, but the book's Christian overtones are not nearly as well woven as those in Lewis' work. There's plenty of fantastical adventure tethered to right and wrong here, and Aidan is a likable enough hero, though he seems more like a boy of 11 or 12 than the high-school kid he is. The writing is often workmanlike, but many readers will want the book for its religious core. --Ilene Cooper Copyright 2005 Booklist
School Library Journal
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Gr 6-9-When his family moves to Colorado to care for his ailing grandfather, Aidan thinks his life is ruined until he discovers three ancient scrolls in the man's basement. They tell of a world where the knights of Alleble fight to keep the warriors of Paragory from gaining dominion over the Realm. When Aidan reads the last line of the scrolls, "Believe and enter," he is swept into this strange land. His role there is to become the 12th knight of the King's Elder Guard. Their mission is to travel to the kingdom of Mithegard and convince its sovereign not to sign a treaty with Paragory. Aidan discovers that the people in the Realm, called Glimpses, have doubles that exist in his world. A map of the Realm is provided, as is a character guide with pronunciation key. The concept in this first of a projected trilogy is intriguing and the plot moves along at a steady pace. Some characters lack development, but several of them are engaging, especially the swordmaiden Gwenne and an underground serpentine creature named Falon. Give this title to readers who have finished the current book in D. J. MacHale's "Pendragon" series (S & S) but who might not be ready for J. R. R. Tolkien or David Eddings's "Belgariad" books (Ballantine).-Lisa Prolman, Greenfield Public Library, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
By believing, Aidan Thomas travels to the Realm, a swords-and-dragons land where the newly knighted Aidan must convince the people of Mithegard to follow the resurrected king instead of the evil, fallen prince. The slow pacing, flat characters, and run-of-the-mill action sequences may drive readers away before they can be hit over the head with the heavy-handed Christian allegory. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Publishers Weekly
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First-time author and middle-school teacher Batson leads young readers to a fantasy realm (filled with unusual names) where faith and sacrifice serve as essential tools in an epic battle between good and evil. Sound familiar? It will to many fantasy fans, as well as those familiar with the Bible. Aidan has a tough time when he moves from Maryland to Colorado with his parents so they can care for his grandfather; he hardly relishes starting high school as the new kid. But things take a bizarre turn when he ventures to his grandfather's basement and discovers some ancient scrolls containing what Grampin knows as "the Story." The scrolls encourage Aidan to believe-the key to the Door Within-and to follow the light of the everlasting King of the Realm. Though God and the Bible are never mentioned by name, the comparisons are clear and sometimes more than obvious (Aidan's family name is Thomas, as in doubters; a traitor and warrior is named Acsriot, an anagram of Iscariot; an evil lieutenant goes by Lord Rucifel, an anagram of Lucifer, etc.). Christian readers will likely draw the parallels as an interesting puzzle and perhaps an introspective exercise. And readers of any faith can enjoy the layers of action and adventure here, replete with knights, dragons and powerful swords in what is the first of a planned trilogy. Ages 10-14. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
