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Title: The Door in the Wall by Roger Rees, Marguerite De Angeli ISBN: 0-553-52522-0 Publisher: Listening Library Pub. Date: 01 June, 1998 Format: Audio Cassette Volumes: 2 List Price(USD): $18.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.62 (42 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: A door unlocked
Comment: Robin is the son of a noble who has always been told what is expected of him as a future knight. But he one day falls ill and loses the use of his legs. As the story begins, he had given up all hope of being worthy of anything. With the plague claiming his servants one by one, Robin is abandoned, until a kindly monk named Brother Luke comes to the manor and takes Robin to the Hospice of St. Mark. There, Robin is fed, cared for, and educated. He learns to swim, whittle, read and write, and attends holy ceremonies. While doing this, he gains strength, self-confidence, and friends.
This book is a good read because the characters and plot are well developed. The story takes place in Medieval Europe and you can tell that the author has researched these times carefully. She provides full detail about the sights and sounds of medieval life. In doing so, she uses difficult vocabulary based on the words that were used then. This makes the book a bit harder to read, and therefore appropriate for the older middle school student and above, especially those who like a detailed setting.
I felt the book lacked any good action. The story is told only through Robin's point of view, which limits your knowledge of what's going on. You can't see what Brother Luke or other characters are thinking. When the battle begins, Robin is in the church belfry and not on the field fighting, so you don't really know what's happening where the action is. There seemed to be no real climax even as the conflict is resolved. However, the story does carry an inspirational message, as Robin learns that he doesn't need the use of his legs to be a hero.
Rating: 4
Summary: Better as time went on
Comment: I remember reading this book ages ago, and I hated. I thought it dated and dull, with its archaic language and details about medieval life. Now, after years of studying mythology, including the Prose Edda, I can better appreciate it. It's not a GREAT book, but it is a good one.
Robin is the son of a knight, destined to become a knight one day himself - until he falls ill and loses the use of his legs. The plague is ravaging medieval England, and it claims several of the servants who were caring for him. Robin is rescued by a kindly monk, Brother Luke, who takes the crippled boy to a local monastary and patiently cares for him there. Under Luke's guidance, Robin learns how to swim, read, whittle, and how to become a humbler person rather than the rather snobby noble boy that he once was.
But all is not well in England. Robin must "open a door in the wall" -- the walls that hemmed him in when he lost the use of his legs -- and discover that you don't necessarily have to be a knight to serve your king and country.
This is not a 9-12 book. Oh, not because of any objectionable content or attitudes, but simply because the, majority of 9-12 children will be bored witless by it. It's better suited to young adults who can handle the gradual pacing, softened archaic language (a fair number of twills, thous, amisses, and arts) and virtually actionless plot. As a result, "Door in the Wall" resembles a a slice of real life from the POV of a crippled boy rather than a fictional story. Such gruesome details as the plague and the violence of war are smudged out, by the way.
It seems a lot longer than its 120 pages. Ignore the silly cover art, the characters aren't like that at all; the interior illustrations are soft and realistic. de Angeli's writing lacks detail much of the time, but her dialogue is well-scripted. Robin's responses to the loss of his legs, his plans, and fear of his father's disappointment are perfectly done. He isn't a perfect lead character; he gets irrational, angry, snobby - but overcomes all of them. Brother Luke seems a little too perfect at times, but is also a good character. So, for that matter, is minstrel John-go-in-the-Wynd. (Yes, this book has those delightful Middle-Ages names based on the job, physical characteristics or past experience)
As for complaints about this book: Note that virtually all of them say that it was a schoolwork book; once again, we have disgruntled students seeking "revenge" on a non-fluff book that they had to read. This is not a book that should be assigned, but a book that should be selected individually. Don't read it just because it's a Newbery, read it if you can handle it!
In short, I recommend this book -- but not to everyone...it if you love to read, and if you enjoy a story where characters are emphasized over action.
Rating: 5
Summary: The Door In The Wall: More Than Just A Door
Comment: (...)The book was a basic book with a medieval background, it told of the many things going on, like the war between Ireland and England, and how there was the black plague forming everywhere, killing anybody unlucky enough to catch it. The story basically consists of the little boy, Robin, who has fallen ill due to some sort of disease, he believed it was the plague at first, but then realizes, that it was a different sickness, because it had made his legs useless, thus, the word "crook shanks", and as common knowledge tells us, he was useless to do anything, but he had a job, a job to become a knight, at his godfathers castle, for his father was a knight and as we all know, a knight's son must also become a knight. Robin was lucky enough to be taken in by a kind church, St. Mark's. There he meets a monk named Brother Luke, they become great friends, and Robin sends word to his father, and he goes on his great journey to Sir Peter De Lindsey's castle. They encounter many great problems in their journey, but he makes it safely to his castle, Robin tells Peter that he is useless and cannot do anything, and so Robin learns to do something, something that he had wanted to accomplish...
I think this book is one of the greater books I have read, it shows courage and honor, and how Robin was able to do anything despite his disabilities, and how he was able to do anything he wanted, as long as he put his mind to it. I this that this author was an excellent writer, because this book contain such great sentences, such as, "The calm sound of the peaceful lake was silent". Nevertheless, this book was based of a great plot and had a great background.
Despite how much I loved this book, there was also a catch, I didn't like this book because of how there was so much tragic death because of the black plague and how many people suffered "The Black Plague was everywhere." It makes the medieval times seem like a very horrible place in time where nothing was supposed to go right. Despite the minor issue, I still believe this is a book worth reading.
My favorite part in this book is how cunning Robin was in the situation of being robbed, he was sure not to make a sound, and made sure that he was able to warn Luke without making a sound, I would've enjoyed looking at the face of the thieves. Overall, this book was excellent, the medieval plot, and the great writings of the author. I think this book is a worthwhile book, and is worth reading, and you enjoy reading it over and over again.
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Title: Adam of the Road (Puffin Newberry Library) by Elizabeth Gray Vining, Robert Lawson, Elizabeth Janet Gray ISBN: 014032464X Publisher: Puffin Pub. Date: November, 1987 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare ISBN: 0395137195 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co Pub. Date: 01 September, 1997 List Price(USD): $6.95 |
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Title: The Trumpeter of Krakow by Janina Domanska, Eric P. Kelly ISBN: 0689715714 Publisher: Simon Pulse Pub. Date: 01 April, 1992 List Price(USD): $4.99 |
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Title: The Door in the Wall Study Guide by Andrew Clausen ISBN: 1586091298 Publisher: Progeny Press Pub. Date: 01 August, 1993 List Price(USD): $14.99 |
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Title: The White Stag by Kate Seredy ISBN: 0140312587 Publisher: Puffin Pub. Date: October, 1979 List Price(USD): $4.99 |
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