Ulysses Moore #1: The Door to Time
Grade 4-6–The 11-year-old Covenant twins approach their family's move to the ancient Argo Manor on the British coast differently. Julia sees their new home as remote, and without the comforts of a nearby mall. Jason, on the other hand, feels an immediate sense of danger and mystery lurking behind the manor's stony walls. After befriending local kid Rick Banner, the three stumble on a mystery. The building's previous occupant, eccentric Ulysses Moore, left behind clues and codes to unlock a hidden ancient wooden door. Using their unique talents, the children must discover the secrets hidden deep beneath the house and find the truth behind the disappearance of the enigmatic Moore. The book ends with an unfair cliffhanger that brings the story to a halt just as the supernatural elements of the tale come into play. Filled with black-and-white photographs and mysterious illustrations drawn on top of documents and letters, this Italian import is bound to appeal to those kids who like tangible clues mixed into their fantasy novels. Children desperate for stories similar to Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black's The Spiderwick Chronicles (S & S) will find much to love in this overly familiar but likable series.–Elizabeth Bird, New York Public LibraryCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.