The Door in the Alley

The Door in the Alley
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (3/5) or 6.14/10 overall

Characters - 6

Atmosphere - 7

Writing - 7

Plot - 6

Intrigue - 6

Logic - 6

Enjoyment - 5

You ever read a book that tries so hard to be cute and quirky and it just fails miserably for you? Yeah, that was this one for me. I love the idea of the book, I adored a previous book by this author that I read - but this book just doesn't work for me. Really, more than anything, it's the writing style that I had a problem with. It shatters the fourth-wall (which, in and of itself, isn't something I find funny) and the narrator is a character (no, I don't mean that the narrator is one of the characters, I mean the narrator is a separate and removed entity from the rest of the book that narrates things and pretty much drags me out of the story). (And there's footnotes - over half in the first forty pages and that kept pulling me away from the story.) And, honestly, some of the wording choices sounded odd (like a child using big words to sound ‘all grown up'). That's not to say this is a bad book - because it's not - but it definitely wasn't the book for me.

(This is one of the few times I wish I gave out half stars, because I could see rating it 2 1/2 stars but it's not as good as my other 3 star books. So I rounded down.)

So much fun! That was the first coherent thought that raced through my brain as I crossed the finish line of The Door in the Alley. Everyone knows that I love a good middle grade book. Coincidentally, my favorite type of middle grade book though, is the kind that doesn't talk down to its readers. The kind that is smart, funny, and filled with adventure. That, my friends, is exactly what The Door in the Alley is. It is a wonderful ride!

Our story begins with Sebastian, a studious and mild mannered boy who loves to stick to the rules. So, of course, when his path is crossed by a pig in a teeny hat, he's not sure what to make of it. When that same pig then leads him into an adventure that he never expected, that's where things really take off! I loved watching poor Sebastian, with his rigid ideas of the way the world worked, suddenly thrown into the madness that was The Explorer's Society. His personality was the perfect contrast to such an imaginative place, and looking at this new world through his eyes was fascinating.

Then Evie entered the picture, and things got even more exciting. Imagine finding out that you've actually been part of a grand cover up your entire life. That you've always felt that you were ignored, and are now the most important person in the story! That's exactly what happened to Evie, and I warmed to her instantly. She's the type of character who I love, because she isn't quite sure of herself and yet does what needs to be done anyway.

Oh, and the adventure! If you have a young reader (or, like me, are just a young reader at heart) who loves books like A Series of Unfortunate Events, this is the book for you. It's funny, a bit worrisome at times, and full to the brim with courageousness and growth. Both Evie and Sebastian, although completely different in personalities, were absolute perfection in this story. You'll giggle, you'll gasp, and you'll love every minute of it. Pick this up! It's well worth your time. Meanwhile I'll be sitting here, eagerly awaiting their next adventure.