reviewsfromabookworm's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't know what to expect from The Door That Led To Where, I actually hadn't head anything about it before I received an email from the publisher. I have heard a lot about Sally Gardner though, especially her book Maggot Moon which I know has gotten a lot of high praise and amazing reviews. I had decided to look up The Door That Led To Where on Goodreads and see what it was about. I was instantly intrigued by this book, it not only contained time travel, it was also set in London, two things I love reading about. I decided then and there that this was a book I needed to read.
I find this book quite difficult to review, mostly because of the fact it's aimed at younger audience than the one I am used to. It's not aimed at young children, given the fact it contains a fair bit of violence, murder and a lot of swearing. But it doesn't read like a young adult book either, it definitely falls between the two. It's meant that when I've been reviewing it I've been looking at it differently, reviewing it as a book that's aimed more at younger teens. It's not the sort of book that I usually read, but it's one I ended up thoroughly enjoying and it has made me very excited to try more books by this author.
I completely understand now why Sally Gardner gets so much praise, she's one talented author. She not only brought to life a modern day London, she also brought 1830's London to life as well. This was one of those times where the time travel aspect of the book worked perfectly for me. It didn't bother me in the way it has a habit of doing in most other time travel books, usually because I tend to over think it. I loved the whole concept of Jobey's Door, that all AJ needed to do was walk through it and he'd find himself in the 1830's.
I like the characters in this book, especially those of AJ and his two best friends, Leon and Slim. They're characters that feel very real, who talk and act exactly how you'd imagine people in their situation and from their area and upbringing would. I also like that they're characters that a younger teen reader can identify with. It also helps that Gardner creates wonderful banter between them all, and anyone who knows me knows that I love great banter between characters. They're three boys who haven't had the easiest start in life and are struggling, so the past is an escape for them all. It opens up chances for the boys that they wouldn't have dreamed of. I liked seeing the characters and their varying feelings about the past and what it could offer them. It's also good to see characters wrestling with the decision to stay in the past or to face their future in our time.
4/5 Butterflies
I'm actually just going to get straight to the point with this review and rate the book. It's a definite four out of five for me. The murder mystery element will be what appeals to the books target audience, it'll keep them reading. I loved and appreciated how well written this was, and how Gardner brought to life a part of London that tourists don't see, the more run down side to it. This was a 4/5 read for me because it's not my usual read, but I can see it being a 5/5 read for younger readers. I'd recommend this to parents who come in to my library, asking for advice on what to give their children to read. I'd also recommend to anyone who loves a good middle grade book, with an intriguing premise, interesting characters and a hint of mystery.
* I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review.
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| My dilemma with this book. |
I find this book quite difficult to review, mostly because of the fact it's aimed at younger audience than the one I am used to. It's not aimed at young children, given the fact it contains a fair bit of violence, murder and a lot of swearing. But it doesn't read like a young adult book either, it definitely falls between the two. It's meant that when I've been reviewing it I've been looking at it differently, reviewing it as a book that's aimed more at younger teens. It's not the sort of book that I usually read, but it's one I ended up thoroughly enjoying and it has made me very excited to try more books by this author.
I completely understand now why Sally Gardner gets so much praise, she's one talented author. She not only brought to life a modern day London, she also brought 1830's London to life as well. This was one of those times where the time travel aspect of the book worked perfectly for me. It didn't bother me in the way it has a habit of doing in most other time travel books, usually because I tend to over think it. I loved the whole concept of Jobey's Door, that all AJ needed to do was walk through it and he'd find himself in the 1830's.
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| There's time travel and London! |
I like the characters in this book, especially those of AJ and his two best friends, Leon and Slim. They're characters that feel very real, who talk and act exactly how you'd imagine people in their situation and from their area and upbringing would. I also like that they're characters that a younger teen reader can identify with. It also helps that Gardner creates wonderful banter between them all, and anyone who knows me knows that I love great banter between characters. They're three boys who haven't had the easiest start in life and are struggling, so the past is an escape for them all. It opens up chances for the boys that they wouldn't have dreamed of. I liked seeing the characters and their varying feelings about the past and what it could offer them. It's also good to see characters wrestling with the decision to stay in the past or to face their future in our time.
4/5 Butterflies
I'm actually just going to get straight to the point with this review and rate the book. It's a definite four out of five for me. The murder mystery element will be what appeals to the books target audience, it'll keep them reading. I loved and appreciated how well written this was, and how Gardner brought to life a part of London that tourists don't see, the more run down side to it. This was a 4/5 read for me because it's not my usual read, but I can see it being a 5/5 read for younger readers. I'd recommend this to parents who come in to my library, asking for advice on what to give their children to read. I'd also recommend to anyone who loves a good middle grade book, with an intriguing premise, interesting characters and a hint of mystery.
* I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review.
kdawg2009's review against another edition
5.0
This was a quick and fun read. It took me a little while to get used to some of the jargon, but once I did, I loved it.
paperbacks_and_ponytails's review against another edition
2.0
I wish I enjoyed this book more. I absolutely love time travel books, but this one fell flat for me. Other than the obvious fact that time travel etiquette was broken numerous times in the book, I just found it to be lacking both in the plot (mixing a lot of different ideas, and mashing it into one.) And also in imagery, I found it pretty hard to imagine the places in the book as they weren't described in great detail to me...as I'm more of a visual reader.
thelastcolour's review against another edition
4.0
Absolutely stunning cover - underneath the dust jacket is a map of London! It was difficult determining which genre to shelve this book, there is historical fiction as the reader is transported back to Victorian England, thus combining time travel and elements of fantasy. I really enjoyed this book and it left me feeling satisfied. Absolutely no need for a sequel. I highly recommend this. I went into this book blind so i'm keeping this review as vague as possible :)
jenno's review against another edition
2.0
First of all, thanks to Hot Key Books for sending me an ARC of this novel. Very thankful.
This is my second Sally Gardner novel I read, "Maggot Moon" being the first and I have the same feeling reading "The Door That Led to Where".
They are fine books, I can't pinpoint what it is that makes me not like Gardner novels more. They are good stories, but they just don't grab me.
I read "The Door That Led to Where" enthusiastically but at the end I got kind of bored and it's a story, I'm sad to say, will not stay with me.
Suspense wise I feel like it's lacking a bit, but I say that to most novels that don't grab me from page one like Scandinavian crime usually does. I'm a tough reader when it comes to suspense, yes.
But I had no problem reading on and I wanted to know how it ended. I quite enjoyed the writing but now that it's been a while since I've read it's slipping away in my mind.
I don't even know what this says about me but I enjoyed it while reading it, but I wouldn't feel comfortable to recommend it to anyone.
This is my second Sally Gardner novel I read, "Maggot Moon" being the first and I have the same feeling reading "The Door That Led to Where".
They are fine books, I can't pinpoint what it is that makes me not like Gardner novels more. They are good stories, but they just don't grab me.
I read "The Door That Led to Where" enthusiastically but at the end I got kind of bored and it's a story, I'm sad to say, will not stay with me.
Suspense wise I feel like it's lacking a bit, but I say that to most novels that don't grab me from page one like Scandinavian crime usually does. I'm a tough reader when it comes to suspense, yes.
But I had no problem reading on and I wanted to know how it ended. I quite enjoyed the writing but now that it's been a while since I've read it's slipping away in my mind.
I don't even know what this says about me but I enjoyed it while reading it, but I wouldn't feel comfortable to recommend it to anyone.
thatweirdlibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting book but for some reason I couldn't get into it. I loved the idea of time travel and the business they started because of it.
m3l89's review against another edition
3.0
I'm undecided about this. I got a little lost with the plot along the way, but it all seemed to come together nicely in the end. A bit predictable and not very much character development; I thought the characters did change but it was very sudden.
aligeorge's review against another edition
3.0
I love Sally Gardner so I picked this up with high expectations. I enjoyed it, but it felt a little bit unfinished somehow, like it could have done with another draft to smooth out the rough edges. It's an interesting story with some good characters, but with so many of them and two time periods involved there were points were it felt a bit convoluted. I felt like Leon and Slim's characterisation in the first half of the book could have been a bit more subtle, too - it was basically 'these are troubled kids' without any depth to them, which made the changes in their lives when they went through the door a bit less impressive than it might have been.
goobathegoat's review against another edition
i guess i figured out i don’t like time travel books. there was too much information, got bored quickly.