The Door Within (Door Within Series #1)

by Wayne Thomas Batson

Overview

There is an unseen world of good and evil where nightmares are fought and hope is reborn. Enter The Door Within.

Aidan Thomas is miserable. Within two weeks, Aidan’s life is completely uprooted as his parents move the family across the country to care for his ailing grandfather. The quiet but imaginative Aidan is struggling with attending a new school and fitting in with a new group of friends. But when he begins having nightmares and eerie events occur around his neighborhood, Aidan finds himself drawn to his grandfather's basement—where he discovers three ancient scrolls and a mysterious invitation to another world.

No longer confined to the realm of his own imagination, Aidan embarks on an adventure where he discovers a long-fought war between good and evil. With the fate of two worlds hanging in the balance, Aidan faces Paragory, the eternal enemy with unfathomable power. Will Aidan be willing to risk everything and trust the unseen hand of the one true King?

With over 250,000 copies sold in The Door Within trilogy, this is a perfect time to introduce the series to a new tween audience The fantasy genre is wildly popular among young readers, and this series will leave tweens and teens on the edge of their seats.

Meets national education standards.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781400322640
Publisher:	Nelson, Tommy
Publication date:	05/06/2013
Series:	Door Within Series , #1
Pages:	349
Sales rank:	101,270
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.10(d)
Lexile:	800L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Wayne Thomas Batsonis the author of several bestselling novels, includingThe Door Withintrilogy, The Isle series, and The Berinfell series. As a middle school reading teacher, Wayne writes adventures set in imaginative locales because he believes that we all dream of doing something that matters.

Editorial Reviews

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.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

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 Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal