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The Door in the Wall (Books for Young Readers) Review
User Submitted The Door in the Wall (Books for Young Readers) ReviewsApril 1, 2008 A quiet but powerful allegory The protagonist, a thoroughly spoiled youth named Robin, is rendered lame by a disease. Mercifully, and mysteriously enough, a monk comes to his abandoned home, picks him up and brings Robin to a monastery. At this gentle place, as the monk guides him, Robin learns self-discipline and many kinds of practical skills. It is a redemption, though Robin's spirit is still broken about his lame legs. A wartime crisis comes about and Robin is the only one who can deliver vital information to his father, a lord in service to the king (Robin's mother also serves at the court.) Robin is successful and this success brings about transformational healing of his spirit. His father's tremendous pride in him brings Robin much joy, and the comfort of his mother is yet another blessing. The illness - our sin that renders us lame Rehabilitation in spite of, or by use of, some permanent wound -- redemption and training for spiritual service to God and to other people Robin's wartime task -- Service, service that brings God much joy The mood of this book is joyful and gently reverent. Robin's story is one of woundedness and redemption. The illustrations greatly further this story's themes. A short, worthwile read, best given to late elementary or early junior high students, and especially best for adults. The young ones may not pick up on the greater themes, but the dignity and respect communicated in this book are well worth their time. March 24, 2008 Great Topic Book for home schooling This book was loved by the whole family, a great story about the middle ages. Easy to read but full of complexity that can be a jumping off point for a lesson. February 23, 2008 audio books These audio books help children that are having trouble with the written word. I also use them in the car, so each trip we hear more of the story. The kids love them and I think it makes them interested in reading. September 14, 2007 Don't remember unfortunately i don't remember much of this book...I think the style of writing was dry. Or perhaps it was the subject matter. July 11, 2007 WARNING: ONLY READ THIS BOOK IF YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY FORCED TO! I'm sorry for having such a negative comment but after reading this book, I thought, "WHY WOULD ANYONE WANNA READ THIS?" My mind began wandering off after reading just the 2nd page. I certainly do not believe that this book is for children younger than 12, especially if you have no historical knowledge of the background of this story. I think that adults would enjoy this book much more than a child or a student. I would not recommend this book to anyone. I think that the main reason I did not enjoy this book was the way that Marguerite de Angeli worded or wrote this book, such as the way that she used the terms, 'twill and thee. Who uses those words anymore? -THIS WAS WRITTEN FROM A 12 YEAR OLDS PERSPECTIVE OF THE BOOK. May 7, 2007 A Great Book Made Even Better The Door in the Wall is the story of a young medieval boy who loses the use of his legs through a serious illness. Both of his parents are away from home at the time--his mother to attend the queen and his father at war. During his own sickness, the boy's caretakers die of the plague and he is left to die alone. Rescued by a monk and taken to the monastary to live, the boy must rise to the challenge of forming a new life as a cripple. Will his crippled legs also cripple his heart and spirit? Not if Brother Luke can help it. With strong love and gentle, insistent wisdom, Brother Luke helps Robin to see that his life is still significant, still necessary, and still useful. Through a wonderful episode of bravery and skill, Robin rescues his town from an attack of the brutal Welsh army, and also finds the answer to his won burning question--will his parents still love him in his crippled condition? A wonderful story of hope, perseverance, acceptance of reality, and the value of each individual's particular gifts. The audio book reader is WONDERFUL! He makes Brother Luke come alive and fills the story with suspenceful expression. Great book! March 20, 2007 The Door In The Wall The Door in the wall was about a kid named robin that early in the book he got sick and lost the useage of his legs. So he makes crutces and gets around on those. so he goes with Brother Luke to a castle. The catle got attacked by the welsh and they didi not have enough people to defend the castle. So Robin journeys to another place and gets the army from there to help them fight. so they won the fight and still sot to keep the castle. After that his mother and father came to the castle. The thing i liked most about the book is near the end at the battle. The other thing i liked about the book is that even though Robin could not walk he did every thing that normal people could do. The thing i did not like about is that it was boring in the middle. over all it was a good book. March 9, 2007 Excellent, benign look into Middle Ages -- Not a military/adventure novel! Delightful, low-key, descriptively lean account of England circa the 1330s through the eyes of a handicapped boy. Not the action adventure some readers seem to be expecting, but a non-revisionist slice of life, Middle Ages style. Younger readers will need to be good readers, and patient ones, to reap these rewards. (In fact, that's what this book is about!) De Angeli's short Newbery winner follows Robin, ten year old son of a nobleman fighting in Edward III's "Scottish wars" and one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting. Robin's London caregivers are wiped out by the plague, so the care of his delicate health (he has recently been stricken lame) falls to a benevolent monk named Brother Luke. The good brother quietly applies himself to strengthening Robin in both body and mind, emphasizing that perseverance and patience will always result in finding "a door in the wall," a way beyond present obstacles. Robin's lessons include wood carving, reading, writing, singing and playing music, swimming, and walking with crutches. There is no insistent plot to jerk the story forward and no loud, overstated characters to interfere with Robin's quiet development. Robin shares some mild adventures on the road in the company of Luke and a minstrel named John Go-in-the-wynd before all his newfound resourcefulness and skill are called upon in defense of a local castle. Nice, pleasant, quick. Unapologetic about the era's Christian culture and the benevolence of its priests, so probably not very popular among trendy Newbery spokespeople these days. But De Angeli's message of gentle, humble perseverance is actually inspiring. March 8, 2007 The door in the wall This is a fantastic books. I really love all the adventure books that this author writes. It is about a boy named Robin that has no use for his legs anymore. Because he is paralyzed from the waist down, he is a very well-known person in the village. His father is off fighting for the King. Robin meets an old man named Brother Luke. He is a very athletic man. He is always looking for an adventure. He helps Robin find a way to help serve his King. Since Robin can't move his legs it is really hard to go through life. He always is conplaining about his legs. He decides that he is going to go and help out with the war. He wants to help his King as much as possible. But he doesn't know the right way to do it. So he decides to go to war. It is extremely hard to mount his horse without using his legs. In the middle of the war he saves three villages and he finds that there are more then one way to serve his King. March 8, 2007 The door in the wall I thought that this book was a very good book. There were lots of parts in it that i didn't understand. But after i went over it a couple times i was able to understand it better. I would really like it alot more if it gave more detail. But on the other hand it is a great book that has alot of funny parts. I really the brother luke because he is really funny. If you like adventure books this is the book you need to read. It has so many thrilling parts. But the part i like the most is when Robin goes to war and finds that there is more then one way to serve his king. For more The Door in the Wall (Books for Young Readers) reviews click here.
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