It has been a while since I've posted a book review. This is because Angel and I have started driving into work together and so I no longer have my long bus ride to read. The other is because my current book on Audible is 57 hours long and I'm not done with it yet (almost though, I'm on part 6 of 7). Angel and I decided that we would get books on CD for our drive as it was too difficult to share headphones while drive. This also allows us to enjoy separate Audible books - particularly important as I'm considering more non-fiction books. Angel found 100 Cupboards at the library and grabbed the first and second books. While it took a while for us to remember to listen to it, we are now very into the trilogy (books two and three being Dandelion Fire and The Chestnut King). The books are read by Russell Horton who does a great job of imitating the characters - particularly 9 year old Anastasia and puberty plagued Zeke. The characters are well done, and the story has twists and turns that are hard to expect, but not unrealistic. It was enjoyable and a good start to a larger world.
Plot: Henry York is twelve and has been sent to live with his Aunt Dotty and Uncle Frank and their three girls, Penny, Henrietta, and Anastasia in the very small town of Henry Kansas. Henry is a rather serious boy whose parents have always been rather distant - in fact he has been sent to live with his mother's sister because his parents were taken hostage by rebels while biking across South America. While Henry hopes they're safe, he's more worried about the other boys finding out that he has never played baseball. Kansas gives Henry a chance to actually live beyond over protective rules and distant parents. What he doesn't except to learn is that behind the plaster on his bedroom wall are 99 cupboard doors of various sizes that lead to other worlds. He confides in his cousin Henrietta, the closest of the three in age to himself, and they start to explore the possibilities they hold. However, their exploring unlocks a door that was long meant to be shut and releases secrets that have long been kept. Not only will their exploring get them lost in the other worlds but it will actually let the evil that they fear into their own home.
Personal favorites: I really loved the characters - particularly Uncle Frank. It was also fun to see Henry's development from a sheltered, serious kid to one who could start to believe in the impossible and accept the fantastic world that was facing him - both in the cupboards and in Kansas. There was good parts of introspection that was enjoyable without being boring, but also suspense and even some action. I felt like I understood the character's motivations and felt like they were real people. Anastasia in particular was both delightful and aggravating as a very well written nine-year-old. As I've mentioned, my biggest problem with middle grade books (and it's very seldom a deal breaker) is when characters don't act their age. This book did a good job of portraying the younger roles as realistic.
Considerations: A good middle grade / young adult book, 100 Cupboards does have some violence and suspense but it is not graphic or gratuitous. There is a significance to blood and so one or two scenes describe bleeding, but again not in a graphic or inappropriately for a middle grade audience.
We are now into book two, Dandelion Fire, and enjoying it. 100 Cupboards was a good start to the story and establishes the characters and setting. It also gives us hints of what may come. The total length was just under six and half hours.
Personal favorites: I really loved the characters - particularly Uncle Frank. It was also fun to see Henry's development from a sheltered, serious kid to one who could start to believe in the impossible and accept the fantastic world that was facing him - both in the cupboards and in Kansas. There was good parts of introspection that was enjoyable without being boring, but also suspense and even some action. I felt like I understood the character's motivations and felt like they were real people. Anastasia in particular was both delightful and aggravating as a very well written nine-year-old. As I've mentioned, my biggest problem with middle grade books (and it's very seldom a deal breaker) is when characters don't act their age. This book did a good job of portraying the younger roles as realistic.
Considerations: A good middle grade / young adult book, 100 Cupboards does have some violence and suspense but it is not graphic or gratuitous. There is a significance to blood and so one or two scenes describe bleeding, but again not in a graphic or inappropriately for a middle grade audience.
We are now into book two, Dandelion Fire, and enjoying it. 100 Cupboards was a good start to the story and establishes the characters and setting. It also gives us hints of what may come. The total length was just under six and half hours.
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