Going through the Gate

by Janet S. Anderson

"Emotionally resonant first novel a moving fantasy that brilliantly evokes the fear and exhilaration of growing up."-- Publishers Weekly

In the last one-room schoolhouse in the county, a strange graduation ceremony takes place each year. No one in town will say what happens, but it changes the students forever. With a hint of menace, this mesmerizing novel unfolds. The five sixth-graders in Miss Clough's schoolhouse are about to graduate, or "go through the gate",as the townspeople say. But none of the children knows what this means. They would not dare to question Miss Clough, though. She has been the teacher for more than fifty years. She is so much a part of the town and its people that they say she can see inside your head and guide your thoughts. But why does she make them study animals so intensely? And why does everyone, except the sixth-graders, stay inside on graduation day? But most of all, what happened at the school twenty-five years ago that everyone is afraid will happen again? Becky and the other sixth-graders are about to find out, and to discover parts of themselves that they couldn't have imagined the day before. This extraordinary first novel combines all the energy of suspense with the emotional power of a coming-of-age story. Janet S. Anderson explores the inner lives of five very different children with equal authority, while weaving a spell of magic and danger around them with her exquisite descriptions of a beautiful and threatening animal world. This is an unforgettable debut.

Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult, Childrens

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1997

Reviews

[Gianna Parello · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book and it wasn't like anything else I have read before.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every year in the one room schoolhouse, the graduating sixth graders get to go through the gate. Most of the residents in the town have done this, but none will talk about the experience. It seems that this secret rite of passage is necessary, but also possibly dangerous, as there are rumors about children who have not come back. There are questions about this year’s class as they must do this as a group. The five children each have their own fears about doing this. Well written, but definitely for a younger reader.

[Catherine Mustread · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grades 4+. The five sixth-grade students in a small town school prepare for their teacher's annual graduation ceremony, a mysterious ritual that several generations of students have experienced but no one can discuss.

[August Neeley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a strange read for me.
Maybe it has something to do with me not being the target audience.
I really enjoyed the whole bit about how we as humans are one with all the other animals, plants, and living things, whether we realize it or not. I also appreciate that the kids realized that they all needed one another.
However, the parts about God and sin felt shoehorned in. It felt like the author was trying to make the book just Christian enough so that the strict Christian parents would let their kids read it, if that makes sense.
I give it a meh/10

[Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

LINKING THE HUMAN AND NATURAL WORLDS

Miss Clough, the aged, frumpy teacher in the county's last one-room school house, has an extraordinary reputation in this rural town. Everyone who has graduated from her 6th grade for over 25 years has experienced something bizarre yet wonderful--never to be discussed afterwards--in a private ceremony behind the school. Down a path and through a special, locked gate, to enter her private region of fantasy. What is this secret ritual--long anticipated but mentioned in tones of hushed awe by the privileged natives?

Becky and her four classmates have waited for their initiation into the adult secrets all year, and now, it's Their turn. The great day has come! For their Zoological instruction each pupil has chosen a different animal to study: chickadee, frog, cardinal, swallow, and trout--but only with Miss Clough's permission. In addition they have been training their internal clocks to "go off" on pre-set demand.
Bossy Penny is Becky's best friend, but the boys seem to shun each other. Tim, a newcomer to town, is very suspicious of all the secrets whispered about Graduation, and resentful that he had to sacrifice his cat. Mary Margaret is the overburdened sister with too many siblings to nurture. Denied her own childhood she has little joy in her life and wallows in guilt and is obsessed by sin.

The honored class wavers in loyalty to their admired teacher--is she a witch or just plain crazy? This story hooks the reader instantly, so that we too are desperate to go through the gate along with the class, in order to discover a new world. How will the kids be changed; or is it all a great, two-generational hoax? Delightful Fantasy which will keep you glued to the pages!

(Januray 12, 2013. I welcome dialogue with teachers)

[Lark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. It was a short, well-paced story with enough mystery and character development to hook me in. It reminded me somewhat of Elizabeth Enright and Zilpha Keatley Snyder in tone and style, although the plot was more overtly fantasy. Unusually for a junior (domestic) fantasy, the preamble of the story, (or maybe I mean the build-up) is much longer than the actual fantasy payoff, which is over in little more than a blink. The consequences pay out in a satisfactory fashion. The storyline seems curiously old-fashioned (could well have been written in the 1930s-1950s) but the execution and language sets it in modern times. Odd little book with a long shadow. There seemed to be a bigger story in there waiting to come out. I finished it this morning (first time reading) and it will be interesting to see whether it grows on me or fades. Now, if only I could remember how I acquired it... I have no memory of buying it, but there it was on the shelf where I was vaguely pottering looking for something to read. Maybe I got it in a job lot from eBay? It's new, not second-hand, so I may also have picked it up in a lightning shopping trip while away from home and subsequently shelved it without thinking. Hmmmm.

[Vannessa Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took the reading of several chapters for me to understand what Going Through The Gate was about.

Miss Clough had spent years teaching in a small farming community. She taught children until they were ready for junior high. She helped the children learn self-confidence, self-worth, self-esteem and teamwork using unconventional methods.

Going Through The Gate was a confusing but interesting read. It is a story that you can’t give up on because the ending was truly rewarding.

[Marian Royal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could have easily been 5 stars if it had only been developed more. It's more like a synopsis than a complete book. Wonderful premise, believable characters, but much too shallow considering the subject matter. Clearly there is a pro-animal, pro-environment message here, but the vehicle is just not strong enough.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story left me wondering "how well do I know the people around me?" Do I see what they are telling me or am I so blinded and rushed from day to day that I never take the time to understand them? Sometimes people just need us to show that we care.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystical. Different kind of goming of age. Reminded me of Lois Lowrey style book.
Kids have tough decisions as they grow up anc need goid friendd who understand snd lusten ti lean on. Quick read. Woukd recommend to upper elementary.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peculiar story about changing into an animal.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grade 6's have to graduate with a strange ritual that turns them into another animal for a while.

[Joey Klusnick · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting book. Very intellectual, and much more character-based than the books I usually read.

[Rosa Wichuraiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and ambitious work that doesn't seem to quite live up to what it tries to be but comes close.

[Amrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I finished this book a long time ago. If I was going to be a bird I would choose a hawk.