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Time Out of Time #1
Beyond the Door
With his love of learning and the game of Scrabble, Timothy James feels like the only person who understands him is his older sister, Sarah, and he’s fairly certain nothing interesting will ever happen to him. But one night, while his parents and sister are away, the door opens, and mythical creatures appear in his own living room! Soon, a mystery of unparalleled proportions begins to unfold, revealing an age-old battle of Light against Dark, and Timothy must embark on a quest to prevent the Dark from controlling the future and changing the past. But he can’t complete the quest alone. Timothy has to team up with his sister and the school bully, Jessica, to face an ancient evil, and in the process, this unlikely trio discover they are each more than meets the eye.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2014
About the author
Maureen Doyle McQuerry
11 books223 followersAll of my books have an element of mystery and magic, even the realistic stories. And as a friend pointed out, there is a library in every one of them. It must be because libraries have always been magical places for me.
Maureen McQuerry is an award winning poet, novelist and teacher. Her YA novel, The Peculiars (Abrams/Amulet 2012) is an ALA Best Book for Young Adult Readers 2013, Bank Street and Horne Book recommended book, and a winner of the Westchester Award. Her most recent book is Beyond the Door (Abrams/Amulet), a Booklist top Ten Fantasy/SciFi for Youth. It is the first in a MG duo that combines, Celtic myth, shapeshifters and a secret code in a coming of age story. The adventure continues in The Telling Stone. Beyond the Door is a current finalist for the WA State Book awards.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
July 29, 2016
The Gold Standard for Middle Grade Celtic Myth-Based Adventure
This has better characters, better writing, a better plot, more information, and a generally more compelling and coherent presentation than just about anything else I've read in the "Celtic mythology" genre for early middle graders.
It isn't as complex and multi-layered as Susan Cooper's "Dark is Rising" sequence. It isn't as true to the old stories as Jenny Nimmo's "Magician Trilogy", (but it isn't as ambiguous and possibly confusing as that series either). That said, it is a marvelous and inviting introduction to those sorts of books and stories.
There are lots of middle grade books that use the Green Man, Herne, the Great Hunt, and so on, to add some sense of romance or credibility to their stories, but they tend to use those names, as the saying goes, like a drunk uses a lamp post - more for support than illumination. Uusually, they are just bits tossed in here and there for flavor. This book tries to make a coherent narrative out of the tales - they fit in to the plot and assume their traditional roles. (Much like the Celtic tales and big chunks of the Welsh Mabinogion are incorporated into Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain.)
The result is a very successful modern retelling of old Celtic tales, with some real style. The further effect is that a book like this can fire up a young reader for a lifetime of reading marvelous fiction addressed to or arising from the Celtic tales.
Further - this book established a wonderful, loyal, caring sibling relationship between the major characters Timothy and Sarah. It is good to have a book that values and celebrates such sibling closeness and trust.
If you have read any of the Mabinogion or Taliesin tales they can be ambiguous, dense, and confusing. They aren't linear, or even complete, and their beauty and power can be coupled with frustration. This book is the best synthesis. With regular kids, two siblings and a modern mean girl drawn into the three major roles in the story "Time Out of Time" is relatable and yet magical. It is clear but full of mysterious suggestion. It is powerful writing, with graceful and moving touches, full of mythic suggestions and incorporating wonderful bits of various tales. (We even get a version of the great Battle of the Trees.)
The author also does something very interesting with the structure of the book, which I liked very much. It is divided into two parts. The first part introduces the characters, fits them into the clearly related Celtic myths, and transports them through the exciting Beltain adventure. It then wraps up and returns everyone to their "normal" calm lives. This is the first half of the book. Then, it starts all over again with all of the characters called up for adventure number two, which is the second half of the book. This gives a middle grade reader a breather and makes the book more manageable. Some of these types of efforts can get very complex and exhausting. By making the story a two-parter instead of a single overripe epic the author keeps everything crisper, cleaner and more comprehensible. A fine idea given the target audience.
So, all in all a happy find and a very nice Celtic fantasy/adventure, with strong characters and elegant writing. An intriguing choice.
Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
This has better characters, better writing, a better plot, more information, and a generally more compelling and coherent presentation than just about anything else I've read in the "Celtic mythology" genre for early middle graders.
It isn't as complex and multi-layered as Susan Cooper's "Dark is Rising" sequence. It isn't as true to the old stories as Jenny Nimmo's "Magician Trilogy", (but it isn't as ambiguous and possibly confusing as that series either). That said, it is a marvelous and inviting introduction to those sorts of books and stories.
There are lots of middle grade books that use the Green Man, Herne, the Great Hunt, and so on, to add some sense of romance or credibility to their stories, but they tend to use those names, as the saying goes, like a drunk uses a lamp post - more for support than illumination. Uusually, they are just bits tossed in here and there for flavor. This book tries to make a coherent narrative out of the tales - they fit in to the plot and assume their traditional roles. (Much like the Celtic tales and big chunks of the Welsh Mabinogion are incorporated into Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain.)
The result is a very successful modern retelling of old Celtic tales, with some real style. The further effect is that a book like this can fire up a young reader for a lifetime of reading marvelous fiction addressed to or arising from the Celtic tales.
Further - this book established a wonderful, loyal, caring sibling relationship between the major characters Timothy and Sarah. It is good to have a book that values and celebrates such sibling closeness and trust.
If you have read any of the Mabinogion or Taliesin tales they can be ambiguous, dense, and confusing. They aren't linear, or even complete, and their beauty and power can be coupled with frustration. This book is the best synthesis. With regular kids, two siblings and a modern mean girl drawn into the three major roles in the story "Time Out of Time" is relatable and yet magical. It is clear but full of mysterious suggestion. It is powerful writing, with graceful and moving touches, full of mythic suggestions and incorporating wonderful bits of various tales. (We even get a version of the great Battle of the Trees.)
The author also does something very interesting with the structure of the book, which I liked very much. It is divided into two parts. The first part introduces the characters, fits them into the clearly related Celtic myths, and transports them through the exciting Beltain adventure. It then wraps up and returns everyone to their "normal" calm lives. This is the first half of the book. Then, it starts all over again with all of the characters called up for adventure number two, which is the second half of the book. This gives a middle grade reader a breather and makes the book more manageable. Some of these types of efforts can get very complex and exhausting. By making the story a two-parter instead of a single overripe epic the author keeps everything crisper, cleaner and more comprehensible. A fine idea given the target audience.
So, all in all a happy find and a very nice Celtic fantasy/adventure, with strong characters and elegant writing. An intriguing choice.
Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
August 22, 2018
This book had a great premise and some really interesting visuals and pieces but the stupidity of the characters really got me sometimes. It is middle grade and the main characters are middle schoolers so I’ll cut them some slack but this definitely isn’t my most favorite middle grade book I’ve ever read. I may still read the second book, however, since it has better reviews. Overall, this book took awhile to get going and the characters were constantly distracted by shiny and tempting things and could not pick up on any red flags which made things a little bit frustrating. I originally picked this book up and decided to give it a try due to its beautiful cover illustration but sadly the inside didn’t do it quite as much justice. It was a good story and I did finish it but I’m definitely not head over heels.
July 15, 2023
It's hard to give this one a rating because while I love the setup and the characters, I feel the story left a little to be desired. It felt like two books crammed into one. If it had been made into two books, equally fleshed out with ample time for characters to develop, I would have given it four or possibly even five stars.
As it stands, it's really fun and easy to read. It also encourages a lot of outside research about Celtic mythology, which enriches the story a lot.
I would definitely recommend it, but I feel the pacing could have used some work.
As it stands, it's really fun and easy to read. It also encourages a lot of outside research about Celtic mythology, which enriches the story a lot.
I would definitely recommend it, but I feel the pacing could have used some work.
July 5, 2023
The pacing of this book was quite good and I was engaged the whole time. While the two parts style of the narrative threw me a little (the climax of part one could have been a whole book?), I was very much enjoying how the story continues in part two. The cliff hanger ending certainly enticed me to purchase the second and final installment of this story. I love that this took on Celtic mythology and introduced me to some new things I’d never heard of. Overall, very clever and engaging.
December 29, 2015
Beyond the Door, is the first book in the Time Out of Time series by author Maureen Doyle McQuerry. The main character, Timothy James Maxwell, who is a self described nerd and not very popular at his middle school, goes on a journey through space and time. His high school sister, Sarah, and Jessica, a popular girl and bully in Timothy’s grade at school, accompany Timothy on the adventure. Through the stories of Mrs Clapper, Timothy’s babysitter and Jessica’s great Aunt, the reader learns about the mysterious existence of “The Light” and “The Dark” beings that are part mythical and part human and live in parallel universes. During the course of the book, the author reveals Timothy’s relationship to these mythical beings and his destiny as a Filidh in an ancient prophecy.
On the first night of Timothy’s adventure, he is being chased by a mythical creature of The Dark, Herne, who hunts souls. When Timothy stumbles upon a workshop that is run by Balor, a one-eyed being who is one of The Bent, Balor, tries to kill Timothy for an unknown reason. With these creatures, a magical rat and multiple encounters with an animal tamer, the author takes Timothy, Sarah and Jessica on a mysterious and challenging adventure with many twists and turns. Throughout the story, the magical creatures take on different forms by changing their appearance and the students are able to enter portways that move them through space and time.
Overall, I thought the book was interesting. The author seems to understand how preteens and teenagers interact. I like how Timothy and Jessica had nothing to do with each other, (she used to make fun of him), and then through their adventure, they become friends. They are likable characters who team up to overcome challenges and defeat The Dark. I recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure, suspense and mythical creatures who travel through space and time. I thought it was fascinating that the character Balor could change any being into any living thing. My favorite part of the book occurs when Balor changes Sarah into Ermine through a magical potion. Surprisingly there is a big cliff hanger at the end of the story. Without giving too much away, the threesome must split up in order to help save themselves and others. The reader is left not knowing what happens between the big battle of the Light and the Dark.
Review by: Cameron H., 15 years old and Jordan H., 12 years old Mensa South by Southwest
On the first night of Timothy’s adventure, he is being chased by a mythical creature of The Dark, Herne, who hunts souls. When Timothy stumbles upon a workshop that is run by Balor, a one-eyed being who is one of The Bent, Balor, tries to kill Timothy for an unknown reason. With these creatures, a magical rat and multiple encounters with an animal tamer, the author takes Timothy, Sarah and Jessica on a mysterious and challenging adventure with many twists and turns. Throughout the story, the magical creatures take on different forms by changing their appearance and the students are able to enter portways that move them through space and time.
Overall, I thought the book was interesting. The author seems to understand how preteens and teenagers interact. I like how Timothy and Jessica had nothing to do with each other, (she used to make fun of him), and then through their adventure, they become friends. They are likable characters who team up to overcome challenges and defeat The Dark. I recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure, suspense and mythical creatures who travel through space and time. I thought it was fascinating that the character Balor could change any being into any living thing. My favorite part of the book occurs when Balor changes Sarah into Ermine through a magical potion. Surprisingly there is a big cliff hanger at the end of the story. Without giving too much away, the threesome must split up in order to help save themselves and others. The reader is left not knowing what happens between the big battle of the Light and the Dark.
Review by: Cameron H., 15 years old and Jordan H., 12 years old Mensa South by Southwest
November 18, 2023
This is an interesting book for a few reasons: First, it really feels like books 1 and 2 of a series instead of parts 1 and 2 of the same book. In fact, there's arguably more resolution after part one than part two. Secondly, it works in the realm of British/Saxon mythology, which I apparently know almost nothing about. The characters and themes were interesting, the danger seems real enough to warrant action, and the plot doesn't get too stuck. I was mostly perplexed by the structure.
April 4, 2014
This book was amazing. I won a free copy of it and just loved it from begining to end. It kept you wanting to no more while you fell into the land of magic and mythology. It's a great read for all ages and I can not wait for the second book. This book just leaves you wanting so much more. I highly recommend, with a wolf, a greenman and a 12 year old boy (I think he is 12 I know he is around that age.) how can you go wrong? If your Looking for a book with adventure and fantasy this is your book, I give it a 5 star all the way.
Oh and note for the author and publisher on page 113 you have a sentence that's not spaced at all so it reads Thecrowedehousebegantogivejessicaaheadache. I won a uncorrected proof which I love because I can read the book before it's published but I thought it's something you should know.
I did a Youtube review as well so if you rather watch that the link is below.
http://youtu.be/0gYXvRcranw
Oh and note for the author and publisher on page 113 you have a sentence that's not spaced at all so it reads Thecrowedehousebegantogivejessicaaheadache. I won a uncorrected proof which I love because I can read the book before it's published but I thought it's something you should know.
I did a Youtube review as well so if you rather watch that the link is below.
http://youtu.be/0gYXvRcranw
November 19, 2016
This book is really the most prefect little thing I've gotten lost in. It surrounds you in a land of magic and mystery and even though i could have torn through it- I took my time to read it so i could stay wrapped in a magnificent story and it's magical abundance. This is a coming of age story and even though it can be seen as a bit young for me, i highly recommend it for everyone. I dont care if it is too young for me- it made me feel like a kid again and i loved every second of it. I thoroughly enjoyed the use of characters the writing and the perfectly written links that made this a great and enchanting read. This book really makes a good impression and gives you time to feel comfortable. At first the concepts of what was happening in regards to mythical creatures was a bit wild to me- but i settled into it right away and I can not wait for the second one.
February 12, 2015
As a young girl, I became completely enamored with works by C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, which brought modern-day characters into contact with ancient, mythological creatures in stories with universal themes. I've read books by those two authors again and again, never having found another series as entertaining to read.
Now, however, I'm happy to report that Beyond the Door may just be the first of a new series that can, once again, bring similar wonder and magic to a new generation of readers. It's the story of three children who are inadvertently sucked into a place where the every-day world coincides with a universe of myth and magic. I found this book most enjoyable to read, and happily, it's clear that the adventure continues in the next installment.
Now, however, I'm happy to report that Beyond the Door may just be the first of a new series that can, once again, bring similar wonder and magic to a new generation of readers. It's the story of three children who are inadvertently sucked into a place where the every-day world coincides with a universe of myth and magic. I found this book most enjoyable to read, and happily, it's clear that the adventure continues in the next installment.
January 12, 2017
Usually I prefer mythology based books if I don't read the mythology first, but this one is gibberish if you've never heard of the wild hunt. The writer has a good style, I got 2/3 of the way through it before starting to feel like it was a bit disappointing. I'd recommend this for someone who likes mythology or appreciates unusual storytelling techniques (the pacing in this book is bizarre) but not for someone like me who picked it up on a whim and was intrigued by the past/future/time part of the blurb.
August 13, 2016
In the first installment of the Time out of Time Duet, McQuerry blends Celtic and Medieval mythologies, contemporary issues and an epic conflict of good vs. evil. At times the novel reminded me of Neil Gaiman's Stardust. I think this is best suited for grades 4-7 and will appeal to serious mythology and fantasy fans. Love the cover, too!
June 15, 2014
Just the kind of "sneaky" read that keeps young minds active throughout the summer months. It's so engaging, they won't realize they're learning new material. I'm currently running an interview / giveaway on my MG blog, Smack Dab in the Middle: http://smack-dab-in-the-middle.blogsp...
June 10, 2014
Loved this!!! Would give it 4 1/2 really. Reminiscent of the Dark is Rising series. I couldn't put it down and am ready for the next installment asap.
April 9, 2024
My kids didn't like it. Nor did I. (2 stars)
This book by Maureen McQuerry is a young adult fiction novel that attempts to bring Celtic mythology and fantasy to modern readers, with the European folk myth known as the Wild Hunt playing a central role in the plot, along with the Green Man. It's quite dark in places, and my children aged 11-15 weren't at all taken by it, one even giving up on the book before finishing it. Having subsequently read the book myself, I don't entirely blame them.
It's quite a challenge for a writer to bring Celtic myths to young adults today, because the mythological elements are quite removed from what many middle schoolers have ever read before. This isn't helped by the fact that the tone is also quite dark and even disturbing at times, and some children will just be creeped out by the content. Meanwhile the author seems to be trying too hard to bring some of these things into the 21st century, and I don't think the novel was enhanced by some implicit references to things like smoking marijuana at a highschool party - although I suspect that most younger readers may not catch such references.
Another issue is that the author has opted for a cliff-hanger style ending, with many loose ends left hanging and questions unanswered, so even some of the main plot elements are left completely unresolved. It seems to be a cheap attempt to get readers to buy Book 2 of the series that this is part of, so if you don't plan on reading the next book in the series, expect to be quite disappointed with the ending. Why do writers feel the need to do this? If a story is good enough, it should stand on its own, and yet still leave readers begging to read the next in the series - books like the Harry Potter series and Chronicles of Narnia all being good examples.
My advice: Avoid, unless you're confident that this kind of novel really suits your taste, and if you are prepared to invest in the entire series.
This book by Maureen McQuerry is a young adult fiction novel that attempts to bring Celtic mythology and fantasy to modern readers, with the European folk myth known as the Wild Hunt playing a central role in the plot, along with the Green Man. It's quite dark in places, and my children aged 11-15 weren't at all taken by it, one even giving up on the book before finishing it. Having subsequently read the book myself, I don't entirely blame them.
It's quite a challenge for a writer to bring Celtic myths to young adults today, because the mythological elements are quite removed from what many middle schoolers have ever read before. This isn't helped by the fact that the tone is also quite dark and even disturbing at times, and some children will just be creeped out by the content. Meanwhile the author seems to be trying too hard to bring some of these things into the 21st century, and I don't think the novel was enhanced by some implicit references to things like smoking marijuana at a highschool party - although I suspect that most younger readers may not catch such references.
Another issue is that the author has opted for a cliff-hanger style ending, with many loose ends left hanging and questions unanswered, so even some of the main plot elements are left completely unresolved. It seems to be a cheap attempt to get readers to buy Book 2 of the series that this is part of, so if you don't plan on reading the next book in the series, expect to be quite disappointed with the ending. Why do writers feel the need to do this? If a story is good enough, it should stand on its own, and yet still leave readers begging to read the next in the series - books like the Harry Potter series and Chronicles of Narnia all being good examples.
My advice: Avoid, unless you're confident that this kind of novel really suits your taste, and if you are prepared to invest in the entire series.
May 29, 2017
I'm giving this book two stars, because it was just okay.
While the story itself was interesting, the plot was not developed that well, most of the time I was left with me asking, "What happened? What has just happened?"
The relationship between Timothy and her sister, Sarah could be better. In fact, I felt like, the siblings relationship was just there for almost no reason. I could not feel the love and affection from them that much, even when lots of things happened to both of them.
The change in Jessica, also felt so rushed and sudden. It looked like the writer tried to portray Jessica's character from someone who used to bully Timothy to a friend who would fight The Dark together, again, it felt so sudden and out of nowhere. Even when the incident where Timothy took Jessica's place from being the hunted prey would not be enough to justify her so-called change.
The writing style, as for me, was a bit off. Somehow it looked like all the jumbled thought being cramped into one paragraph, which left me slightly bored while reading.
I hope the sequel would be better.
While the story itself was interesting, the plot was not developed that well, most of the time I was left with me asking, "What happened? What has just happened?"
The relationship between Timothy and her sister, Sarah could be better. In fact, I felt like, the siblings relationship was just there for almost no reason. I could not feel the love and affection from them that much, even when lots of things happened to both of them.
The change in Jessica, also felt so rushed and sudden. It looked like the writer tried to portray Jessica's character from someone who used to bully Timothy to a friend who would fight The Dark together, again, it felt so sudden and out of nowhere. Even when the incident where Timothy took Jessica's place from being the hunted prey would not be enough to justify her so-called change.
The writing style, as for me, was a bit off. Somehow it looked like all the jumbled thought being cramped into one paragraph, which left me slightly bored while reading.
I hope the sequel would be better.
June 5, 2019
Definitely not my favorite MG novel, but it is also not that bad.
The first part of the book was a slow-paced and very hard to understand for me. Like I did not know what is really happening and it gets confusing as it gets. Luckily, the second part was much more interesting to read and it has villains that are totally rotten to the core that you will see yourself hating them.
Despite not being that good, I am still interested what this series has to offer, it has such an interesting world.
The first part of the book was a slow-paced and very hard to understand for me. Like I did not know what is really happening and it gets confusing as it gets. Luckily, the second part was much more interesting to read and it has villains that are totally rotten to the core that you will see yourself hating them.
Despite not being that good, I am still interested what this series has to offer, it has such an interesting world.
March 2, 2025
This is a book a found randomly at the Dollar Store and couldn’t take my eyes off if it. By far one of the best books I have ever read, I consumed it so far. The mixture of in-depth characters with irks and duality. Such a wonderful and severely entertaining twist. Hell of a cliffhanger though! I’ll just say that
March 24, 2018
Fans of The Dark is Rising
series will enjoy this book
After they manage to untangle the
bundle of confusion that is Celtic
myth
series will enjoy this book
After they manage to untangle the
bundle of confusion that is Celtic
myth
September 26, 2020
Pretty good, if you read it as two books instead of one.
December 18, 2013
Thank you First Reads for an uncorrected proof of Beyond the Door!
Beyond the Door is a mythological and magical adventure. Well, it is just the beginning of an epic adventure, really. The book ends with a "to be continued," as expected, and it left me wanting to know what happens next. Young Timothy, his sister Sarah, and his kind-of friend Jessica, and the people they get to befriend along the way have quests small and large to keep the Dark from winning the battle(s) against the Light. The Light wants to give creatures freedom, while the Dark wants to control everything. And the decisions along the way are tough ones, and not everything is the way it seems. Most importantly, not everyone is who they claim to be.
Overall, the adventures are exciting, and the characters are well developed. There are comical moments, and sad ones, as well as exciting ones.
I find it difficult to describe the one problem I have with the narrative style. I want to say that it is dry, or it doesn't flow as well as it could, perhaps? There are sentences like "[Name] addressed [Name]," which stick out like a sore thumb in a narrative that is otherwise more natural. In other places, things are explained too much, leaving too little for actual action to take place, which I think is done better with dialog (I am comparing to Patrick Ness, for example.)
Besides the issue with the flow of narrative voice or words, some aspect of the story are very refreshing, like Timothy's continued skepticism of the magical things happening and his need to try to explain things according to the science he knows.
I have said this before and I will say it again: the bullied child is always a golden-hearted victim, which bothers me. It keeps me from believing the character. Nobody is that good hearted. Bullied or not, children are children; they can be evil, selfish, stupid, smart, smelly, snotty, athletic, whimpy, disgusting... In fact, being bullied would probably bring out the worst in someone, not the best. The saving grace here is that the bully is not completely evil, and Timothy is not entirely perfect (though he is, almost.)
All in all, this is a great start to an adventure of epic proportions. I will read the next book int he series.
Beyond the Door is a mythological and magical adventure. Well, it is just the beginning of an epic adventure, really. The book ends with a "to be continued," as expected, and it left me wanting to know what happens next. Young Timothy, his sister Sarah, and his kind-of friend Jessica, and the people they get to befriend along the way have quests small and large to keep the Dark from winning the battle(s) against the Light. The Light wants to give creatures freedom, while the Dark wants to control everything. And the decisions along the way are tough ones, and not everything is the way it seems. Most importantly, not everyone is who they claim to be.
Overall, the adventures are exciting, and the characters are well developed. There are comical moments, and sad ones, as well as exciting ones.
I find it difficult to describe the one problem I have with the narrative style. I want to say that it is dry, or it doesn't flow as well as it could, perhaps? There are sentences like "[Name] addressed [Name]," which stick out like a sore thumb in a narrative that is otherwise more natural. In other places, things are explained too much, leaving too little for actual action to take place, which I think is done better with dialog (I am comparing to Patrick Ness, for example.)
Besides the issue with the flow of narrative voice or words, some aspect of the story are very refreshing, like Timothy's continued skepticism of the magical things happening and his need to try to explain things according to the science he knows.
I have said this before and I will say it again: the bullied child is always a golden-hearted victim, which bothers me. It keeps me from believing the character. Nobody is that good hearted. Bullied or not, children are children; they can be evil, selfish, stupid, smart, smelly, snotty, athletic, whimpy, disgusting... In fact, being bullied would probably bring out the worst in someone, not the best. The saving grace here is that the bully is not completely evil, and Timothy is not entirely perfect (though he is, almost.)
All in all, this is a great start to an adventure of epic proportions. I will read the next book int he series.
March 8, 2014
(I received this book for free as part of Goodreads First Reads giveaways).
(This review may contain spoilers).
I've always liked mythology-based books and this one wasn't an exception.
I felt that the characters in this book were fairly interesting and well-developed, despite being quite young (though I kept forgetting that Sarah was meant to be older than the other two). Timothy's preoccupation with Scrabble and words was a nice touch - as was his like-dislike relationship with Jessica.
I felt that the world and creatures in it came across really well. I liked how Timothy stepped up for someone who had treated him quite poorly in the past. That's something I'd like to think I could do for someone who had been horrible to me... but I doubt I'd find it easy to do so.
The basic plot of this book isn't unique (not that there are many totally unique plots nowadays, if any), but I still found it an entertaining read. I liked how different events were interconnected in the different worlds.
I did think that there wasn't very much foreshadowing going on. At one point, Sarah's asked if she can fire a bow - and I think that the readers could have been shown an example of that skill, rather than it being said right when the question is asked.
I did notice a few mistakes in the book, though mostly punctuation errors. I liked the use of animals in the book, too - especially the crow. I would have liked to learn more about how all the different beings fit together.
The thing with the hunt did seem a bit... well, strange. I won't go into details, but there were certain things that I couldn't quite see the point of.
The book does end on something of a cliffhanger and I think it's made me want to read the next book in the series in the future. I'll probably pass this book on to my niece to read at some point.
(This review may contain spoilers).
I've always liked mythology-based books and this one wasn't an exception.
I felt that the characters in this book were fairly interesting and well-developed, despite being quite young (though I kept forgetting that Sarah was meant to be older than the other two). Timothy's preoccupation with Scrabble and words was a nice touch - as was his like-dislike relationship with Jessica.
I felt that the world and creatures in it came across really well. I liked how Timothy stepped up for someone who had treated him quite poorly in the past. That's something I'd like to think I could do for someone who had been horrible to me... but I doubt I'd find it easy to do so.
The basic plot of this book isn't unique (not that there are many totally unique plots nowadays, if any), but I still found it an entertaining read. I liked how different events were interconnected in the different worlds.
I did think that there wasn't very much foreshadowing going on. At one point, Sarah's asked if she can fire a bow - and I think that the readers could have been shown an example of that skill, rather than it being said right when the question is asked.
I did notice a few mistakes in the book, though mostly punctuation errors. I liked the use of animals in the book, too - especially the crow. I would have liked to learn more about how all the different beings fit together.
The thing with the hunt did seem a bit... well, strange. I won't go into details, but there were certain things that I couldn't quite see the point of.
The book does end on something of a cliffhanger and I think it's made me want to read the next book in the series in the future. I'll probably pass this book on to my niece to read at some point.
June 10, 2014
Review by Jack - Year 8
Beyond the Door is based on Celtic mythology. It tells the story of Timothy, his new friend (and ex-bully) Jessica and his protective elder sister named Sarah. They meet many varied mythological helpers such as Gwydon the wolf, Greenman of the woods, Cerridwyn who they know as Mrs. Rosemary Clapper and Julian the librarian who becomes the storyteller. Together they face the foes of Herne the Hunter, Balor the one-eyed and the dictatorial, imperious master of the market.
The part of the story I liked most is when Nom (a half rat, half human creature) leads the children to the market and the second part of the story. At this point Timothy, Sarah and Jessica do not know where they are going, or why, and are bombarding Nom with questions which go unanswered. It is fascinating to watch them puzzle over what they are doing. My favourite character is Gwydon because he is always remains nobly and faithfully beside Timothy. He is also, before he became a wolf, supposed to have led an army of trees and been King Arthur.
This book was fantastically engaging and a good twist on some little-known mythology but there were just too many characters. It was very difficult to track them as they are all individually complex and have their own adventures during the book. Particularly during the introduction of all the mythological characters it was hard to remember each individual character. I think that the book would be improved by possibly getting rid of Greenman and putting his attributes into Gwydon, among other things.
So, this book is mostly fantastic, but has the one character issue. Therefore I will give it 4/5 stars. It isn’t something I would probably recommend it to friends unless they were very into mythology. However, I will read the sequels if I see them.
Beyond the Door is based on Celtic mythology. It tells the story of Timothy, his new friend (and ex-bully) Jessica and his protective elder sister named Sarah. They meet many varied mythological helpers such as Gwydon the wolf, Greenman of the woods, Cerridwyn who they know as Mrs. Rosemary Clapper and Julian the librarian who becomes the storyteller. Together they face the foes of Herne the Hunter, Balor the one-eyed and the dictatorial, imperious master of the market.
The part of the story I liked most is when Nom (a half rat, half human creature) leads the children to the market and the second part of the story. At this point Timothy, Sarah and Jessica do not know where they are going, or why, and are bombarding Nom with questions which go unanswered. It is fascinating to watch them puzzle over what they are doing. My favourite character is Gwydon because he is always remains nobly and faithfully beside Timothy. He is also, before he became a wolf, supposed to have led an army of trees and been King Arthur.
This book was fantastically engaging and a good twist on some little-known mythology but there were just too many characters. It was very difficult to track them as they are all individually complex and have their own adventures during the book. Particularly during the introduction of all the mythological characters it was hard to remember each individual character. I think that the book would be improved by possibly getting rid of Greenman and putting his attributes into Gwydon, among other things.
So, this book is mostly fantastic, but has the one character issue. Therefore I will give it 4/5 stars. It isn’t something I would probably recommend it to friends unless they were very into mythology. However, I will read the sequels if I see them.
January 20, 2014
Timothy Maxwell loves reading, loves Scrabble, and is always picked on at school. Unaware of his family’s history, he becomes involved in the battle between Dark and Light. Needing assistance, he is joined by his sister and by the girl at school who bullies him most. Constantly threatened by agents of the Dark, the three begin their quest to keep the Dark from harming their loved ones and changing the world they know. I can not wait for Timothy's story to continue!
Beyond the Door invites obvious comparisons to Susan Cooper's wonderful The Dark is Rising sequence because they both involve Light vs. Dark and Celtic or British folklore. There's plenty of room for both. McQuerry's book is well-written, original, and the characters and situations are appealing and engrossing. Give it a try.
The worst thing is the cover. It would seem no one in the art department read the book. The illustration looks like a cross between Falkor, the luckdragon from The Neverending Story and a romping Newfoundland, rather than the large, savage wolf Timothy rides. Ignore the cover and read the book.
Beyond the Door invites obvious comparisons to Susan Cooper's wonderful The Dark is Rising sequence because they both involve Light vs. Dark and Celtic or British folklore. There's plenty of room for both. McQuerry's book is well-written, original, and the characters and situations are appealing and engrossing. Give it a try.
The worst thing is the cover. It would seem no one in the art department read the book. The illustration looks like a cross between Falkor, the luckdragon from The Neverending Story and a romping Newfoundland, rather than the large, savage wolf Timothy rides. Ignore the cover and read the book.
July 28, 2014
Time Out of Time: Beyond the Door by Maureen Doyle McQuerry
Amulet, 2014
Fantasy
375 pages
Recommended for grades 6+
This new fantasy series begins with a hefty book 1. Young Timothy finds himself observing strange figures enter his home one night, and quickly finds himself wrapped up in world he never knew existed. Mythology reigns high in this story. Oddly, the book felt segmented to me, as though the beginning and ending were two separate stories-due to the vastly different settings and some character changes.
I enjoyed the book, and think that there are many readers as young as fourth grade (strong readers) that would love to sink their teeth into this lengthy volume. I can't stand behind it being free and clear appropriate for younger readers though because of a high school party scene that just doesn't seem right for fourth and fifth graders to read about.
There is a code along the bottom of many of the pages in this book. I decoded the first page, but quickly realized that I was not going to have the time to decode the rest! I think kids would love decoding the message though!
Amulet, 2014
Fantasy
375 pages
Recommended for grades 6+
This new fantasy series begins with a hefty book 1. Young Timothy finds himself observing strange figures enter his home one night, and quickly finds himself wrapped up in world he never knew existed. Mythology reigns high in this story. Oddly, the book felt segmented to me, as though the beginning and ending were two separate stories-due to the vastly different settings and some character changes.
I enjoyed the book, and think that there are many readers as young as fourth grade (strong readers) that would love to sink their teeth into this lengthy volume. I can't stand behind it being free and clear appropriate for younger readers though because of a high school party scene that just doesn't seem right for fourth and fifth graders to read about.
There is a code along the bottom of many of the pages in this book. I decoded the first page, but quickly realized that I was not going to have the time to decode the rest! I think kids would love decoding the message though!
July 15, 2014
I liked the main character's obsession with Scrabble and the very real portrayal of adolescent insecurities. The relationship between Timothy and his sister Sarah was strong and loving. I enjoyed the mythology and the many references to the power of stories:
"Chaos theory is finding the underlying order in random data or events."
"Myths are just stories people make up to explain the way the universe works."
"If you're afraid in the dark, it's because you believe that there's something scary there you can't see, even if you only believe it until you turn the light on."
"Stories help them make sense of their lives. Stories provide hope. They promise that the Dark doesn't have the final word. Other people have lived through difficult times, too."
BUT I HATED the rip off read-the-next-book ending. Readers deserve closure, not some stupid teaser to read the next book. If you have invested in the characters, you want to see plot lines resolved. It should be possible to leave readers wanting more without leaving them entirely on the limb.
"Chaos theory is finding the underlying order in random data or events."
"Myths are just stories people make up to explain the way the universe works."
"If you're afraid in the dark, it's because you believe that there's something scary there you can't see, even if you only believe it until you turn the light on."
"Stories help them make sense of their lives. Stories provide hope. They promise that the Dark doesn't have the final word. Other people have lived through difficult times, too."
BUT I HATED the rip off read-the-next-book ending. Readers deserve closure, not some stupid teaser to read the next book. If you have invested in the characters, you want to see plot lines resolved. It should be possible to leave readers wanting more without leaving them entirely on the limb.
April 15, 2014
I received this book from Goodreads, First Reads.
This was a beautifully written captivating book. It seemlessly tied together mythology from the Greek Gods - Artemis, with the old British/Celtic - Cderridwyn. The Green man brought back a few memories of stories read. As a lover of Greek mythology I felt guilty that I only knew the basics of my 'home-grown' mythology, something I will now try to improve my knowledge of. I realise now that my knowledge of May Day is limited. The book was a real eye-opener. This book has the rare talent of making me want to know more about what I had just read.
The characters were well-written. Timothy was a joy to read with his basic 'nerd' characteristics but with so much more going on than he realised. His habit of putting words in his head into scrabble points was interesting too. His sister, Sarah was lovely and the relationship between the two was really gentle and caring.
A very good read and one which I recommend.
This was a beautifully written captivating book. It seemlessly tied together mythology from the Greek Gods - Artemis, with the old British/Celtic - Cderridwyn. The Green man brought back a few memories of stories read. As a lover of Greek mythology I felt guilty that I only knew the basics of my 'home-grown' mythology, something I will now try to improve my knowledge of. I realise now that my knowledge of May Day is limited. The book was a real eye-opener. This book has the rare talent of making me want to know more about what I had just read.
The characters were well-written. Timothy was a joy to read with his basic 'nerd' characteristics but with so much more going on than he realised. His habit of putting words in his head into scrabble points was interesting too. His sister, Sarah was lovely and the relationship between the two was really gentle and caring.
A very good read and one which I recommend.
December 31, 2014
A must-read for readers who are not quite, but almost, ready for "The Dark is Rising" series.
The addition of old British myths, like the Greenman and the Jack, along with Welsh figures like Cerridwyn to an American landscape may leave some readers, those who know the myths, confused. Consider this a melange and move keep reading. Timothy and Sarah seem to be left alone a lot by their parents, but as with the best blended-world stories time moves differently in the Other world than it does in the real one. I also enjoyed Julian, a librarian in our world, and the Ogham text that runs at the bottom of each page.
The pacing was a little odd, and this was really two books in one - tying the two together more with deeper exploration of the mythology would have been better (IMVHO). And Jessica's change was too abrupt for reality, or what passes for reality in this world.
ARC provided by publisher.
The addition of old British myths, like the Greenman and the Jack, along with Welsh figures like Cerridwyn to an American landscape may leave some readers, those who know the myths, confused. Consider this a melange and move keep reading. Timothy and Sarah seem to be left alone a lot by their parents, but as with the best blended-world stories time moves differently in the Other world than it does in the real one. I also enjoyed Julian, a librarian in our world, and the Ogham text that runs at the bottom of each page.
The pacing was a little odd, and this was really two books in one - tying the two together more with deeper exploration of the mythology would have been better (IMVHO). And Jessica's change was too abrupt for reality, or what passes for reality in this world.
ARC provided by publisher.
September 22, 2015
shamelessly taken from Amazon to test the review function for the ROBS literature committee...
weaves a wonderful coming-of-age story with elements of fantasy and mythology. With his love of school and the game of Scrabble, Timothy James feels that the only person who really understands him is his older sister, Sarah, and he’s fairly certain nothing interesting will ever happen to him. But one night, while his parents and sister are away, he sees something that changes everything: mythical creatures in his own living room! Soon, a mystery of unparalleled proportions begins to unfold, and Timothy has to team up with his sister and the school bully, Jessica, in the name of the Light in order to defeat the powers of the Dark. A secret code runs throughout the book that readers can decipher to learn more about their favorite characters and legends.
weaves a wonderful coming-of-age story with elements of fantasy and mythology. With his love of school and the game of Scrabble, Timothy James feels that the only person who really understands him is his older sister, Sarah, and he’s fairly certain nothing interesting will ever happen to him. But one night, while his parents and sister are away, he sees something that changes everything: mythical creatures in his own living room! Soon, a mystery of unparalleled proportions begins to unfold, and Timothy has to team up with his sister and the school bully, Jessica, in the name of the Light in order to defeat the powers of the Dark. A secret code runs throughout the book that readers can decipher to learn more about their favorite characters and legends.
April 5, 2016
Timothy says nothing happens to him and then it does. He and his sister become involved in a fight against dark - twice. There are 2 parts to the story and two different adventures to go along with them. Unfortunately, the second part ends with a cliff hanger so to know what happens you'd have to wait. I wasn't that enthralled with the characters or storyline, so I probably won't think to get the next book. I was interested in this because the synopsis says Timothy is into Scrabble - but it is a very minor part of the story - only thrown in because it's mentioned in the synopsis! Very disappointed in that.
October 3, 2016
Although for me not amazing, still quite an enjoyable read. There were some beautiful ideas that deserved deeper exploration ("Light wants to be free, dark wants to control"), but none came. I struggled at times to keep my attention up.
The biggest problem I had with this book was the structure. It was divided into two parts that felt like two completely different stories with no conclusion, nothing that could blend together in the end. I managed to keep reading just out of curiosity about the wrap up but guess what? We didn't get any. It just ended abruptly in the style well-kids-now-read-the-book-two. I must say I was disappointed and annoyed.
I'm not planning to read the book two.
The biggest problem I had with this book was the structure. It was divided into two parts that felt like two completely different stories with no conclusion, nothing that could blend together in the end. I managed to keep reading just out of curiosity about the wrap up but guess what? We didn't get any. It just ended abruptly in the style well-kids-now-read-the-book-two. I must say I was disappointed and annoyed.
I'm not planning to read the book two.
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