The Secret Doors of Cannondale: Book One of The Cannondale Chronicles

by Stephanie Brick

* * * BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK 2024, READERS' CHOICE BOOK AWARDS * * *

An outcast girl looking to belong discovers a secret doorway to other realms in a thrilling portal fantasy novel for middle-grade readers.

When twelve-year-old Adeline Perle's transient military family finally plants roots in an old, creaky mansion - Cannondale - the girl craves to build the lasting friendships that she, as a constant outsider, never had. At last, on the cusp of bonding with a new group of affable teens on Cannondale's grounds, Adeline discovers an unusual treasure behind a secret door, unveiling portals to extraordinary realms where she is confronted with disappearing creatures and magical people, good and evil, and a boy who's desperate to help her find her way back home.

But not all friends are as they seem. Some will go to any length to get what they want, including a secret Adeline does not even know she possesses. It is a secret so important, all the magic in the universe is at stake. Wars have been waged over it, and Adeline finds herself right in the middle of it all. She must overcome all inhibitions and face her greatest fears not only to survive but - after a lifetime of wanting - to find her place and way home.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Childrens

210 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 26, 2024

About the author

Stephanie Brick is a lifelong writer, from her first books as a child (made using construction paper and her mother’s favorite green stapler) to completing her first novella by age twelve to regular syndication as a professional. As a career architect and sideline author, Ms. Brick’s design acuity and endless creativity form a unique lens for detailed, multi-sensory world-building, both on and off the page.

Reviews

[callistoscalling · Rating 4 out of 5]

was just about Adeline’s age when I wondered what was behind the panel door in my bedroom. I finally got the courage to sneak a screwdriver upstairs to uncover a crawl space to my bathtub plumbing. But to me, it was my secret room that became covered in magazine clippings, messages scribed by my friends, and my place to journal and write poetry. My girls are about the same age now and living in that room and I will be mortified when they eventually find the time capsule from the late 1990’s/2000.

The Secret Doors of Cannondale is such a special story that summons that sense of childlike adventure filled with curiosity and creativity. Adeline is a military child finally getting the chance to plant roots in Connecticut. When she arrives at the beautiful Victorian home she finds a hidden door that transports her to realms beyond her wildest imagination. The language of the novel is beautiful, full of such rich descriptions that the reader is instantly transported along with Adeline in her journeys. A truly magical book that will captivate readers of all ages, reminding us to never stop imagining what lies ahead for us if we dare to leave the doors open for our dreams to manifest. And I am dreaming that book two manifests soon!!!!

4.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Jay Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a kid, we dream of secret passageways and alternate dimensions, and "The Secret Doors of Cannondale" speaks powerfully to these fantasies. The characters and stakes feel real and kept me reading, and I sincerely look forward to sharing this book with my daughter once she's a bit older (she's still a baby).

Good, fun, relatable story! Thank you to the author for providing an advance copy.

[Tim Paggi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book this was, full of the magic and wonder of Narnia and Miyazaki. In “Secret Doors of Cannondale,” young Adeline is a military brat who has moved from home to home throughout her childhood. In a relative’s house, she discovers a delightful secret that teaches her about life’s endless possibilities and the importance of both friendship and responsibility. Featuring a friendly young soldier, a cunning villain and even a Pokemon-esque sidekick, this story is perfect for the young person in your life who is just discovering the pleasures of reading, or for an adult who enjoys a well-crafted, fantastical story to take them back to the forgotten realm of childhood innocence. Thanks to the author for providing me with an early copy!

[Richard H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am amazed that "The Secret Doors of Cannondale" is Stephanie Brick's first novel. The complex plot, and the beautifully developed characters show the level of sophistication and skill of a veteran writer. The plot twists kept me engaged throughout the book, and I found myself rooting enthusiastically for the protagonist. It was a deeply satisfying read, and I eagerly await the next book in the series!

[Crimson Sparrow · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reading this book is a little like listening to someone recount a dream sequence: It should be interesting but it just isn't. The premise is promising, but the execution... well, one scene after another flashes by introducing more and more [useless] characters, but building no depth and no reader investment in the main character and no sense of direction for the story. Meanwhile, much of the descriptions of new places and events are unnecessarily disjointed and abstract (especially for middle grade). I forced myself to stay in, but by the 40% mark, I just couldn't make myself finish it. Bummer.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A joyful romp through an imaginative world. Reminiscent of the books of Narnia and The Little Prince at times, this exciting hidden portal novel follows Adeline as she's blown one direction after another in an unfamiliar world. Studded with gorgeous imagery and detailed architectural descriptions, this is a perfect read for anyone looking to escape the day-to-day and go on an adventure. The story touches on themes of friendship and belonging that will resonate with middle grade readers and adults alike. A great find!

[the equestrian's library · Rating 3 out of 5]

** Thank you to Reedsy Discovery for a copy of this book's ARC in exchange for a fair review.

The Secret Doors of Cannondale is a short fantasy book (~250 pages or so) about a young girl constantly displaced by her mother's military position, is lonely without any friends, and goes on a wild adventure through mysterious realms and comes out of it with friends, family, and a sense of self and belonging! Or, she tries too, anyway.

I think this book was neat in its own quirky way. The descriptions of the settings were vibrant and definitely read like they'd been crafted with a lot of love and detail. I also appreciate that the author didn't use excessive dialogue tags, though I think breaking up the internal monologue might be a thought for future books. (This is more a formatting thing. I absolutely love internal monologue.)

At first glance, I'd say the intro to the book and introducing the main character can be relatively relatable. Being displaced by a military-based family is tough, and while that may be only a smaller portion of kids and teenagers, the larger majority can relate to feeling lonely or without friends, or that it's hard to socialize and interact with their peers. Adeline's loneliness is something easy to grasp onto, which I think is vital for books written for tweens. This book does read like an older middle grade, but there were some moments that I wasn't really quite sure what was going on, particularly toward the end with the void scene. I feel like I got the premise once I got through that portion of the story, but the initial reading of it, took me a couple of tries.

The overall premise is that Adeline is sucked into different magical realms and is trying to go home. This book is also part of a series, which would explain why the ending was more open-ended. I think the plot was a bit... back and forth, perhaps, or maybe it just felt a little rushed. Each realm had its own personality but when put together, it felt a little disjointed aside from a large amount of the book spent in one particular realm. Though, the conflict with that one ended rather abruptly in my opinion.

Overall, I think The Secret Doors of Cannondale is a quick, simple fantasy read for a mid-older tween, with quirky characters I hope get more fleshed out in the following books. A solid book! Kudos to the author, and I hope it does well post-publication and finds many happy homes.

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[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Doors of Cannondale was such a fantastic, delightful, and adventurous read. Anyone with a love for studio Ghibli films like Spirited Away or Castle in the Sky will absolutely love this book. This book really captures the same energy, charm, and innocence as a Hiyao Miyazaki film. There is never a dull moment, and the rich detail really brings the story to life. This page-turner book flows seamlessly, and the ending of every chapter leaves you excited for what’s next. Adeline, the main character, is charming, relatable, and easy to love.
I loved discovering the twists and turns and mysteries of this remarkable magical world and feeling like I was really there. I’m positive that anyone with a sense of adventure and a love for imaginative, mysterious, magical new worlds will think so too.

[Max Kosterlitzky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book was a pleasant journey through wonderfully crafted worlds that filled me with curiosity, wonder, and attachment to each universe and character I was introduced to.

This novel allows me to explore different realities and settings with the main character, and putting me in the new place each time, it’s a story that is easy to imagine yourself in.

I would recommend this to any reader, but especially those who enjoy lighter material, fantasy, and books which put effort in creating the world which it is set.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This fantasy for middle grade readers had some things going for it. The world-building of Nouvaal is well-done and the "wisping" ability of the people and animals was unique. Ada's character was very realistic. There is adventure and suspense. The twist at the end was entirely unexpected.

But there are lots of questions that the reader can only hope will be answered in subsequent books, as this is the first in a series. One major question is how did Gabriel follow Ada when he tells her that possession of the crystal is a requirement for travel among the realms?

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up in a military family and the main character, Adeline, being a lonely military brat, constantly moved from school to school by her parents spoke to me. I recommend this book to anyone who ever felt lonely as a kid. It’s a great story of fantasy and friendship! I loved the vibrant description of the magical worlds Adeline traveled to. I listened to the audio book, which had a great voice to it.

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected twists at every turn in a magical fantasy world

This book is as exciting to read as the best mystery, but with the all the creativity of a fantasy book. You really get to know Adeline, but my favorite part is that there are other stories - beyond hers - that you get entranced by as well. Trying not to give away too much, as the surprises along the way are my favorite parts. Can’t wait for the later books to see even more it unfold!

[Ami · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was impressed by the world building and depth of characters in this book, especially for a first time novelist. The descriptions are incredibly vivid and imaginative, while at the same time the protagonist keeps the story grounded. All the characters' dialogue and reactions felt genuine. I also found the cover art and the book presentation itself beautiful. Kudos!

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read for all ages

I’m definitely not the target audience and for full disclosure, am friends with the author.

All that being said, I really enjoyed the story and pace. The characters are compelling. There are definitely some great plot twists, some seemingly unexplained. Overall, a really enjoyable read.

[Joule Mwendwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book not only tackles realms and magic. It also has valuable life lessons to learn. These include friendship and self-esteem. Adeline meets a new friend, Gabriel, who completely changes her perception of being accepted and believing in herself. This lesson will be very valuable to readers.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked reading this book! Stephanie Brick totally nailed it with the mix of real life problems and fantasy. The characters were beautifully created and very memorable with their quirks and charms. This book is not just a story but an experience that unfolds with each chapter!

[Adam Sequoyah]

MPA ratings: PG-13 for some violence