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The Explorers' Gate
In New York City’s Central Park, remarkable things happen after the sun goes down
Nikki Van Wyck knows everything about Central Park. She can tell you how many benches it has, how many acres it is—and exactly where to find an adventure after dark. When she teams up with a few new friends to track down a treasure in the park, her expert knowledge comes in handy. But the place she thought she knew is transformed before her eyes as the statues begin to come to life!
It turns out that Central Park has secrets that can’t be found in any guidebook. Magical secrets. And what Nikki thought was just a scavenger hunt is actually much more. Now she’s about to embark on an incredible adventure that will uncover the hidden enchantments in the park she loves—and reveal surprising things about herself, as well.
Nikki Van Wyck knows everything about Central Park. She can tell you how many benches it has, how many acres it is—and exactly where to find an adventure after dark. When she teams up with a few new friends to track down a treasure in the park, her expert knowledge comes in handy. But the place she thought she knew is transformed before her eyes as the statues begin to come to life!
It turns out that Central Park has secrets that can’t be found in any guidebook. Magical secrets. And what Nikki thought was just a scavenger hunt is actually much more. Now she’s about to embark on an incredible adventure that will uncover the hidden enchantments in the park she loves—and reveal surprising things about herself, as well.
- GenresFantasy
239 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 21, 2012
21 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Chris Grabenstein
154 books2,438 followersCHRIS GRABENSTEIN is a #1 New York Times bestselling author. His books include the LEMONCELLO, WONDERLAND, HAUNTED MYSTERY, DOG SQUAD, and SMARTEST KID IN THE UNIVERSE series, and many fun and funny page-turners co-authored with James Patterson. You can visit Chris at ChrisGrabenstein.com.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 30, 2015
i love this book. anything goes wrong, standard reply would be "ask grandpa". LOL.
Nikki was something like Sebastian in The Neverending Story . she was picked on by the "cool" kids in her school. her mom just passaway leaving a father who turned alcoholic due to missi g her mom.
the only thing she is good at is the history of the Central Park. unknown to her, the park is inhabited by non human species too. when she become aware of that, she had loads of unanswered questions. she got tangle up in a quest.
what i love about this book is how things unexpectedly turns up and happened. it have a never give up tone to it.
it was a good read.
Nikki was something like Sebastian in The Neverending Story . she was picked on by the "cool" kids in her school. her mom just passaway leaving a father who turned alcoholic due to missi g her mom.
the only thing she is good at is the history of the Central Park. unknown to her, the park is inhabited by non human species too. when she become aware of that, she had loads of unanswered questions. she got tangle up in a quest.
what i love about this book is how things unexpectedly turns up and happened. it have a never give up tone to it.
it was a good read.
September 25, 2014
Read this with my 8yo son - good stuff - took 4 nights to finish and we both looked forward to it
September 1, 2016
Strong Characters, Great Plot, Fascinating Central Park Setting, (and imagination to burn)
There are zillions of fantasy books out there for middle graders, many of which are worth your consideration. Most of them are set in fantastic, alternate, parallel or otherwise invented worlds. Grabenstein, who has established his gritty local flavor credentials as the author of a number of adult Jersey Shore mysteries, opts to set his delightful fantasy almost entirely within the confines of New York City's Central Park.
The book is loaded with true facts and stories about Central Park, but almost everything is tweaked or reinterpreted to serve Grabenstein's complex and immersive fantasy tale. The locations are so authentic that you could call up a Google map of Central Park and follow the action on that as you read. So, you get a nice tension as you move back and forth in this "reality-based fantasy". (You could fairly think of this as similar in effect to something like the movie "A Night at the Museum", but set in Central Park.)
Of course, premise isn't everything. Especially for a middle grade fantasy you have to ask about the protagonists. Here, we have a trio of heroes who have depth, weight and charm. Our narrator/heroine is Nikki Van Wyck. Her Mom has passed away, her janitor Dad is a lost soul, and Nikki, who lives with Dad across from the Park, (near the Explorer's Gate), clings to her Mom's memory by honoring her Mom's love of and interest in Central Park. At a gathering in the Park Nikki finds that the charm she got from her Mom fits in with two other charms, which are owned by Garrett Vanderdonk and his brother, Willem. Garrett is "sweet and huge"; Willem is a little fourth grader, who is very serious about all things Park related. (Here's a sample description and a sample of Nikki's tart but engaging voice: "For a fourth grader, the odd little dude was extremely emotional. So I goosed up my perky quotient:...".)
I like smart, spirited and resourceful kid heroes, and this book has three top candidates. There is some very funny dialogue and some sly observations and throwaway lines for more advanced readers. We have villains who are creepy/menacing but not terrifying. There is a lot of action and adventure, mostly of the running, hiding, and outsmarting variety.
So, an accomplished and satisfying read with a bit of excitement and a touch of tartness. A nice find.
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.
There are zillions of fantasy books out there for middle graders, many of which are worth your consideration. Most of them are set in fantastic, alternate, parallel or otherwise invented worlds. Grabenstein, who has established his gritty local flavor credentials as the author of a number of adult Jersey Shore mysteries, opts to set his delightful fantasy almost entirely within the confines of New York City's Central Park.
The book is loaded with true facts and stories about Central Park, but almost everything is tweaked or reinterpreted to serve Grabenstein's complex and immersive fantasy tale. The locations are so authentic that you could call up a Google map of Central Park and follow the action on that as you read. So, you get a nice tension as you move back and forth in this "reality-based fantasy". (You could fairly think of this as similar in effect to something like the movie "A Night at the Museum", but set in Central Park.)
Of course, premise isn't everything. Especially for a middle grade fantasy you have to ask about the protagonists. Here, we have a trio of heroes who have depth, weight and charm. Our narrator/heroine is Nikki Van Wyck. Her Mom has passed away, her janitor Dad is a lost soul, and Nikki, who lives with Dad across from the Park, (near the Explorer's Gate), clings to her Mom's memory by honoring her Mom's love of and interest in Central Park. At a gathering in the Park Nikki finds that the charm she got from her Mom fits in with two other charms, which are owned by Garrett Vanderdonk and his brother, Willem. Garrett is "sweet and huge"; Willem is a little fourth grader, who is very serious about all things Park related. (Here's a sample description and a sample of Nikki's tart but engaging voice: "For a fourth grader, the odd little dude was extremely emotional. So I goosed up my perky quotient:...".)
I like smart, spirited and resourceful kid heroes, and this book has three top candidates. There is some very funny dialogue and some sly observations and throwaway lines for more advanced readers. We have villains who are creepy/menacing but not terrifying. There is a lot of action and adventure, mostly of the running, hiding, and outsmarting variety.
So, an accomplished and satisfying read with a bit of excitement and a touch of tartness. A nice find.
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.
February 13, 2014
ARC provided by NetGalley:
This was such a fun little book to read. It's the story of Nikki, a twelve-year-old girl who is simultaneously dealing with the death of her mother as well as her dad's inability to pull himself out of his grief. Nikki's saving grace is her love of all things related to Central Park. She prides herself on knowing everything there is to know about it. But, she doesn't know that the statues come to life at night. That the Central Park she loves is secretly inhabited by mystical, magical creatures. That there is a secret underground society responsible for keeping everything running as smooth as clockwork. The author has a wonderful imagination as is evident in this original storyline, so unlike anything else that's out there right now. A plus for me was all the trivia and historical info on Central Park. This one's a great read for adults and kids alike!
This was such a fun little book to read. It's the story of Nikki, a twelve-year-old girl who is simultaneously dealing with the death of her mother as well as her dad's inability to pull himself out of his grief. Nikki's saving grace is her love of all things related to Central Park. She prides herself on knowing everything there is to know about it. But, she doesn't know that the statues come to life at night. That the Central Park she loves is secretly inhabited by mystical, magical creatures. That there is a secret underground society responsible for keeping everything running as smooth as clockwork. The author has a wonderful imagination as is evident in this original storyline, so unlike anything else that's out there right now. A plus for me was all the trivia and historical info on Central Park. This one's a great read for adults and kids alike!
February 17, 2014
A light, yet satisfying read.
Even though the story is rich with the myths and legends of Central Park, the book has a lot to tell about such things as friendship, love, honour, and overcoming grief.
The plot is solid, the pace is great, and the author knows where to stop.
Especially recommended if you like Central Park and its inhabitants, or if you'd like to have a great read. Who knows, the next king's fate may rest in your hands...
Even though the story is rich with the myths and legends of Central Park, the book has a lot to tell about such things as friendship, love, honour, and overcoming grief.
The plot is solid, the pace is great, and the author knows where to stop.
Especially recommended if you like Central Park and its inhabitants, or if you'd like to have a great read. Who knows, the next king's fate may rest in your hands...
June 28, 2014
A delightful, imaginative story! Nikki Van Wyck, the misfit janitor's daughter, turns hero in a quest that seeks to save New York's landmark Central Park. Along the way, she meets a cast of incredible characters that include magical park creatures, statues that come to life, all of whom help her find her courage and her mother's spirit.
March 8, 2013
Really cute book. Easy read. I just learned so much about central park. Love the characters, was a good original story line. I am hoping the author will make another book to this story. Happy Reading :)
January 17, 2014
This is an extraordinary imaginative work - a janitor's daughter saves Central Park from a billionaire's hotel and takeover - statues come alive! - and the Dutch little people see a new king to keep order in the City and in the Park.
April 17, 2019
Surprising
It was pretty good, makes me want to visit Central Park. that's saying something; I hated visiting New York. I could of done without the spells and " last of the lake" stuff, but otherwise a "good read".
It was pretty good, makes me want to visit Central Park. that's saying something; I hated visiting New York. I could of done without the spells and " last of the lake" stuff, but otherwise a "good read".
September 26, 2016
2.5 stars for me. Really really cute for kids but a little too juvinile for this adult who enjoys many middle grade books. Was ok, not great. Cute for young ones definitely. Didn't like the end, would have liked to have read about the next morning, that would have been a better ending!
February 14, 2014
a beautifully imaginative story. This was a joy to read, extremely well written, a truly great read filled with wonder
March 2, 2015
Great book for kids and adults alike!
April 16, 2015
I know this is a young adult book but I absolutely love this author's work. It is convoluted, detailed, and seems well researched. Plus, it's downright fun!
June 25, 2015
Loved it!
July 16, 2015
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December 4, 2016
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was very adventurous and I learned a lot about Central Park.
April 6, 2017
Fabulous
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews