This Is a Door

by Daniel Nayeri

A groundbreaking hero's journey from National Book Award and Newbery Honor winner, Daniel Nayeri! A young boy, a mouse, and a dog set out to find their purpose in this fairy tale adventure told in an innovative visual format that offers a one-of-a-kind reading experience.

This is the tale of a boy named Nothing the Younger, who lives in a city on the mountaintop of a far-off and long-lost country. Everyone calls him Ing, and while he has no parents, he does have two friends: a dog, Pöppy, and a mouse, mOmO. When King Cyrus calls for a hero to find and defeat the Giantess ravaging the countryside, the king's son, the Wander Prince, answers the call and Ing decides to follow. Along the journey, Ing (and his friends) must traverse the Land of the Dead, survive an encounter with the terrifying wimmelworm, and discover the truth of his mother and father . . . so that he may find what he's been seeking all along—his best purpose.

The text on each page snakes, climbs, jumps, and explodes into shapes and forms that unravel the story. This Is a Door is full of fun surprises and poignant musings that flip the classic hero's journey on its head—all in an artistic and inventive package that is a wonder to behold.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Juvenile, Fiction

400 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication October 27, 2026

About the author

Daniel Nayeri is a writer and editor in New York City. He wrote and produced The Cult of Sincerity, the first feature film to be world-premiered by YouTube. He has had all kinds of jobs around books, including book repairman, literary agent, used bookstore clerk, children's librarian, Official Story-Time Reader Leader, editor, copy-editor, and even carpenter (making bookshelves). He's also a professional pastry chef. He loves Street Fighter 2, hates the word "foodie," and is an award-winning stuntman.

Daniel and his sister/co-writer Dina were both born in Iran and spent many young adult years in Europe. There they learned several languages between them and tried Frosted Flakes for the first time.

Reviews

[Resh (The Book Satchel)]

A unique middle grade reading experience! I loved the author's note at the end where he explains his thought process of structuring the story and how he included his ideas that deviate a bit from the theory of narrative structure, yet sticks to a stricture. He calls This is a Door 'an illustrated book with no pictures' and there is no better explanation for it.

In this story a boy named Nothing embarks on a journey through a door, with his friend dog Poppy and mouse mOmo to find his purpose in life. He wants to know his name, what profession he is meant for in life, and he wants to be loved. I loved this particular quote that says "He realized that half the task of being a hero was wanting to do it in the first place. the other half was doing it."

The interesting thing about the book is how visual it is—so words will form a figure, sounds will be told in words, 'spread away' would be written in a way that gives you a feeling of something spreading away. Words appear as sounds, landscapes, actions, emotions, descriptions etc. Since this is a visual book, please get yourself a physical copy. E-copy (I read an e-galley) does not do justice to the beauty of the book unless you keep tweaking font sizes and other things.

For a middle grader, this book might be an interactive read about sounds and a sense of purpose. As they grow older, they might be able to appreciate the cyclical nature of stories, how different characters have a journey or purpose, and ponder on the idea that 'whose story is it anyway?'. I enjoyed the book!

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC. All opinions are my own.
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[Michelle]

I am declining to give this a star rating. While Nayeri is one of my favorite authors, the book just wasn't very pleasurable for me. The story of a boy named "Ing" (short for "Nothing") is a pleasant enough parable about love and belonging, but the artistic text elements did not translate to my Kindle and were just a bunch of mumbo jumbo. I think the book is meant to read like concrete poetry. Not sure what I missed but maybe because this was an ARC it will be fixed in the final version.

[Cari Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Shel Silverstein, TJ Klune, and Mark Danielewski had a baby, it would be this book. Absolutely gorgeous storytelling that deserves all the awards.

Will be recommending this one to all my customers.

[Brice Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley & Stonefruit Studio for the ARC!

Daniel Nayeri’s This Is a Door is a typographically adventurous story about a child discovering what it means to be someone in the face of grown-up griefs.

The book follows Ing (short for “Nothing the Younger”) as he searches for his parents with his two friends—a dog named Pöppy and a mouse named mOmO. If he succeeds, Ing speculates, he will learn his real name and understand who he is. Along the way, there are countless big questions about purpose and what makes us who we are: Is it our families? Our names? Our social standing? Our usefulness?

Or, as Ing muses, “My purpose will be the thing that makes me most useful to the Good God, and least useful to the bad ones."

Readers of Nayeri’s Everything Sad is Untrue will recall how the author’s background informs his approach to heavy themes. Rather than shying away from the idea that grief and fear are a threat to childhood innocence, he accepts that they are a part of it. Children are fully-formed people wrestling with the same concerns as their parents; they just have a different vocabulary.

Death haunts This Is a Door because death haunts most of our lives. It’s a rude, profane interruption that demands the story move in new directions, and Nayeri gives his characters the language to face the unfaceable. For Ing, grief is like “standing in a dark shapeless cave.” For Pöppy, it’s “stepping into a pool of cold water.” And for mOmO, it’s like “losing a single color so that you never see it again.”

The tenderness with which the author approaches these themes is enough to make This Is a Door worth checking out, but Nayeri also supports his subject matter with some genuinely gorgeous prose. Consider the following example:

“Sometimes a person
will sacrifice their
own dreams to feed
their family.

And that is noble.

Sometimes a person
will say they’re
sacrificing for their
family, but really
they’re just hiding
from their dreams.

And that is a shame.”

I mean, this is a book for ten year olds that treats them with the dignity they deserve. What an incredible gift for them.

You may have noticed some odd capitalization in this review, and that’s because This Is a Door is an “illustrated story with no pictures,” as Nayeri puts it. Text is treated as a visual medium here, so the words dance and contort their way around the pages. For example, if the word “smelly” is on the page, the other words may try to get away. If people are talking over each other, the text is a jumble of each person’s thoughts. One notable example of this at play involves a conversation between the land of the living and the dead, where each half of the dialogue is printed on separate pages, allowing readers to feel the disconnect. If you’ve ever opened a book of experimental poetry, the experience is visually similar but infinitely more satisfying as each page shares its surprises. For kids, especially non-readers, this adds an extra tactility that constantly pulls the reader back into the text.

As a final note, I want to again stress how much respect Nayeri has for his young readers, especially as future writers. He explicitly models each chapter after the Hero’s Journey, but he also includes an author’s note explaining why he does it and what it means for how we view the characters. Do we actually know who the hero is? I see this as a great resource for burgeoning authors to learn about narrative structure, and the fable-like nature feels like an invitation for children to start their own stories.

Suffice it to say, This Is a Door is an exceptional book, both for kids and the adults who might share it with them. It’s moving and mature, but it’s also light-footed and funny. I can’t wait to read it again.

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed from a copy of the book given to me by the publisher.

In a book that kids will want to read again and again, Daniel Nayeri offers an Odysseus-like adventure for young kids that is never boring, rather it is playful in nature and will keep kids engaged from beginning to the satisfying, predictable end.

A young orphan named Nothing ("Ing" for short) wakes up one morning and realizes he has no name and no best purpose in life, so he sets out on a quest with two companions - a mouse named mOmO and a dog named Pöppy - and 3 gifts from Nana, a widow who treated Ing as if her grandson. Many adventures happen for the three adventurers, as they meet people, discover things, overcome death, find his father, fulfill a quest, and find Ing's best purpose in life.

In his author's notes, Nayeri explains the backstory behind his writing of this adventure tale. While this section may very likely be skipped by kids after they finish the story, it is a fascinating read and enlightening for those who want to study this work. The clock/chart for the hero story formula is brilliant. (Coincidentally, Joseph Campbell's name and the concept of what makes a "hero" came up in a conversation during lunch yesterday with a couple of my friends, as we discussed our take-aways from the recent Christopher Nolan's new movie, The Odyssey.) Don't overlook these author notes! Publisher's Weekly interview of Nayeri adds much: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...

Reminiscent of B.J. Novak's book The Book with No Pictures, Nayeri has cleverly used different devices on each page to make this a very playful read. There are no illustrations. The type font is displayed on the page as if painting pictures. Some pages are presented as if concrete poetry, printed in the shape of the topic or the content, while others have lines of type that wander around the page or words that form a picture of that word. Others use font size for emphasis or to diminish the volume. Still others use different shades of black ink - fading from black to lighter shades of gray - to indicate a diminishing sound. I found it interesting to see one conversation to be spread across one page as if it were a 2-page illustration spread and blank pages intentionally included for pacing of the story. (Nayeri includes what and why he did this in his author's notes in back.)

I would be remiss to not include 3 things about the physical book. 1. The choice of a die-cut for the red, textured cover that pictures the door as a book, shows the three adventurers entering the world as they pass through the doorway - with the green and yellow endsheets revealing that outside world - is inspired and eye-catching. 2. Though a 400-page novel may seem daunting, kids will zip through this due to the unusual formatting of the type inside. Lots of white space. 3. Each page is printed on a thick cardstock type of paper that makes the book have a solid feel to it (and adds to its impressive, hefty thickness).

The action of the story + the action of the print = a play-filled, fun read for boys and girls in grades 3-6. Highly Recommended

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally sent to NetGalley: A fantastic journey reminiscent of The Phantom Tollbooth, A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Boy the Mole the Fox and the Horse, and The Alchemist. A great option for young readers who need a more visually interesting way to transition from chapter books with pictures into those without. Also a good option for readers who may find it difficult to decipher written connotation and intention, since the physical form of the words reflects both. A young boy sets out on a journey with his friends, a dog and a mouse, to discover his true purpose. The story follows The Hero's Journey, quite literally. It also uses interesting fonts and placement of words on the page to imply the connotation or action (or both simultaneously) of the scene or concept. A few examples without spoilers: when the trio wanders the banks of a river, the words wander in lazy wiggles across two pages; when someone is whispering, the words are typed in a smaller font; and when someone has their heart broken, the scene is written in the shape of a broken heart spanning two pages. The story itself is a good mix of adventure and growth. The book deals with several kinds of grief and has a (very brief) death scene. Very good for a young reader who can handle complex emotional and philosophical questions (how to deal with grief, how to find your purpose) while still needing the content of the book to be free of profanity, graphic violence, or romance/sexuality.

[Kara Foutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Is a Door is a book to be experienced and not just read. Having read Daniel Nayeri's work over the past few years, I expected his gorgeous, mindful prose and was not disappointed. This book is beautiful from the very first page.

The story follows Ing, his dog Pöppy, and a mouse mOmO, who stumble into a quest to defeat Giantess. Young readers will connect with Ing's search for identity and purpose as he faces mythical dangers to uncover the truth about his parents, himself, and the value he brings to the world. The text physically pulls the reader into his journey.

This book stands out for its blend of literary and visual art. The unexpected typeface layers the storytelling and actively immerses the reader. Each design choice feels intentional and matches the emotional highs and lows of the verses.

Because of its unique layout and innovative poetry, I highly recommend this to anyone who loves contemporary novels-in-verse, as well as readers who appreciate interesting book design and visual storytelling. This is not a book to read once and shelve. It is one I will return to and revisit.

Note on accessibility: The unique typography and shifting text sizes make me wonder if a large-print edition will be available to accommodate students with visual processing needs or low vision.

[Cassie (eclectically.bookish.cassie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read Everything Sad is Untrue by this author, I thought I’d never quite read something middle grade that captured the experience of grief with so much humor and authenticity before. This Is a Door, geared to a slightly younger audience, is the same. The story centers on a boy who knows little of his history and calls himself Nothing. He, along with a dog and mouse, go on the hero’s journey (the author’s note at the end explains the monomyth structure) to find Ing’s life purpose. There’s fantasy and adventure. There is a crossing over to the ghost world. There’s exploration of grief, loss, friendship, and meaning.

And there are zero illustrations, technically. The author refers to it as “an illustrated story with no pictures,” and it’s hard to explain without seeing it. The words themselves convey the ideas, such as wide landscapes or loud shouting, by varying size and spacing, etc. I loved the creativity of the layout just as much as the message and beauty of the writing. This is a book I’ll definitely get on my shelf for our family as my kids grow.

Thank you to NetGalley and Stonefruit Studio for the digital review copy and the opportunity to read and review early.

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Is a Door is probably one of the most creative children's books I've read this year.

Author Daniel Nayeri takes us through the structure of a Hero's Journey chapter-by-chapter through the trials of the protagonist Nothing. Nothing, shortened to "Ing," lives in a mythical kingdom where villagers are defined solely by their names and the occupations of their parents. Since Ing has never met his parents, he must find his own purpose, aided by his companions, Pöppy the dog and mOmO the mouse.

While this book is tropey and feels familiar, the plot was incredibly zany and surprised me at multiple points. It is also written with unique typography, highlighting the meaning of words and creating images akin to concrete poems. This format makes the book accessible to reluctant readers, but also highlights how fun wordplay and reading can be. I also found some of the imagery and more poetic pages to be beautiful and evocative.

I've really enjoyed Nayeri's picture books in the past, and this book has definitely encouraged me to read more from him.

Thanks to Netgalley & Stonefruit Studio for the eARC

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I included it in verse knowing that it's more concrete verse/narrative and wholly original in it's presentation. I think that's exactly what Nayeri was going for and it was accomplished. It's the story of a hero's journey. The story of Nothing and his ragtag group and his quest to find his dad while also meeting his dead mom and curious storytelling in between. There are mountains to be climbed and caretaking of mice babies.

It is not illustrated but the wordplay on the page, be it in shapes or font size itself, turns the story on its head in many ways and feels similar to another book recently out- A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic: Or, Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm- due to it's creatively organized storytelling.

And with the backmatter, it can be included in any English classroom to talk about the hero's journey itself!

[Carrie Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Is a Door by Daniel Nayeri was a great middle grade novel told in verse. I loved the author's note at the end of the book where he explains his process of writing the story. He created a story based on the writing structure of the hero's journey but changed it a bit to fit Nothing's journey. Each chapter goes along with a part of the structure.

Daniel Nayeri describes the book as an illustrated novel without pictures, which is the perfect description of this book. The shape of the verses change to fit what is being told on the page such as into different shapes, twisting around the pages, and even changing size. It was one of the most inventive ways I have ever seen a book written and I highly recommend this for younger readers and for the older readers who still enjoy these types of stories. If you do choose to pick it up, the print copy would probably be your best option. The formatting doesn't translate as well into an ebook.

*Thank you to Stonefruit Studio, Daniel Nayeri, and NetGalley for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*

[LORIANN (my opinion doesn't mean much, but ...) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tale of a boy who wants to find out who he is and to find his way in the world. In order to do this, he must walk through "the door" of the long-lost kingdom and survive the kingdom of the dead. He has a walking stick, his scarf, and his two misfit friends, Poppy who is a dog and mOmo who is a mouse. Along the way these three will find who the boy really is.

A new way and a new twist on a way to write fairy tales! The way Daniel Nayeri brings the animals to life and into the story is incredible. You will find yourself looking at you own animals afterward in a whole different way. This book is a must read for people who like to read different versions of updated and fractured fairy tales and like stories.

THANK YOU NETGALLEY for the ARC COPY of this book. All opinions remain my own.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

This is the perfect book for readers who loved the nonsensical adventure of Spinelli's Hokey Pokey, but wanted a historical quest more like Gidwitz' The Inquistor's Tale, written in the concrete poetry style of Grandits' Blue Lipstick.

This book is sure to win awards for children's literature, much like Eggers' The Eyes and the Impossible did, since most of these awards take into account literary merit and not something crass and commercial like "appeal to actual children".

Purchasing this for my school library would not be a good use of my limited funds.

[Allie M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story and the style in which it was written. It follows a "Heroes Journey" and it is illustrated without pictures, meaning the author used the actual words to illustrate the story. The story itself is beautiful and heartwarming while also br0aching subjects of death and grief. It would be a great middle grade novel study in my opinion. I wasn't sure I was going to like reading a novel in verse but my mind was definitely changed. I would recommend this story a hundred times over. I can see why Daniel Nayeri is a Newbery honoree and award winning author.

[Syd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had so much fun reading this! This book is a classic hero's journey following a boy, a dog, and a mouse. It is told in a visually creative format, with the words themselves illustrating the story in a way. It reminds me of how ASL interpreters interpret music, telling a story not just with words but how the words look. I found myself quickly hooked and deeply invested in Ing's story every step of the way. The format is fresh and adds a fun spin to a traditionally styled fairytale.

This is a review of a DRC provided by Stonefruit Studio and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Jan Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fairytale and Nayeri. “This is a Door” had to be splendid and unique with just those two words. Then add clever, warm, rich, surprising, A boy named Nothing. A mouse. A dog. Adventure. Discovery. Family. A red scarf. A Bell. A walking stick. The weaving of the story only gets stronger with how the words are placed on the page. This book for all generations could not be more wonderful. Tuck in with a copy all your own. It’s just that perfect.

[elliot · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

A very charming kid’s novel. I am a huge fan of ergodic literature and wanted to pick this up asap. A very cookie cutter example of the hero’s journey with literally chapter headings with each of the sections. But I had a great time with it and thought the way the format was utilized personally was easy for me to read. The story was cute with some deeper moments throughout, but very unsubtle in its messaging and theming.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another favourite from Daniel Nayeri! I am always excited to pick up his new books.
This book looks the way it sounds, the words and letters forming the shapes of the action. It was fun to read as both an interesting visual book and a good story.
The story feels like a fable or legend, it twists and turns, dies and comes back, and defeats the giantess.

[Allison Ruffolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

the most unique book i’ve ever seen/ read. will be perfect for gifting all year round!!!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

EARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
The style and format of this adventure is such a unique reading experience- it is a 2026 must purchase! Do not skip the author’s notes at the end.

[Lori Chadwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an incredibly creative book! Be prepared to go on a journey with Ing and friends. Tuis visual novel is unlike anything I’ve experienced before.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wildly unique and creative. A masterpiece.