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Beyond the Doors
Fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events and Coraline will devour this dark and creepy, humor-laced tale about four siblings who discover a mysterious world where secrets hide around every corner.
When a family disaster forces the four Rothbaum children to live with their aunt Gladys, they immediately know there is something strange about their new home. The crazy, circular house looks like it stepped out of a scary movie. The front entrance is a four-story-tall drawbridge. And the only food in Aunt Gladys’s kitchen is an endless supply of Honey Nut Oat Blast Ring-a-Dings cereal.
Strangest of all are the doors—there are none. Every doorway is a wide-open passageway—even the bathroom! Who lives in a house with no doors?
Their unease only grows when Aunt Gladys disappears for long stretches of time, leaving them alone to explore the strange house. When they discover just what Aunt Gladys has been doing with all her doors, the shocked siblings embark on an adventure that changes everything they believe about their family and the world.
When a family disaster forces the four Rothbaum children to live with their aunt Gladys, they immediately know there is something strange about their new home. The crazy, circular house looks like it stepped out of a scary movie. The front entrance is a four-story-tall drawbridge. And the only food in Aunt Gladys’s kitchen is an endless supply of Honey Nut Oat Blast Ring-a-Dings cereal.
Strangest of all are the doors—there are none. Every doorway is a wide-open passageway—even the bathroom! Who lives in a house with no doors?
Their unease only grows when Aunt Gladys disappears for long stretches of time, leaving them alone to explore the strange house. When they discover just what Aunt Gladys has been doing with all her doors, the shocked siblings embark on an adventure that changes everything they believe about their family and the world.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2017
2 people are currently reading
341 people want to read
About the author
David Neilsen
27 books35 followersDavid Neilsen is a classically trained actor and professional storyteller from Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow who has performed all over New York City, Westchester County, and the Hudson Valley. Specializing in traumatizing children for life during the Halloween season, he has performed in such locations as the New York Botanical Gardens, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, and Washington Irving’s Sunnyside in addition to warping minds at various schools and birthday parties. He has also created a number of one-man shows based on the works of author H.P. Lovecraft, as well as an educational show based on the life of Revolution-era British Spy, Major John Andre.
His debut Middle Grade novel, Doctor Fell and the Playground of Doom--published by Crown Books for Young Readrs in 2016--was named an Editor’s Pick by Amazon and was a Semifinalist for Best Middle Grade / Chidlren’s Book in the 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards. His second book, Beyond the Doors, will be published in August, 2017.
Learn more about David on his website. https://david-neilsen.com/
His debut Middle Grade novel, Doctor Fell and the Playground of Doom--published by Crown Books for Young Readrs in 2016--was named an Editor’s Pick by Amazon and was a Semifinalist for Best Middle Grade / Chidlren’s Book in the 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards. His second book, Beyond the Doors, will be published in August, 2017.
Learn more about David on his website. https://david-neilsen.com/
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 4, 2017
3.75 stars
I received an ARC of this book though a Goodreads giveaway, so thank you very much!
The story itself is easily a 4- or even 4.5-star read. It has a rather original idea which reminds slightly of Monsters, Inc, but only in the very basics. What the author does with the idea is quite creative. The execution is excellent. The pacing is just right, not too slow and not too fast, although a couple of times I would have liked a little more explanation of what happened. There were a few unexpected twists along the way, which made me not want put the book down. Overall, the books grabs attention from the start and doesn't let go until the end.
I absolutely loved the author's writing style. It reminded me of Rick Riordan in its humor and child-like - but definitely not dumbed down - language.
The reason I am not giving it a full 4-star rating is because I had some problems with the main characters and their dynamic. They are a 12-year-old girl Janice, an 11-year old boy Zach, a 9-year-old girl Sydney, and a 7-year-old girl Alexa. Zach, Sydney, and Alexa have very distinctive personalities and all contribute important actions and ideas to the plot. Janice, on the other hand, beyond her apparent inclination to having everything neat and clean, suffers from the eldest-sister syndrome that can be seen in books from "Chronicles of Narnia" to George R. R. Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire". Mainly, she does hardly has a personality and hardly has anything to contribute to the story. Zach is an unquestionable leader. He is the one making decisions, everybody looks to him, he is the one able to keep a cool head in the face of danger. Janice is constantly seen as making stupid decisions, deferring to her brother for everything, being frozen in the face of danger. The one time she gets to be a hero, it turns out that her actions were useless and it's Sydney, a younger sister, who finds the right solution. Not for the first time either. Like many other eldest sisters, Janice seems quite useless to the story; if she weren't there, hardly anything would change. On the other hand, Zach is constantly in charge. The younger girls and even adults look up to him, not to the older Janice. Even on the cover of the book, it is Zach who is in close up and facing the reader, whereas the three girls are in the background with their backs toward the reader. It is almost as if the author, like J.K. Rowling a while back, was afraid that not making a boy an uncontestable leader of a group would jeopardize the book's chances of being read by boys. Which, by the way, is not true and I believe that the book will be enjoyed by all children.
I would have liked to see a little more balance in the children's group dynamic, with the two elder children sharing the responsibilities and the two younger ones seeing both as leaders. As an elder sister myself, I know that my judgement is somewhat biased, but it would be nice to see elder sisters more active, more intelligent, and more effective in children's and young adult literature.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to young - and not so young - readers.
I received an ARC of this book though a Goodreads giveaway, so thank you very much!
The story itself is easily a 4- or even 4.5-star read. It has a rather original idea which reminds slightly of Monsters, Inc, but only in the very basics. What the author does with the idea is quite creative. The execution is excellent. The pacing is just right, not too slow and not too fast, although a couple of times I would have liked a little more explanation of what happened. There were a few unexpected twists along the way, which made me not want put the book down. Overall, the books grabs attention from the start and doesn't let go until the end.
I absolutely loved the author's writing style. It reminded me of Rick Riordan in its humor and child-like - but definitely not dumbed down - language.
The reason I am not giving it a full 4-star rating is because I had some problems with the main characters and their dynamic. They are a 12-year-old girl Janice, an 11-year old boy Zach, a 9-year-old girl Sydney, and a 7-year-old girl Alexa. Zach, Sydney, and Alexa have very distinctive personalities and all contribute important actions and ideas to the plot. Janice, on the other hand, beyond her apparent inclination to having everything neat and clean, suffers from the eldest-sister syndrome that can be seen in books from "Chronicles of Narnia" to George R. R. Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire". Mainly, she does hardly has a personality and hardly has anything to contribute to the story. Zach is an unquestionable leader. He is the one making decisions, everybody looks to him, he is the one able to keep a cool head in the face of danger. Janice is constantly seen as making stupid decisions, deferring to her brother for everything, being frozen in the face of danger. The one time she gets to be a hero, it turns out that her actions were useless and it's Sydney, a younger sister, who finds the right solution. Not for the first time either. Like many other eldest sisters, Janice seems quite useless to the story; if she weren't there, hardly anything would change. On the other hand, Zach is constantly in charge. The younger girls and even adults look up to him, not to the older Janice. Even on the cover of the book, it is Zach who is in close up and facing the reader, whereas the three girls are in the background with their backs toward the reader. It is almost as if the author, like J.K. Rowling a while back, was afraid that not making a boy an uncontestable leader of a group would jeopardize the book's chances of being read by boys. Which, by the way, is not true and I believe that the book will be enjoyed by all children.
I would have liked to see a little more balance in the children's group dynamic, with the two elder children sharing the responsibilities and the two younger ones seeing both as leaders. As an elder sister myself, I know that my judgement is somewhat biased, but it would be nice to see elder sisters more active, more intelligent, and more effective in children's and young adult literature.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to young - and not so young - readers.
December 10, 2017
Kids will love it. :)
December 21, 2017
This is a quirky, quick-paced, packed with imagination ride, which will have readers sitting at the edge of their seats until the very last page.
When the four Rothbaum children are called into the school office one day to discover their father had a car accident and is in coma, their lives are flipped upside-down. Since their mother is no where to be found and has been that way for years, they are sent to live with an aunt, who, up until that point, no one knew existed. The aunt's home is as strange as the aunt herself. . .in a nice but very confused way. And she has one very strange rule—don't touch doors. In the house, all doors have been removed. Instead, stacks and piles of old doors are piled in the rooms on the upper floors. But the strangest thing lies in the middle of the house in a huge room which can only be reached through a hatch like those found on a submarine. It's here where the four Rothbaum children's adventure really begins.
The first chapters of this book ring a familiarity to A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, but the similarity quickly slides away as a very original tale takes over. These pages are chucked full of quirky wonders and unexpected twists and turns, although the idea of walking into secret places might seem familiar at first. It's the type of idea, which will easily draw in reader's curiosity and touch that shadowed spot in the corner of the mind, where everyone wonders what might be hidden behind unknown doors. It slightly creepy, definitely adventurous and chucked full of fantastical moments and events, which drive the imagination forward and more.
The Rothbaum children come across like normal siblings. They quibble, they snip at each other, they do the opposite of what they other tells them, but they stick together through thick and thin. The back and forth dialogue is crisp and completely natural. And when the not-so-sane aunt jumps in, the dialogue submerges into the area of cleverly hilarious. There isn't tons of depth, but there doesn't have to be and shouldn't be. These kids are on the adventure of their lives—the kind that intended readers dream of experiencing themselves.
Summed up, this is a delightful read full of everything a children's fantasy should have. Friends of slightly creepy with lots of quirky fun action will devour this story and never see a door the same way again.
I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed reading this adventure so much that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts.
When the four Rothbaum children are called into the school office one day to discover their father had a car accident and is in coma, their lives are flipped upside-down. Since their mother is no where to be found and has been that way for years, they are sent to live with an aunt, who, up until that point, no one knew existed. The aunt's home is as strange as the aunt herself. . .in a nice but very confused way. And she has one very strange rule—don't touch doors. In the house, all doors have been removed. Instead, stacks and piles of old doors are piled in the rooms on the upper floors. But the strangest thing lies in the middle of the house in a huge room which can only be reached through a hatch like those found on a submarine. It's here where the four Rothbaum children's adventure really begins.
The first chapters of this book ring a familiarity to A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, but the similarity quickly slides away as a very original tale takes over. These pages are chucked full of quirky wonders and unexpected twists and turns, although the idea of walking into secret places might seem familiar at first. It's the type of idea, which will easily draw in reader's curiosity and touch that shadowed spot in the corner of the mind, where everyone wonders what might be hidden behind unknown doors. It slightly creepy, definitely adventurous and chucked full of fantastical moments and events, which drive the imagination forward and more.
The Rothbaum children come across like normal siblings. They quibble, they snip at each other, they do the opposite of what they other tells them, but they stick together through thick and thin. The back and forth dialogue is crisp and completely natural. And when the not-so-sane aunt jumps in, the dialogue submerges into the area of cleverly hilarious. There isn't tons of depth, but there doesn't have to be and shouldn't be. These kids are on the adventure of their lives—the kind that intended readers dream of experiencing themselves.
Summed up, this is a delightful read full of everything a children's fantasy should have. Friends of slightly creepy with lots of quirky fun action will devour this story and never see a door the same way again.
I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed reading this adventure so much that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts.
March 29, 2018
Four siblings have the weirdest, worst day of their lives when they’re pulled out of class to learn that their father is in a coma after a fire consumed their home. As their mother disappeared years ago, there’s a sobbing social worker, ready to split them up to horrors unknown, until a mystery aunt is located. Janice, Zack, Sydney, and Alexa Rothbaum are quickly shuttled off to this mysterious, scatterbrained aunt. Once the kids start exploring and settling in, they learn the bizarre secret behind their aunt’s fortress home: she’s got a machine that allows her to use doors to access the memories contained within them, and she’s searching for her father: their grandfather.
Remember Monsters, Inc? How the Monsters would go through different doors to reach different kids’ rooms? Think of it like that, but instead of using the doors to get into kids’ rooms, you stepped into the memories of the person most identified with the door. If you stepped through the door to my room from 1986, for instance, you’d see me, sprawled on my bed reading a copy of Bop! Magazine, in a room papered with Duran Duran posters, and talking to my best friend on the phone. The memories are sepia-tinged, and while you can interact to a degree with the memories, too much interaction has… consequences.
It’s a madcap adventure, with a wacky aunt, an off-the-walls social worker with a penchant for the melodramatic, and loads of family secrets to discover, but character development and world-building aren’t as rich as I’d have enjoyed. There’s quite a bit of humor and a climactic battle that’s both gruesome and thrilling, and readers will never look at a bowl of Cheerios without groaning again. Black and white illustrations keep readers invested in the story. Beyond the Doors will appeal to Series of Unfortunate Events and Mysterious Benedict Society fans; display and booktalk with The Problim Children for some fun discussions about weird siblings and families. Ask kids what doors they would like to wander into – or what their doors would have to say. It’s a great creative writing or art exercise!
Remember Monsters, Inc? How the Monsters would go through different doors to reach different kids’ rooms? Think of it like that, but instead of using the doors to get into kids’ rooms, you stepped into the memories of the person most identified with the door. If you stepped through the door to my room from 1986, for instance, you’d see me, sprawled on my bed reading a copy of Bop! Magazine, in a room papered with Duran Duran posters, and talking to my best friend on the phone. The memories are sepia-tinged, and while you can interact to a degree with the memories, too much interaction has… consequences.
It’s a madcap adventure, with a wacky aunt, an off-the-walls social worker with a penchant for the melodramatic, and loads of family secrets to discover, but character development and world-building aren’t as rich as I’d have enjoyed. There’s quite a bit of humor and a climactic battle that’s both gruesome and thrilling, and readers will never look at a bowl of Cheerios without groaning again. Black and white illustrations keep readers invested in the story. Beyond the Doors will appeal to Series of Unfortunate Events and Mysterious Benedict Society fans; display and booktalk with The Problim Children for some fun discussions about weird siblings and families. Ask kids what doors they would like to wander into – or what their doors would have to say. It’s a great creative writing or art exercise!
July 28, 2017
This is the odd story of four children discovering that their absent mother's family is a bit into the "mad science" business. As such there are some creepy elements to the adventures that Janice, Zack, Sydney, and Alexa have so if you child is easily scared, you might want to reconsider this book. This isn't science so much as fantasy though it may generate a lot of questions or interest in science. There are a lot of big ideas and rapid action to follow in the story so it should appeal to children who can follow complex plots.
The characters are well described and used, each has a unique personality.Each child character -- three female and one male -- are given equal space as the story jumps from one's experience to another. This may allow different types of kids to connect with one or more characters. However it can also be confusing to read so many viewpoints and the child character's views are not the only shown, the fifth, their father, is briefly shown in the first and final chapter.
The book has three parts, unequal in their size, marking the intensity of the adventure. 36 chapters with a Prologue and Epilogue. Depending on how quickly your child reads, it could take a few days for them to finish the book or a few weeks. The names of many of the minor characters are rather complex, I stumbled over them trying to read outloud so this may be a book best read silently. The names are funny adding a bit of humorous relief to the increasing level of creepiness in the plot.
I received an ARC of this book to read so I can't really comment about the drawings that will accompany other than to say there looks like there will be a lot for a 350+ page book, about 25 are marked off in the ARC.
The characters are well described and used, each has a unique personality.Each child character -- three female and one male -- are given equal space as the story jumps from one's experience to another. This may allow different types of kids to connect with one or more characters. However it can also be confusing to read so many viewpoints and the child character's views are not the only shown, the fifth, their father, is briefly shown in the first and final chapter.
The book has three parts, unequal in their size, marking the intensity of the adventure. 36 chapters with a Prologue and Epilogue. Depending on how quickly your child reads, it could take a few days for them to finish the book or a few weeks. The names of many of the minor characters are rather complex, I stumbled over them trying to read outloud so this may be a book best read silently. The names are funny adding a bit of humorous relief to the increasing level of creepiness in the plot.
I received an ARC of this book to read so I can't really comment about the drawings that will accompany other than to say there looks like there will be a lot for a 350+ page book, about 25 are marked off in the ARC.
July 31, 2017
In this fun, yet edgy story, author David Neilsen has greatly expanded upon the mystery of what might lurk beyond an un-opened door.
The four young Rothbaum children are homeless after their father is left comatose due to a drastic house fire. Luckily, at the last minute, a previously unknown aunt, the sister of their long last mother, is located and they're taken to live with her in her strange castle.
Not that they had any expectations, but living with Aunt Gladys couldn't have been further from what they could have expected. First off, her house had no doors. Wait, let me clarify, she had lots of doors, but not a single one was attached in a doorway, they were lying in stacks in the various rooms. What could their mysterious aunt be doing with them.
I totally enjoyed this story. At times it had me laughing, particularly with regard to the inept social worker, and at other times I was on the edge of my seat worried with what the children might find behind the next door they opened. Loved the fun names. Why give a character and easy to say name when you can weigh her down with something like Miss Guacaladilla (the earlier mentioned social worker).
Middle school readers will be entertained by the siblings adventures beyond each door. Like many siblings, they don't always agree and don't want to obey the eldest, but they do look out for each other and try to keep them safe. This tale definitely has some creepy characters and a fair share of scary moments. It would be best to read with your room door firmly closed and with a spare door knob tucked in your pocket.
I received and advanced reader copy of this book from Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.
#IndigoEmployee
The four young Rothbaum children are homeless after their father is left comatose due to a drastic house fire. Luckily, at the last minute, a previously unknown aunt, the sister of their long last mother, is located and they're taken to live with her in her strange castle.
Not that they had any expectations, but living with Aunt Gladys couldn't have been further from what they could have expected. First off, her house had no doors. Wait, let me clarify, she had lots of doors, but not a single one was attached in a doorway, they were lying in stacks in the various rooms. What could their mysterious aunt be doing with them.
I totally enjoyed this story. At times it had me laughing, particularly with regard to the inept social worker, and at other times I was on the edge of my seat worried with what the children might find behind the next door they opened. Loved the fun names. Why give a character and easy to say name when you can weigh her down with something like Miss Guacaladilla (the earlier mentioned social worker).
Middle school readers will be entertained by the siblings adventures beyond each door. Like many siblings, they don't always agree and don't want to obey the eldest, but they do look out for each other and try to keep them safe. This tale definitely has some creepy characters and a fair share of scary moments. It would be best to read with your room door firmly closed and with a spare door knob tucked in your pocket.
I received and advanced reader copy of this book from Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.
#IndigoEmployee
December 11, 2017
BEYOND THE DOORS is a fun-filled and delightful adventure reminiscent of the Lemony Snicket Series of Unfortunate Events books. After a family disaster, the four Rothbaum children must live with Aunt Gladys - an eccentric and scatterbrained woman whose kitchen contains nothing to eat except boxes of Honey Nut Oat Blast Ring-a-Dings and gallons of milk. The siblings are left on their own, wondering where Aunt Gladys goes for long periods of time. Why don't any of the rooms- including the bathroom - have doors? And why is there a collection of doors in an upstairs room? Aunt Gladys warns them not to go through any doors in the house - especially one with a blue light coming from behind it.
When Aunt Gladys loses her memory and the siblings are in danger of being sent to foster homes,the kids know they need to do something to keep their family together. But what? The answer can only be found beyond the doors. I won't spoil the fun by telling you what happens once a door is opened. Readers will enjoy discovering this themselves. Neilsen mixes humor, fantasy, and contemporary elements to tell a satisfying tale for middle grade readers.
Who knew doors could be so much fun.
When Aunt Gladys loses her memory and the siblings are in danger of being sent to foster homes,the kids know they need to do something to keep their family together. But what? The answer can only be found beyond the doors. I won't spoil the fun by telling you what happens once a door is opened. Readers will enjoy discovering this themselves. Neilsen mixes humor, fantasy, and contemporary elements to tell a satisfying tale for middle grade readers.
Who knew doors could be so much fun.
September 7, 2017
When their dad falls into a coma and their mom is nowhere to be found, the Rothbaum siblings are forced to reside with the only relative that's still living, even though they don't know her. Aunt Gladys is a quirky, eccentric woman who puts them on edge. But what's even stranger than their aunt is the amount of doors she possesses.
When Aunt Gladys appears out of a door that isn't attached to a wall, Janice, Sydney, Alexa, and Zack decide to investigate it. They find themselves in the past, or rather a memory of the past according to Aunt Gladys. Memory hopping is dangerous because you lose a piece of yourself each time and you can alter people's memories.
I loved that the siblings bickered but had each other's backs when it came down to it. They were all strong in their own ways and showed what it meant to be family. I loved the idea that doors hold memories. It's original and very intriguing.
Final Verdict: BEYOND THE DOORS in an original story that reminded me of A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS and I would recommend it to fans of middle grade fiction with strange, abnormal characters.
When Aunt Gladys appears out of a door that isn't attached to a wall, Janice, Sydney, Alexa, and Zack decide to investigate it. They find themselves in the past, or rather a memory of the past according to Aunt Gladys. Memory hopping is dangerous because you lose a piece of yourself each time and you can alter people's memories.
I loved that the siblings bickered but had each other's backs when it came down to it. They were all strong in their own ways and showed what it meant to be family. I loved the idea that doors hold memories. It's original and very intriguing.
Final Verdict: BEYOND THE DOORS in an original story that reminded me of A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS and I would recommend it to fans of middle grade fiction with strange, abnormal characters.
December 31, 2018
This book caught me by surprise – I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did. Neilsen is excellent, blending terror, suspense and action into one terrific, kid-friendly adventure. The book is not at a lack for zany characters, with veritably insane (but well-meaning) relatives and caretakers, and even the four kids have their quirks, making for one out-of-this-world time trying to figure out what is going on. The idea of the doors, and what they can accomplish, is both horrifying and exhilarating. All-around, this was a well-done book, a perfect tickle-your-scary-bone book. Kids will appreciate the characters’ and setting’s realistic features blown into exaggerated proportions, as it makes the scary things seem more distant, while we feel for the characters even more. I would recommend this book to kids looking for an R.L. Stine-type book, but with lighter edges. I would definitely read other books by Neilsen, and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next! *Please note I received a free review copy of this book
August 24, 2017
After a fire wreaks havoc in their home and their father lands in a coma, the four Rothbaum siblings are sent to live with their aunt Gladys, someone they've never even heard of. She lives in a huge circular house with a drawbridge and doors everywhere, and she keeps disappearing into rooms and then emerging again, sometimes remembering who the children are and sometimes not. Finally, the youngsters feel as though they have no choice but to try to follow Gladys or set out on their own in order to solve the mystery behind the doors, doorknobs, and memories. Filled with some scary moments but also plenty of humor, this one is a good read aloud or even an independent reading title for some fourth and fifth graders. I got a kick out of all the confusion about identities and the always ready to erupt Sydney. All four youngsters were different enough to make them interesting to readers.
November 14, 2017
This was a ARC from Goodreads.com. Four children are taken to live with an aunt they did not realize they had when their father was injured in a fire. Their mother has been missing for years. Their aunt's home has no doors. She uses doors and "mad scientist" equipment to connect to peoples memories. This is the key to unlocking what happened to this chidren's parents. All the adults are eccentric and the kids have to care for themselves in this fantasy tale.
May 25, 2018
If you liked Series of Unfortunate Events, you’ll like this book. Fun, quirky, engaging characters, twisty story line: over all a good read. Maybe I’m overthinking it, but I felt it also had some interesting insight in to the changeable nature of memories.
January 21, 2019
Eh. His other book was way better.
January 21, 2021
Interesting characters and very fast moving. It made me laugh a few times which I think is a good thing for a book to do.
January 5, 2022
I loved it
December 28, 2017
An interesting book that leaves readers wanting for more. It certainly send readers head over heels as they travel through memories with the Rothbaum children. Definitely recommended for those who have a few hours to spend.
June 30, 2019
"When a family disaster forces the four Rothbaum children to live with their aunt Gladys, they immediately know there is something strange about their new home." Soon, the children are pulled into a world where you can access the memories behind doors - except these memories can sour with too many visits.
It is an interesting premise and I really enjoyed Beyond the Doors. It had a vaguely Series of Unfortunate Events vibe and it was fun and entertaining. It's clearly middle grade but that's not a bad thing and I would definitely recommend!
It is an interesting premise and I really enjoyed Beyond the Doors. It had a vaguely Series of Unfortunate Events vibe and it was fun and entertaining. It's clearly middle grade but that's not a bad thing and I would definitely recommend!
January 27, 2022
My daughter and I read this book together and we both wrote reviews. Here they are:
Miss K’s Review
I thought the book was amazing! I liked it because it was like traveling in time for the Rothbaum children.
My favorite part is when the kids find their Mother in the MemorySphere, but I liked the whole book. My favorite character is Zack because he is the only boy in the family!
I did not think this book was too scary. It was just right because it is all exciting fun! If I had a door to the MemorySphere, I would want it to lead to William Shakespeare’s memory!
My Review
After reading Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom last year with my kids, I was pretty stoked to see David Neilsen was coming out with a new book. Beyond the Doors is not connected to Dr. Fell in any way, but the good doctor does make a short cameo appearance, which made my kids scream in excitement.
Such an interesting concept lies behind this story. The idea of a MemorySphere is fascinating, and it makes you wonder if such a thing were real, would it be as terrible as it is in the book?
My kids thoroughly enjoyed listening to this story. I read it out loud to them at bedtime. It took us a couple of weeks to finish it, and they begged for another chapter every night.
I really liked the sibling relationships in this story. Like most siblings, the Rothbaums spend a fair bit of time disagreeing, but they look after each other and will do anything to keep each other safe.
The characters are so much fun. Between the nutty Aunt Gladys, the weepy social worker, and Gramps yelling absurd phrases, the story was entertaining and humorous. Of course, this is also a horror story, and those parts were just the right amount of scary for the age group.
Cover love: This cover is so much fun. I love the illustration and the look on Zack’s face. It gives off a wonderful, creepy vibe.
Miss K’s Review
I thought the book was amazing! I liked it because it was like traveling in time for the Rothbaum children.
My favorite part is when the kids find their Mother in the MemorySphere, but I liked the whole book. My favorite character is Zack because he is the only boy in the family!
I did not think this book was too scary. It was just right because it is all exciting fun! If I had a door to the MemorySphere, I would want it to lead to William Shakespeare’s memory!
My Review
After reading Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom last year with my kids, I was pretty stoked to see David Neilsen was coming out with a new book. Beyond the Doors is not connected to Dr. Fell in any way, but the good doctor does make a short cameo appearance, which made my kids scream in excitement.
Such an interesting concept lies behind this story. The idea of a MemorySphere is fascinating, and it makes you wonder if such a thing were real, would it be as terrible as it is in the book?
My kids thoroughly enjoyed listening to this story. I read it out loud to them at bedtime. It took us a couple of weeks to finish it, and they begged for another chapter every night.
I really liked the sibling relationships in this story. Like most siblings, the Rothbaums spend a fair bit of time disagreeing, but they look after each other and will do anything to keep each other safe.
The characters are so much fun. Between the nutty Aunt Gladys, the weepy social worker, and Gramps yelling absurd phrases, the story was entertaining and humorous. Of course, this is also a horror story, and those parts were just the right amount of scary for the age group.
Cover love: This cover is so much fun. I love the illustration and the look on Zack’s face. It gives off a wonderful, creepy vibe.
August 3, 2017
Source: ARC from author
Beyond the Doors begins as a quirky middle-grade novel in which four children find themselves living with a strange aunt when a fire burns down their home and places their father in the hospital. However, though living in a house that has no doors and can only be accessed by a drawbridge might seem at first to be innocuous, if a little odd, the children quickly learn that their new home is more dangerous than they imagined. Their aunt is playing with forces that may be beyond her control and the boundaries she is attempting to cross are ones that are filled with horrors. This is a deliciously creepy book filled with darkness and monsters. And children will probably love every minute of it.
David Neilsen introduces his readers to a complex world in which memories can be preserved and accessed if a person knows what they are about. However, rules here are a little different from what readers might expect. Memory jumping can be costly. A person can lose himself if he is not careful. And, once a memory is accessed too many times, it starts to go...bad. What once was an idyllic memory might turn into something horrible beyond imagination. If readers thought Neilsen had used up his collection of terrors in Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom, they are in for a shock.
Darkness in middle grade can, of course, be a contentious point for some adult readers. However, the popularity of writers such as R. L. Stine. Roald Dahl, and Shel Silverstein suggests that children are often attracted to the strange and the morbid. If this book keeps readers up at night, I suspect it will only be because they do not want to put it down.
Beyond the Doors begins as a quirky middle-grade novel in which four children find themselves living with a strange aunt when a fire burns down their home and places their father in the hospital. However, though living in a house that has no doors and can only be accessed by a drawbridge might seem at first to be innocuous, if a little odd, the children quickly learn that their new home is more dangerous than they imagined. Their aunt is playing with forces that may be beyond her control and the boundaries she is attempting to cross are ones that are filled with horrors. This is a deliciously creepy book filled with darkness and monsters. And children will probably love every minute of it.
David Neilsen introduces his readers to a complex world in which memories can be preserved and accessed if a person knows what they are about. However, rules here are a little different from what readers might expect. Memory jumping can be costly. A person can lose himself if he is not careful. And, once a memory is accessed too many times, it starts to go...bad. What once was an idyllic memory might turn into something horrible beyond imagination. If readers thought Neilsen had used up his collection of terrors in Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom, they are in for a shock.
Darkness in middle grade can, of course, be a contentious point for some adult readers. However, the popularity of writers such as R. L. Stine. Roald Dahl, and Shel Silverstein suggests that children are often attracted to the strange and the morbid. If this book keeps readers up at night, I suspect it will only be because they do not want to put it down.
March 28, 2017
With their mother having left the family six years ago and their father involved in a horrible and mysterious accident, the four Rothbaum kids - Janice, Zach, Sydney, Alexa - must go live with Aunt Gladys, an aunt they never knew existed. Aunt Gladys is an eccentric, odd lady, with an even odder and downright weird home. The huge, circular home has a drawbridge for a front door, has only cereal in the kitchen, none of the rooms (even the bathrooms) have doors, but there are piles and piles of old doors laying around. And even weirder, Aunt Gladys shuts herself away beyond a mysterious room and does mysterious things...and when the kids discover just what Gladys is doing with all the doors, things get even weirder, odder, and mysteriouser.
David Neilsen’s Beyond The Doors is a fun mish-mash of adventure, mystery, and a creeptastic atmosphere! Full of exciting frights, silly laughs, and imagination, this middle-grade book took me on a zany, wack-a-doodle adventure...which, really, are the best kinds!
With an amusing and cleverly witty voice, Beyond The Doors captivates from the very beginning, entertaining readers with its whimsically dark humor and enticing mystery. David Neilsen infuses his tale with that over-the-top, wonderfully over-dramatic kind of humor and silliness that young readers love. With its creepy, lackluster, and just plain strange decor and design, and all the fantastically frightening and fun secrets it hides, Aunt Gladys’ unusual, yet totally fascinating house, makes for the perfect setting.
Most of the adult characters are adorkably useless, leaving the four Rothbaum kids to be the heroes of their own story...something young readers will appreciate! And the four Rothbaum children, from protective Janice, to calm Zach, wild; easily raged Sydney, and sweet; independent Alexa, are all engaging, likable, and fun characters to get to know. Plus, Neilsen, provides an unexpected and extra spooktacular and shiver-inducing opponent for the kids to face.
With its scary-fun setting, imaginative premise, and quirky atmosphere, young readers will love all the twists and turns Beyond the Doors throws at them!
David Neilsen’s Beyond The Doors is a fun mish-mash of adventure, mystery, and a creeptastic atmosphere! Full of exciting frights, silly laughs, and imagination, this middle-grade book took me on a zany, wack-a-doodle adventure...which, really, are the best kinds!
With an amusing and cleverly witty voice, Beyond The Doors captivates from the very beginning, entertaining readers with its whimsically dark humor and enticing mystery. David Neilsen infuses his tale with that over-the-top, wonderfully over-dramatic kind of humor and silliness that young readers love. With its creepy, lackluster, and just plain strange decor and design, and all the fantastically frightening and fun secrets it hides, Aunt Gladys’ unusual, yet totally fascinating house, makes for the perfect setting.
Most of the adult characters are adorkably useless, leaving the four Rothbaum kids to be the heroes of their own story...something young readers will appreciate! And the four Rothbaum children, from protective Janice, to calm Zach, wild; easily raged Sydney, and sweet; independent Alexa, are all engaging, likable, and fun characters to get to know. Plus, Neilsen, provides an unexpected and extra spooktacular and shiver-inducing opponent for the kids to face.
With its scary-fun setting, imaginative premise, and quirky atmosphere, young readers will love all the twists and turns Beyond the Doors throws at them!
April 28, 2017
Our story starts with four frightened children who are whisked away to live with their very eccentric Aunt Gladys when a terrible accident left their father unable to care for them. Aunt Glady's enormous house is extremely strange and she appears to be some kind of scatterbrained, mad scientist! What's more, the house is completely devoid of doors! What is she doing in her giant, secret room? Will the children ever be reunited with their father?
If you like the combination of frightening scenes and fantasy, you'll like this book. On the other hand, if you like to connect to characters, this book may leave you with a feeling that something is missing from the story, like a connection to the characters. The author does not delve very deeply into any of their thoughts or feelings. I had a hard time connecting with the characters.
The author's interest in the horror genre is very evident in the adventures the children have in the 'Memorysphere' (a fantasy land that only exists in another type of dimension). Many of the scenes in the book were terrifying. One after another, after another, of these scary chase scenes keep the children on their toes searching for an escape and for an answer to the madness. Who can be trusted? Who is a friend? Who is the enemy? Who or what is real and which part is just a memory? These are the questions that will keep you turning the pages of "Beyond the Doors".
If you like the combination of frightening scenes and fantasy, you'll like this book. On the other hand, if you like to connect to characters, this book may leave you with a feeling that something is missing from the story, like a connection to the characters. The author does not delve very deeply into any of their thoughts or feelings. I had a hard time connecting with the characters.
The author's interest in the horror genre is very evident in the adventures the children have in the 'Memorysphere' (a fantasy land that only exists in another type of dimension). Many of the scenes in the book were terrifying. One after another, after another, of these scary chase scenes keep the children on their toes searching for an escape and for an answer to the madness. Who can be trusted? Who is a friend? Who is the enemy? Who or what is real and which part is just a memory? These are the questions that will keep you turning the pages of "Beyond the Doors".
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