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The Cooper Kids Adventures #1
The Door in the Dragon's Throat
A mystery as old as the desert sands...
When teenagers Jay and Lila Cooper and their archaeologist father travel to Nepur, an uninviting land of deserts and danger, they must search to uncover the truth behind an ancient legend. Locals claim that inside a dark cavern called the Dragon's Throat is a forbidden Door that brings certain death to anyone who tries to open it.
Armed with the knowledge that God is more powerful than any legend or curse, Jay and Lila plunge down into the Dragon's Throat, determined to find out what awaits them on the other side of the Door. This daring tale will have you on the edge of your seat.
When teenagers Jay and Lila Cooper and their archaeologist father travel to Nepur, an uninviting land of deserts and danger, they must search to uncover the truth behind an ancient legend. Locals claim that inside a dark cavern called the Dragon's Throat is a forbidden Door that brings certain death to anyone who tries to open it.
Armed with the knowledge that God is more powerful than any legend or curse, Jay and Lila plunge down into the Dragon's Throat, determined to find out what awaits them on the other side of the Door. This daring tale will have you on the edge of your seat.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
40 people are currently reading
3217 people want to read
About the author
Frank E. Peretti
85 books3,833 followersFROM HIS WEBSITE:
With more than 12 million novels in print, Frank Peretti is nothing short of a publishing phenomenon and has been called “America’s hottest Christian novelist.”
Peretti is a natural storyteller who, as a youngster in Seattle, regularly gathered the neighborhood children for animated storytelling sessions. After graduating from high school, he began playing banjo with a local bluegrass group. He and his wife were married in 1972, and Peretti soon moved from touring with a pop band to launching a modest Christian music ministry. Peretti later spent time studying English, screen writing and film at UCLA and then assisted his father in pastoring a small Assembly of God church. In 1983, he gave up his pastoring position and began taking construction jobs to make ends meet. While working at a local ski factory, he began writing This Present Darkness, the book that would catapult him into the public eye. After numerous rejections from publishers and a slow start in sales, word-of-mouth enthusiasm finally lifted This Present Darkness onto a tidal wave of interest in spiritual warfare. The book appeared on Bookstore Journal’s bestseller list every month for more than eight years. Peretti’s two spiritual warfare novels, This Present Darkness (1998) and Piercing the Darkness (1989), captivated readers, together selling more than 3.5 million copies. The Oath was awarded the 1996 Gold Medallion Award for best fiction.
For kids, Peretti wrote The Cooper Kids Adventure Series (Crossways and Tommy Nelson), which remains a best-selling series for children with sales exceeding 1 million copies. In August 2000, Peretti released the hilarious children’s audiocassette series titled Wild and Wacky Totally True Bible Stories, reprising his role as Mr. Henry, the offbeat substitute Sunday School teacher found in two Visual Bible for Kids videos.
Peretti released his first-ever non-fiction book, The Wounded Spirit in 2000, which quickly became a best-seller. The book addresses the pain of “wounded spirits” and was written as a result of painful childhood experiences.
Frank Peretti and his wife, Barbara Jean, live in the Western U.S. In spite of sudden fame and notoriety, Frank still lives a simple, well-rounded life that includes carpentry, banjo making, sculpturing, bicycling and hiking. He is also an avid pilot.
With more than 12 million novels in print, Frank Peretti is nothing short of a publishing phenomenon and has been called “America’s hottest Christian novelist.”
Peretti is a natural storyteller who, as a youngster in Seattle, regularly gathered the neighborhood children for animated storytelling sessions. After graduating from high school, he began playing banjo with a local bluegrass group. He and his wife were married in 1972, and Peretti soon moved from touring with a pop band to launching a modest Christian music ministry. Peretti later spent time studying English, screen writing and film at UCLA and then assisted his father in pastoring a small Assembly of God church. In 1983, he gave up his pastoring position and began taking construction jobs to make ends meet. While working at a local ski factory, he began writing This Present Darkness, the book that would catapult him into the public eye. After numerous rejections from publishers and a slow start in sales, word-of-mouth enthusiasm finally lifted This Present Darkness onto a tidal wave of interest in spiritual warfare. The book appeared on Bookstore Journal’s bestseller list every month for more than eight years. Peretti’s two spiritual warfare novels, This Present Darkness (1998) and Piercing the Darkness (1989), captivated readers, together selling more than 3.5 million copies. The Oath was awarded the 1996 Gold Medallion Award for best fiction.
For kids, Peretti wrote The Cooper Kids Adventure Series (Crossways and Tommy Nelson), which remains a best-selling series for children with sales exceeding 1 million copies. In August 2000, Peretti released the hilarious children’s audiocassette series titled Wild and Wacky Totally True Bible Stories, reprising his role as Mr. Henry, the offbeat substitute Sunday School teacher found in two Visual Bible for Kids videos.
Peretti released his first-ever non-fiction book, The Wounded Spirit in 2000, which quickly became a best-seller. The book addresses the pain of “wounded spirits” and was written as a result of painful childhood experiences.
Frank Peretti and his wife, Barbara Jean, live in the Western U.S. In spite of sudden fame and notoriety, Frank still lives a simple, well-rounded life that includes carpentry, banjo making, sculpturing, bicycling and hiking. He is also an avid pilot.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews
June 5, 2025
i read this in russian
not bad! I was expecting more of an adventurous "Egyptian pyramid" vibe with puzzles, traps, mazes, but this was more like figuring out one thing
the last chapter had great intrigue, I was really invested with how it'll end
not bad! I was expecting more of an adventurous "Egyptian pyramid" vibe with puzzles, traps, mazes, but this was more like figuring out one thing
the last chapter had great intrigue, I was really invested with how it'll end
December 30, 2021
All the way back when I was in middle school, my mom introduced me to the writings of Frank Peretti; she bought me his latest book, a young adult novel titled Hangman's Curse. I had a blast with both that book and the sequel, Nightmare Academy, though the latter caused a bit of confusion when an older friend seemed to think it was a horror novel; his exact words were, "It's not scarin' you too bad, is it?" He would have been shocked to know it was actually Christian fiction.
Since then, I have read numerous books by Mr. Peretti--many, more than once--and have enjoyed pretty much all of them. While I know I've read some of the Cooper Kids series previously--I remember purchasing one at a garage sale years ago--it's been a while...so, when I saw the first three books at my local thrift store, I thought: Why not?
I love series books, especially ones with short, exciting installments; they remind me of the shows on which I grew up. So, something like this is right up my alley. Despite the intended audience, older fans of Christian fiction will likely enjoy this as well; I know I did.
Since then, I have read numerous books by Mr. Peretti--many, more than once--and have enjoyed pretty much all of them. While I know I've read some of the Cooper Kids series previously--I remember purchasing one at a garage sale years ago--it's been a while...so, when I saw the first three books at my local thrift store, I thought: Why not?
I love series books, especially ones with short, exciting installments; they remind me of the shows on which I grew up. So, something like this is right up my alley. Despite the intended audience, older fans of Christian fiction will likely enjoy this as well; I know I did.
September 11, 2023
This was funny, nice read that I definitely would have loved between the ages of 8-12...it's still a great book too!
Characters:
The writing style is 3rd person outside view....so you get to be in multiple heads. Mr. Cooper, Jay, Leilah, (I listened to audio, so if the names are spelled wrong, excuse me...lol...) um, someone else who I will not try to spell...lol...are the main heads were in with the occasional drop-in of someone else when necessary.
Themes:
God is greater than anything we might face!
Language:
N/A
Romance:
N/A
Overall:
This was a super fun middle grade adventure, and if I can/have time, I'll probably try and read more books in the series. Right now, I'm hunting good MG fantasies. If you have any recs, I'd love that!
In closing, I thoroughly enjoyed myself, laughing more than I should and throughly intrigued by the touch of mystery woven into the story!
Recommended for ages 7+ and would make a fun family read aloud! (Note the chapters end on cliffhangers most of the time... just so you know the kids will probably ask for another one every time!)
Characters:
The writing style is 3rd person outside view....so you get to be in multiple heads. Mr. Cooper, Jay, Leilah, (I listened to audio, so if the names are spelled wrong, excuse me...lol...) um, someone else who I will not try to spell...lol...are the main heads were in with the occasional drop-in of someone else when necessary.
Themes:
God is greater than anything we might face!
Language:
N/A
Romance:
N/A
Overall:
This was a super fun middle grade adventure, and if I can/have time, I'll probably try and read more books in the series. Right now, I'm hunting good MG fantasies. If you have any recs, I'd love that!
In closing, I thoroughly enjoyed myself, laughing more than I should and throughly intrigued by the touch of mystery woven into the story!
Recommended for ages 7+ and would make a fun family read aloud! (Note the chapters end on cliffhangers most of the time... just so you know the kids will probably ask for another one every time!)
December 12, 2007
i nearly peed my self with terror when i read this book. Granted i was like 11 but still it was really good. i was reading under my blankets with a flashlight when some household pet made a noise i jumped so high i nearly nocked my brother out of the top bunk and i threw the book across the room. it went out the door and crashed into the bookshelf in the hall. It was great!
Read
August 26, 20233.5 stars
This was a really fun book! It felt like one of the cheesy Christian books and audio dramas (*cough* Jonathan Park *cough*) I grew up on... only less cheesy. 😁
The plot is pretty far-fetched and doesn't have a whole lot to it... also, the main characters are very flat and one-dimensional... but it's short and fun and I enjoyed it. :)
This was a really fun book! It felt like one of the cheesy Christian books and audio dramas (*cough* Jonathan Park *cough*) I grew up on... only less cheesy. 😁
The plot is pretty far-fetched and doesn't have a whole lot to it... also, the main characters are very flat and one-dimensional... but it's short and fun and I enjoyed it. :)
June 28, 2023
My twelfth birthday was definitely one for the books (figuratively and literally!). I think I got five book series to read - and this was one of them!
The Cooper Kids series are the perfect thrillers for a twelve year old - or at least for me when I was twelve. I would find myself starting to get decently spooked and wanting to put the book down, but at the same time unable to tear myself away. Uh, it was agony for sure, but it was sure fun agony, if you know what I mean. (My second go around of reading these as an adult has me smirking at my young self - I scared easily I guess, ha!).
Peretti does a fabulous job of taking a couple of Bible passages, mixing them with some pretend legends/superstitions and wrapping them up in a tween’s Indiana Jones styled adventure story.
I highly recommend these!
Ages: 10+
Cleanliness: there are mentions of superstitions, false gods and evil spirits. Demons behind a closed door end up being the prominent “bad guy” of the story - you do not see or hear them speak, they’re just trying to get out. Pre-trib rapture is what Dr. Cooper says he believes in. Possible discussion point: does believing in Jesus save you from danger or bad things happening? Some incidents in the story could make a kid believe this is true; although Peretti does also mention that the mom of the main characters died in a tomb cave in.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
The Cooper Kids series are the perfect thrillers for a twelve year old - or at least for me when I was twelve. I would find myself starting to get decently spooked and wanting to put the book down, but at the same time unable to tear myself away. Uh, it was agony for sure, but it was sure fun agony, if you know what I mean. (My second go around of reading these as an adult has me smirking at my young self - I scared easily I guess, ha!).
Peretti does a fabulous job of taking a couple of Bible passages, mixing them with some pretend legends/superstitions and wrapping them up in a tween’s Indiana Jones styled adventure story.
I highly recommend these!
Ages: 10+
Cleanliness: there are mentions of superstitions, false gods and evil spirits. Demons behind a closed door end up being the prominent “bad guy” of the story - you do not see or hear them speak, they’re just trying to get out. Pre-trib rapture is what Dr. Cooper says he believes in. Possible discussion point: does believing in Jesus save you from danger or bad things happening? Some incidents in the story could make a kid believe this is true; although Peretti does also mention that the mom of the main characters died in a tomb cave in.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
November 29, 2017
I remember reading one of the Cooper Kids books in elementary school and enjoying it, so I got this one, the first in the series, to read with my wife at night. Hoo, boy.
What an off-putting, poorly written mess. The protagonist for the first half of the book isn’t even Jay and Lila, the titular Cooper kids, but their father. Dr Cooper is impatient, short with his subordinates, dismissive under the guise of being confident in his faith, and generally unlikeable. He also uses a strangely large amount of dynamite for an archaeologist working around millennia-old artifacts.
The Door in the Dragon’s Throat is set in Nepur, a middle eastern Ruritania that Peretti is careful to point out is not majority Muslim, but rather in the grip of “superstitions” that Dr Cooper is only too happy to pooh-pooh the moment he meets the locals tasked with assisting him. Even Indiana Jones knows not to dismiss local lore as a factor in archeological work.
The Door (always capitalized) is an ancient bronze (or bronze-like? it’s unclear) gate of monumental dimensions embedded deep in a cave in the desert. Dr Cooper and his kids are hired by the corrupt sheik-like President of Nepur to excavate the site and open the doors, which are rumored to protect a vast hoard of wealth. But naturally there seems to be more to the Door than mere treasure. Dr Cooper’s assistant, Gozan, cowers and shrieks in fear at every shake and tremble of the earth as they approach the door, to the increasing irritation of Dr Cooper. And the Coopers are haunted by a wizened desert shaman who turns out to be the last of a line of pagan guardians of the key to the Door, who converts to Christianity the moment the Cooper kids tell him to.
If even I start thinking of Edward Said while reading your novel, you’re doing something wrong.
The Door turns out to be the entrance to the pit from Revelation, and behind it an army of demons await their release. (So why do they keep scaring people away from the Door? one wonders.) Only the talismanic power of Jesus’s name, invoked Peretti-style, can stop the Door from opening and releasing the demonic horde.
This book is better written than anything by Dan Brown, a bar so low it’s practically subterranean. The characters are poorly developed, the locals are all oriental stereotypes, and Dr Cooper is really insufferable as what seems intended to be a spokesman for a muscular Christian faith. The kids are practically nonentities for most of the book, though they did become fun to follow once they became involved in the plot. The climactic action is insane and over-the-top but I have to admit it was fun.
More bothersome to me was the book’s theological weirdness. As a kid, I knew people in my church who were wary of Peretti’s fiction because of his fixation on demons and, shall we say, questionable angelology. I can see why now. CS Lewis, in a preface to Screwtape, wrote that there are two mistakes one can make about demons: one is to deny their existence, the other is to obsess over them, their nature, activity, and power. This novel definitely succumbs to the latter temptations.
Super cheesy with a few fun ideas or moments mixed into the dreck. This reads like a low-rent, low church evangelical Exorcist crossed with Indiana Jones. I’d be interested to see this turned into a much toned-down and sobered kids’ TV show or something. As it is, my wife and I barely made it through.
Not recommended.
PS—Dr Cooper also carries .357 Magnum revolver with him, which is a hilarious and weird detail.
What an off-putting, poorly written mess. The protagonist for the first half of the book isn’t even Jay and Lila, the titular Cooper kids, but their father. Dr Cooper is impatient, short with his subordinates, dismissive under the guise of being confident in his faith, and generally unlikeable. He also uses a strangely large amount of dynamite for an archaeologist working around millennia-old artifacts.
The Door in the Dragon’s Throat is set in Nepur, a middle eastern Ruritania that Peretti is careful to point out is not majority Muslim, but rather in the grip of “superstitions” that Dr Cooper is only too happy to pooh-pooh the moment he meets the locals tasked with assisting him. Even Indiana Jones knows not to dismiss local lore as a factor in archeological work.
The Door (always capitalized) is an ancient bronze (or bronze-like? it’s unclear) gate of monumental dimensions embedded deep in a cave in the desert. Dr Cooper and his kids are hired by the corrupt sheik-like President of Nepur to excavate the site and open the doors, which are rumored to protect a vast hoard of wealth. But naturally there seems to be more to the Door than mere treasure. Dr Cooper’s assistant, Gozan, cowers and shrieks in fear at every shake and tremble of the earth as they approach the door, to the increasing irritation of Dr Cooper. And the Coopers are haunted by a wizened desert shaman who turns out to be the last of a line of pagan guardians of the key to the Door, who converts to Christianity the moment the Cooper kids tell him to.
If even I start thinking of Edward Said while reading your novel, you’re doing something wrong.
The Door turns out to be the entrance to the pit from Revelation, and behind it an army of demons await their release. (So why do they keep scaring people away from the Door? one wonders.) Only the talismanic power of Jesus’s name, invoked Peretti-style, can stop the Door from opening and releasing the demonic horde.
This book is better written than anything by Dan Brown, a bar so low it’s practically subterranean. The characters are poorly developed, the locals are all oriental stereotypes, and Dr Cooper is really insufferable as what seems intended to be a spokesman for a muscular Christian faith. The kids are practically nonentities for most of the book, though they did become fun to follow once they became involved in the plot. The climactic action is insane and over-the-top but I have to admit it was fun.
More bothersome to me was the book’s theological weirdness. As a kid, I knew people in my church who were wary of Peretti’s fiction because of his fixation on demons and, shall we say, questionable angelology. I can see why now. CS Lewis, in a preface to Screwtape, wrote that there are two mistakes one can make about demons: one is to deny their existence, the other is to obsess over them, their nature, activity, and power. This novel definitely succumbs to the latter temptations.
Super cheesy with a few fun ideas or moments mixed into the dreck. This reads like a low-rent, low church evangelical Exorcist crossed with Indiana Jones. I’d be interested to see this turned into a much toned-down and sobered kids’ TV show or something. As it is, my wife and I barely made it through.
Not recommended.
PS—Dr Cooper also carries .357 Magnum revolver with him, which is a hilarious and weird detail.
July 13, 2009
I am reading this book to my son as he is not quite old enough to read it on his own. I picked it up specifically for he and I to do together as good father-son time...and I had read some of Peretti on my own and really enjoyed it.
This was a great book for the pre-teen and early teen set. I think that finding an author who can tell a story and interest the kids while also keeping characters biblically minded might be difficult, but Peretti did a great job of it. He pulled up just a few scriptures but wove it into the story line and had the characters act like normal people that have a strong faith that they rely on...maybe it is a little overdone in spots, but with the age range that this is intended for, I would not expect subtlety to reign.
So, neat locations to engage kids in thoughts about geography and alternate cultures....check.
An entertaining story...check.
Something that ultimately shows that good defeats evil...check.
A biblical perspective that keeps truth in the forefront...check.
A book and a series that I will enjoy with all of my sons?... Check :)
This was a great book for the pre-teen and early teen set. I think that finding an author who can tell a story and interest the kids while also keeping characters biblically minded might be difficult, but Peretti did a great job of it. He pulled up just a few scriptures but wove it into the story line and had the characters act like normal people that have a strong faith that they rely on...maybe it is a little overdone in spots, but with the age range that this is intended for, I would not expect subtlety to reign.
So, neat locations to engage kids in thoughts about geography and alternate cultures....check.
An entertaining story...check.
Something that ultimately shows that good defeats evil...check.
A biblical perspective that keeps truth in the forefront...check.
A book and a series that I will enjoy with all of my sons?... Check :)
June 27, 2017
Definitely the scariest of the books. Based on a passage in Revelation 9 it features demons locked behind a door that Dr Cooper is commissioned to open. As usual the action is Indiana Jones style - fast paced and thoroughly engaging - with supernatural themes. The power and authority of Christ over the demonic is strongly emphasised. Kids are left in no doubt our God is greater but the reality of evil spirits is clear in this book. I read it to my kids but altered it where I felt necessary
May 27, 2022
4.25⭐️
Indiana Jones for kids; Frank E. Peretti style!
Indiana Jones for kids; Frank E. Peretti style!
May 17, 2023
Reread in May 2023
The drama! The action! The cheese! Is it biblical? No. Is it a classic? No. Is it the most skilled writing worthy of awards? No. But I liked it when I was a kid, and I can still appreciate it now.
Take it for what it is: Respects the reader enough to offer background, setup, and payoff. Fascinating settings with hints of complex culture. The two-dimensional characters give off a shade of something deeper. Lots of good hype in the third act. Indiana Jones-light. Good, clean fun. Glad my reread didn't destroy the nostalgia I have for the series.
Even 15+ years later, I can still remember one of Jay's lines in the first book.
On to book two: Escape from the Island of Aquarius.
The drama! The action! The cheese! Is it biblical? No. Is it a classic? No. Is it the most skilled writing worthy of awards? No. But I liked it when I was a kid, and I can still appreciate it now.
Take it for what it is: Respects the reader enough to offer background, setup, and payoff. Fascinating settings with hints of complex culture. The two-dimensional characters give off a shade of something deeper. Lots of good hype in the third act. Indiana Jones-light. Good, clean fun. Glad my reread didn't destroy the nostalgia I have for the series.
Even 15+ years later, I can still remember one of Jay's lines in the first book.
On to book two: Escape from the Island of Aquarius.
April 27, 2022
Decided to read this series to see if it was appropriate for my 10 year old brother who is easily scared. This first book definitely wasn’t 😅, and I’ve concluded that from the titles of the other books in the series, they won’t be either.
There was suspense for sure, but nothing else drew me in emotionally. Good moral though!
There was suspense for sure, but nothing else drew me in emotionally. Good moral though!
June 22, 2019
Having read a couple of Frank Peretti's adult books, I wasn't expecting much from this juvenile one, so I wasn't disappointed.
It had a few interesting plot elements, An American archaeologist and his teenage children go on an expedition to a fictitious Middle Eastern country, with three capable but characterless assistants, to explore an ancient cave with a reputation of being cursed. They were accompanied by a representative of the government, which hoped they would find treasure there. He switches character from fearful wimp to bold and unscrupulous villain at the drop of a hat, with any number of other roles as well. The villains are less convincing than Enid Blyton's, though in that respect the message of the book is clear -- Americans good, foreigners bad.
None of this probably matters very much to children aged about 8-10, who seem to be the target readership. Some children's books are enjoyable for adults as well -- the books of C.S. Lewis, or Alan Garner, for example. But this isn't one of them.
It had a few interesting plot elements, An American archaeologist and his teenage children go on an expedition to a fictitious Middle Eastern country, with three capable but characterless assistants, to explore an ancient cave with a reputation of being cursed. They were accompanied by a representative of the government, which hoped they would find treasure there. He switches character from fearful wimp to bold and unscrupulous villain at the drop of a hat, with any number of other roles as well. The villains are less convincing than Enid Blyton's, though in that respect the message of the book is clear -- Americans good, foreigners bad.
None of this probably matters very much to children aged about 8-10, who seem to be the target readership. Some children's books are enjoyable for adults as well -- the books of C.S. Lewis, or Alan Garner, for example. But this isn't one of them.
July 17, 2020
This book is clever, well thought out, exciting and overall, amazing. The last few chapters are my favorite, and Peretti ties everything in very well. The whole series was so great but I think this one is the most ingenious.
May 23, 2022
A fun nostalgic throwback to the series that started my love for adventure stories. Not the most well-written book, but a good time nonetheless. 3 stars from me!
March 28, 2009
I loved this series as a kid, but it lacked something this time around. I don't know if it was too trite or what.
I imagine that, for me, rereading this as an adult was like what rereading The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe would be for a non-believer. "Wow, that's WAY more over the top than I remember." That's not to say, I didn't pick up on the Christian themes as a kid. I did. It's just that with a deeper theological background now, some of the dialogue in the book seems a little forced.
It was funny though, in the book Dr. Cooper and his kids go to Nepur to search for a supposed treasure that's locked behind a giant, ancient bronze-like door. When we got to that part in the book, Liz said, "The treasure better not be a Bible." We both grew up listening to Adventures in Odyssey and had both heard an episode where that was the case. We both had a medium-to-good laugh about that.
I assure you, as I assured her, that's not the treasure that's behind THIS door.
I imagine that, for me, rereading this as an adult was like what rereading The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe would be for a non-believer. "Wow, that's WAY more over the top than I remember." That's not to say, I didn't pick up on the Christian themes as a kid. I did. It's just that with a deeper theological background now, some of the dialogue in the book seems a little forced.
It was funny though, in the book Dr. Cooper and his kids go to Nepur to search for a supposed treasure that's locked behind a giant, ancient bronze-like door. When we got to that part in the book, Liz said, "The treasure better not be a Bible." We both grew up listening to Adventures in Odyssey and had both heard an episode where that was the case. We both had a medium-to-good laugh about that.
I assure you, as I assured her, that's not the treasure that's behind THIS door.
November 23, 2015
I guess I felt this book was just kind of weird. I definitely believe there is a spiritual world, and angels and demons, and all that; but not really in the sense this book was portraying it. I mean, I don't think we actually physically fight demons, or that they are holed up somewhere and could get loose. Being a child of Christ protects of from demons' harm.
I don't know. I think we need to know a certain amount about the spiritual world, but maybe not read frightening stories about demons trying to get loose and kill us. :(
I didn't like it. I know people who do though. I guess anyone else can decide for themselves if this is a book they would enjoy.
I don't know. I think we need to know a certain amount about the spiritual world, but maybe not read frightening stories about demons trying to get loose and kill us. :(
I didn't like it. I know people who do though. I guess anyone else can decide for themselves if this is a book they would enjoy.
October 12, 2017
3.5 stars
This book is fast moving! Looking for a packed adventure? This is it! I really liked Dr Cooper. He seems like a cool, level headed truth seeker. And his kids are terrific. Lila and Jay almost seem too mature for their age though. You can tell they have seen a lot in their lives already.
Snakes, scorpions, shaman, kidnapping and more are here. From the first chapter to the very last page. It is rare I find a book this packed.
I wish it had honestly slowed down just a tad for some character building. We get a small amount at the beginning and then we just wing it with them on their expedition that offers no rest.
This book is fast moving! Looking for a packed adventure? This is it! I really liked Dr Cooper. He seems like a cool, level headed truth seeker. And his kids are terrific. Lila and Jay almost seem too mature for their age though. You can tell they have seen a lot in their lives already.
Snakes, scorpions, shaman, kidnapping and more are here. From the first chapter to the very last page. It is rare I find a book this packed.
I wish it had honestly slowed down just a tad for some character building. We get a small amount at the beginning and then we just wing it with them on their expedition that offers no rest.
July 10, 2022
3.5⭐⭐⭐
I enjoyed this first book in the series by Peretti. I'm still learning which books I enjoy by the author, and some of his get a little too creepy for my taste. But this one did not get creepy.
It was a good old fashioned adventure story filled with a hidden treasure that is locked behind a door that shouldn't be open. A great adventure story for all ages.
I enjoyed this first book in the series by Peretti. I'm still learning which books I enjoy by the author, and some of his get a little too creepy for my taste. But this one did not get creepy.
It was a good old fashioned adventure story filled with a hidden treasure that is locked behind a door that shouldn't be open. A great adventure story for all ages.
June 24, 2022
After reading this a middle schooler, I didn’t really remember much about it. But I’ve been looking for clean, faith-based, well-written middle grade/YA books for my kids to read, and weirdly they are few and far between unless they are fairy tell retellings or Amish (nothing against either of those but they just aren’t my kid’s taste). So when I found these at a thrift bookstore, I jumped on them. My boys really enjoyed them and they were quick reads. They even recognized the scriptures that were quoted. But the book isn’t cringe-worthy in its preachiness. It’s actually unapologetic (as Peretti always is) in its discussion of the spirit realm and scripture, as are the characters. They are knows to be Christians from the beginning and they don’t try to overtly preach but they also don’t shy away from praying. We loved it. And now on to the rest of the series!
October 30, 2015
Heroes are Christians written mainly for teenagers. Story displays God's power versus Satan's power. Good storyline to keep readers on edge of what is going to happen next.
October 2, 2017
Interesting little story. I found it to contain quite a lot of action too! Especially , the and the There was a very large religious aspect to this story too. Not sure if the whole series is a Christian-based series meant to give morals, but I'm not particularly religious, so this frustrates me a little.
July 20, 2021
We purchased this book for our younger son for Christmas as my husband had read other books by the author.
I read through it after our son finished the book and I really enjoyed it. I felt it was fast paced and interesting. I liked that it had a connection to events in the Bible while still be an action book. I think there are many great talking points to be found in this book.
I read through it after our son finished the book and I really enjoyed it. I felt it was fast paced and interesting. I liked that it had a connection to events in the Bible while still be an action book. I think there are many great talking points to be found in this book.
March 24, 2023
My father read these books to me when I was a kid and it was fun to read this first one to my older children. The series is like a Christian "Indiana Jones", but this first book may be a little intense for some readers. It is heavy in the spiritual battle of good and evil (angels and demons) so parents should use discretion with their children.
December 25, 2017
This is a fantastic book for someone who loves action and adventure. I loved from where the book was based off of. Revelations 9. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
March 24, 2020
This book was very good. I started it a long time ago, but didn't finish it. Now I have and I really liked it! :D
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November 9, 2020I liked this book. It was action packed.
May 16, 2024
This is more of a YA read, but I have always loved reading Frank Peretti books ever since "This Present Darkness" in the 1980s.
May 30, 2024
4 and a half stars
November 22, 2024
A quick and easy read. A heavy Revelation theme, so I would hold out on letting aanyone under ten read it.
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