Tuesday, July 4, 2017

The Door in the Alley by Adrienne Dress - ADVISABLE

Kress, Adrienne The Door in the Alley (The Explorers #1), 305 pages.  Delacorte (Random), 2017.  $17.  Content: G (mild danger).

Arthur has always followed every single rule in his life.  Then one day, instead of taking his normal path home, he follows his more reckless cousin up an unfamiliar alley and he gets involved with the Explorers Club.  He can’t get himself to be as curious as the explorers, until one day he finds a girl hiding and crying in the alley – she has just been kicked out by the Explorers.  Why would they help Arthur, but not help Evie who really is in danger?  Arthur’s sense of right is offended and now he will do whatever it take to help her, even if he starts breaking rules and puts himself in danger. 

Kress has written a nice upper elementary/middle grade adventure novel.  While there’s no magic, there are strange happenings.  Arthur is a good puzzle solver and honestly has to conquer his nerves to stretch himself and help Evie.  It does end on a definite cliff hanger, which I find a little bit frustrating.

EL, MS – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher

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