Copyright Date:
2008
Edition Date:
2008
Release Date:
09/28/09
Pages:
295 pages
ISBN:
Publisher: 1-595-54727-4 Perma-Bound: 0-605-85092-5
ISBN 13:
Publisher: 978-1-595-54727-9 Perma-Bound: 978-0-605-85092-7
Dewey:
Fic
LCCN:
2008004620
Dimensions:
22 cm.
Language:
English
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews
When the King family relocates from their comfortable suburban home to a spooky house in a remote area, brothers Xander and David quickly discover that the house contains portals into other worlds; upon choosing a door at random, Xander finds himself in ancient Roman times, face-to-face with a gladiator out for blood. If the strange portals weren't jarring enough, the King family's consternation mounts when they realize that not only can they venture into the portals, but other creatures can come out . Fast-paced action and thrills abound in this expository offering of a slated six-volume series. Peppered with moralistic anecdotes that toe the line of didacticism, the narrative emphasizes the ways the family must work together if they are to survive. Typical to most series fiction, Liparulo's work is heavy on action and setup, though otherwise less developmentally substantive. The wholesome family dynamic mixed with a smattering of light horror should fare well with younger readers. Number two, Watcher in the Woods (ISBN: 978-1-59554-496-4), is due out in June. (Christian horror. 10 & up)
Word Count:
52,504
Reading Level:
4.2
Interest Level:
7-12
Accelerated Reader:
reading level: 4.2
/ points: 7.0
/ quiz: 126281
/ grade: Middle Grades
Reading Counts!:
reading level:4.3 /
points:14.0 /
quiz:Q48173
Lexile:
HL580L
The King family has moved into a strange old house. Could it be a dream come true--or a place of nightmares? When the Kings move from LA to a secluded small town, fifteen-year-old Xander is beyond disappointed. He and his friends loved to create amateur films, but the tiny town of Pinedale is the last place a movie buff and future filmmaker wants to land. But he, David, and Toria are captivated by the many rooms in the old Victorian fixer-upper they moved into--as well as the heavy woods surrounding the house. They soon discover there's something odd about their new home. Sounds come from the wrong directions. Prints of giant, bare feet appear in the dust. And when David tries to hide in the linen closet, he winds up in locker 119 at his new school. Then the really weird stuff kicks in: they find a hidden hallway with portals leading to far-off places--in long-ago times. Xander is starting to wonder if this kind of travel is a teen's dream come true . . . or his worst nightmare. "A powerhouse storyteller delivers his most fantastic ride yet!" --Ted Dekker, New York Times bestselling author on the Dreamhouse Kings series Fast-paced, time travel YA Book 1 in the Dreamhouse Kings series Book 1: House of Dark Shadows Book 2: Watcher in the Woods Book 3: Gatekeepers Book 4: Timescape Book 5: Whirlwind Book 6: Frenzy Book length: appr. 60,000 words Includes reading group guide