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Summary: The Door In The Wall: More Than Just A Door
Review: (...)The book was a basic book with a medieval background, it told of the many things going on, like the war between Ireland and England, and how there was the black plague forming everywhere, killing anybody unlucky enough to catch it. The story basically consists of the little boy, Robin, who has fallen ill due to some sort of disease, he believed it was the plague at first, but then realizes, that it was a different sickness, because it had made his legs useless, thus, the word "crook shanks", and as common knowledge tells us, he was useless to do anything, but he had a job, a job to become a knight, at his godfathers castle, for his father was a knight and as we all know, a knight's son must also become a knight. Robin was lucky enough to be taken in by a kind church, St. Mark's. There he meets a monk named Brother Luke, they become great friends, and Robin sends word to his father, and he goes on his great journey to Sir Peter De Lindsey's castle. They encounter many great problems in their journey, but he makes it safely to his castle, Robin tells Peter that he is useless and cannot do anything, and so Robin learns to do something, something that he had wanted to accomplish...I think this book is one of the greater books I have read, it shows courage and honor, and how Robin was able to do anything despite his disabilities, and how he was able to do anything he wanted, as long as he put his mind to it. I this that this author was an excellent writer, because this book contain such great sentences, such as, "The calm sound of the peaceful lake was silent". Nevertheless, this book was based of a great plot and had a great background. Despite how much I loved this book, there was also a catch, I didn't like this book because of how there was so much tragic death because of the black plague and how many people suffered "The Black Plague was everywhere." It makes the medieval times seem like a very horrible place in time where nothing was supposed to go right. Despite the minor issue, I still believe this is a book worth reading. My favorite part in this book is how cunning Robin was in the situation of being robbed, he was sure not to make a sound, and made sure that he was able to warn Luke without making a sound, I would've enjoyed looking at the face of the thieves. Overall, this book was excellent, the medieval plot, and the great writings of the author. I think this book is a worthwhile book, and is worth reading, and you enjoy reading it over and over again.
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Summary: A good depiction of the Middle Ages in children's literature
Review: ...Language and dialogue differ today from the language used during the Middle Ages. This period marks a time in which people spoke in Old English proper, a style often recognizable through the use of the words "'tis," "didst," and "aye." de Angeli successfully exposes audiences to the language of this time without confusion. The text that Marguerite de Angeli uses throughout her book, The Door in the Wall, is filled with authentic, straightforward detail of the period that extended from approximately the 5th century through the 15th century in Western Europe. Historical events of this period significantly impact the plot of The Door in the Wall. The Middle Ages mark a time in history of great disease, such as the Bubonic Plague or "black death", harshness and uncertainty, crisis and trouble. Miriam Youngerman Miller's 1995 article, "Thy Speech is Strange and Uncouth: Language in the Historical Novel of the Middle Ages," states, "Writers of historical fiction for children frequently face the dilemma of creating a historically accurate picture of the medieval ages while avoiding archaic language in their work" (20). According to Miller, children are averse to archaic language since it is not straightforward or is idiomatically different. Throughout The Door in the Wall, de Angeli successfully uses a simplified language sprinkled with a few archaisms. She relays life during this time period through the experiences of Robin in a clear, easy- to-understand manner, even for audiences at younger levels. The Door in the Wall is filled with simply stated facts about life in medieval England and is an excellent aid to studying the Middle Ages because of its clarity and accuracy. The illustrations along with the text make life in England during the Middle Ages come to life. The illustrations in the Door in the Wall lack color. However, de Angeli helps the reader to colorize her drawings mentally through her use of descriptive text. For example, "May came in with a burst of bloom...hawthorn both pink and white, and primroses and buttercups carpeted the fields with yellow...blossomed in bright color and filled the air with perfume" (de Angeli 18). de Angeli uses simple language to acknowledge the seasons and time of year. Clearly described settings such as these allow readers to also become interested in the time period in which this novel takes place. Throughout this Newbery Award book, de Angeli successfully proves that despite his handicap, Robin becomes an excellent swimmer, a lad of courage, and ultimately and unlikely hero. She achieves this by creating historically accurate pictures while avoiding archaic and outmoded wording. de Angeli's classic novel conveys a comprehensible message that is easy to grasp and enjoyable to read. The main theme that de Angeli conveys in this classic novel is that whenever adversity blocks the way, and walls us from our hopes and dreams, God provides us with a door in the wall and makes a better way. It is a novel that not only conveys a wonderful, inspiring message but it also exposes young audiences to history and while it allows them to enjoy learning about the Middle Ages.
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Summary: Students need background info to open the door in this wall
Review: As an elementary school librarian, I think it's informative to read all the reviews found here. It can be summed up that readers either like or dislike this Newbery Award winning book. There is no middle ground. However, one should pay attention to the many negative reviews by "bored" students. It's my opinion that these students were probably not sufficiently prepared to read this short--but somewhat challenging--story. If a teacher just passes this book out, or says, "Go read a Newbery book," then I don't blame them for yawning. I think a student's interest level would increase if they had some sense of the language, as well as an understanding of this fascinating historical period. A quick search on the Internet reveals an interesting array of lesson plans, background materials and quizzes. There are also some excellent--and easy--books that provide helpful background information, such as David Macaulay's "Castle" and "Cathedral;" Jonathan Hunt's "Illuminations;" Aliki's "A Medieval Feast;" or Joe Lasker's "A Tournament of Knights." There are many more good titles available. It would be beneficial if teachers would pre-read this book and make a list of the unfamiliar terms and the older forms of speech used throughout. (Better yet, it would be wonderful if the publisher would produce an edition with a glossary!) Knowing the language will open many "doors in the wall" for most students. I've recently been doing some research on what books are considered classics for elementary age students, and "A Door in the Wall," shows up on just about every list I've seen. It is a true classic in many ways. On an additional note, I have a personal interest in the history of the Christian faith, and it's quite informative to note here the role the Church plays in the everyday lives of the people in Medieval England. I developed a fondness for the way the friar, Brother Luke, was portrayed here. While this is not a "religious" book, and is certainly appropriate for public schools, I think that it could find a nice niche in religious schools (Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox), where a discussion of this title could open doors (pun intended) to a time when Christendom was the norm.
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Summary: Door in the Wall Review
Review: Ever since Robin can remember he has alway been told what to do, he is to learn the ways of knighthood, as his father did, to serve England's king. Robin's destiny changes in one stroke, he loses the use of his legs. he then builds crutches, makes a harp, and learns to swim. Robin then tries to serve as a knight as he was supposed to do before he loses the use of his legs. The three main characters are, Robin, the friar, and John-go-with-the-wind. The boook takes place in England during the middle ages. The author's point of is that even when you are handicapped,you can still be a hero. The thheme is that there is always a door in the wall if you look hard enough, and anyone can become a hero. The flow of this story was a bit slow and hard to keep up with due to the pace the author chose to write this story. The plot was uneasily identified due to the slow pace and the climax and resolutionswere hard to enjoy.
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Summary: It was a great book to read
Review: Hi im in fifth grade and read the Newbery book The Door in the Wall because it talks about how a kid named Robin got ill and couldn't walk. He could only use crutches and getting on someones back for transpertation. It is about a kid who gets ill and can't walk. He even saves a castle full of people. I would recommend this book to fifth and sixth graders because it is a little bit hard to read.
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Summary: An excellent book by an excellent woman
Review: I am Mrs. de Angeli's great-granddaughter and would like to thank everyone out there for warmly accepting her book and offering such kind praise. I agree that it is an excellent tale, and I recommend this title to anyone seeking educational adventure.
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Summary: This is the best book ,you have to buy it.
Review: I am really not a big reader until now. This book is very inspiring. It is about a boy overcoming an illness while at a monistary. His father, Sir John De Beuford, is the head of an English army. He is afraid his father will be disappointed because he will not be able to become a knight. When the Welsh army invades a castle it is up to him to save the day. That's enough until you read this great book!
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Summary: An uplifting book in the older, "historical fiction" style
Review: I discovered this book at the library and liked it so much that I bought my own copy. I have since decided that it's best read aloud; there are pleasant subtlties of the rhythm and consonance that I missed in my first quick (and silent) reading. Also, if you're reading aloud, you can read it to younger children than I would attempt as an independently read chapter book. Reading aloud solves some of the language challenges. When I think about this book, I remember the timelessness of the "learning about yourself" and "doing your best" themes. I remember the high proportion of adults who are helpful and kind -- even the military invaders in this book are kind to children -- and the great number of usually forgotten people who served the public and their country through the social safety net provided by the medieval church. I think about the author's beautiful illustrations and descriptions of people and places in this medieval, 1300s setting. What struck me as odd a few minutes ago is that I don't ever think about the fact that the central character of this book is physically disabled, and how accepted this is by all of the characters in the book. This is particularly unusual because the book was written more than half a century ago about a time that is more than half a millenium ago, so it well predates the modern sense of "political correctness" or social support for people with disabilities. The disability drives the plot and the protagonist's character development in some respects, but it's really not dwelt on -- the disability is a fact, and what remains is not to point out how special he is or what noble character he was endowed with, but to see how a pretty average child adapts to life as it is, instead of life as he expected. Since so many modern books that cross my desk are filled with petty junior-high boy-girl interactions, or write off *all* of the adults as uncaring or useless (or worse), I have particularly enjoyed reading this uplifting book. All of the characters believe in working persistently towards your goals and doing your best. Furthermore, in an age of preternaturally precocious protagonists who do daring things but learn very little, Robin has clear character flaws -- he even throws temper tantrums early in the book -- and you can see him growing up as the chapters go by. Problems are solved, skills are developed, and the solution to the castle's invasion difficulty and Robin's future is resolved in the end. I know that a study guide is available for this book, but I don't know if "The Door in the Wall" is widely used in schools. It's length (a little to the short side) is a good recommendation, and it's positive, inclusion-oriented attitude towards people with disabilities also speaks well of it. Despite the number of pages spent on military actions, it's really a non-violent book, which will appeal to many parents. (But fewer boys: it's not gross enough.) However, despite these points in its favor, in parts of modern America -- (here in California, we live under the shadow of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals -- the fine folks who said that a (apparently non-custodial) father could force the school to drop "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance so that his (apparently church-going) daughter wouldn't hear those words each day) -- I'm not sure I'd try this book as required reading in a public school, because the characters are shown praying, and the medieval church is portrayed in a clearly positive fashion.
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Summary: A Book to Remember
Review: I first read this book in Grade 4. The year was 1979. The school was hooked up with a book club, I think it was Scholastic, and I used to count the days until the new catalogue came into the school each week. I remember when I first saw this book in the catologue, the cover had a picture of the boy next to a giant wall, leaning over his crutches. I immediately ordered it. I don't know if this is the same version as the one noted here. I do know that it stuck with me for many years and helped to inspire in me a love of reading. I thought so much of it that the reason I came across it here today was because I was curious if it was still in print.
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Summary: A YOUNG knight in shining armor!!!!!!!
Review: I give this book 3 stars for it's creative descriptions.This book is for those people who like Knights in shining armor and exciting adventorious fun! A young 10 year old boy is chosen to become a knight - come on this is greatly imaganitive!!! It draws you into the book and it is though your really there.I recomend this book for the young people who like the Middle Ages. I hope ever one ejoys this book like I did!!
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