Beyond the Door by Maureen Doyle McQuerry

Timothy is a young man that really, really likes to play Scrabble.  Nothing very interesting happens to him.  The only person who really understands him and believes him is his older sister, Sarah.  But all that changes in just one night...

Amulet Books sent me an ARC of this book to read for review (thank you).  It will be published this month, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.  It is the first in the Time Out Of Time series.

This is a mix of fantasy, mystery, magic and good and evil.  There is Celtic legend, mythological creatures and more to keep your attention.  It's the age-old battle of Light against Dark.

The story is fast paced and compelling.  Thomas finds himself near death more than once but he doesn't give up.  He has his sister and another schoolmate to help or hinder him in his quest.  Their old babysitter is more than she seemed, and the hunt is on.  When legends come to life, it makes a pretty scary reality for Timothy and his friends.  Especially since the really evil one can shape change.  That's a real handy method of disguising.


This whole story moves along fast and will keep your middle grader reading.  I found it enjoyable and hope it's not too much longer before the next book comes out.  Sarah is being held prisoner and Timothy has to find a way to recover her.  This is a fascinating tale.  Why not give it a read and see what you think?