The Door by the Staircase
By Katherine Marsh
Age Range:
8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 3 - 7
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion (January 5, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1423134990
ISBN-13: 978-1423134992
Approximate Lexile: 910
Publisher’s Blurb:
Twelve-year-old Mary Hayes can't stand her orphanage
for another night. But when an attempted escape through the stove pipe doesn't
go quite as well as she'd hoped, Mary fears she'll be stuck in the Buffalo
Asylum for Young Ladies forever.
The very next day, a mysterious woman named Madame Z appears at the orphanage requesting to adopt Mary, and the matron's all too happy to get the girl off her hands. Soon, Mary is fed a hearty meal, dressed in a clean, new nightgown and shown to a soft bed with blankets piled high. She can hardly believe she isn't dreaming!
But when Mary begins to explore the strange nearby town with the help of her new friend, Jacob, she learns a terrifying secret about Madame Z's true identity. If Mary's not careful, her new home might just turn into a nightmare.
Award-winning author Katherine Marsh draws from Russian fairytales in this darkly funny middle-grade fantasy novel.
The very next day, a mysterious woman named Madame Z appears at the orphanage requesting to adopt Mary, and the matron's all too happy to get the girl off her hands. Soon, Mary is fed a hearty meal, dressed in a clean, new nightgown and shown to a soft bed with blankets piled high. She can hardly believe she isn't dreaming!
But when Mary begins to explore the strange nearby town with the help of her new friend, Jacob, she learns a terrifying secret about Madame Z's true identity. If Mary's not careful, her new home might just turn into a nightmare.
Award-winning author Katherine Marsh draws from Russian fairytales in this darkly funny middle-grade fantasy novel.
My Thoughts:
Perfect for middle-graders, this combination of retold
fairytale with “plucky orphan finds a home” story hits all the right notes.
Mary is likable for her initiative and cleverness, but her longing for a place
to belong keeps her from being all sunshine and happiness. Likewise, her friend
Jacob is a steadfast friend with a special desire of his own—and loyal Mary
takes on the task of helping him to achieve it. Better still, with Jacob’s
help, Mary is able to turn the usual ending for Baba Yaga’s adoptees to something
new that benefits them both.
Full of heart and the idea that family is what we make
it, this book offers some scares, some silliness, and a lot of heart.
The writing is accessible, with rich language, good
description, and strong characters. Just as important for me, the editing was
well done, too!
Possible Objectionable Material:
Some dangerous situations. Magic, both of the stage
and real variety. Children disobey adults.
Who Would Like This Book:
Those who, like me, enjoy retold fairytales. The suggested age range is appropriate. Those who like characters with grit. Boys and girls
alike.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!
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