Module 3: The Door in the Wall

Book Summary:  This book was about a little boy, Robin, whose father had to leave to go to war and his mother had to be maid to the queen.  At the age of 10 his mother left him under the care of the head of the village and he was forced to live without his parents.  He then had an accident where his legs stopped working and he could not work.  He was bound to his bed and was dependednt upon others to take care of him.  He missed his parents greatly and simply wanted to be like his other friends and run and play outside.  Then a plague it the town and he was moved far away to a hospice where he would receive better care.  Brother Luke, who was his educator and caregiver, taught him how to make use of his time by carving and making different items.  He soon became strong in his arms and trained himself how to walk on crutches.  He no longer had to sit in a bed and began to make harps and other items which would help make his arms stronger.  A war broke out in the town and he was the only one was able to escape to go find help for the town.  Because he did not go many places, his face was not familiar and he was able to blend in.  He escaped and found help and the war was over.  His father and mother returned home and they were ecstatic to see how he grew and matured over the years.


Reference: Angeli, M. D. (1949). The door in the wall. New York, NY: Delacorte Press.


Impression: I would have to say that this book was difficult for me to read because of the dialect and language used.  I cannot see how this book would be suited for elementary aged students only because it is set in the medieval times where the language was exaggerated and "backwards". They spoke in tangents and phrases that may be confusing to a child living today in a world where everything is "black or white".  The meaning behind the story is great, however, by the time you get pass the language you will miss the meaning if you were 10-12 years old.  There may be some children who could understand but if I had to judge this book using the students that I teach, I would have to say that it would be a "miss".  They would have a hard time relating and it would be difficult to complete.  I feel they would enjoy this book if the language could be altered to fit their needs.  The priest in the story did a very good job of being the father figure to the boy and showing him how it is to be a man and not giving up.  This message could resonate volumes of inspiration in to the young boys of the present.


The illustrations in the book seemed to be on the lines of pen and ink because they looked like someone actually drew them by hand into a notebook.  You can see the strokes and filled in spaces of a pen.  It suited the time of which the book was written.

If I had to recommend this book to a specific age group I would have to say ages 15-17.  Although it is known as junior fiction, it is highly advanced for the mental capacity that a 10-12 year old has.  However, I may be a little biased towards the students that I teach:).

Professional Reviews:

From the Publisher
Ever since he can remember, Robin, son of Sir John de Bureford, has been told what is expected of him as the son of a nobleman. He must learn the ways of knighthood. But Robin's destiny is changed in one stroke: He falls ill and loses the use of his legs. Fearing a plague, his servants abandon him and Robin is left alone.

From Kirkus Review
A new field for this author-artist, in a story of 13th century England during the reign of Edward III. One has a feeling of the authenticity of the pageantry and atmosphere of medieval England; the lavish color and detailed black and white illustrations are beautifully handled, but the story seems contrived and at times difficult for the age for which it is written. Ten year old Robin is crippled by a mysterious malady while his father is at the wars. Left in the care of a brave and adventurous monk, he eventually emerges from self pity and becomes interested in wood carving and later gets involved in exciting events at the castle of a friend. There should be sustained interest, mounting tension, but somehow the story fails to enlist the interest or sympathy of the reader, as the plot bogs down and wears thin. A lovely looking book.

References:
Kirkus Review. (n.d.). [Review of the book The door in the wall, by M.D. Angeli]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/marguerite-de-angeli/the-door-in-the-wall-2/

The Door in the Wall. (n.d.). [Review of the book The door in the wall, by M. D. Angeli]. Delacorte press. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Door-Wall-Marguerite-Angeli/dp/0440227798/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437273326&sr=8-1&keywords=The+door+in+the+wall

Library uses:
This book could be used as a Medieval Times display in the library to introduce a different era.  I would also use this book during poetry appreciation month.  Taking different prose from the book and having students to analyze the meaning into their own.