The Mystery of the Cupboard is the fourth book in Lynne Reid Banks' popular Indian in the Cupboard series, and my personal favorite. In this story, Omri's family has moved again, but this time to the Dorset countryside. Omri's mother has inherited a farmhouse from a distant cousin. Little does Omri know that a new chapter in the history of the cupboard is about to begin. The farmhouse is in need of new roofing thatch, and as the old thatch is being removed Omri finds a carefully wrapped package in it. It had been hidden for over thirty years by his great-great Aunt Jessica Charlotte... who also had dealings with plastic figures who came alive through the magic of the cupboard.

I love the back-and-forth feel of this story, as Omri reads Jessica Charlotte's diary and learns where both the cupboard and its key came from. Tied up with the history of his family are the larger historical events that shaped the lives of his ancestors. Distinct personalities emerge from the faded pages of Jessica Charlotte's Account as Omri becomes more and more engrossed in her story.

I enjoyed Banks' departure from a storyline dominated by Little Bear and Boone. A new set of characters are introduced, just as fun and unique as any in the other books. The themes of this story are much more tragic than those of the previous three books, as is fitting for a series that is maturing alongside its readers. The plotting is great and the writing, as usual, is quite good. Highly recommended. ( )

How the cupboard was created. ( )

RL 6.0 or ages 8-12. PLEASE use this book as an opportunity to talk about stereotypes of "grunting indians" and point out that First People are certainly hurt by that. The premise of a story can be quite attractive and we do all feel that (this story is beloved by those who grew up with it for good reason), and children need to know that it is make-believe and unfair to others in their society to assume otherwise.

this book was a lot of fun - it introduces how the cupboard came to be and where the magic stems from. It's also an intriguing look into the history of Omri's family, and the troubles and pains of Jessica Charlotte, a relative who had the gift to see the future.

This is a good series to grow up with; the fourth book's themes are far more mature than the first. As always, coping with separation plays a major role. ( )