The Door to Time (Ulysses Moore)

An okay read, with some fun characters.

The book begins as 11-year-old twins Jason and Julia move from London to Argo Manor, a mysterious mansion on the British coast. After befriending Rick, a local boy, the three friends discover that the previous owner, the wildly eccentric Ulysses Moore, left behind clues to unlock a hidden door, and once opened, it leads the kids into a web of passageways, potential danger, and mind-boggling discoveries.

What I liked: great characters! Each of the three friends is unique and brings an interesting element to the story. The mansion’s caretaker is peculiar, but in the most fascinating way (I really want to know his story!). The plot is interesting and the comradery between the kids is lighthearted and show more fun.

What I didn’t like: it ends with a major cliffhanger. The last quarter of the book is when the adventures really begin to pick up, and then it just ends. The reader is left with no sense of closure. There were also a couple of times when it felt like the author was talking down to the reader (over-explaining for the sake of the reader’s age).

3.5 out of 5 stars show less

An absorbing read, though it deadends the reader with something of a cliffhanger ending. "Door to Time" combines history (a little of it) with fantasy (fake ancient cultures) to create a fun exploration mystery. Three kids have the weekend to scope out a giant mansion, and finding clues which lead them on a clue-driven, Indiana-Jones style adventure. The clues have been left by the owner of the house, Ulysses Moore, who may or may not be deceased (one of the characters suspects that Moore may still be hanging around.) A good escapist read, but be prepared to lay hands on the sequel to continue the narrative.

"As time turns, the door beckons... the Door to Time."
A thrilling novel such as this has been set out for maximum captivation for any audience; young to old, readers to non-readers. This book gives off a sense of thrill, especially to young teenage children who yearn for adventure. In a world of semi-fantasy, all outcomes remain undetermined and mysterious. Four locks, four mysteries, one door. Such a theme of pure ominous and eerie text gives off a sense to solve the mystery. The story is paced at a decent level, to avoid repetition and dull text.
Three children, by the names of Jason, Julia and Rick are the key elements to unlocking the mystery to 'The Door to Time'. By facing off against fears and using the best of their strengths, show more they are able to find the history of Ulysses Moore and uncover its darkest secrets. The text itself is extremely descriptive to ensure no little details are left out to promote the quality of this book.
The book is no where near 'linear', and always has the motion to go forward without having to look back. Young readers will be able to relate very closely to the lives of the main characters and perhaps the struggles of living in a mysterious Manor.
Overall, I believe this book has a great background, and not only will readers enjoy a good story, but they may also learn some geographical content of the English countryside shown by a few maps inside the book.
This book is a permanent mark on my personal library. show less

I got this from the library for my son, then started reading it myself when I was stuck without another book, and finished it the next day - that's a great part of kids' books, you can read them so fast! It was pretty fun, and I loved the illustrations. The book appears to have been translated from Italian, so there are points where it is a little stilted, but altogether it flows well and is interesting and well-written. It's obvious that it's part of a series - you are constantly reminded that there is more to come by the heavy foreshadowing. It ended on a pretty abrupt "read the next book!" sort of note, which disappointed me a little - I hate when a book can't simply stand alone and be strong enough without its sequel - but otherwise show more I'd recommend it for a short, exciting (without being overwhelming or scary for little kids)read. show less

I have to laugh. The ratings for this book are all over the place. It's too bad there's no reviews that describe what people liked or disliked, and what there perspectives were.

In any case, I came to this book after reading the first book in Mr. Baccalario's newest series"Century: Ring of Fire". I thought "Ring of Fire" was absolutely excellent and so I was curious about his earlier works. "The Door To Time" is not as good. But I should make it clear that it is better than most of the children's literature that I read in the Tweener age range.

The story is about two twins --boy and girl-- who move from London to a small seaside community. The boy, Jason, has a predilection to sensing the 'other world', and is perfectly content with the show more move to their rambling, castle-like home. His sister, Julia, is not. She likes the hustle and bustle of the city. They are still finding their way around when they find a new friend, Rick, who seems a perfect foil for them.

The story proceeds along some pretty classic lines. Their parents are called out of town. They are left in the care of a mysterious caretaker of the estate, and soon bits of pieces of a puzzle are falling in their laps.

The author does a good job of keeping the story moving forwards. There is always some sort of action either occurring or looming in the future. And really, my only complaints from an adult point-of-view would be that the characters could have been developed more fully; the ending more rewarding. Instead, in the latter case, we have the usual semi-ending that you commonly find in series.

Overall, I think this is a series kids who like adventure should try. It has likable characters and promises to carry through in the future with lots of action in unusual settings.

Pam T~
mom and reviewer at BooksForKids-reviews.com show less

A true middle reader adventure story with three kids--twins Jason and Julia and their new friend, Rick-- sleuthing out the truth behind a locked door, a secret grotto, a mysterious book of forgotten languages, a missing person, an ancient ship and the possibility of traveling through time, all while the parents are away. Ulysses Moore, the supposed author and mysterious missing character, effectively keep shis reader on high alert, with cryptic, cliff-hanging chapter endings and lots of unanswered questions. The characters are somewhat predictable but well-drawn and entertaining. A sure hit for the 9-12 year old crowd.

Eleven-year-old twins Jason and Julia have just moved from London to an old mansion on the English coast. Their new home is filled with twisting tunnels and strange artifacts from around the world, and the twins can't wait to discover all its secrets.
Before long, Jason, Julia, and their friend Rick stumble upon a mysterious-looking door hidden behind an old wardrobe. But none of the keys in the house will open it.
What lies behind the door? And why has someone tried to conceal it? Jason, Julia, and Rick are determined to find out, no matter what it takes....