Ulysses Moore #1: The Door to Time

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

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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 I'd recommend it for a short, exciting (without being overwhelming or scary for little kids)read.

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Eleven year old twins Jason and Julia have moved from London to an old mansion on the English coast. Jason loves their new house. He has been researching the paranormal and is sure that their new home is haunted. Julia would rather be shopping at the mall. They have only made one friend in their

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new town. For years,Rick has been fascinated with the old mansion that his new friends live in. He has never had an opportunity to go inside until he is invited to visit while the twin’s parents return to London to take care of the rest of the move. They are left in the care of Nestor the caretaker. Jason has made several discoveries about the old place. The most important discovery is a door that won’t open. They have a problem as they try to find out how to open the door. Oblivia Newton wants the old mansion? Why? This is the first book of the Ulysses Moore Series. It is a simple read. The characters travel back into history to try to unravel the mystery of the house.

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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

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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.

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Readers will enjoy the mystery which the author of this book has laid out for the three main characters to solve, especially with the promise of finding a door to time! The illustrations and codes will draw readers in, although they may be disappointed at the fact that the book ends at the vital

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moment when they've solved the mystery and could set out on an adventure. The pacing in this story is good, however and fans of adventure and mystery will enjoy this series.

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"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

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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, 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.

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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

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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.

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Good children's fantasy series. Well written w/ spunky characters.

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

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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 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

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