Beyond the Door by Maureen Doyle McQuerry (review)

An aspiring scientist, practical-minded Timothy James has always thought his babysitter’s stories of shape-shifting creatures and changeling babies were simply made up. A windblown night brings three mythical creatures to Timothy’s doorstep, however, and the eleven-year-old boy suddenly finds himself in the world of the Green Man and Herne the Hunter, caught in a battle between the Light and the Dark. Led by his babysitter, who reveals herself to be Cerridwyn, the goddess of the hunt, and accompanied by his sister Sarah and the school bully Jessica, Timothy travels through portways and into magical realms to face down Balor, an ancient spirit bent on the destruction of the Light. Practiced fantasy readers will immediately recognize the signs of a quest tale, from the underdog protagonist to the prophesied battle to the gifts given by helpful guides, and while the elements here are familiar to the point of being derivative (Susan Cooper’s The Dark Is Rising is a clear forebear), they still make for a sometimes exciting ride through British and Welsh mythology. Characterization is also quite rich, with Timothy making some keen (and often amusing) observations about school life and the battle between good and evil, while both Sarah and Jessica come in to their own as heroines separate from Timothy, giving further dimension to the traditional boy-savior narrative. The book, however, is oddly divided: the first part covers Timothy’s learning of his destiny and initial battle with Balor, offering a self-contained and concluded story, while the second half is rushed, introducing several new characters and ending rather abruptly and with no real payoff save its promise of a sequel. Nonetheless, the tale of an underdog hero is a perennial favorite, and this may well find an audience among fans of Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, and Gregor the Overlander (BCCB 1/04).