The phrase, “nothing new under the sun” applies to many things, but it especially applies to stories. Most stories I read and love have similar plots, but that doesn’t stop me from reading and discovering new stories. With that being said, I haven’t read a book quite like The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E Harrow.
We’ve all read portal fantasies before, but what sets this one apart is that it’s a mashup of historical fiction with fantasy. I love the time period it’s set in, the 1900s, and the protagonist, January is a character to root for. This story took me on a much-needed escape with everything going on in the world right now. The themes of this story run deep and the ending was so satisfying.
A little about the plot...
Although January’s father is still living, she never sees him. He travels the world for her wealthy ward, Mr. Locke. Mr. Locke’s mansion filled with a multitude of curious treasures is all she knows in life. It’s not until she finds a book that tells a story of secret doors to other worlds that she wonders if there’s more to her life than she ever knew.
A wonderful story for gifted readers
I purchased this book on my Kindle, but I plan to buy a hard copy for my classroom. I don’t really like promoting books for my students based on reading levels or Lexile levels, but I know some people like to know that information. I couldn’t find a listed Lexile or reading level for this book. It was published in 2019, so maybe those systems haven’t been updated yet. However, this would be a great book for students with a strong reading ability. I know lots of kids who read at a high school or college level and finding books to challenge them is always a problem. As a 6th grade teacher, I can find lots of books with higher reading levels, but I’m not always comfortable with the content at their age. For this story, that’s not a concern at all. There’s mild language, but nothing explicit.
My Takeaway
As I read this beautifully written story, I couldn’t help but compare the author’s writing style to Markus Zusak. I loved the Book Theif and adored his recent story, Bridge of Clay.
If you need a good escape and wish for a door that leads to another world, I strongly suggest reading this book. I look forward to more of Harrow's stories. I'm thrilled that she has another book coming out in October, The Once and Future Witches. I'm totally adding it to my TBR.
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