The Forbidden Door (Picture Puffins) [Paperback]

Marilee Heyer (Author)

Book Description

Series: Picture Puffins

Having spent all her life in fabulous underground caves, Reena stumbles upon the Forbidden Door to Outside and discovers the terrible secret of the Okira, who had forced Reena's ancestors into the caves many years before. Reprint. C. SLJ.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Lavish, kaleidoscopic paintings highlight this fantasy about a girl "who had never seen the sun" who undergoes a harrowing search for the world Outside. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-4 Reena and her parents, the last of their kind, live safely in an underground cave filled with wondrous treasures. One day during her explorations, Reena comes to an ancient tapestry which hides a door that leads to the dangerous outside. A hideous monster named the Okira traps her in vines. Little winged creatures help rescue her and help her steal the Ruby Crystal, the source of the Okira's power. Finally Reena and her parents can emerge from their cave. The bland text lacks vivid language and precise descriptions of setting and characters. For example, the Okira, a major character, is solely described as "a creature of the most horrible proportions, with eyes full of evil." The book also lacks drama and tension. Although Reena is held captive, what her horrible fate is to be is never defined. And finally it lacks cohesiveness and imagination. The ending is standard: the Okira is captured, and Reena and her family live happily ever after. All that is missing in the text can be found in the illustrations. Beautifully rendered in a fantasy/surrealistic style, they are filled with fascinating creatures and intricate settings, all fully conceived and strongly colored. Heyer relies on her splendid illustrations not only to expand the text, but also literally to tell the story, and they are not enough to save this original fantasy story. Karen K. Radtke, Milwaukee Public Library
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (May 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140507523
• ISBN-13: 978-0140507522
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,091,586 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Out of This World: A Book of Unearthly Beauty, December 6, 2001

By 

Terrie (Little Chute, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Forbidden Door (Viking Kestrel picture books) (Hardcover)

This is an exceptionally beautiful story book with large detailed illustrations of an alien world that is located on the smallest star that can be seen in our skies, in the Valley of the Bao-Bickle tree. It is about the quest of a young girl whose home is in an intricate labyrinth of caves and who has never even heard of a world outside of those caves. It is forbidden to go outside. She is very happy with her parents and lives in splendor within the caves where even lush exotic fruit trees are plentiful. One night the little girl learns about Outside from a story her mother tells. She begins to secretly search for this mysterious place and eventually learns the terrifying truth about why her family lives in the caves. With the help of another strange species of beings she sets things to rights. The story is well told and has a decidedly alien feeling of enchantment, danger, courage, hunger and liberation. It is simple enough that little ones will find it an exciting adventure tale and complex enough that adults will find it an atmospheric and moody allegory. The illustrations are INCREDIBLE and like none you have ever seen outside of dreams, visions or hallucinations. Please find a copy of this book and treat yourself to splendor.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful pictures and good story line, April 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Forbidden Door (Picture Puffins) (Paperback)

Extremely well done. A treasure to keep forever

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Buy it for the artwork, November 1, 2004

By 

This Girl (CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Forbidden Door (Viking Kestrel picture books) (Hardcover)

I have to agree with the editorial reviewers, above. The story disappoints, but the art is exceptional. Note: The page count given above is incorrect. It has 32 pages, not 320.