Ulysses Moore #1: The Door to Time [Hardcover]

Michael Merryweather (Editor)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Ulysses Moore

An action-packed series full of mysteries, puzzles, and codes that will keep kids turning the pages. The books' striking cover art and unique packaging is sure to appeal to boys and girls alike.

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....

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6–The 11-year-old Covenant twins approach their family's move to the ancient Argo Manor on the British coast differently. Julia sees their new home as remote, and without the comforts of a nearby mall. Jason, on the other hand, feels an immediate sense of danger and mystery lurking behind the manor's stony walls. After befriending local kid Rick Banner, the three stumble on a mystery. The building's previous occupant, eccentric Ulysses Moore, left behind clues and codes to unlock a hidden ancient wooden door. Using their unique talents, the children must discover the secrets hidden deep beneath the house and find the truth behind the disappearance of the enigmatic Moore. The book ends with an unfair cliffhanger that brings the story to a halt just as the supernatural elements of the tale come into play. Filled with black-and-white photographs and mysterious illustrations drawn on top of documents and letters, this Italian import is bound to appeal to those kids who like tangible clues mixed into their fantasy novels. Children desperate for stories similar to Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black's The Spiderwick Chronicles (S & S) will find much to love in this overly familiar but likable series.–Elizabeth Bird, New York Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-6. After moving with their parents from London to Argo Manor, an enormous old house on the southwest coast of England, 11-year-old twins Jason and Julia befriend Rick, a local boy. Together, the three children explore the house under the watchful eye of its caretaker, Nestor, who knows its secrets but leaves the kids to make their own discoveries. When they follow the clues into hidden rooms and secret passageways, they realize that dangerous paths can lead to wondrous discoveries. On a couple of pages before the title page, the publishers engage in some fictional folderol about Michael Merryweather, a Scholastic editor traveling in England who has found and translated an encoded manuscript and now urges his colleagues to "get this out to the children of America." According to the copyright page, the text was actually translated from a 2004 Italian edition written by Pierdomenico Baccalario, making Ulysses Moore a pseudonym. Possibly appealing to children who have graduated from the Magic Tree House series, the book offers a well-paced adventure story, attractive line drawings, and the promise of many time-travel fantasies to come in the series. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Inc.; Edition Unstated edition (January 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439774381
• ISBN-13: 978-0439774383
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #936,239 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You'll like this one - you will!, January 14, 2006

By 

Amanda Richards (Georgetown, Guyana) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ulysses Moore #1: The Door to Time (Hardcover)

If you're by chance a Snicket fan
And love that series' style
I recommend you get this one
Out of the new book pile

If breaking codes, like Artemis
Gives you a certain thrill
And solving riddles is your thing
You'll like this one - you will!

Three children find a secret door
(You may recall this plot)
They solve the clues to open it
But Narnia, it's not

The mystery lies way down below
Inside a hidden grotto
You really should try this one out
You'd be a dummy not to

Ships and treasure, ghosts and clues
With more suspense in store
The sad thing is, it's just book one
And we can't wait for more.

Rated: 4.5 stars

Amanda Richards, January 14, 2006

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for young readers., April 18, 2006

By 

MSTeacher "kingfish7" (Comanche, OK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ulysses Moore #1: The Door to Time (Hardcover)

I am a middle school science teacher. I have a lot of students who do not like to read. I am always looking for books that will grab a student's attention. This book definately fits the bill. I was impressed at how easy this book is to read but was still able to keep me wanting more. I enjoyed reading about the three young adventurers and greatly anticipate the second book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun, witty fantasy adventure. This book is rockin' fine!, May 1, 2006

By 

Betty L. Dravis "BETTY DRAVIS, author/reviewer" (Silicon Valley, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ulysses Moore #1: The Door to Time (Hardcover)

The Door to Time is a wonderful book. I bought it for my grandson. He's twelve and thinks he's too big for me to read it to him, so let me borrow it when he was through.

We discussed it afterward and agreed that it was an exciting adventure ... fun, witty and easy to read.

Mr. Merryweather is off to a great start with the first book in his new series. All the elements that should make it a classic.

Great job; highly recommended for boys and girls. Grandparents, too. LOL