Shelly's Book Blog

Marguerite de Angeli's The Door in the Wall was the Newbery Medal winner in 1950. Set in medieval England, this short book tells the story of Robin, the 10-year-old son of Sir John de Bureford. Robin, as the son of a nobleman, is supposed to become a knight, but he becomes ill and loses the use of his legs. To make matters worse, this happens when both his mother and father are away and unable to care for him. At first, Robin feels sorry for himself and behves badly toward those charged with caring for him. He soon finds himself utterly alone, unable to even get out of bed, let alone care for himself.
Fortunately, a kind monk named Brother Luke takes Robin to the monastery where he lives and takes him under his wing. Brother Luke encourages Robin to have a positive attitude and work on improving his skills. Robin learns to read, write, and carve. He also exercises to strengthen his arms so that he can make his way around on crutches.
This is a very positive story about accepting and making the best of our lot in life and our individual gifts. I liked the story's historical setting, its simplicity, and its exciting plot.