The Door in the Wall is an amazing little novel that has all the elements I want in a book, both for my children and myself. It is rightful a Newberry winner.
The story follows a nobleman’s son named Robin right at the point that he develops a fever that makes his legs paralyzed. He is left alone because his father, who is a knight, has gone to war and his mother had left to help the Queen believing that the servants were taking her son to start his apprenticeship with another lord to become a knight. The servants also have abandon Robin because the plague had affected them. A monk named Luke comes to take Robin to the monastery to care for him. The novel follows Robin’s emotional and spiritual growth as he learns to live life with his new disability. The book ends happily, but he is still lame at the end.
The first thing I find incredible about this children’s novel is that Robin is not miraculously cured nor does the book decide that his disability is a blessing. Instead, he learns to find a new normal and accept the good and bad life hands us. This is a huge concept that so many books with disabilities miss. There is a strong Christian element (appropriate for the medieval setting) without being preachy.
The second thing I love about this novel is that it is extremely well researched. Not only is medieval life depicted well, the character speak in a slightly archaic manner as well. This is historical fiction at it’s best.
Finally, there is a message of hope throughout the novel ever as bad things happen. It is not a sugar-coated idealistic hope, but a real, gritty honest hope based in the ups and downs of real life trials.
It’s incredible how Robin is expected to learn reading, woodworking, and music, then expected to serve others even while being lame. I have a Master’s Degree in Special Education, and I hear other educators having very low expectations of those with disabilities. The rate of depression in teens and adults with disabilities far exceeds the average population. I believe this is because no one wants to feel helpless. We all need things to do to contribute to society. Teaching all children as many skills as possible is not just so they can have a job and live independently (which is a good thing), but it’s also about feeling a sense of purpose and usefulness. Robin comes from nobility. His family has an estate and servants who could take care of Robin for the rest of his life, but Robin would not be happy. This author perceived that and paints a much healthier picture of how to face the wall of disability.
This is a good book for third grade and up, but it may be a good read-aloud for younger children, especially those dealing with physical struggles. I really think everyone who can of any age should read this to have a healthier perspective on disability.
The message maybe hard to swallow in adults who have suddenly become disabled, but it is true at any age. Without hope and learning to deal with life as we have been handed it, it is hard to live a full happy life. Even with disabilities, a person can find a purpose and a vocation. Everyone can find a door in the wall to happiness.
Check out my young adult fantasy fiction novels HERE for something optimistic and fun.
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What do you think?