The Door in the Tree

The second volume in William Corlett's "The Magician's House Quartet", The Door In The Tree finds thirteen-year-old William and his sisters, Mary and Alice, visiting their Uncle Jack and his Girlfriend Phoebe at Golden House. It's spring and the world of nature is reawakening from winter's slumber as the children prepare to enter the world of magic with their guide, Spot the dog. With Spot's help the kids explore the nearby forest where they discover the Dark and Dreadful Path, eventually stumbling onto the Magician's secret hiding place through a door in a tree. The Magician teaches the children that the secret to magic is believing, and shows them how to inhabit the bodies of animals. Soon the children are coming to the aid of a family of beleaguered badgers who are battling the forces of Evil in the form of a wild dog named Fang. A superbly written fantasy adventure for young readers. Also highly recommended is the first title in this marvelous quartet, The Steps Up The Chimney. The final two eagerly awaited Archway Paperback titles planned are The Tunnel Behind The Waterfall and The Bridge In The Clouds.

In the door in the tree the three constant children go to stay with there uncle and his patner in Golden House. While there the children come across a door in a large tree with a room looking out onto the whole valley. Here the children first meet Meg Lewis a local woman who is trying to protect the badgers. They soon learn more about how the badger's are being hunted for sport by the badger baiters and there vicious dogs and become very interested in what they can do to help them. But when the magician refuses to help with magic they find themselves left with a terrible choice to make. I really enjoyed reading this book but at times it was dragged out a bit too much. I'm looking forward to reading more books in this series so if you're someone that likes reading books about magic you'll really enjoy this one.