100 CUPBOARDS

“The whole point of magic doors is to go through them to somewhere else.”

In this graphic adaptation of Wilson’s 2007 novel, Henry York is sent to stay indefinitely with his aunt, uncle, and cousins Penelope, Henrietta, and Anastasia on their farm in Kansas. Henry learns that ever since their grandfather died two years ago, the door and windows of his room have remained mysteriously stuck shut. Asleep in his attic bedroom, Henry is awakened by a thump on the wall that knocks off some plaster, revealing a door with two combination locks. Henrietta, roused by the noise, appears, and is equally intrigued. Removing more plaster eventually exposes 99 cupboard doors of different sizes and shapes. One door the curious cousins open floods the bedroom with light, the sound of wind in the trees, and the smell of rain. Others reveal puzzling letters and a key to Grandfather’s room. When they enter and find his journal with a diagram and list of the doors and their worlds, Henrietta is ready for adventure while Henry is more hesitant. The children encounter danger—and are thrust into the midst of a battle of good vs. evil. The detailed sepia-toned panels, which convey a nostalgic, vaguely historical feeling, supply visual clues for navigating the movement between different settings, but readers familiar with the original novel will have an easier time following the story. Main characters present white.

An engrossing portal fantasy that delivers adventure and suspense.