Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
78th out of 389 books
—
361 voters
A Door In The Woods (The Jimmy Fincher Saga #1)
by
James Dashner (Goodreads Author)
What begins as a summer-day climb up his favorite tree quickly takes an ugly turn for poor Jimmy Fincher, as he witnesses something that turns his perception of reality upside-down. When the perpetrator of the act notices Jimmy in the tree, the ensuing adventures explode into a torrent of suspense and excitement. The next month of Fincher's life includes an ancient legend...more
Paperback, 150 pages
Published
May 12th 2005
by Bonneville Books
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,594)
First book in the series and it is very gripping from the first page. It continues on with: A Gift of Ice, Tower of Air, and War of the Black Curtain. It is full of adventure, riddles, magic, and the ever nail-biting conflict of good vs. evil. I highly recommend it!
I really struggled on whether to give this 2 or 3 stars. The writing for this fantasy book was only so-so as was the story, although it did keep me interested until the end. Some of the fantasy creatures and situations seemed a little over the top. I was reminded of a character in a cartoon that has painted themselves into a corner. Suddenly they use the paintbrush to paint a door or window so they can escape. Some of the things in the book felt that way, as if they were created at the last minu...more
Whether this was the author's first book or not, I wonder just how it got published with so many annoying things about it. I listened to a recording with my family over a road trip, and if you're looking to enjoy the book DO NOT LISTEN TO THE RECORDING. The reader sounds like he had to get seriously stoned before consenting to read the book.
Aside from the awful recording, I still didn't enjoy the book at all. Dashner seems to be writing only for the plot, which wasn't as good as it could have be...more
Aside from the awful recording, I still didn't enjoy the book at all. Dashner seems to be writing only for the plot, which wasn't as good as it could have be...more
This was a really quick and easy read for me. I enjoyed following the beginning to Jimmy Fincher's tale. The author caught my attention in the first paragraph when Jimmy mentions he cannot be destroyed. I was curious to see how this all would play out. It was a nice adventure to get to the end of this book.
Jimmy was a normal 14 year old by with a Mom, Dad, and an older brother living in a town called Duluth, Georgia. Until the day he was climbing a tree and saw a man dragging a woman fighting in...more
Jimmy was a normal 14 year old by with a Mom, Dad, and an older brother living in a town called Duluth, Georgia. Until the day he was climbing a tree and saw a man dragging a woman fighting in...more
I'd heard a lot of great things about this book and have been excited to read it for some time. However, I found the book to be quite mediocre once I finally had the chance to read it.
With all of the fantasy stories that flooded the market after the Harry Potter series, I think authors really need to dig deep in order to find a way to make their story unique when writing in this particular genre. To me, A Door in the Woods felt like every other ordinary-kid-finds-out-he-has-magical-powers-and-i...more
With all of the fantasy stories that flooded the market after the Harry Potter series, I think authors really need to dig deep in order to find a way to make their story unique when writing in this particular genre. To me, A Door in the Woods felt like every other ordinary-kid-finds-out-he-has-magical-powers-and-i...more
2 likes · like · see review
view all 4 comments
Jul 13, 2008
Shanda
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
all readers under 15
Shelves:
books-i-own
This book was different than I was expecting and there were some things about it I found refreshing: a 14 year-old who wasn't some amazing genius, wasn't afraid to cry or admit when he was scared or confused, who got along with and LOVED his entire family. A regular kid who found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and ended up on the adventure of a lifetime. Well done, James, I can see why my 10 year-old daughter loved it! On to Book 2...
I have found a new favorite author. This book is definitely for a younger audience than Maze Runner. I loved this book and see it as great read for my kiddos especially my son. It's very plot driven, a lot of action not much character development. It's narrated by a young boy and so some of the writing isn't always the best imagery or simile but I think that's the point. What young boy would talk with literary finesse? Some of his comments made me giggle. "I was as confused as a blind squirrel w...more
Right off the bat I have to say the cover art on this book is gorgeous -- so rich and beautiful. I've read Dashner's two 13th Reality books and thought I would enjoy these Jimmy Fincher books as well. I wasn't disappointed. I have to say that the reader can see Dashner's growth as an author from Fincher to 13th Reality, but he was pretty skilled to begin with.
This book seems to be for a slightly younger audience - as it is quite a bit shorter and is written in 1st person from the boy's point of...more
This book seems to be for a slightly younger audience - as it is quite a bit shorter and is written in 1st person from the boy's point of...more
Jun 14, 2008
Readhead
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Fantasy lovers who need a book to read
Recommended to Readhead by:
Karen!
My good friend Karen absolutely insisted that I read this over the summer. So I did. It wasn't bad. It was also a fantasy book, which always scores points with me. Sure, I've read better books, but this was cute.
Thanks Karen. Enjoy Everlost! (the book she has to read in return)
Thanks Karen. Enjoy Everlost! (the book she has to read in return)
1 like · like · see review
I feel like this story gives us very little explanation about what is going on most of the time. The action carries us away with mostly unanswered questions, but I guess I can understand why. It is the beginning of a series after all, so it is mostly focused on setting up for the rest of the series. I guess I can wait for another book or two to get my answers.
I really enjoyed this story just because the voice was so stinkin' fun. It really did sound like a 14-year-old boy talking. It was a litt...more
I really enjoyed this story just because the voice was so stinkin' fun. It really did sound like a 14-year-old boy talking. It was a litt...more
I just finished reading the whole Jimmy Fincher series. These books are very easy reads. I read all four books in two days. This series is good to read if you just want something relaxing and entertaining to read.
These books are quite imaginative and are a close second to Fablehaven. I like Fablehaven better because the books in that series are longer so I can enjoy each book longer. I think the Jimmy Fincher books were way too short. The whole series could have fit into one book.
I would sugges...more
These books are quite imaginative and are a close second to Fablehaven. I like Fablehaven better because the books in that series are longer so I can enjoy each book longer. I think the Jimmy Fincher books were way too short. The whole series could have fit into one book.
I would sugges...more
I don't know if it's just because I read so few juvenile adult books, or because James Dashner is not a good writer, but what ever it is, I didn't like this book. It didn't feel fresh or new. I didn't care for the main character much, a young teen, nor did I care for the antogonist. Both were too flat and one dimensional for me. The plot seemed to go on and on and on and on and....It just never ended! (Well of course it ended, all books have an ending, but this is just the first book in "The Jim...more
It's really important when reading youth fiction to remember the target audience. For the audience Dashner intended, this book was expertly crafted. I was hooked by the natural storytelling skills of the main character, Jimmy, and found that this book begged to be read aloud. In a few years, I can see myself reading it to my boys. My only complaint was that there were areas of the plot where I would have loved more detail. But, understanding that the book was not intended for fantasy-devouring a...more
Jan 13, 2013
Dina Chariag
added it
A door in the woods
By james dashner
150 pages
i don't see how this book got published... The story is creative and interesting but the details and some of the characters were too much. the author really took fantasy to another level.I feel that it is a mediocre novel that needs some work on the detailing of things. It is the story of a little boy named jimmy that discovers something that completely changes his view on reality. Old legends come to life, creepy and scary adventures and danger fills...more
By james dashner
150 pages
i don't see how this book got published... The story is creative and interesting but the details and some of the characters were too much. the author really took fantasy to another level.I feel that it is a mediocre novel that needs some work on the detailing of things. It is the story of a little boy named jimmy that discovers something that completely changes his view on reality. Old legends come to life, creepy and scary adventures and danger fills...more
This was definitely for a younger audience. Maybe a 10 year old would appreciate the use of the random sayings peppered througout the book. Like,"what in tarnation!" it was as if he wrote down every saying he could think of and included them all int eh book. not to mention he sounded like a 10 year kid. boy sees a "murder" and is seen by the murderer. gets captured, escapes, gets captured again, family in danger, family gets captured, escapes, goes to place inbetween worlds. must save world. giv...more
This was a hard book to rate. The suspense was really great and at least a 5. If it wasn't for the suspense I would have quit reading long ago. The story line was good and the fantasy fun. I don't know who edited this book but the grammar was atrocious. The extreme overuse of clichés was terrible and really distracted me from the story. In fact the author was a big distraction in reading the book. But the biggest problem was the things he had a 14 year old boy do and say. It really distracted fr...more
I'll recommend this to my seventh grade boy "struggling readers" because it's a pretty fast-paced adventure, but it is the product of a developing writer. I understand Dasher has improved A LOT. I was looking for Maze Runner at the library when I picked this up, and had to join a long list to reserve it. My 17 year old recommends 13th Reality.
This is a well written series for young readers. Told through the voice of a 14-year old young man, I found its voice to be a little too juvenile. BUT the descriptive language definitely creates a picture of the characters and the fast moving story. Each book is short and would be an easy read for any young reader seeking a good adventure.
Interesting, but kind of creepy. A fast read that introduces you to Jimmy Fincher, his family, and his mission to save the world. I've liked the books that Dashner has written but I haven't fallen in love with any of them. This series has potential, I'll have to read some more of them to see if it gets any better.
It took me a little bit to get into this book...and it's not a very long book to begin with. But, once I got into it I liked it. I wish I could give it 3 1/2 stars instead of 3...not good enough to merit a 4 star rating from me however. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. I like how it ended and am excited to see where it's going to go.
This was a fun book. It's simple and easy reading. (Side note, I read it cause my mom actually introduced the author to the illustrator.)
My husband read the whole series in a week and loved it. I am in a mood for other types of books right now, but I will probably read the others sometime.
My husband read the whole series in a week and loved it. I am in a mood for other types of books right now, but I will probably read the others sometime.
This book is obviously targeted at teenagers, but even so it manages to convey an ominous feeling about future events (the rest of the series) without being too repetitive. Unfortunately the remainder of the series didn't really grab me as much as I hoped it would, but it was an okay read.
This book is obviously written for a much younger audience, but I still enjoyed it. There were many twists and turns that everyone always enjoys. And of course the book was pretty innocent and that's important to me. I think when my 7 year old is a little older we'll enjoy reading this book together
I almost gave this book two stars. The story/plot wasn't as well developed as other books by James Dashner, but the world created and the adventures kept me just interested enough; though it certainly isn't gripping. The snide remarks and childish analogies were very distracting. It may be of more interest to ages 10 through 16.
I thought this was a good book, but The 13th Reality was much better. This author has definitely gotten better along the way. This book has a more juvenile feel to it than most books I've read for this age group.
We have an ordinary character, just your normal kid who's in the wrong place at the wrong time. He has a good relationship with his family. He tries to to what is right even if he's scared.
The bad guys here are pretty bad. And scary. And bad stuff does happen.
I came away from this feeli...more
We have an ordinary character, just your normal kid who's in the wrong place at the wrong time. He has a good relationship with his family. He tries to to what is right even if he's scared.
The bad guys here are pretty bad. And scary. And bad stuff does happen.
I came away from this feeli...more
It is a great book for kids under 14. They will identified with the character in the book. A very nice story with some really refreshing magic and plot. No, it is not a Harry Potter book so don't compared it to it. Just read it and enjoy it... you will be glad you did.
I loved this book! It was so intense and interesting. I could not put it down. This would be a great adventure to have! I have read this over and over. This should definitely be at the top of your book list!!! Unbelievable!!!
This the first of a four book series. Jimmy Fincher is battling to save the world. He's up against creatures he's never seen before. To end it he must obtain 4 gifts and in this book he gets the first. I love this book.
This kids series is worth reading. It is really a page turner with lots of action. Classic good vs. evil but with some pretty original ideas. The author lives in Jennifer's neighborhood.
What a great book! I have ordered the rest in this series. This is really good for a first book. He has definietly improved by the time Maze Runner came out but still it is a great read. This is perfect for boys age 10 and up. Great adventure and fantasy.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the book | 1 | 4 | Jan 22, 2010 02:36pm |
James is the author of THE MAZE RUNNER trilogy and THE 13TH REALITY series. He also published a series (beginning with A DOOR IN THE WOODS) with a small publisher several years ago. He lives and writes in the Rocky Mountains.
More about James Dashner...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“Nothing in my life had prepared me to see things that were strange or beyond belief. I was a simple kid in a simple town in a simple family. But what I saw then, right after the collapse of the woman, ripped the "simple" out of my understanding of the rules of the world, and changed my life forever.”
—
1 person liked it
More quotes…
