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The House of Six Doors

by Patricia Selbert (Goodreads Author)

4.14 of 5 stars 4.14 · rating details · 50 ratings · 23 reviews

Serena, at thirteen, leaves her home on the colorful Caribbean island of Cura ao and her beloved grandmother, Oma, when her ambitious, impulsive, and emotionally unstable mother takes her and her sister to the United States in pursuit of the American Dream. They drive from Miami to Hollywood, where their luck runs out and a 1963 Ford Galaxie becomes their first American ho...more

Paperback, 328 pages

Published February 22nd 2011 by Publishing by the Seas

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Feb 26, 2011 Nancy Black rated it 5 of 5 stars

From the first page, I was sucked in. I've been in publishing for a long time. I've reviewed books, interviewed authors, and am on many a press list. A lot of people ask me to read their books.

I was intrigued to learn more about Curacao, a place I'd only vaguely heard of (enough to know it was an island in the Caribbean). The colorful history and traditions of the blend of cultures that form Curacao permeate the story, from Dutch slave traders and colonists, to slaves and their descendants, to t...more

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Apr 06, 2011 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: forreview, forpleasure, blog-tour-book

For starters, let me say this isn't a Christian novel. I found the mother and grandmother's superstitions quite intriguing, if not a bit disconcerting at times. The House of Six Doors is a coming of age story and is truly hard to put down. I just wanted to keep reading until I finished the book. I liked the part early on where they traveled through Tombstone, Arizona in 1972 looking for ghosts because it was labeled a ghost town at the time. I found that funny - I live near Tombstone, so that wa...more For starters, let me say this isn't a Christian novel. I found the mother and grandmother's superstitions quite intriguing, if not a bit disconcerting at times. The House of Six Doors is a coming of age story and is truly hard to put down. I just wanted to keep reading until I finished the book. I liked the part early on where they traveled through Tombstone, Arizona in 1972 looking for ghosts because it was labeled a ghost town at the time. I found that funny - I live near Tombstone, so that was a plus for me.

I was intrigued by how they survived at first and how they sacrificed to help each other, sometimes to their detriment. The mother's manipulation and her guilt inducing behavior is not uncommon in families. It was intense at times and the way the author showed the negative impact on the daughters was powerful. The story really picked up for me and grabbed my heart when Serena met Sandu. Their story was beautiful and heartbreaking. I loved the occasional flashbacks where Serena remembered things from the past (before she went to live in California) that made up who she was. I found Serena to be a strong and wise girl in then end even though she started out fearful and insecure as a young teenager. Her struggles to fit in and make friends in a country where she didn't read and write English was well done. I loved the illustration of her life and how it matched the strangler-fig tree. Her older sister gave her perspective when she needed it most and her Oma provided her with the encouragement she needed to mature over time. Everyone needs an Oma in their lives who makes sense of the world and loves you regardless.

I found the ending bittersweet and yet empowering. Serena did find her place in the world and it was rewarding to see her grow once she decided to make something of her life. She did the right thing in many situations despite the obstacles she came up against. I disagreed with how she dealt with several things early on, but the author did a wonderful job of showing her intense pain and fear. She was only fifteen and felt desperate and she grieved with Sandu because it was not something that could be easily healed or taken back. I don't agree with the religious beliefs of the people in the book - like the souls and spirits reentering people and reincarnating, etc., but I still found this novel intriguing. I loved reading about their culture and how they saw the world.

Bottom line... I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to people who aren't squeamish about reading stories that involve superstitious beliefs -- knowing that is not a Christian book. Some stuff was sadly funny like the get rich quick schemes that existed back in the 1970s. I remember some of them and since I grew up in the 70s and 80s I found some of the descriptions nostalgia-inducing. There are a lot of things that can be learned from this story, and for that reason I enjoyed it. This novel made me think about life, and I cared about the characters. That always makes for a powerful read, in my opinion. Your emotions will get involved while reading this story. The book was very well written, too, and makes you think about all of the things in your life and in the past that make up who you are today. (less)

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Feb 09, 2011 Diana Mcneill rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: young women

The House of Six Doors is filled with wisdom and honesty.

The passages when Serena remembers Curacao are winsome, woeful and wonderful at the same time.

The character of Mama is difficult to identify with, however, I did find myself feeling for her, which is the mark of a solid character, and a victory for an author. Even the evilest of villains contain some trace of humanity in them, that is what makes their evilness so compelling, because we can identify with them in some way, even if we are as...more

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Sep 07, 2011 Caitlin rated it 3 of 5 stars

I found this book to be very interesting. But I am biased because I live on Curacao. The writing is not sophisticated, but I assume that English is not Patricia Selbert's first language, probably not even her second. And the writing is not bad. The grammar and spelling is fine, it is just simplistic. But the narrator is also a young teenager. It is about Mama and two of her daughters, Hendrika and Serena. They follow their mother's whim to Miami and then across the U.S. to California. I am origi...more

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Feb 07, 2011 Angela rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: given-away

I had a hard time with the beginning of this book. I could not relate to the character of Mama in any way and I felt so bad for Serena that she and her sister were forced here and there as Mama searched for a way to be successful. I wasn't bothered by the portrayal of the immigrant who didn't understand how things worked in the United States as much as Mama's reaction to finding out that things were not the way she thought they should be. She was so loud and harsh, insisting that she was right a...more

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Feb 28, 2013 Alvely rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a beautiful, wonderful book! I began reading this book as my escape from my grad school readings and was not able to put it down. I can definitely relate to Serena's and her family's struggle as immigrants in this country as my family experienced that as well.

But it was her maturity and relationship with her grandmother that made me fall deeper in love with her character and her situation. Like Serena did at some point in the book, I also felt that it was unfair for my parents to take me a...more

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Mar 20, 2011 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars

The House Of Six Doors is a wonderful story about coming of age in an unknown country. Patricia Selbert managed to incorporate all the insecurities and fears of every teenager but also of someone new to the US and the sense of wonder that they feel.

Serena has no clue what to expect when she arrives in the US with her mother and her sister, Hendrika. All she really knows is that life is going to be different, hopefully better. Things aren't as easy as expected though and life is difficult. School...more

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Feb 26, 2011 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

With Patricia Selbert's The House of Six Doors, I stepped out of my comfort zone when it comes to books considerably, and thankfully enough it was well worth the risk. Because The House of Six Doors is not only unique but also full of great messages and plenty of vivid descriptions to keep nearly any reader intrigued as well.

The House of Six Doors begins the day Serena and her mother and sister land in the beautiful and vast America, the land of promise and success. Serena is not too happy with...more With Patricia Selbert's The House of Six Doors, I stepped out of my comfort zone when it comes to books considerably, and thankfully enough it was well worth the risk. Because The House of Six Doors is not only unique but also full of great messages and plenty of vivid descriptions to keep nearly any reader intrigued as well.

The House of Six Doors begins the day Serena and her mother and sister land in the beautiful and vast America, the land of promise and success. Serena is not too happy with the move because not only has she left her beautiful Curaçao behind but her beloved grandmother as well. However, Serena's mother promises her a life of luxury so she goes. At first, everything goes horribly. The people at the airport treat them with little kindness. Her mother loses her cool more than once, and their first house quickly becomes their car as they make the trek from Florida to California on the search for happiness. After a while, everything begins to go better. Serena makes a good friend named Sandu who maybe could be something more. However, at the same time, her mother and sister are slowly falling apart. After a traumatic event leaves everything askew, Serena begins to question everything in her world, such as what is love, and when have you gone too far for a person you love, and what does happiness truly mean- money or the people who make you that way? Will Serena ever find her place in this crazy, crazy world? Only time and more pages will tell in this richly told coming-of-age tale from Patricia Selbert.

The thing I adored the most about The House of Six Doors was the setting. From the sunny and richly described Curaçao to the glamorous and sultry California, plenty of descriptions were given that never failed to take me to the place described. I simply loved finding out more about Curaçao and Serena’s childhood there as well as Serena’s coming-of-age in California.

In addition, talking about Serena, I adored her character as well! I warmed up to Serena quite easily because she truly is the definition of a scared and lonely child who does not know who or what she wants in life. Patricia did such a great job of giving her regular problems associated with not only teens but also people who come from different countries to a new one, and I feel most will be able to relate to her desire and need to fit in. Better yet, I enjoyed the different relationships that took up places in The House of Six Doors between not only sisters and mothers-and-daughters but romantic ones as well. Because not only did they bring up some great and common questions within Serena, but also it was always interesting to see how Serena dealt with each problem that came with them.

The one thing I was not too pleased about in The House of Six Doors was the overall plot. It was often slow moving in the beginning and middle. While it did speed up towards the end, I was still left with the feeling of wanting more. However, the characters and setting details over shadowed this minor flaw greatly.

Full of emotions, rich settings, and a main character whom you cannot help but root for, The House of Six Doors is the perfect read for older fans of YA.

Grade: B(less)

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Feb 01, 2013 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

I wasn't sure what to expect when I accepted The House of Six Doors for review. I hadn't heard of it before, but I thought it sounded interesting and I wanted to give it a try. It wasn't at all what I expected, but I wasn't disappointed because as I turned the pages, I was pulled into a great story and characters I came to love.

Serena migrates with her older sister and her mother from their home of Curaçao, to chase her mothers dreams of being rich. Although Serena misses her grandmother and her...more I wasn't sure what to expect when I accepted The House of Six Doors for review. I hadn't heard of it before, but I thought it sounded interesting and I wanted to give it a try. It wasn't at all what I expected, but I wasn't disappointed because as I turned the pages, I was pulled into a great story and characters I came to love.

Serena migrates with her older sister and her mother from their home of Curaçao, to chase her mothers dreams of being rich. Although Serena misses her grandmother and her home very much, she is hopeful of the better life that her mother has promised. Soon they find out that life isn't much easier for them in the U.S. and so their struggle to make this new and strange country a home begins. Through Serena's eyes we see the difficulties and hardships they must go through, while remembering her grandmothers wise words and trying to overcome their struggles with each passing day.

The book has a slow pace, but the story is very interesting from the start with Serena only thirteen years old. The story moves along from Florida to California and the author's descriptions were so well written I was able to see some of the places in Hollywood that I know in my mind and imagine what they'd be like in the late 70's. There are also many times when Serena remembers her past, her home in Curaçao and thinks of her grandmother and her wise words during her struggles that really pulled the story and her love of her home together. With the author descriptions, I was able to vividly imagine Curaçao and it sounds like a beautiful place that I would love to visit. The book doesn't really pick up the pace, but there are several events in the middle that kept me glued to the pages, and although it took me a while to get through the book because of its slow rate, I still enjoyed every page because of the great images.

Since the book starts off with Serena at only thirteen, I wasn't too sure if I would like her much because she didn't have too much of a personality and she was just trying to please her mother in every way and only wanted her to be happy. But the book spans over five years and as she got older, she definitely changed and I really liked that I was able to watch her really grow as a character. As the years go by, Serena goes through a lot and becomes a brave and determined young woman. I couldn't help but feel proud of the things she accomplishes when she finally gets a hold of her life.

Serena's sister, Hendrika, is similar to Serena in her attempts to make their mother happy, but Hendrika is much more different and her life takes on a different path. I never really felt any sort of connection between Serena and her sister, so I didn't think too much of Hendrika. Mama, Serena's mother, is determined to be rich, so her attitude and stubbornness really made her hard for me to like. I understood what she was going through and at times she even reminded me of my own mother, but her selfishness made me upset and I felt bad for Serena. There were plenty of other important characters in the book that I also really liked and the author was able to weave each character into Serena's life really well.

Overall, I was pleased with the book and am really glad I accepted it for review. It was definitely something different for me, but I recommend to older young adults. This is a great coming of age story, with wonderful characters and richly described settings that you will want to visit. I really enjoyed The House of Six Doors and I look forward to reading more by this author.(less)

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May 09, 2011 Mevurah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Number The Stars and The Cay were required reading in my 6th grade language arts class. When I read The House of Six Doors, it felt like one of those books and I swear that I felt like I was a 6th grader again, reading a good story and having to analyze and remember the characters and plot. This wasn't a bad thing nor did it have a negative effect on the way I felt about this book after I read it. I believed it made me remember the important qualities that stories like Number The Stars and The C...more

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Feb 04, 2011 Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, blog-tour

Isn’t that a lovely cover? (click on it for a closer look) That’s what drew me to the book and then Patricia Selbert’s characters took over from there. We experience everything through Serena’s eyes. Her mother is chasing the dream of being rich and doesn’t understand why her children don’t share that dream. Serena and her sister would just like to follow their own dreams but instead end up trying to please their mother by doing whatever she asks/demands from them.

No matter how many times I told...more

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Feb 11, 2011 Stephen added it

It's strange that a book like this, a young adult novel centered on a female character, would resonate with me, seeing as I am just a teenage guy, but this really was a great book! I enjoyed reading it, and that's saying a lot because I can never finish a book.

I really loved the parts about Serena and her sister learning how to grow up and function in the new culture they found in Los Angeles.

I hope other young guys will give this book a shot because it was really great!

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Feb 23, 2011 Jamie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Great story telling. I was captivated from beginning to end. This is a fascinating story of survival, in spite of a crazy mother, in an unknown world. I especially liked the steady and compassionate, voice of our heroine Serena, with no residual of bitterness or shame. Serena is truly a tween in every sense of the word; age, nationality, family, cultures, language and her own desires. This story was meant for film.

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Feb 09, 2011 Chris Ligrano rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was a fantastic read. I really enjoyed the more humorous parts when Serena and her sister got into some sticky situations. I felt like I was able to get a sneak peek into the mind of a young girl, how she felt in her first relationship, and what it was like to move to a foreign country. I definitely recommend this novel to anyone interested in understanding women a little bit more.

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Mar 07, 2011 Annie McElfresh rated it 3 of 5 stars

This isn't the typical kind of book I read, but I was pulled in by the story. The plot unfolded slowly and you really got to know the characters well. The character and setting details were suburb. I felt like I was really in their world. Serena's struggle to deal with the relationships in her lofe is what kept me hooked in and kept me wanting more.

I would suggest this for older YA fans!

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Jul 08, 2011 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Loved it..Serena's story of her life in both Curacao and Los Angeles are fascinating! What experiences as an immigrant to the US..I'll always think of her when I see a Ford Galaxy driving down the road. I am looking forward to the sequel.

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Dec 29, 2010 Erika Romer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lovely journey to the Caribbean island of Curacao. Selbert weaves the present and past together beautiful, creating a mesmerizing experience. The nuggets of wisdom we are left with are precious.

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Jan 16, 2012 Michelle Khzouz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Thank you Godreads for this copy! Beautifully written story that speaks to the heart of mother-daughter relationships, immigration, coming of age and finding oneself. Enjoy!

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Feb 22, 2011 Nimita Dhirajlal rated it 5 of 5 stars

I can't put it down! Will come back for more reviews when I have finished reading it!

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Feb 26, 2011 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

From my book review blog Rundpinne..."Selbert takes on many big issues and blends them together exceedingly well to create a very endearing and inspiring story."...The full review may be read here.

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Jan 12, 2012 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

It was okay. Not my typical style of book.

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Dec 31, 2010 Isaac Hernandez rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've been blessed to have access to the manuscript of this book and to work on the design of this beautiful book. It's definitely the best book I've read all year!

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Feb 17, 2011 Isaac Hernandez rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If you haven't yet read "The House of Six Doors", this colorful illustrated companion full of treasures will make you want to read the wonderful novel by Patricia Selbert.

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May 17, 2013 pawi marked it as to-read

Apr 22, 2013 Reads4Pleasure marked it as to-read

Shelves: books-are-passports-to-the-world

Apr 17, 2013 Shemarie marked it as to-read

Mar 29, 2013 Debbie rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, ebook, dnf

Mar 27, 2013 Ann is currently reading it

Mar 11, 2013 Kathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Feb 28, 2013 Salma Mohamed added it

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Quotes from The House of Six Doors

“Let your feelings flow freely, accept each one of them, know that they are your feelings and no one is to blame for them. Live from your essence and watch your feelings flow; only when you accept them can you understand the story of your life.” — 2 people liked it

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