SOLVED. YA Fantasy novel read around 2000-2005, about a group of teenagers who had visited a fantasy world they had been to as children where robins were revered. [s]

[Briana]

This book felt like Narnia but for adults. These teens had been to a fantasy world as children but then left. The book starts with them hearing a robin call and remembering they used to follow robins in this world (the robin call came up often, almost like a religion). They went back to the world. I think there was a portal/door on a hill that lead them there and a tower that was deserted. Maybe where they used to live in this fantasy world? It felt darker than Narnia. I believe there were 4 main characters, very similar.

[Becca]

The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth?

[Kris]

Here's the Google Books preview of The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth - Becca's suggestion:

https://books.google.com/books?id=wE5... There are different cover images.

[Rainbowheart]

That wasn't pubbed until 2018, though.

This sounds very familiar to me! I feel like it's come up before. Briana, do you think it was Christian fiction?

[Becca]

D'oh, I hadn't even spotted the date issue - thanks for pointing that out. That should help me narrow down my searches!

[Cupcakedoll]

Maybe. I remember a bird that leads them, could be a robin or a cardinal.

[Capn]

I doubt this is the book you are thinking of, but it shares some similarities to Elidor

(The door in the hill comes after they enter Elidor, and this is where the ruined tower(s) are)

"Roland, Helen, Nicholas and David, four Manchester children, are led into Elidor, a twilight world almost destroyed by fear and darkness.
On a gloomy day in Manchester, Roland, Helen, Nicholas and David are lured into a ruined church, where the fabric of time and place is weak enough to allow them into the twilight world of Elidor. It is a place almost destroyed by fear and darkness, and the children are charged with guarding its Treasures while a way is sought to save the dying land.
Then the evil forces find a path through to this world…"

[Briana]

Cupcakedoll wrote: " Maybe. I remember a bird that leads them, could be a robin or a cardinal."

THIS WAS IT! I had remembered the details a little wrong but reading the synopsis this is exactly it!!! THANK YOU! 20 year mystery solved <3

[Capn]

Glad you found it again, Briana, and nice one, Cupcakedoll!

OpenLibrary has The Secret Country by Pamela Dean . :)
pg16:
"A cardinal whistled somewhere in the trees. Laura felt a shock of delight. Here was a secret house, and there was the most secret of all the secret birds. All members of the Secret, even those in exile, must pay heed to cardinals, she decided."
pg17:
Ted ducked back into the hedge. “I can see something shiny in here,” he said. “At least you won’t get tetanus.” He rustled about in the dead maple leaves. The cardinal sang suddenly overhead.

[Kris]

Glad you found your book, Briana.

"The Secret Country" series - https://www.goodreads.com/series/5649... - Cupcakedoll's find