“The Door in the Sky” by Sandy Klein Bernstein
A Book Review by Wendell Abern
Reviewers undertake first novels with trepidation, and emotions that
range from guarded expectation to dour skepticism. But even the most seasoned literati are never too jaded to react with excitement when discovering a genuine new writing talent.
Such is the case with the debut Young Adult novel, “The Door in the Sky,” penned by fledgling author Sandy Klein Bernstein.
This delightful adventure tale takes on the daunting task of carving out fresh territory in a genre that already includes Oz, Wonderland, Hogwarts and a host of others.
Welcome to a fresh new imaginaryscape: Galdoren By The Sea.
All “new world” journeys have one thing in common: a struggle between good and evil. “Door in the Sky” also takes on this task, and admirably. But one dominant element – found only sporadically in such adventures – separates Bernstein’s book from all others.
Humor.
Bernstein handles her storytelling with a wry wit that permeates every chapter. With each encounter, smiles. With each description, chuckles. Rarely have readers of fantasy had so much fun.
Sister and brother protagonists Allie and Ricky Austin, transported to this wondrous universe unexpectedly (where some have been known to grumble, “I never trust anyone from the Milky Way Galaxy”), find themselves in the middle of a mounting conflict between the good King Shevre and the icy Queen Glacidia.
Their encounters take them through a series of joyous, scary and exciting adventures and misadventures, with characters both charming and chilling. Yet even in the middle of a frightening shiver, readers will find themselves chuckling.
One example: King Shevre’s castle is threatened by fearsome goblins. All is chaos! Lives are at stake! Many may not survive! Ugly gargoyles, who dominate an upper wall, come alive:
“Goblins. Vile creatures!”
“They have such bad breath!”
“They really should brush their fangs more often.”
This is typical of the humor that comes naturally, unforced and frequently takes the reader by surprise.
Bernstein’s strong descriptive powers paint memorable pictures of this beautiful new domain. But her forte, clearly, is dialog. When brother and sister spat, you can hear the words crackle. When royalty ushers commands, you can hear authority. And of course, humor peppers the dialog landscape frequently, often when least expected.
Allie and Ricky have a grand old time on their adventure, rife with real danger and eye-opening surprises. How (and if) they ever return home will keep the reader guessing.
For those looking for attention-grabbing teen-age literature that transcends the vampire/werewolf scene, one cannot do better than “The Door in the Sky.”
And for those who look forward to finding a new superb writing talent, one need look no further than Sandy Klein Bernstein.
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