100 Cupboards (100 Cupboards, Bk 1) Paperback – December 23, 2008

A 100 cupboards in a wall in the upstairs attic are promising to be dangerous – but definitely exciting – with adventures around every cupboard! N.D. Wilson has imagined an engaging story of curious cupboards hidden behind a wall. As he unravels the mystery in this must-read series he weaves in a story of redemption together with monsters, witches, and wizards. This three book series, 100 Cupboards, Dandelion Fire, and The Chestnut King, will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat!As a 12-year-old boy, Henry York, who is staying with his uncle and aunt, discovers the cupboards in his uncle’s attic with his cousin Henrietta and friends (like Zeke, Penelope, and Anastasia). It all starts when Henry hears alarming noises in his wall and begins cutting away the plaster to seek what is beyond. Finding the cupboards, he endeavors to enter the portal into a new world. They meet dangerous witches and mystical wizards, but most importantly they learn the meaning of friendship and redemption. The children also learn some surprising facts about their family that they never knew!As these cupboards and their secrets are unlocked, N.D. Wilson keeps his readers glued to the book – I couldn’t put it down! The 100 Cupboards novel is bursting with wonder and excitement as young Henry unlocks the secrets of ages past. As a 12-year-old myself, this story helps me to learn the importance of courage, perseverance, and friendship. As I learn of these deeds, I also enjoy the fantastic tale of the 100 cupboards!I advise anyone that does not have a good summer book to read 100 Cupboards! I love to read these books over and over again, and I hope you will too! Now stop reading this, and go unlock the cupboards!

The dusty road, the ancient pick-up, and Uncle Frank...What an introduction to one of the best books (and series)I've read in a while. Henry and his family are real and the reader is drawn in to an amazing story. Characters are well developed and the unanswered questions pull you along. Couldn't put this book down. I read these on my kindle and I'm glad because I couldn't have waited to get to the bookstore to get the other 2 books in the series. I also bought them and had them shipped to my grandaughter. She loved them!

By the end, I enjoyed this book and look forward to seeing if it turns into a series. But I have a few reservations in recommending it to others. You might enjoy it despite the things that bothered me, or you might pass on this book because of these things:Some elements and events in the story feel borrowed from the Harry Potter and Narnia worlds, but prospective readers can take that as both praise and criticism. It's praise in the sense that the cupboards offer an opportunity for a really great series of books, at least the potential for that. But one of my two main issues with the story is the villain in the end turns out to be a magical witch who needs restoration and wants to take over some world -- the author could have tried a little harder to avoid sounding so much like Narnia.Another main issue with the book is the main character's indifference to the fact that his parents have been kidnapped and might not return alive. If anything, his parents were overprotective, not abusive, so why isn't that situation affecting him very much? I had a hard time buying that.Finally, we -- the reader and the characters -- spend too little time in these other worlds to understand anything about them or enjoy them. It's as if in Narnia, the characters peaked at the lamp post and went back through the wardrobe, and they fought the witch in the bedroom to end the story in the bedroom.Otherwise, the story takes a few pages to get moving, but once it is, it shows promise. The author can take this series to the level of other fantasy classics. I sure hope so.

This is well told and well written. Hope to see it on a screen someday. Henry goes to Henry and meets Henrietta. Blake the cat saves the day more than once. Uncle Frank gives only the most enigmatic and figurative explanations. Zeke bats clean-up. A miniature Rhino flies (maybe).

I dislike that it ends on such a cliffhanger. That is about the only thing I really dislike.If you have ever felt like an outsider looking in, if you know what it is to be in any sense a TCK, if you have experienced feeling spare as those around know things everybody but you seems to know, this is your book, Henry is your people. He is caĺling you. Answer him. You will nit be disappointed.“I’m not from here,” he said. “You and me both,” Frank said. “But here’s where we’re from now.”

I read the whole series through my local library, screening it for my grandchildren. They wanted to hear what I was reading and became enthralled with the story. I gave my 8 year old granddaughter this first book in the series, as it was not too "scary" - I think she is now ready to read the rest. This is a well written series, full of surprises.

I cannot say enough about N.D. Wilson's juvenile literature. Except perhaps that it is more creative and literate than most contemporary juvenile literature. He does not "write down" to his audience but engages their imaginations with his precise imagery. The plot is fascinating. The characters are engaging. My granddaughter and I could not wait to read the entire series and were sad when it was over. Fortunately Wilson also wrote Leepike Ridge and The Ashtown Burials series!

A very good book. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it. One minor note is that I think it may be his first book and that does show a little. A little more writing practice is still needed, but I would certainly recommend this book! I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Wow, this book is exciting. I read it in less than 8 hours and I couldn't put it down.Book two and book three are also available in paperback (order them with the first, save standing at the door waiting for the postman).

"A must-read series" - Washington Post, I couldn't agree more. This is a fantastic begginging of a fantastic book series.It evolves around Henry and his life and how he finds a 100 cupboards and how this changes his life... Fantastic!

This story is a slow starter but builds to an intriguing and exciting conclusion. Using this for stimulus for 'mysterious worlds' writing in school and children are captivated. Ending leaves you wanting to read next book in series.

As shown through the first half of the book, the author, N.D. Wilson, has great potential. During this early section his writing style is fluid and borders on the poetic. His descriptions are beautifully written and is comparable to Ray Bradbury's "Dandelion Wine". Unfortunately when the thick of the plot begins he abandons this style to a more 'facts and events' type of reporting rather than staying with his previous poetic writings. His characterizations, at this point, become choppy and, at times, somewhat unclear.The idea, plot and imagination within the book itself is nearly pure genious; an abandoned room that is found to have 99 small doors that can lead to other worlds is fascinating and thought provoking. As a reader we know that not all of these worlds are pleasant. Pure evil, strange lands, and confusing characters must lie behind a large number of them. I hope the author, after having allowed his poetic nature to dominate his writing style, allows us, the readers, to explore each doorway individually.As an fan of adult fantasy I recommend this book for the sheer creativity it went into concept behind it.