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ENTRY TYPE: new
WORK TITLE: Beyond the Doors
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://david-neilsen.com/
CITY:
STATE: NY
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
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RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Male.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, children’s author, and storyteller. Storyteller and performer presenting shows for children on subjects such as the American Revolution, the works of H.P. Lovecraft, Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, writing and creativity, and other subjects.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, July 1, 2017, Becca Worthington, review of Beyond the Doors, p. 57.
Kirkus Reviews, May 15, 2016, review of Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom; May 1, 2017, review of Beyond the Doors.
School Library Journal, June, 2016, Mary-Brooke J. Townsend, review of Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom, p. 96; June 1, 2017, Elizabeth Swartz, review of Beyond the Doors, p. 93.
ONLINE
Batch of Books, http://www.batchofbooks.com/ (August 3, 2017), “David Neilsen Talks to Me about His New Book, Beyond the Doors,” interview with David Neilsen.
Book’s the Thing, http://www.booksthething.com/ (August 5, 2018), “Interview with David Neilsen—Author of Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom.“
Children’s Book Review, http://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/ (August 7, 2o17), “Get to Know Aunt Gladys Tulving from David Neilsen’s Beyond the Doors.“
David Neilsen website, http://www.david-neilsen.com (October 3, 2018).
Storytelling
All authors love to tell stories. I take it a bit further.
Looking for something that your children and students will never forget?
Whether it’s my educational American Revolution show, one of my terrifying shows based on the works of horror author H. P. Lovecraft, Washington Irving’s timeless Legend of Sleepy Hollow, or just some good, old-fashioned storytelling, I bring words and worlds to life.
A Visit with British Spy Major John Andre
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(Best for grades 6-8) My original, 45-minute one-man show recounts the life and trials of British Major John Andre during the American Revolution. Major Andre was intricately involved General Benedict Arnold’s plot to betray Continental forces. His astounding misadventure–from receiving the plans to West Point from General Arnold’s hands in Haverstraw to his capture in Tarrytown to his ultimate execution–is filled with amazing twists and turns that together show how very close Arnold’s plot was to succeeding, an act which would have altered the course of the American Revolution.
Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
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(Great for large groups) Here I perform my 25-minute rendition of the classic story, followed by a discussion on the historical facts and inspirations of the story. I can also take the students on a virtual tour of Ichabod’s wild ride along through photos of spots along the current, modern-day route he would have taken.
The Stories of H.P. Lovecraft
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I have created two shows based on the insanity-inducing works of New England horror author H.P. Lovecraft: H.P. Lovecraft’s Call of Cthulhu and The Sacrifice of Randolph Carter. Each show runs just under one hour and brings the audience inside the action, placing their own lives and minds in mortal peril! Perfect for the Halloween season!
Storytelling
From picture books and children’s favorites to timeless tales from the likes of Washington Irving, Bram Stoker, H. P. Lovecraft, and Rudyard Kipling, I bring stories and characters to life for audiences of all ages. Performing at a wide variety of locations in the tri-state area, including the New York Botanical Gardens, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, and Washington Irving’s Sunnyside, my shows are the perfect entertainment options for schools, libraries, birthday parties, or other organizations and events.
Check out my profile in Hudson Valley Magazine!
Have you seen me perform? Write a review on Gig Salad!
School Visits
David Neilsen’s In-Person School Visits
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“My students were completely captivated by David Neilsen’s presentation! They had a blast viewing creative images, brainstorming questions and sharing their ideas. I can definitely say that Mr. Neilsen unlocked many creative minds and my students are still talking about him!” — Abbey Gilligan, 5th Grade Teacher, Washington Irving School
I love to visit schools and talk to students about writing and have created ready-made programs which I can bring into the school to enrich the student’s day.
Each program is designed to run approximately 45 minutes.
Small Group programs are intended for a single class of students.
Large Group programs are intended for more auditorium-style situations.
Writing programs are intended for students in grades 4 and up.
“Mr. Neilsen inspired a classroom full of 6th grade students. His presentation “Writing the Scary Stuff” helped the students in my class to focus their stories and develop outlines that eventually helped them to write stories with fully developed characters and settings that enhanced their original concepts. Mr. Neilsen has a way of breaking down the horror genre that not only makes sense to middle school students, but also encourages them, making them want to write.” — Joan Mullin, 6th Grade Teacher, Sleepy Hollow Middle School
I can give up to 5 presentations during a full day, or three during a half day. Where indicated, I will require a way to present a powerpoint presentation either from a thumbdrive or my own computer onto a larger surface such as a SmartBoard or screen for the entire audience to view.
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“David Neilsen knows how to engage young people, he knows how to tell a story, and he knows what it takes to be a successful writer. Our students greatly enjoyed coming up with crazy story-telling ideas with him and listening to his spooky tales. They came away with both enthusiasm and useful advice for becoming storytellers and writers themselves. David clearly loves what he does, and his passion is contagious.” — Ned Bates, 8th Grade English Teacher, Suffern Middle School.
I’m also available to visit your classroom virtually via Skype or Google Hangout and answer any questions students might have. These Virtual Visits are always FREE and last approximately thirty minutes.
Two Words
(Small or Large Groups) All stories start with two very simple words–What If? This interactive presentation guides students through the basic elements of story creation, and challenges them to discover a multitude of story ideas from a single image. Students then gather in groups and are tasked with creating a the outline of a story of their own from different odd, whimsical images. *equipment required
Two Words – Part 2
(Small or Large Groups) This is an optional addition to the Two Words presentation consisting of a return visit either later in the day or on another day. I lead the students first through a series of images and challenge them to craft a story as a single group, facilitating and leading their discussion to keep them focused on the common goal. Then students return to their initial groups from earlier and take another look at the outline they created. Now they are tasked with coming up with an opening paragraph of their story. We discuss tone, theme, characters, point of view, and other aspects that go into making a story work. *equipment required
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“David captivated my students with his varied voices and surprising expressions! The students laughed, oooed, ahhhed, and really stretched their imaginations creating stories based on some of the surprising images David presented to them. When I asked them if I should have David come back next year to visit my new 6th graders, I got an emphatic “Yes! Definitely! He was AWESOME!” and I couldn’t agree more!” — Bridget Suvansri, 6th Grade English Teacher, Eastern Middle School, Greenwich, CT.
Writing the Scary Stuff
(Small or Large Groups) An examination into what makes for a scary story. Working with the students, I comprise a list of things any truly scary story needs (atmosphere, identifiable characters, tone, tension, surprises, etc.) and go over the basic outlines of different types of scary stories. Students will break into groups and come up with their own scary stories over the course of the session, which they can then share with the class. Perfect for Halloween season! *equipment required
A Visit with British Spy Major John Andre
ben-begley-liam-sheridan-david-nielsen-michael-luppino-patrick-boles-nick-andreades.jpg
(Best for Small or Large groups of students in grades 6-8) My original, 45-minute one-man show recounts the life and trials of British Major John Andre during the American Revolution. Major Andre was intricately involved General Benedict Arnold’s plot to betray Continental forces. His astounding misadventure–from receiving the plans to West Point from General Arnold’s hands in Haverstraw to his capture in Tarrytown to his ultimate execution–is filled with amazing twists and turns that together show how very close Arnold’s plot was to succeeding, an act which would have altered the course of the American Revolution.
About David
me
David Neilsen is the author of Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom, and several other odd, weird, supernatural, and occasionally slightly disturbing books and stories. David is also a professionally trained actor who works as a professional storyteller up and down the Hudson River Valley and in New York City. His one-man performances based on the work of H.P. Lovecraft have sent many screaming into the hills in search of their sanity.
DAVID NEILSEN TALKS TO ME ABOUT HIS NEW BOOK, BEYOND THE DOORS
AUGUST 3, 2017 BOOK REVIEW, MIDDLE GRADE 2 COMMENTS BY DENA AT BATCH OF BOOKS
David Neilsen is back with a brand new creepy book just in time for fall. I had the chance to ask him a couple of questions about his latest book, Beyond the Doors.
If you need your memory jogged, he’s also the author of Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom, which my kids and I read, reviewed, and interviewed last year.
Also, this blog post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after using one of my links, I will receive a small commission. It doesn’t cost you anything, but it does help me keep the blog going.
My interview with David Neilsen
1. What gave you the idea for Beyond the Doors?
Beyond the Doors literally came from an image I had in my head. That image, which would eventually go on to become the cover of the book, was just some number of kids standing in this massive, empty, circular room with scaffolding all around and a single door sizzling with energy in the middle. I didn’t know where that door went or what was going on, but that was the genesis of the book.
2. How long did it take to write?
It took about four or five months from the time I started writing in earnest until the time I turned in my first complete draft.
3. Did you find writing your second book to be easier or more difficult than your first?
Writing this was more difficult than writing Dr. Fell. But Dr. Fell came extremely quickly and easily. From the moment I began writing Dr. Fell, I had almost the entire story written in my head. It was different with Beyond the Doors. The story took different turns as I wrote, and there were multiple times when I wasn’t sure exactly where it was going. It was also more difficult to write because of how I chose to structure the narrative–in alternating points of view of the Rothbaum children, while still driving the story forward. It was challenging.
4. Do you have any hidden talents?
Well, it’s more ‘widely unknown’ than hidden, but I am a professional storyteller. I live near Sleepy Hollow, NY, and spend much of October telling spooky stories to folks of all ages throughout the New York region. I also get gigs throughout the year at private parties, and I host murder mystery parties as well.
Thanks for the interview, David!
Our Thoughts on Beyond the Doors
Miss K’s Review
I thought the book was amazing! I liked it because it was like traveling in time for the Rothbaum children.
My favorite part is when the kids find their Mother in the MemorySphere, but I liked the whole book. My favorite character is Zack because he is the only boy in the family!
I did not think this book was too scary. It was just right because it is all exciting fun! If I had a door to the MemorySphere, I would want it to lead to William Shakespeare’s memory!
My Review
After reading Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom last year with my kids, I was pretty stoked to see David Neilsen was coming out with a new book. Beyond the Doors is not connected to Dr. Fell in any way, but the good doctor does make a short cameo appearance, which made my kids scream in excitement.
Such an interesting concept lies behind this story. The idea of a MemorySphere is fascinating, and it makes you wonder if such a thing were real, would it be as terrible as it is in the book?
My kids thoroughly enjoyed listening to this story. I read it out loud to them at bedtime. It took us a couple of weeks to finish it, and they begged for another chapter every night.
I really liked the sibling relationships in this story. Like most siblings, the Rothbaums spend a fair bit of time disagreeing, but they look after each other and will do anything to keep each other safe.
The characters are so much fun. Between the nutty Aunt Gladys, the weepy social worker, and Gramps yelling absurd phrases, the story was entertaining and humorous. Of course, this is also a horror story, and those parts were just the right amount of scary for the age group.
Cover love: This cover is so much fun. I love the illustration and the look on Zack’s face. It gives off a wonderful, creepy vibe.
Content: Some scary/perilous situations and a few instances of taking the Lord’s name in vain.
Source: The publisher sent me an ARC (Advanced Reader’s Copy) of this book.
Get To Know Aunt Gladys Tulving From David Neilsen’s ‘Beyond The Doors’
The Children’s Book Review | August 7, 2017
We Had A Chat With Aunt Gladys Tulving From David Neilsen’s Beyond The Doors, A Dark And Creepy, Humor-Laced Tale About Four Siblings Who Discover A Mysterious World Where Secrets Hide Around Every Corner.
The Children’s Book Review: What gets you out of bed in the morning?
Aunt Gladys Tulving: Oh! Well, my doors. Not my doors, that’s silly. The doors. Not directly, of course. Doors don’t talk. Sometimes Dimitri, if I’ve overslept. He’ll ring. He does that. Ring. With doors. I like that. What was the question?
I see you have a bag with you. Will you tell us what you keep inside of it?
My bag? You can’t have my bag. Inside is my knob. Never go anywhere without my knob. And gloves. Knob and gloves. Of course, I wear them. The gloves, not the knob. Can you wear a knob?
Are you hungry right now? Can we fix you anything to eat? Maybe we could make you your favorite dish?
Yes! Yes, I’d love a bowl of Honey-Nut-Oat-Blast-Ring-a-Dings. There’s milk in the fridge. And boxes of Honey-Nut-Oat-Blast-Ring-a-Dings in the cabinet. That cabinet. Or that one. Both, actually. And that one over there.
Do you like to read?
Read? Who has time to read? Do you? I don’t. Too busy. Important things to do. My doors! I need to… but that’s none of your business. Who are you? No snooping around! And don’t touch the doors!
Do you have a favorite song?
Yes. I don’t recall what it is at the moment. But it’s my favorite. I can’t remember how it goes. But I love it.
Are you a rule follower or rule breaker?
I have rules. Important rules. Don’t touch the doors. No screaming. I don’t like screaming. If you have to go, use a potty. Bring a knob. Always bring a knob. That’s very important. And don’t touch the doors!
When was the last time you felt embarrassed?
No time to be embarrassed! Too busy! Plus, I’m usually alone. Hard to be embarrassed alone. Unless you embarrass yourself. In front of yourself. But I try not to judge.
If you weren’t answering the questions in this interview right now, what would you be doing?
This is an interview? Good heavens! I didn’t know. Did I? I don’t remember. I was busy with my doors. Don’t touch them! I’m always with my doors. Not my doors, of course. That would be dangerous. Other doors. My work. Searching. I will find him.
Do you have any secrets you would like to share with us before you go?
No. Absolutely not. No secrets. I don’t do secrets. Are you going? Good. Not that I don’t like you. You seem nice. Sort of. It’s just better. If you go. And don’t touch the doors! No reason. No reason at all. Nothing secret about them. They’re just doors, right? But you were leaving. Yes? Yes. I’ll get the drawbridge.
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Beyond the Doors by David NeilsenBeyond The Doors
Written by David Neilsen
Publisher’s Synopsis: Fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events and Coraline will devour this dark and creepy, humor-laced tale about four siblings who discover a mysterious world where secrets hide around every corner.
When a family disaster forces the four Rothbaum children to live with their aunt Gladys, they immediately know there is something strange about their new home. The crazy, circular house looks like it stepped out of a scary movie. The front entrance is a four-story-tall drawbridge. And the only food in Aunt Gladys’s kitchen is an endless supply of Honey Nut Oat Blast Ring-a-Dings cereal.
Strangest of all are the doors—there are none. Every doorway is a wide-open passageway—even the bathroom! Who lives in a house with no doors?
Their unease only grows when Aunt Gladys disappears for long stretches of time, leaving them alone to explore the strange house. When they discover just what Aunt Gladys has been doing with all her doors, the shocked siblings embark on an adventure that changes everything they believe about their family and the world.
Ages 8-12 | Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers | 2017 | ISBN-13: 978-1101935828
Available Here:
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About David Neilsen
David Neilsen is the author of Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom. He is also a classically trained actor and storyteller, a journalist, and a theater and improvisation teacher. During the Halloween season, David can be found telling spooky tales to audiences of all ages or performing his one-man shows based on the horror author H. P. Lovecraft. David lives in New York’s Hudson Valley with his family and cats. Visit him at david-neilsen.com.
This interview with Aunt Gladys Tulving, a character in David Neilsen’s Beyond the Doors, was conducted between David Neilsen and Bianca Schulze. For similar books and articles, follow along with our content tagged with Adventure, Dark Humor Books, David Neilsen, and Middle Grade Books.
Interview with David Neilsen – Author of Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom
AUGUST 5, 2016 ~ ERIKA @ BOOKSTHETHING.COM
Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom When the mysterious Dr. Fell moves into the abandoned house that had once been the neighborhood kids’ hangout, he immediately builds a playground to win them over. But as the ever-changing play space becomes bigger and more elaborate, the children and their parents fall deeper under the doctor’s spell.
Only Jerry, Nancy, and Gail are immune to the lure of his extravagant wonderland. And they alone notice that when the injuries begin to pile up on the jungle gym, somehow Dr. Fell is able to heal each one with miraculous speed. Now the three children must find a way to uncover the doctor’s secret power without being captivated by his trickery.
Age Range: 8-12
Available on 8/9/16
At first the new playground Dr Fell builds in the neighborhood seems innocuous enough. As more and more kids come to play, however, Jerry, Nancy, and Gail realize that it is anything but, and it’s up to the 3 of them to figure out what is going on, and to stop whatever it is that their new neighbor is up to. Ahh, such a nice man is Dr. Fell.
What a smart, macabre story! The protagonists are a group of clever grade school kids, but not so clever as to seem unrealistic. Dr. Fell himself felt to me like a character from an Edward Gorey illustration inserted into a Goosebumps book. Evil or not, I loved him and his old-fashioned, over-the-top form of speech. While the book is aimed at kids around my daughters’ ages, I really enjoyed it myself! I hope we’ll be seeing lots more from David Neilsen. David was kind enough to answer a few questions put to him by my daughters and me – I hope you enjoy the interview as much as we did. 🙂
Q: What was your favorite genre or author as a kid? Did you have a favorite book?
As a kid, I devoured Sci-fi and Fantasy. I loved David Eddings’ Belgariad series, Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, Raymond Feist’s Riftwar Saga, Issac Azimov’s Foundation books, the original Dragonlance series. I read a lot, but was always most drawn to flights of imagination rather than stories centered on our own world.
Q: What are your favorites now – have they changed?
I now also read a smattering of adult thrillers from time to time. Those, however, generally tend to have some element of the fantastic about them as well. Also, when I was a kid, the concept of Young Adult or Middle Grade books didn’t really exist, so that’s a big difference. There’s so much more out there to read that’s geared for kids of different ages. I read a lot of MG and YA even though I’m a lot older than the demographic because they are still some of the most interesting and fantastical stories.
Q: Have you always wanted to be a writer, or did you want to be something else growing up?
Growing up, I was going to be an actor. I knew from the age of about 9 that I was meant for the stage and screen. All through high school I only cared about doing theater. I went to college and got a degree in theater. I love being on the stage and performing. But I was always writing without knowing it. I was the guy who would write the shows we all did while growing up, and after college, I had more time to write and it really took on a life of its own. I don’t know if I can pinpoint the moment I went from thinking of myself as an actor to thinking of myself as a writer.
Q: What do you enjoy doing when you aren’t writing?
I’m a big fan of baseball. I was never very good, but I always loved the game. So I watch a lot, coach my son’s teams, obsess over statistics and standings. A day spent at a ballpark is a good day.
Q: What inspired you to write this book?
A single black-and-white illustration. It had hung in my in-law’s home for years before I finally really looked at it. It was done by the late Trina Schart Hyman when asked to create a picture from any fairy tale or fable she wanted. It was labeled “Dr. Fell” and shows a tall man in a suit and top hat smiling down at a wary little girl. Behind him, the audience can see that he’s got a huge basket strapped to his back out of which are sticking arms, legs, and heads of little children. I loved the picture and had to know more.
Q: Is Dr. Fell based on a real person?
My Dr. Fell is based on the one in that drawing. Ms. Hyman took inspiration from a four-line poem written in 1680. “I do not like thee Dr. Fell / The reason why I cannot tell / But this I know and know it well / I do not like thee Dr. Fell.” My book is an exploration into why we don’t like this man, what is it about him that seems off, what is he really up to?
Q: Do you have any pets?
I have two cats, Piper and Violet. Piper is a black-and-white ‘cow’ cat who loves to sleep on me when I’m trying to write. Violet is a calico cat who is friendly but prefers the company of my daughter.
We hope you’re enjoying the blog tour for David Neilsen’s Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom! In case you missed yesterday’s post, head over to Batch of Books to check it out. The tour continues tomorrow on Books4YourKids.
NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review. All comments and opinions are my own.
Neilsen, David: Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom
Mary-Brooke J. Townsend
School Library Journal. 62.6 (June 2016): p96+.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
NEILSEN, David. Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom, illus. by Will Terry. 240p. Crown. Aug. 2016. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781101935781; lib. ed. $19.99. ISBN 9781101935798.
Gr 5-7--Imagine a playground that fuses medieval castles, pirate ships, and zombie-infested wastelands. Dr. Fell, an elderly man always clad in a bright purple suit with matching top hat, creates a dream play structure with a slide, secret doors, and multiple levels, earning the respect of nearly every child on Hardscrabble Street. Three kids, Jerry, Nancy, and Gail, however, observe oddities that lead them to question Dr. Fell. How is he able to heal broken bones that occur on his playground in mere hours? How can he miraculously make a heart beat again? Why are no adults worried about the multitude of injuries befalling children on his playground? Is he a doctor or a magician? In this mix of mystery, science fiction, and realism, with a twist of horror, readers experience the abnormal events along with the protagonists. Neilsen delicately leaves clues for readers to braid together, continuing to create intrigue surrounding Dr. Fell. While the story and plot are strong, the main characters and neighborhood setting feel dated. The childlike illustrations; the naivete of Nancy, Gail, and Jerry; and the notion of a neighborhood playground may strike tween readers as inauthentic in 2016. The simple sentence structure and basic vocabulary make this a straightforward read. VERDICT Recommended for school libraries that need to breathe life into their traditional mystery collections.--Mary-Brooke J. Townsend, Episcopal Collegiate School Library, Little Rock, AK
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Townsend, Mary-Brooke J. "Neilsen, David: Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom." School Library Journal, June 2016, p. 96+. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A453920180/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=b36353fb. Accessed 29 Aug. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A453920180
Neilsenn, David. Beyond the Doors
Elizabeth Swartz
School Library Journal. 63.6 (June 1, 2017): p93+.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
NEILSEN, David. Beyond the Doors. 368p. Random. Sept. 2017. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781101935828.
Gr 4-7--The four Rothbaum siblings, ranging in age from first grade to middle school, are left without a responsible parent after a family disaster. (Their dad is in a coma, and their mom is missing.) When the continually sobbing social worker finally finds a long-lost, eccentric aunt, the kids settle into their new home. The house is odd, to say the least. There's a drawbridge and not a single door. The siblings decide to investigate the mysterious disappearance of their grandparents and rescue them, using an intimidating time travel machine. Soon, piles and piles of doors begin to fill their aunt's house, with more supplied every day by a hilarious delivery man. The doors, like the time machine, are portals to a specific person's memory of an event. This story provides an interesting look at perspective. The protagonists must locate the correct door leading to the exact memory in which the grandparents are trapped. But as a memory is entered again and again, it begins to "spoil." The story gets slightly confusing with all the switching among memories to discover the right one. However, the characters are well developed, the plot intriguing, and the pace well suited to middle grade readers. Minor characters add realism as well as laughs. VERDICT An entertaining romp; recommended for large collections.--Elizabeth Swartz, Warrior Run School District, PA
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Swartz, Elizabeth. "Neilsenn, David. Beyond the Doors." School Library Journal, 1 June 2017, p. 93+. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A493916077/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=89a2138e. Accessed 29 Aug. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A493916077
8/29/2018 General OneFile - Saved Articles
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Print Marked Items
Neilsen, David: DR. FELL AND THE
PLAYGROUND OF DOOM
Kirkus Reviews.
(May 15, 2016):
COPYRIGHT 2016 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Neilsen, David DR. FELL AND THE PLAYGROUND OF DOOM Crown (Children's Fiction) $16.99 8, 9
ISBN: 978-1-101-93578-1
Dr. Fell, foul fiend or friend to children?The last house on Hardscrabble Street, empty and old, has always
been a playground for the local children, so when a "sold" sign appears in the yard, no one's pleased. Jerry
and Gail Bloom and Gail's friend Nancy Pinkblossom meet their new neighbor, the wizened Dr. Fell, and
bemoan the loss of their play space. A few days later, a fantastical playground of pirate ships and castle
towers appears in Dr. Fell's yard. Before long, children start getting hurt there, but every injury on Dr. Fell's
playground heals quickly under his care. Gail, Jerry, and Nancy grow suspicious, especially when their
parents start acting strangely. Then Gail returns from a visit to Dr. Fell acting brainwashed. Her friend and
brother cure her, but as Dr. Fell's control of the town grows, the trio realizes something terribly sinister's
afoot. Can they head it off? Actor and storyteller Neilsen's debut tries too hard from the start. Dr. Fell
speaks in purple prose and then translates himself nearly every time he converses, a characterization tic that
grows old quickly. Repetition of humorless gags and forced quirkiness in nomenclature cannot be saved by
a shallow attempt at Lovecraft-ian horror far too late in the tale. Terry's black-and-white illustrations add
atmosphere and depict an evidently all-white cast.Steer Cthulhu-craving kiddies to Charles Gilman's fearful
and funny Lovecraft Middle School. (Adventure. 7-9)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Neilsen, David: DR. FELL AND THE PLAYGROUND OF DOOM." Kirkus Reviews, 15 May 2016.
General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A452197856/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=7980f3db. Accessed 29 Aug. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A452197856
8/29/2018 General OneFile - Saved Articles
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Neilsen, David: BEYOND THE DOORS
Kirkus Reviews.
(May 1, 2017):
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Neilsen, David BEYOND THE DOORS Crown (Children's Fiction) $16.99 8, 1 ISBN: 978-1-101-93582-8
Four motherless siblings embark on an adventure that leads them through the memories--and nightmares--of
the past.The Rothbaum siblings--Janice, Zack, Sydney, and Alexa, all white--are having one of the worst
days of their young lives. Their father has been badly burned in a fire and is in a coma, leaving the
foursome to be raised by their peculiar aunt. Living with Aunt Gladys means following her unusual rules,
the most important of which is to not touch the doors. This rule itself seems odd, as the rooms of Gladys'
house have archways, not doors. Equally strange is that although the rooms have no doors to close, several
are filled with unattached doors in arbitrary piles. The children soon learn of the connection between doors
and the memories of the people who use them, setting them on the path to unlock the mysteries of their
father's accident and their mother's disappearance. Neilsen's premise is better than its execution. The
Rothbaum siblings' character development is superficial, and their voices frequently run together with little
distinction for individual personality. Neilsen haphazardly interjects broad humor through the story,
primarily through unusually named one-dimensional adult characters. A subplot concerning the foster
system is misleading and outdated, causing the humor to fall flat. Unsuccessful; readers may be more
pleased with Charles Gilman's Lovecraft Middle School series for sci-fi fun or The Mysterious Benedict
Society or A Series of Unfortunate Events for mystery and humor. (Fantasy. 8-12)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Neilsen, David: BEYOND THE DOORS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 May 2017. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A491002876/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=01b7756d.
Accessed 29 Aug. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A491002876
8/29/2018 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1535556259664 3/3
Beyond the Doors
Becca Worthington
Booklist.
113.21 (July 1, 2017): p57.
COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
Beyond the Doors.
By David Neilsen. Illus. by Isa Bancewicz.
Aug. 2017.368p. Crown, paper, $16.99 (9781101935828); lib. ed., $ 19.99 (9781101935835). Gr. 4-7.
When their father is caught in a house fire and falls into a coma--their mother having mysteriously
disappeared years before--the four Rothbaum children are sent to live in the care of the estranged, eccentric,
and quite possibly off her rocker Aunt Gladys, who lives in a round mansion with a drawbridge and no
exits. The strange house is full of abandoned, unhinged doors and warnings not to touch. Soon the children
discover Aunt Gladys' secret lab, where she uses the doors as portals to travel into other people's memories.
Curious, they follow her inside the MemorySphere, not realizing that they are setting off a chain of events
from which they can never return unchanged. While the four protagonists are a bit unmemorable, the
supporting characters broaden into an array of delightful slapstick caricatures with punch lines galore, the
settings are bold and elaborately arranged, and the story is cinematically told. The MemorySphere itself is
imaginative, curious, icky, and terrifying, and it grows increasingly more fascinating as the journey unfolds.
An odd, colorful, funny tale. Final illustrations not seen. --Becca Worthington
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Worthington, Becca. "Beyond the Doors." Booklist, 1 July 2017, p. 57. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A499862828/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=0125d1c5.
Accessed 29 Aug. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A499862828