A mysterious door appears in a school hallway and it’s
become legendary to the students and alumni. Stories are told about kids who
enter the door never being seen again but no one really believes it. Lata and
Tom don’t know each other but they pass through the door and enter a world identical to the one they left. The first big sign that things are different is
when Lata finds her sister alive! However, this Zoya has no memory of Lata and
her parents don’t know her either. Tom assumes his parents must never have
moved here from Boston so both kids are stranded in a world where no one knows
they exist.
Lata is emotionally distraught due to her older sister’s
death three months before. She loved and looked up to Zoya but regrets not
sharing these feelings with her. Her parents haven’t adjusted to the loss very well
and Lata is constantly upset about their fighting. She’s given up and just wants
the pain to go away. Tom is angry that his father made the family move to North
Carolina forcing him to leave his friends and comfortable life behind. Other students
make fun of his Boston accent and he’s not connecting with any potential new
friends. Lata and Tom must each deal with their emotional baggage although Lata’s
problems dominate the plot.
What didn’t work as well:
The book needs to be longer. Legend says no one’s been seen again after
entering the door and no one knows how it happens. It’s hard to believe
everything gets figured out over the course of one weekend. In addition, both
kids have personal issues that deserve more development and readers may be left
wanting more.
The final verdict:
Being forgotten is a horrible emotional trauma that will touch the
feelings of young readers and the plot will connect with those who have dealt
with loss. The book is a surprisingly fast read and offers a unique conflict. The
listing says the book is for ages seven and up but the main characters are in the
eighth grade. Over all, this book shares a heartfelt story of grief and I
recommend you give it a shot.
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