The Door by the Staircase

By Kelly Murphy (Illustrator)

An orphan's escape leads to a mysterious adoption with dark secrets lurking beneath the surface.

4.1/5 Goodreads · 1,532 ratings

288 pages

$7.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Mary Hayes, desperate to flee her dreary orphanage, finds herself adopted by the enigmatic Madame Z. Her new life seems idyllic until she uncovers a chilling secret with her friend Jacob. As the truth about Madame Z's identity unfolds, Mary must navigate a world where fairy tales and nightmares collide. Can she escape before it's too late, or will her new home become her prison? Dive into a darkly humorous adventure inspired by Russian folklore, where magic and mystery intertwine, and nothing is as it seems.

From the publisher

Twelve-year-old Mary Hayes can’t stand her orphanage for another night. But when an attempted escape through the stove pipe doesn’t go quite as well as she’d hoped, Mary fears she’ll be stuck in the Buffalo Asylum for Young Ladies forever. The very next day, a mysterious woman named Madame Z appears at the orphanage requesting to adopt Mary, and the matron’s all too happy to get the girl off her hands. Soon, Mary is fed a hearty meal, dressed in a clean, new nightgown and shown to a soft bed with blankets piled high. She can hardly believe she isn’t dreaming! But when Mary begins to explore the strange nearby town with the help of her new friend, Jacob, she learns a terrifying secret about Madame Z’s true identity. If Mary’s not careful, her new home might just turn into a nightmare. Award-winning author Katherine Marsh draws from Russian fairytales in this darkly funny middle-grade fantasy novel, now available in paperback. Praise for The Door by the Staircase “Well-drawn characters, an original setting, and a satisfying resolution are the ingredients that make this carefully crafted middle-grade adventure a highly rewarding read.” -Kirkus Reviews, starred review “Marsh has crafted a sparkling tale full of adventure, magic, and folklore.” -School Library Journal, starred review “[An] engaging, almost cinematic story . . .” -The Wall Street JournalPraise for Jepp, Who Defied the Stars New York Times Notable Children’s Books of 2012The Wall Street Journal Best Children’s Books of 2012”Narrating a young adult novel from a dwarf’s perspective is nothing short of inspired. ? Marsh transcends genre to create an engaging narrative complex enough to keep not-so-young adults turning its pages.” -The New York Times Book Review “This shining gem is a must-have.” -School Library Journal, starred review “?an epic search for love, family, respect, and a destiny of one’s own making.” -Publishers Weekly, starred review “Incorporating elements of adventure, romance, tragedy, intrigue, and science, the novel conjures a place and time not commonly explored in young adult fiction ?” -Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred reviewPraise for The Twilight Prisoner “Readers should be drawn in by the complex relationships between Marsh’s protagonists and Jack’s continuing existential struggles, caught between the worlds of the living and the dead.” -Publishers Weekly, starred reviewPraise for The Night Tourist Winner of the Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery, 2008 * “This intelligent and self-assured debut will compel readers from its outset, and leave them satisfied as it explores universal themes of love, loss, and closure.” -Publishers Weekly, starred review

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