The Door in the Alley

Written by Adrienne Kress

Part of the The Explorers series

An uninquisitive boy discovers a secret society, sparking a whirlwind of adventure and mystery.

4.0/7 Bookroo expert·3.8/5 Goodreads · 729 ratings

320 pages· 58,513 words· Est. 7.5 hour read-aloud

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Bookroo's summary

When an uninquisitive boy stumbles upon a secretive society, he unwittingly embarks on a thrilling adventure. With missing persons, hidden maps, and a girl in need of help, danger lurks at every turn. Can this unlikely hero unravel the mysteries and outsmart the villains? Dive into a world where a pig in a tiny hat is just the beginning of a wild, humorous journey filled with twists and surprises. The Explorers: The Door in the Alley promises laughter and excitement for young readers ready to explore the unknown.

From the publisher

This is one of those stories that start with a pig in a teeny hat. It’s not the one you’re thinking about. (This story is way better than that one.) This pig-in-a-teeny-hat story starts when a very uninquisitive boy stumbles upon a very mysterious society. After that, there is danger and adventure; there are missing persons, hired thugs, a hidden box, a lost map, and famous explorers; and there is a girl looking for help that only uninquisitive boys can offer.

The Explorers: The Door in the Alley is the first book in a series that is sure to hit young readers right in the funny bone

At a glance

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 320
Words: 58,513
Reading age: 8–12
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: 790L

Themes & topics

Books about the zoo Books about making friends Books about explorers Books about friendship Books about adventure and adventurers

What readers & critics say

Reviews

4.0

out of 7

4.0

“This was such a fun middle grade book, until the ending! **Spoiler: the last two pages of the book, the main character gets kidnapped/taken away by the villains in the story. I couldn't believe the story ended like that (though it did make me want to read the next book). This book has a fun vocabulary, a lot of adventure and action, and a great mystery. The villains, however, are a tad scary. One has his jaw wired shut, the other looks like half of his face is "melting off." They have guns, and shoot them various times, though no one actually gets hit by them. I wouldn't recommend this for younger kids, though older kids will enjoy the humor and footnotes along with the story of bravery among the newly made friends--just make sure to have the next book on hand so you can hopefully get a little resolution.”

B is for Bookworm

Trusted reviewer

For readers who can't stop at one