Mister Monday by Garth Nix

Nix, G. (2003). The Keys to the Kingdom, Book 1: Mister Monday (p. 368). Scholastic Paperbacks.

ISBN : 0439551234

$16.45 school and library binding


Reader's Annotation: Arthur Penhaligon discovers a key shaped like the minute hand of a clock. Mister Monday wants his key back, and Arthur's adventure begins.


Summary: Arthur Penhaligon is an unlikely, asthmatic hero. He was destined to die, until a small key, shaped like the minute hand of a clock, saves his life. The key was delivered by a stranger, Mister Monday, from another dimension, along with a plague that threatens to destroy the world Arthur knows. He takes the key into a house that only he can see, in an attempt to save everything he knows. This key is only the first of seven, and Arthur's adventures have only just begun.


Genre: fantasy





Series : First of seven books in the "Keys to the Kingdom" series.

  1. Mister Monday
  2. Grim Tuesday
  3. Drowned Wednesday
  4. Sir Thursday
  5. Lady Friday
  6. Superior Saturday
  7. Lord Sunday (not yet released)
Evaluation: I had been meaning to read this one for a while, given how popular they are with older readers in the Kids Room at my library. The cover art and clever titles have also appealed to me. I found the story very compelling at the start, I had a hard time tearing myself away from the book. As it went on though, my interest waned a little, and I found myself ready to get to the end. I'd read Tuesday, though, for certain.

Why it belongs in a Tween Collection: Readers finished with Harry Potter and looking for their next fantasy series would enjoy these books. The world is fully realized, the characters are approachable (boys and girls are friends, so far no romance) and while the violence is fairly tame, the overall timbre of the book is slightly dark, which makes it feel unlike a children's story. The plot and vocabulary are rich and varied, but not prohibitive. Additionally, the hero is asthmatic, which is an unusual character trait, and could possibly be inspiring to a reader with the same condition.

Readalikes :
  • The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster and Jules Feiffer (for younger tweens)
  • Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
  • The Wrinkle in Time books by Madeline L'Engle
  • The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula LeGuin
Other Useful Info:
Reviews:
From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8-Arthur Penhaligon's school year is not off to a good start. On his first day, he suffers an asthma attack while running cross country and dreams that a mysterious figure hands him a key shaped like the minute hand of a clock. However, when he wakes up, he still has the key. That's when strange things begin to happen. Mister Monday dispatches terrifying, dog-faced Fetchers to retrieve it, a bizarre sleeping illness sweeps the city, and only Arthur can see the weird new house that appears in his neighborhood. The seventh grader knows it all has something to do with the key, one of seven elusive fragments of the Will to which he has become heir apparent, and a mysterious atlas. When he ventures inside the house, he meets more strange characters than he could have imagined, none of whom are what they seem. And, of course, he must battle Monday, who will do anything to get the key back. With the help of the key, Arthur must fight his way out. The first in a seven part series for middle graders is every bit as exciting and suspenseful as the author's previous young adult novels. Readers will eagerly anticipate the sequels.
Ginny Collier, Dekalb County Public Library, Chamblee, GA

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