Newbery Medal Winner
The Door in the Wall
by Marguerite de Angeli
Summary
Marguerite de Angeli sets her story in medieval England, where a young noble boy named Robin loses the use of his legs to illness just as plague and war disrupt his world. Sheltered by a kind monk named Brother Luke, Robin learns patience, craft, and courage, eventually finding a way to serve despite his disability. The novel's title carries its central lesson, that when one path closes another door can always be found.
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Historical Context & Significance
De Angeli wrote and illustrated the book, and its sympathetic portrayal of a child with a physical disability was notable for children's literature of its era.