Alex, the Dog and the Unopenable Door

This is a quirky story for 9-12 year olds and probably overgrown children too. From the start you are taken into the slightly mad, surreal world of Alex Jennings, aged nearly 12, a serious, imaginative boy who, for reasons later revealed, has been sent away to boarding school. Alex needs to find out why his father (Alex J Jennings, famous Explorer) repeatedly breaks his promises to stay home by suddenly disappearing for long periods of time into the Forbidden Land. Why does his father look so ill? And just what is the significance of 'SQUIGGLES?' And why is it that Alex is able to cross with ease into the Forbidden Land?As the story progresses, it becomes a real page turner with Alex encountering really bizarre problems. For example, the character of Davidus Kyte, an ex-colleague of his Alex's father, half man and half wolf who is set hell-bent to destroy Alex and reach the centre of the Forbidden Land first where he believes the key to the whole mystery lies.Aided and abetted by Arnauld, the talking dog with an eye patch, Alex eventually discovers the terrible truth about his father's experiment, and why he had to keep crossing the Cusp and disappearing towards the centre of the Forbidden Land. This is a poignant moment in the book as he realises that he no longer hates his father who was doing everything to reverse the experiment so that he could finally join his family and be the proper and loving father to his son that he'd always wanted. Sadly it wasn't to be.I smiled many a time but particularly at the resolving of the mystery of the 'unopenable door' in the Forbidden Land - revealed on reading the book, and that lovely non-word 'misunderestimation'. Definitely one to remember!Once into the story, I really enjoyed this book and I'd recommend it as a good, wacky read for youngsters. It's certainly different...SA

Having bought this book for my 9yrs.old granddaughter, I found myself drawn into the tale. It's a wacky read, full of funny, quirky characters, but as the ending is a little dark and disappointing I'm unsure whether it's suitable for my granddaughter.

This a good book - a bit of Beast Quest, a bit of Series of Unfortunate Events, a bit of Harry Potter - but there are also some moments of real original genius in the plot/writing that I (as an adult) found genuinely funny. I found the ending a bit rushed and the very end a little trite.I've been reading it to my children (5 and 8) who are keen to hear the next chapter but haven't got all the humour. It gets quite dark towards the end so not sure what they'll make of it. Wd recommend more for 9 years +. Lots of good material for discussion.Should state the author is a teacher at my children's school so not sure if this counts as an unbiased review.

A book that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike, Alex, the Dog and the Unopenable Door takes the reader on quite the surreal adventure, set in a world you wish you could be part of. Ross Montgomery proves to be a witty and highly imaginative first-time author, writing a story that will surely capture the imaginations of many children. A clever premise, lovable characters and well-structured story, this book will not only leave you eagerly awaiting Montgomery's next offering, but will surely leave you with an increased love for canines!

A book with great heart and a roguish eye for comic detail. If you, or any children that you know, like a bit of Dahl or Snickett then I would recommend this little gem of a novel without delay. With sincerity and real imagination Ross Montgomery has crafted a debut of such warmth and honesty of spirit that I can't wait to see what he comes up with next...

Strange book, not sure if my grandchildren would enjoy it but shall offer it to them. A moral tale but didn't really keep my attention.

My daughter, a 7 year old reading at about the level of a 9 year old, says the following: "You really want to find out, but you can't, and you want to know what's in the middle of the forbidden land, so you keep on reading on." She loved it.

I know it wasn't written for my age group but I enjoyed this book immensely. The intended recipient - my son - also read it with excitement and really enjoyed it. If you are looking for a book with a good plot, humour, a fast pace and a super story, look no further!

My 9 year old son thought the book was "magnificent." He recently also read a different book by Ross Montgomery and seems to enjoy his style of writing. He laughed out loud at different parts of the book.