Read more
An outcast girl looking to belong discovers a secret doorway to other realms in a thrilling portal fantasy novel for middle-grade readers.
When twelve-year-old Adeline Perle's transient military family finally plants roots in an old, creaky mansion - Cannondale - the girl craves to build the lasting friendships that she, as a constant outsider, never had. At last, on the cusp of bonding with a new group of affable teens on Cannondale's grounds, Adeline discovers an unusual treasure behind a secret door, unveiling portals to extraordinary realms where she is confronted with disappearing creatures and magical people, good and evil, and a boy who's desperate to help her find her way back home.
But not all friends are as they seem. Some will go to any length to get what they want, including a secret Adeline does not even know she possesses. It is a secret so important, all the magic in the universe is at stake. Wars have been waged over it, and Adeline finds herself right in the middle of it all. She must overcome all inhibitions and face her greatest fears not only to survive but - after a lifetime of wanting - to find her place and way home.
About the author
Author Stephanie Brick deemed herself a writer from the moment she stapled together her first story on construction paper as a child. The rest is history as she continued to refine her craft as a professional writer over the years, eventually writing a book to give her childhood self the adventure she always wanted. The book, a portal fantasy called THE SECRET DOORS OF CANNONDALE, takes middle-grade readers on a fantastical coming of age journey of friendship, belonging, and self-worth. An architect by trade, Stephanie's career gives her a unique lens for detailed, multi-sensory world-building where readers experience taste, scent, touch, sound, and sight, leaving a greater impact that lasts long after the book is closed. Stephanie was inspired to write this book from her own childhood experiences, wonder, and daydreams, coupled with her youthful sense of curiosity and adventure visiting old houses and unusual places, much like the ones in her story.
