100 Cupboards and Dandelion Fire by N.D. Wilson

100 Cupboards
Publisher:   Yearling, 2008
Pages:  320
Reading level: Ages 9-12

If you are looking for something to read that will hold your attention for the duration then 100 Cupboards is the book for you.


When Henry York’s parents get kidnapped in South America he goes to live with his relatives in Henry, Kansas. They include his Uncle Frank, aunt Dotty and three cousins, Henrietta, Penelope, and Anastasia..

Henry has been so protected all of his life that he is actually enjoying living with his aunty and uncle. He truly knows nothing of the world. He was never allowed to play baseball. He has never drank a soda, and when his uncle gives him an old knife, he is very excited since he was never allowed to use a knife. Henry is given a room in the attic. He hears a scratching noise at night and then feels bits of plaster fall on him. As he begins to investigate he discovers his wall is full of little cupboards. These cupboards lead to other worlds.

Henry gets up in the middle of the night and sees a strange man come out of the bathroom and go into his grandfather’s locked room. No one has been able to get into that room. With Henrietta’s help they find their grandfather’s journals that explain how to use the portals and they discover the largest cupboard in grandfather’s room. Feeling apprehensive he and Henrietta begin their exploration and wake up something that maybe should have been awakened.

Dandelion Fire
Publisher:  Yearling, 2009
Pages:  480
Reading Level  Ages: 9 - 12


This is the second book in the 100 Cupboards series.  Henry finds out that his parents are not really his parents.  He came from one of the cupboards by accident .  He also learns his uncle was from one of the cupboards.Uncle Frank is concerned for Henry. He knows so much more about the cupboards than he has let on. Henry and Henriette are out behind the barn trying to find the key she had buried when it seems that lightning has struck Henry. He has the image of a dandelion burned into his hand and he is blind. In this book Henry goes through the cupboard and learns who he really is.

He must decide who to trust and how to help fight the evil and survive at the same time. The evil witch of Endor has destroyed the house that Henry has been staying in. Uncle Henry has no choice but to take his family through the cupboard into his former world while they look for Henrietta and Henry. Henry and Henrietta are in separate worlds. I like fantasy but up until these two books I can honestly say I never “loved” fantasy. These two books held me mesmerized the entire time I read them. I want to find out more about the worlds. I have the third book and will gladly read it and review it in February. Please stay tuned.