The Door in the Wall

The Door in the Wall is a 1949 novel by Marguerite de Angeli that received the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature in 1950. The story, illustrated by the author, is set in Britain during the Middle Ages, as the bubonic plague is sweeping across the country. Young Robin wants to be a knight like his father, but his dreams are endangered when he loses the use of his legs. A doctor reassures Robin that the weakness in his legs is not caused by the plague and the doctor is supposed to come and help him but does not. His parents are away, serving the king and queen... during war, and the servants abandon the house, fearing the plague. Robin is saved by Brother Luke, a friar, who finds him and takes him to a monastery and cares for him. Brother Luke teaches Robin how to swim and carve wood and make a harp, also be independent and build self confidence, but Robin also learns patience and strength from the friar. The friar keeps telling him before overcoming a challenge you must first find "the door in the wall". Robin's parents had planned for him to become a knight and to stay with Sir Peter de Lindsay to be a page first.
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