I liked it, yet I struggled with this book too! What I liked: The adventure and world building into this new fantasy land, basically I wished this whole story took place in Alderland. What I struggled with: 1) Romance. At 12 years old I really don't like when romance is included, it's just too young! Multiple times characters kissed and then also had extra feelings from the kiss (flushed cheeks, etc). Just too much for such a young age in my opinion. 2) Pacing. The adventure was fun but it was just one thing to the next without deeper character development. I didn't feel like I had adequate time to take in each scene before the next began. 3) Character relatability. The main character just seemed too good, with no flaws. I can't really relate to a character that is always doing the right thing and doesn't make mistakes or mess up really like normal. Honestly, I think we need more characters who have flaws so that we can see and experience character development and changes. I don't think I will continue on in the series mainly due to the content already added for this target age group. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book! It's a fast-paced mystery with a touch of fantasy, where Beth and her friends investigate a creepy theater and uncover secrets about her past. While the ending felt a bit abrupt, the mix of suspense and magical elements made it an exciting read, and I’m curious to see what happens next in the series.

What worked:
The story follows Beth as she wants to investigate the disappearance of a friend named Brent. Readers may be surprised to learn that her two best friends are starkly different from each other. Stan is an unpopular nerd with unusual quirks; he thinks dressing in green shorts, a green shirt, and a green fedora will act as camouflage in the woods. On the other hand, Teri is tall and pretty and she’s one of the most popular girls in school. Readers will know there’s something different about Beth as she wears an amulet that appears to glow. She dreams of places she’s never been only to discover they actually exist. She’s told she was lucky to escape the car accident that killed her parents when she was four but her aunt won’t talk about it. Beth has questions and the answers make her wonder about what she’s been told.
The theater is portrayed as a spooky, dangerous place that is off-limits to everyone. The theater owner disappeared years ago and now Brent is gone too. Beth’s aunt makes Beth promise that she’ll stay away from it but readers know that promise will soon be broken. Stan’s uncle was in the audience when the owner disappeared but he’s unable to recall any details from that night. No one fleeing the theater can remember exactly what happened. This leaves readers to speculate about the possibilities. Are the owner and Brent dead, murdered by an unknown villain? Did the owner’s wife commit the crime? The police bring her in for questioning. Perhaps something more magical is happening that might explain Beth’s amulet and premonitions. Could there be a hidden portal leading to another world?
The author artfully uses words and language to create moods and set scenes. When the kids first travel to the theater, they must maneuver a raft across a lake to reach it. At first, the lake has “gentle waves”, and fresh air “at this early hour”, and the raft drifts as the sun rises. The scene shifts once they make it across as “the sun’s rays flickered”, “an ominous shadow fell over the raft”, and the ground below the cliff was “untamed, overgrown”. Swaying branches seemed to “beckon them forward with long, slender fingers.” Once inside the theater, the kids hear clicking sounds that are “massive black crows” pecking at the skylight, blocking out the sun, “casting a shadow through the theater”.
What didn’t work as well:
The truth behind Beth’s past isn’t too hard to predict for experienced readers. The clues are all there and a character later in the book even tells Beth that she’s probably already figured it out on her own.
The final verdict:
The book’s second half has more action than the first as Beth starts to unravel the truth about her life. Shocking reunions await and Beth becomes an important factor in a war to save all worlds. There’s a medieval feel later in the story with magical elements mixed in. Overall, this should be a fascinating series to follow and I recommend you give this first book a shot.

*thank you to NetGalley for giving me access*
3 stars
This book was middle grade and while I like reading that genre, I am a 23-year-old woman and therefore not the target audience. The book did not interest me that much and I felt it dragged in certain places and then skipped ahead too much in others. It also had a few grammatical issues at the start of the book but I'm sure this will be fixed before publication.
I did like the concept of this book and while I may not be the target audience, I think it has potential to be popular with younger readers and hopefully the author gets the chance to write a sequel because this book does end on a cliffhanger.

What a wonderful YA novel this is! The story starts out as a mystery surrounding a mysterious old theatre where something ominous happened 8 years ago which resulted in the disappearance of a man named Mr Winnodov. In present day a boy goes missing from the exact same place & Beth & her friends set out to find out what happened.

Beth finds out her life hasn’t actually been what she thought it was, as the children find themselves in another world & in a battle to save Alderland!

The story is compelling & fast paced, & it manages to mix mystery & fantasy perfectly, I even found myself thinking how wonderfully Narnian Alderland sounds!

This book is a lovely read for all ages & I am definitely looking forward to another book in the series.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

This was a great story. It had moments full of tension and suspense and then some more light hearted moments. I read it on Haloween and there were some creepy parts just perfect for the day. I really felt for all of the children. They all went on the adventure to find a friend and they found out a lot more than that. Beth gets some answers about her parents and their accident and in doing so, finds out a lot more about her history. Her friends support her all the way through, even during the dangerous and scary times. I hope there is a 2nd one coming.

I loved the characters and how loyal they are to each other as they risk so much to find their missing friend. Even when they are tossed into a different world filled with danger and frightening situations, they are always ready to jump to protect each other. I wish the ending was a little less abrupt but it also leave much to the imagination. Especially with Beth and Brent. I know a bunch of my customers who are going to love this book.

I loved the concept of this story. The author’s world building is excellent and the range of characters interesting. As this is the first book in a series, it would have been easy to have information dumps but this hasn’t happened. The pace is good and we are learn about some characters. I am sure there will be more in-depth coverage of those we didn’t, in future books.

A spooky and engaging Y/A book that I thoroughly enjoyed! Highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC

The Abandoned Theater by Dana Robertson is a super fun read with some good twists! Good book for all ages to enjoy! Can’t wait for the next one:))) will recommend to friends!

I was fortunate to get an advanced reader copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. In this compelling young adult novel, the Springvale theater, a relic of past performances, holds dark secrets from eight years ago when Mr. Winnodov mysteriously vanished during what ultimately became the last show. Fast forward to the present, and a new mystery unfolds as a group of children sneaks into the theater—only for one to go missing.
Beth Shoner, who discovers that the missing child is someone she knows, is propelled into a race against time with her friends to uncover the truth. As they delve deeper, Beth realizes that the past eight years of her life may not be what they seemed, and she finds herself in a pivotal role—her choices could mean the difference between rescue and disaster.
This story is a briskly paced adventure, making it an easy and engaging read. However, the rapid tempo occasionally leaves little room for deeper exploration, which might leave some adult readers craving more nuance. Nevertheless, its accessibility makes it a perfect fit for middle-grade readers.
The novel masterfully weaves together elements of thriller, mystery, and fantasy, all while tackling significant themes like grief, divorce, and the complexities of young friendships. The character development is particularly strong, allowing readers to form genuine connections with Beth and her companions.
Overall, this book is a delightful journey filled with suspense and heart, making it a must-read for young adults and anyone who enjoys a well-crafted tale of discovery and resilience.

this was a very engaging book!! the characters were fleshed out and the story had depth to it, not to mention that it dealt with a myriad of different themes; it was wonderfully layered!

A seriously spooky YA Horror story melds seamlessly into Epic Fantasy while also coping with overtones of life issues such as divorce, parental fatalities, parents acting out, friendships vs. cliques, town and familial secretkeeping. The characters are engaging and the story holds a plethora of surprises, encased in a lyrical, imaginative, writing style.