100 Cupboards facts for kids
The cover of the first edition.
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| Author | N. D. Wilson |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | The 100 Cupboards Trilogy |
| Genre | Fantasy/ children's literature |
| Published | 2007 (Random House Children's Books) |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 304 |
| ISBN | 978-0-375-83881-1 |
| Followed by | Dandelion Fire |
100 Cupboards is an exciting fantasy book for children written by N. D. Wilson. It was first published in 2007. This book is the first part of a series called The 100 Cupboards Trilogy. The story continues in Dandelion Fire and The Chestnut King.
Story Summary
The adventure begins when Henry York, a young boy, has to move to Henry, Kansas. He goes to live with his Uncle Frank, Aunt Dotty, and his cousins Penelope, Henrietta, and Anastasia. This happens after his parents mysteriously disappear while on a bike trip in South America.
On his very first night, Henry explores his new home. He sneaks out of his attic bedroom to find the bathroom. Instead, he sees a mysterious short man come out of the bathroom. This man then enters his Grandfather's bedroom, a room that has been locked since Grandfather passed away two years ago.
A few nights later, the wall in Henry's attic bedroom starts to crumble. This reveals two special locks and a hundred small, hidden cupboards! When Henry and Henrietta are home alone, they find a key in one of the cupboards they manage to open. This key unlocks the door to Grandfather's bedroom. Inside, they discover a journal that has a map of all the cupboards.
One morning, Henrietta suddenly vanishes. Henry finds a journal entry that explains how the cupboards work. He bravely crawls through a cupboard in Grandfather's room to find her. After many strange adventures, he finds Henrietta in a grand ballroom in a ruined city. They can't get back until the special cupboard locks are reset. They hide in a dark cupboard and witness a group of people with wolf-like creatures called "Witch-Dogs" attack another group.
Meanwhile, Uncle Frank tries to find Henry and Henrietta. Aunt Dotty tells Penelope and Anastasia that Frank came from another world through the cupboards a long time ago. She also explains that their great-grandfather actually created these magical cupboards. But Frank is too late! A Witch and her cat appear from the Endor (8th) cupboard and injure Frank. This witch is Nimiane, and she has become stronger because of Henry's blood.
Aunt Dotty, Penelope, and Anastasia rush to see what's happening. Aunt Dotty also becomes unwell, just like Frank. Henry and Henrietta emerge from their hiding spot and struggle with the witch. Luckily, Zeke, a boy who was just visiting to play baseball, knocks her out with his baseball bat! The children push the witch through the cupboard into an unknown place. Frank and Dotty are rushed to the hospital and get better.
Later, Henrietta discovers a creature that looks like a small flying rhino in one of the cupboards. This creature, called a raggant, was the one banging against his cupboard, which caused the wall to break. Uncle Frank tells Henry that he also came from one of the cupboards as a child. He explains that the raggant was sent by someone to find him. The book ends with Henry receiving another threatening letter, showing that Nimiane has recovered and is planning something in one of the places beyond the cupboards.
Main Characters
- Henry York - He is the 12-year-old main character of the story. Henry lived with his adopted parents, Phil and Ursula, who were kidnapped shortly before the book begins. When he moves in with his aunt and uncle, Henry learns that he actually came from a world beyond the cupboards.
- Frank Willis - His real name is Francis. As a teenager, he traveled through a portal into Kansas, where he married Dorothy ("Dotty"). They have three daughters: Penelope, Henrietta, and Anastasia.
- Henrietta Willis - She is the middle daughter of Frank and Dorothy. Henrietta is known for being stubborn and very curious. She has dark curly hair and green eyes.
- Penelope Willis - She is the oldest Willis daughter, sometimes called "Penny." She has almost black hair and often acts like she is too grown-up for make-believe games.
- Anastasia Willis - She is the youngest Willis daughter. Anastasia is small and strong for a nine-year-old. She has freckles and brown hair that "looked like it wanted to be red." She can sometimes be a bit rude and likes to know everyone's business.
- Dorothy Willis - Her husband calls her "Dots," and others call her "Dotty." She is the sister of Ursula, who is Henry's adopted mother.
Film Adaptation
Beloved Pictures bought the rights to make a movie based on the book in the summer of 2010. The CEO, Michael Ludlum, said:
"This is truly one of the most outstanding works of fiction our company has ever had the pleasure to read. Wilson is an incredible writer with an imagination that knows no bounds. We are thrilled to help bring this instant classic to the screen, and believe it will gain the same kind of fan loyalty and passion as other successful book-to-film brands."
