The King in the Window facts for kids
The King in the Window is an exciting children's novel. It was written by an American author named Adam Gopnik. The book came out in 2005 from Hyperion Books. It tells the story of Oliver, a boy from America who lives in Paris. Oliver accidentally gets caught in a very old fight. This fight is between good spirits called Window Wraiths and a bad guy known as the Master of Mirrors. Oliver is mistaken for a special king, and that's how his adventure begins!
What the Story is About
The story starts on the night of Epiphany. This is a holiday where people often eat a special kingcake. Oliver eats his piece of cake and wears a gold paper crown. He looks out his window and sees a strange vision. It's another boy in the reflection.
This mysterious boy is a window wraith. He thinks Oliver is a new, important king. The wraith asks Oliver to use his sword and take back a magical kingdom. This invitation leads Oliver on a big adventure. It's a journey of self-discovery that might just save the whole world.
The Window Wraiths are a group of famous French poets and artists who have passed away. One of them is Molière. They believe Oliver is the king who will rescue them. They need saving from a powerful evil force. This force lives behind the mirrors of the world. It tries to trap the souls of people who look into mirrors for too long.
The idea of mirrors in the book is a nod to another famous story. It's like Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass. There's even an important character in the book who is related to Alice Liddell from that classic tale.
How the Book Was Made
In 2005, the author, Adam Gopnik, talked about his book. He explained that he got the idea for The King in the Window while living in Paris. He saw his own son celebrating Epiphany there. This experience inspired him to write the story.
Just like Oliver's dad in the book, Adam Gopnik also worked as a journalist in Paris. This helped him create a realistic setting for Oliver's adventures.
