ABOUT THIS BOOK

Without even noticing, 15-year-old Katherine has become the head of her household. She hasn't had time to notice. Her single mother, an out-of-work alcoholic, has been in bed for weeks, leaving Katherine and her three younger siblings to band together and fend for themselves. But it has gotten harder and harder to maintain any sort of stability. There's no time for housework, food and money are running out, and the kids' teachers are starting to get suspicious. Worst of all, Katherine's youngest sister, Alisa, seems to be losing her grip on reality; she is obsessed with finding a door to the imaginary land of Narnia. And the longer they all struggle to maintain their pretense of normality, the more they have to fear--and to lose.


REVIEWS

"Sad, powerful, and compelling."
--VOYA, starred review

"This story of siblings trying their best to survive without a functioning parent [will] pull in almost every YA reader. . . . Memorable."
--KLIATT, starred review

"A painful, authentic story."
--Booklist

"Katherine's hard-edged and driven narration will draw teens."
--The Bulletin


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Heather Quarles received her M.F.A. from Emerson College. A Door Near Here was her master's thesis.


AWARDS

WINNER 2001 - Virginia Young Readers Program Award
WINNER 1997 - Delacorte Press Prize for a First Young Adult Novel
WINNER 1999 - Texas TAYSHAS High School Reading List
WINNER 1999 - ALA Best Books for Young Adults