FernFolio

For eleven-year-old twins, Jason and Julia Covenant, moving into Argo Manor, a rambling old house perched on a cliff over the sea in Cornwall, is the beginning of a strange and wonderful adventure. With their new friend, Rick Banner, they explore the many rooms of the house, particularly the odd tower room filled with model ships of every kind and the stone room with its ancient wooden door. That door fascinates the three kids. Where does it lead? Why does it appear to have been hacked at by an axe and burned? And where are the keys that open its four locks? When Jason, the dreamer, almost falls down the cliff to the sea, he makes a discovery that fires the children’s imagination, and inspires them to unlock, literally, the mysteries of the old wooden door.
Filled with odd references to ships, secret codes and ancient languages, this first book poses more questions than it answers. Who is Nestor, the caretaker, and with whom does he communicate? Why does Oblivia Newton want Argo Manor? Is Ulysses Moore really dead, and, if not, who haunts the old house on the cliff?
Our Boys’ Book Club selected this book for their first novel. So far, it has been a terrific success!
Fern Folio Editor