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When plaster chunks fall from his attic bedroom wall, waking him in the night, 12-year-old Henry begins work to chip away a wall of 99 hidden cupboards. He and his adventurous cousin Henrietta find the 100th cupboard in their deceased grandfather’s mysterious locked bedroom, a discovery that is a portal to and from the worlds behind the other cupboards. The intriguing cover art, title, and premise will suck in readers, who will find the Polly Horvath–like characters ultimately engaged in a battle against an evil witch, who enters their Kansas farmhouse through a cupboard. The story is chilling, but the creepy quotient never exceeds the book’s target audience. The last third of the book, with multiple shifts in time and place, may confuse younger readers. Many questions are also left unanswered (Who are Henry’s real parents? Which cupboard world did he come from?), and some of the world building is shrouded in too much mystery. Let’s hope the promised sequels explain what’s left unresolved here. Gr 47 Henry York, 12, discovers 99 different cupboard doors hidden behind the plaster in his attic bedroom, and one in the room that belonged to his deceased grandfather. Henry's not particularly brave; in fact, he has only recently stopped wearing a helmet to P.E. class. Nevertheless, he opens some of the doors, only to become more and more puzzled. One of them, for example, opens into a forest, and behind another, mail is delivered. Henry's nagging cousin Henrietta wants to explore further and decides to open a menacing black cupboard door. When he discovers her face-down with her ice-cold arm in the grip of someone inside the cupboard, the boy and his family are unwillingly pulled into a life-or-death adventure. While the first part of the book may seem slow to those thinking the title indicates an immediate portal into different realms, fans of dark fantasy will be intrigued by the unknown realities awaiting these unsuspecting people. The characters are especially memorable, with Henry's seemingly clueless Uncle Frank, whose laid-back style offers wit and energy, standing out most of all. The story is well crafted and gratifying but the resolution may prove challenging for some. Unanswered questions lead into the next book in the series. Robyn Gioia, Bolles School, Ponte Vedra, FL