LitPick Review
Shifting Portals by Kelsey Ruud is a fantasy book about some teenagers as they go on an adventurous journey to lift the curse placed on the Portal House. How would you feel if you found a house with a portal that could take you around the world? Well, Lizzie, a young girl who couldn't wait to get home after spending the summer in California, thought about her friends and more importantly, a secret. She had found a Portal House with her friend Johnny, which could take them anywhere in the world. When she arrived in Portland, her home, she tried to stay patient until it was nighttime. When she finally got to visit the House, she noticed the Portal House was not responding well, which was unlike it, and so she thought something was up. It turns out it was cursed by Oliver, an evil warlock. With the help of Armand, her friend Inés, Armand's grandmother, and Johnny, they searched for ways to lift the curse. Would they succeed? What events would unfold as they embark on this journey?
Opinion:
Shifting Portals is a riveting book as it takes us into different parts of the world such as a journey to France where Inés and Armand live, and also a journey to New York where Chris lives. The journeys were made through the House Portal, and I find it quite amusing as their destination is usually to weird places, like when they went to New York and they landed in Sarah's boutique! The plot is gripping as the characters are faced with villains like the evil warlord who attempted to capture them in secret. The cast is great, and I came to love some of them for their amazing friendship which blossomed after the discovery of the magic house and their amicable qualities which included being open-minded and determined. I love the protagonist who is a young teenage girl, She tried her best to help her friends even if it meant risking her sleep since she could only have access to the House Portal at night. She undeniably expressed a caring and patient quality. I also appreciate the author's style of writing and how she depicts each character's facial expressions. For example, as seen in page 94 of the book, Lizzie had a cold look on her face as she suspected Chris was the one putting them in danger. Overall, the book is an interesting mixture of fantasy and adventure.
