The Indian in the Cupboard

Title:  The Indian in the Cupboard
Author:  Lynne Reid Banks
Approximate reading level:  Sixth grade
Main character:  Omri, a young boy in England

Summary:  The book starts with Omri's birthday.  He receives several presents, including a plastic Indian from his friend Patrick and a cabinet from his brother Gillon.  Although the cabinet locks, there was no key left with the cabinet.  But Omri's mother has a collection of keys, and he finds one that fits.  Somewhere in the key, or the cabinet, or the combination of the two Omri discovers a magic that will change his life drastically.

Review:  The book takes place in England, so there may be a few words that may be difficult for American children to understand (Some examples include biscuit for cookie and lorry for car.  This fantasy does include magic, although it is never purposefully used for harm.  Omri is a young boy faced with a difficult decision and a sudden weight of responsibility, and he fares well.  The book is well-written, although again, there may be some difficulty with a few words due to language differences.

5 stars