Quite an interesting title and very intriguing story of a girl named (yes, you guessed it right! January Scaller. The main theme or genre of the book is magic or fantasy YA. But I am glad to notice that it goes much beyond that.

This is the story of a young girl without any mother, vagabond father and no family to call her own; who is currently being raised by a foster father. That so-called foster father’s enormous house-cum-museum in Vermont becomes her sole refuge. Therefore, for her the only normal, permanent place in the world is that little grey room in the attic overlooking the lake waters.

That sense of detachment, of being-there-but-not-really-belonging-there kind of confusion often eclipses her thoughts. But this is the only life, only world she knows, right? Because her father – Julian has never been around much, he is always away on one or the other mission on behalf of her foster father. Her foster father/ guardian is Mr. Cornelius Locke; who comes across as a rich, powerful, wealthy, influential man with magnetic personality to call & ask people to do his bidding. It’s no surprise that Julian and January are with him for so long without as much a say about their life or future.

This all pretty much changes when January ‘discovers’ a blue door in a hayfield near an abandoned farm. At such a young age obviously she doesn’t notice the changes happening around because of her discovery of this mysterious door and what it could lead to. This proves to be the turning point in the story which unbeknownst to January brings total change in the attitude of Mr. Locke towards her.

Till this point, she is a lonely child having company of books and paperbacks supplied by her only childhood friend- Samuel Zappia. Because of whom she meets her best friend- a dog, aptly named as Sindbad after one of the legendary explorers and fondly called as Bad. Then one day Jane comes calling on her father’s invite to be by her side in the Locke House, eventually becoming her companion-cum-guardian.

With a shadowy, mysterious past to her credit; Jane manages to keep January safe more or less till that fateful night of Locke’s secret society party. On that particular day, January is more than puzzled by the discovery of a mysterious book presented by her father through a secret passageway. This book talking about doors (or as Locke’s people call them ‘aberration’) literally opens her up to a fascinating reality.

The story written so meticulously with fantasy realms as backdrop and real life people as characters holds January in rapt attention. The more she reads, the more it becomes clear about the true purpose of this book and what these events mentioned in it are alluding to.

This eventually culminates to January’s journey from mental asylum to chasing outcasts’ world near the Main coastline and furthermore. Well, revealing anything beyond this point will involve giving away the actual crux of this plot. So, it’s just safe to say that it becomes quite a thrilling ride to chase these Doors with January.

Anyone interested in fantasy or magic woven in their stories with a cool, balanced emotional connect with the characters can surely knock on these doors and they surely won’t be disappointed. Recommended read not only for YA age group but also for serious fiction lovers.