The Keys to the Kingdom: Mister Monday by Garth Nix

"Arthur Penhaligon's school year is not off to a good start. On his first day, he suffers an asthma attack while running cross country and dreams that a mysterious figure hands him a key shaped like the minute hand of a clock. However, when he wakes up, he still has the key. That's when strange things begin to happen. Mister Monday dispatches terrifying, dog-faced Fetchers to retrieve it, a bizarre sleeping illness sweeps the city, and only Arthur can see the weird new house that appears in his neighborhood. The seventh grader knows it all has something to do with the key, one of seven elusive fragments of the Will to which he has become heir apparent, and a mysterious atlas. When he ventures inside the house, he meets more strange characters than he could have imagined, none of whom are what they seem. And, of course, he must battle Monday, who will do anything to get the key back. With the help of the key, Arthur must fight his way out."

I am finding it harder to decide what book I should read next, so I have asked my sister to start helping me with my decision making. (AKA just randomly choosing a book for me) This is the first one she chose, and I was impressed. I have been wanting to read this book ever since my friends bought it back when I was close to the age range the book was made for. Now I am wishing I did not put if off for so long.

I liked the premise of the book, and the story line did have potential, but I did not like Nix's writing style. More than once I was wanted more from him descriptively and in dialogue. He also introduced us to characters that would have seemed to play a bigger part in the story than they actually did. One minute they looked as if to become partners in crime than they next they are no where to be seen.

It took be much longer to finish this book than I wanted, and almost gave up on it a couple of times. But I did finish it! This could be a good middle grade book, and hope that if you did like this book, that the series got better as the books went on.
I give this book a one out of five stars.

 P.S. Please remember that these are just my opinions of these books as I am sure that there are others out there that have enjoyed them.