''Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All'' is a young adult novel by

Laura Ruby Laura Ruby is the author of twelve books, including ''Bone Gap'', winner of the 2016 Printz Award and finalist for the 2015 National Book Award. ''Bone Gap'' is a coming-of-age mystery about a kidnapping in a small Midwestern town, and it incorp ...

, published October 1, 2019, by

Balzer + Bray HarperCollins Publishers LLC is one of the Big Five English-language publishing companies, alongside Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, and Macmillan. The company is headquartered in New York City and is a subsidiary of News Co ...

Plot

Critical reception

''Thirteen Doors, Wolves Behind Them All'' received starred reviews from '' School Library Journal'' and '' Booklist''. ''School Library Journal'''s Liz Overber wrote that "powerful plotting, masterful character development, and a unique narrative device set this work apart." She compared the novel to ''

Code Name Verity ''Code Name Verity'' is a young adult historical fiction novel by Elizabeth Wein that was published in 2012. It focuses on the friendship between two young British women, one English and one Scottish, in World War II – a spy captured by the N ...

'' and '' The Book Thief''. ''Booklist'''s Sarah Hunter highlighted how "Ruby’s delicate, powerful storytelling—it’s as if each word carries deliberate weight—draws out potent connections among women living in different eras, and the places where their stories overlap captivatingly demonstrate the varied ways anger, love, strength, vengeance, and forgiveness appear. If that sounds esoteric, never fear: Ruby’s well-wrought, multifaceted characters, both living and dead, are front and center of this moving novel. But the constellation collectively shaped by those characters’ stories reveals profound, bewitching truths about the vast, sometimes cruel, sometimes loving, possibilities of human nature." Common Sense Media gave the novel five stars, calling it a "haunting and unforgettable novel of love, loss, and hope." ''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...

'' referred to the novel as "A layered, empathetic examination of the ghosts inside all girls’ lives, full of historical realism and timeless feeling." '' Publishers Weekly'' called it "evocative" and stated, "Though a slow unspooling may frustrate some, the women’s resonant journeys, marked by desire and betrayal, thoughtfully illuminate the deep harm that women and girls suffer at the hands of a patriarchal society as well as the importance of living fully." '' The New York Times'' also provided a positive review''.'' The audiobook, narrated by Lisa Flanagan, also received a positive review from '' Booklist'', who highlighted how Flanagan's voice mirrored the tone of the work. They further noted that "Flanagan’s voice manifesting burgeoning gravitas ... will propel both teens to open the doorways and confront the necessary challenges to move forward toward freedom."

Awards and honors

Both the book and audiobook editions of ''Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All'' are Junior Library Guild books.

References

2019 American novels Balzer + Bray books {{2010s-ya-novel-stub