A review by readingrobyn
The Door in the Hedge by Robin McKinley

2.0

The Door in the Hedge is a collection of fairytale short stories very much in line with the classics. The tone of the collection reads more like early middle grade stories than young adult. Think more like a bedtime story. I think I would have enjoyed this collection as a young kid, but I did not realize going into this now that the stories would skew so young and lack the teeth I expect in retold fairytales for young adults.

I found that the storytelling also lacked quality. The characters were all very static and the endings each felt super unearned. The protagonists don't succeed because they are clever or brave or kind, but because they are in the right place at the right time. The number of incredibly convient story turns and by-the-numbers plotting just felt strange coming from such an experienced author. It was disappointing.