Twelve year old Zoe, with help from her three companions, discovers a whole new world through an unlikely door. Once there she battles the Sequoians, who are trying to take control of this new world that she's come to love: Acadia. Along the way, Zoe makes unlikely friends and has close encounters with pirates, Samurai, and even killer whales. And ultimately Zoe is left with the decision of returning home or staying in Acadia.
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Chapter One, The Rope
Probably the worst thing about not being able to do something is having others watch, thinks Zoë as she struggles to climb up all the way to the top of the rope. Her arms ache and burn from holding herself up and from tugging ever upwards. She knows she's supposed to use her feet, but always forgets, so Zoë climbs mainly with her arms and her legs wrapped around the rope, hugging it with her legs, as her feet dangle uselessly.
She looks up and sees the bell she is supposed to ring to signal to everyone that she can make it to the top, but the bell seems like some airplane in the sky that is close but way out of reach. Zoë grits her teeth, not because of a renewed resolve, but because she feels a wave of defeat waft through her. All she can feel for herself is self disgust; how many times is it going to take before she can ring that stupid bell?
Zoë’s arms start to shake as they begin to fail on her. Now, she has a couple of different options: she can quickly slide down the rope, giving her stinging friction burns on her hands; she can let go of the rope and drop on her feet like a gymnast, but knows she is more likely to in fall in a heap; or she can climb down slowly, and with each hand that goes down the rope she would feel like more of a fool and more like the least dexterous person in the world, which is the option that she chooses.
Her feet are on the ground and Zoë is eye to eye with Beka who is wearing a sneer on that Nordic face with her blond hair, blue eyes, curly blond eyelashes, and thin face. Beka grabs the rope from out of Zoë’s hand, and she says, "See loser, I told you, you wouldn't be able to ring that bell. Maybe next time you'll let the people that can actually climb go first. Let me show you how it's done."
Zoë backs away, hating herself and Beka even more. There are six others near the bottom of the rope who are all waiting for a turn to try the rope. Zoë just happened to be the one who ran the fastest to get here. Even though Zoë detests Beka she can't help but watch Beka do what she cannot. Zoë backs up and bumps into someone.
Turning, she hears, "Watch where you're going," and Zoë sees the 2nd most person she can't stand at the orphanage, Louis, who just also happens to be Beka's best friend. Louis has an achingly handsome face and meticulously well groomed black hair that is slightly wavy.
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Chapter One, The Rope
Probably the worst thing about not being able to do something is having others watch, thinks Zoë as she struggles to climb up all the way to the top of the rope. Her arms ache and burn from holding herself up and from tugging ever upwards. She knows she's supposed to use her feet, but always forgets, so Zoë climbs mainly with her arms and her legs wrapped around the rope, hugging it with her legs, as her feet dangle uselessly.
She looks up and sees the bell she is supposed to ring to signal to everyone that she can make it to the top, but the bell seems like some airplane in the sky that is close but way out of reach. Zoë grits her teeth, not because of a renewed resolve, but because she feels a wave of defeat waft through her. All she can feel for herself is self disgust; how many times is it going to take before she can ring that stupid bell?
Zoë’s arms start to shake as they begin to fail on her. Now, she has a couple of different options: she can quickly slide down the rope, giving her stinging friction burns on her hands; she can let go of the rope and drop on her feet like a gymnast, but knows she is more likely to in fall in a heap; or she can climb down slowly, and with each hand that goes down the rope she would feel like more of a fool and more like the least dexterous person in the world, which is the option that she chooses.
Her feet are on the ground and Zoë is eye to eye with Beka who is wearing a sneer on that Nordic face with her blond hair, blue eyes, curly blond eyelashes, and thin face. Beka grabs the rope from out of Zoë’s hand, and she says, "See loser, I told you, you wouldn't be able to ring that bell. Maybe next time you'll let the people that can actually climb go first. Let me show you how it's done."
Zoë backs away, hating herself and Beka even more. There are six others near the bottom of the rope who are all waiting for a turn to try the rope. Zoë just happened to be the one who ran the fastest to get here. Even though Zoë detests Beka she can't help but watch Beka do what she cannot. Zoë backs up and bumps into someone.
Turning, she hears, "Watch where you're going," and Zoë sees the 2nd most person she can't stand at the orphanage, Louis, who just also happens to be Beka's best friend. Louis has an achingly handsome face and meticulously well groomed black hair that is slightly wavy.
