British crime fiction writer John Connolly tries something a little different with THE GATES, a funny, well-plotted story about a trip to hell taken by young Samuel Johnson and his little dachshund Boswell. Maybe he should have known not to knock on 666 Crowley Road a few days before Halloween, but there's no way Samuel could have anticipated seeing four amateur wizards conjuring open a gateway to hell! Taking matters into his own curious little hands, Samuel descends. Fortunately, hell is populated by quirky demons (and its streets are named for famous mystery writers), because the devil that Connolly describes is downright frightening! Appropriate for horror-curious young adults and fun-loving adults.