Owen lives in Toronto, where school seems okay, if it wasn't for studying Shakespeare; apart from the bullies that is. I thought modern schools had a no-bullying policy but nobody has told James and Lucas. They pick on anyone new and articulate. Trying to avoid these idiots one day, Owen and two girl pals Bea and Emily run into an old bookshop. BATTLEDOORS: THE GOLDEN SLATE has been waiting for them.

The elderly bookseller, in an over-used trope, points them to a book they can read to have adventures. The old- fashioned book made of horn and vellum gives them a choice of the front door or the alley. As the two bullies pursue them into the shop, the three young students choose the alley... and where it leads them is not quite the Toronto they know. Unfortunately their problems are magnified by the fact that the bullies follow.

The vellum book Battledoors has now changed into something more suitable; a golden computer tablet. But it's not all that helpful and the index to it which Emily got, though it's a silver touchscreen too, is blank. Bea has some horn rings which don't seem to do anything. All the kids know is that they have to see the adventure through to the end -- like Jumanji -- and plenty of things here are not friendly.

Some character-forming incidents, otherwise known as battles, occur. As Owen has previously lost his mother, he can't stand the thought of letting anyone die, even an enemy. The fact that he helps the bullies is what starts them towards working as a team to outwit the characters and situations of the game or story. Wonder of wonders, the bullies begin to help the others rather than just run off and leave them. Maybe they've realised that they are all safer in a group than split.

I'm not sure what age this book is aimed at because my instinct is to say twelve or thirteen but the kids have cellphones (which don't work in the new world) and the bullying involves a flick-knife, while a later scene involves evisceration and someone choking on their own blood. Let's go with older teens; and parental guidance for younger teens. The writing style is basic description with touches of horror, though not as vivid as Maze Runner. Natives of Toronto will be interested in what becomes of Yonge and Dundas Square, while we get references to Greek myth and Harry Potter. BATTLEDOORS: THE GOLDEN SLATE by Brian Wilkinson emphasises that choices have consequences and there is no restarting and trying again in real life. I'm not delighted that the book ends without a conclusion and just gives us an ad for the next book.