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''The Forgotten Door'' is a children's novel by Creator/AlexanderKey first published in 1965.

Due to its inclusion in many elementary school required reading lists, the book has survived on mediocre popularity, and remains one of the few books by its author still in print.

The plot concerns a young boy, Jon, who accidentally 'falls' to Earth through the titular portal. Accustomed as he is to his utopian, pacifistic, vegetarian, and money-free world, Jon's bewildered attempts to connect with the petty grievances of Earthlings serve as foil to the reader; and while there is some action and suspense, the main tension of the story comes from the sympathetic family that shelters Jon being forced to confront their own complacency towards the injustices of their world while trying to make Jon understand that this is just how life is -- but of course, for Jon and his world, it isn't.

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!!This book provides examples of:
* AdultsAreUseless: Averted. Most of the book is about the Beans trying to help Jon.
* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: The Pitts and Macklins hate John because he seems strange to them.
* AliensSpeakingEnglish: Averted, though he is a very quick learner.
* ButNowIMustGo: Inverted. When [[spoiler: Jon's birth family come through the door to bring him back to their world]], the Beans are worried what will happen to them but tell him to go. [[spoiler: He insists on bringing them with him, so they don't have to be afraid of the government taking revenge on them and so they can see his peaceful world for themselves.]]
* CapturedSuperEntity: The government tries to make Jon into one.
* FluffyTamer: Jon manages to play with Rascal, the dog Thomas Bean had just about given up on taming.
* GoodCannotComprehendEvil: Averted, but Jon has a lot of [[FishOutOfWater culture shock]] about the deception and violence on Earth.
* GoodIsDumb: The Beans use Jon's telepathy to clear him of a charge of theft, without thinking that [[TheEndJustifiesTheMeans the government]] might [[OutOfTheFryingPan try to kidnap Jon for devious purposes.]] Earlier when Thomas asks if they should ask for advice Mary Bean only worries about reporters.
* IdentityAmnesia: After [[TraumaInducedAmnesia falling and hitting his head]], Jon forgets who he is and where he came from.
* HumanAliens: Jon.
* InWhichATropeIsDescribed: Each chapter title is a sentence beginning with "He..." as in "He is Lost and Found" and "He Gains a Home."
* KeepingSecretsSucks: Jon is unhappy with the idea of pretending to be the child of a friend of Thomas Bean.
* LivingLieDetector: Due to his telepathy. It becomes a problem later on.
* PerfectPacifistPeople: Jon's world is an ideal utopia where violence is unknown.
* PoweredByAForsakenChild: The author never explains exactly how the U.S. government wants to use Jon's telepathy, but it doesn't sound good. Mary Bean thinks it might involve warfare.
* SmallTowns: The Beans live in a small town, and everyone who grew up there knows who is related to (and will provide an alibi) to whom.
* {{Telepathy}}: Jon is able to read others' minds as well as [[SpeaksFluentAnimal animals]].

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