The Secret Portal to Hollyville

By: TJ Zacher, T. Mittleider

Narrated by: Valerie Gilbert

Step through the portal and discover a place where courage matters, rules are strange, and nothing is quite what it seems.

In The Secret Portal to Hollyville, two curious kids stumble upon a hidden doorway that leads to an unexpected world filled with mystery, challenges, and moments that test their bravery and loyalty. What begins as ordinary curiosity quickly turns into an adventure that demands quick thinking, teamwork, and trust.

Written by a child and a parent, this middle-grade adventure blends imagination, humor, and heart. It’s a story for listeners who love fast-moving plots, surprising twists, and characters who grow stronger with every challenge they face.

Perfect for ages 9–14, The Secret Portal to Hollyville invites listeners to explore what happens when you dare to step into the unknown.

©2025 Tracy Mittleider (P)2026 Tracy Mittleider

A Cozy Escape That Kept Me Smiling

I started this during a busy week and kept finding reasons to come back. The world felt easy to get into, and the characters made even simple moments feel fun to follow. I liked how the pace stayed lively without feeling rushed. It worked great for winding down in the evenings and during quiet breaks. I finished it feeling relaxed, entertained, and honestly wishing there was more time to spend there.

A Story We’d Happily Listen to

This was such an enjoyable listen for our family. The adventure felt just right for kids. Fun, light, and engaging without being overwhelming! It kept our attention the whole time. The storytelling and narration made everything easy to imagine, almost like watching it unfold in our minds. We’d definitely listen to this again, and we’d be excited to grab the next story if there’s another one like it.

Interesting Characters and Story

This audiobook was fun and easy to listen to. The story is imaginative and keeps your interest as it follows the adventure through a magical world. The characters are enjoyable and the plot moves at a good pace. The narration was clear and helped bring the story to life. Overall, it’s an entertaining listen for anyone who enjoys light fantasy and adventure.

Authentic children think speak

My daughter and I listened to this during car rides, and we were both genuinely surprised by how engaging it became. The kid and parent writing team created something that feels authentic to how children actually think and speak, while the portal world had enough mystery to keep us both guessing. The challenges felt real without being too scary, and we found ourselves discussing the characters' choices long after turning it off.

Fun Adventure My Kid Loved

I got this for my kid and ended up listening along with them. The story pulled us in pretty quickly and kept things interesting the whole time. My kid was really into the characters and kept asking what would happen next. It had a good mix of adventure and a bit of mystery without being too intense. We started listening during downtime, and now it’s something we both look forward to. It’s a great pick if your kid enjoys fun, easy-to-follow stories.