I've been looking forward to having time to dive into today's read. This is the second book in a series (of course, I didn't read the first) and centers around a girl, who can speak with clothes...or to the ghosts through the clothes? It should hold a fun mystery and takes an historical twist. I'm looking forward to seeing how the tale runs, so let's take a peek!
THE OLD SECRET AT HOTEL OREGON
Sara and the Ghost Clothes
by Debbie Noble Black
Coalesce Press
Middle Grade Historical / Paranormal
219 pages
ages 8 to 12
The old hotel's bizarre paintings are hiding a secret. Sara can feel it.
The very walls of 100-year-old Hotel Oregon vibrate with magic. But is it good magic?
When Sara discovers twelve ghost children trapped in one of the paintings by a witch's curse, she must use her wits to save them before the fast-approaching eclipse make the curse permanent. She's in a high-stakes battle against two formidable foes--evil magic and the ticking clock.
To make matters worse, she needs the help of the one person she can't truly trust--who likely wouldn't care if she failed.
Not once, but twice.
The very walls of 100-year-old Hotel Oregon vibrate with magic. But is it good magic?
When Sara discovers twelve ghost children trapped in one of the paintings by a witch's curse, she must use her wits to save them before the fast-approaching eclipse make the curse permanent. She's in a high-stakes battle against two formidable foes--evil magic and the ticking clock.
To make matters worse, she needs the help of the one person she can't truly trust--who likely wouldn't care if she failed.
Not once, but twice.
MY TIDBITS
History and knowledge mix with ghosts and mystery to create a fun read full of surprises, perfect for the younger end of the middle grade audience.
Sara is still trying her best to behave in a way that keeps the kids at school from making fun of her. Now, that the mean girl of the class is gone, it should be easier, but if anyone finds out that she believes in magic, she's done. So when she's chosen to represent the class in a contest (and a Disneyland trip is at stake), she feels doomed, especially since no one in her family has the time required to stand at her side as her 'family' in the contest...except for her brother, who is no help at all. To add to the mess, the family is taking a weekend trip to Oregon, and there she discovers an odd magic with paintings, which speak to her. The portrayed children need help, but she has no idea what to do...and yet, she's the only one who can make a difference.
I didn't read the first book in this series and would recommend picking it up before diving into this one, since the characters and background do help sink into the story. But it's not too hard to grab this one up on its own, either.
There's quite a bit of goodness in these pages. Sara is still suffering from being bullied and is on a journey to learn to stand firm and proud of who she is. This as well as her kind and open spirit make her very easy to root for. Her magical ability to talk to clothes and more, adds a fun twist to create a character to be friends with and root for. Her family is also very supportive, and the difficulties with her brother come across as familiar for those with siblings.
The mystery is well-laid and mixes nicely with the paranormal direction. The ghosts...or objects which speak...fit well to the lower end of this age group with the extra touch of playful imagination, although I'm not sure it works quite as well for the older end of the age group. The author also weaves in a bit of facts to add a light, informative twist. Everything from recipes to maps grounds while sliding in some learning fun. It's nicely done.
This is an enjoyable read, which I can recommend to ghost and mystery fans, who enjoy a lighter atmosphere and adventure with the magical fun.
1 comment:
This sounds like a great story. I like that the magic is in a picture and that it's historical too. It's good to know you don't have to start with book 1.
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