The Old Secret at Hotel Oregon by Debbie Noble Black

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.

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON

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.

The World of Maxime by Lucile de Peslouan

 Today's read heads in a direction, I personally, love—books written in other languages/cultures and translated into English. Especially since these book, obviously, have done so far. This one centers around a boy, an elderly woman, and a cat. And I'm hoping it packs tons of heart.

Let's find out!

THE WORLD OF MAXIME

by Lucile de Peslouan

Illustrated by Jacques Goldstyn

Greystone Kids

Children's Fiction

112 pages

ages 7 to 10

COMING...

MAY 20th!!!

For fans of Katie the Catsitter and Matilda, comes a heartwarming story for kids ages 7-10 about finding courage and discovering the possibility of new friendships.

Maxime is ten years old. Her favorite things are her books and cats—especially her own cat, Turmeric. Like Matilda, the heroine of her favorite book, she feels different. She wouldn’t mind being like other kids but they make so much noise, it hurts her ears. So, her friends are the characters in her books, and her cat. If she were brave enough, she would talk to the new girl at school, who carries a copy of Matilda in her book bag.

One day, she finds some mysterious bowls in the alley behind her house. She dresses up like a detective in order to investigate and meets an older woman, Catamou, who feeds the neighborhood's stray cats. Soon enough, the two become friends. Maxime confides in Catamou, who encourages her to introduce herself to the new girl at school.

This heartwarming story by award-winning author Lucile de Pesloüan is told alongside graphic-style illustrations by celebrated artist Jacques Goldstyn.

An ode to cat-lovers, The World of Maxime is a celebration of friendship and an inspiring story about finding confidence in yourself.

GOODREADS   /     AMAZON     /     B&N

MY TIDBITS

Courage, mystery, and the love for cats makes this a read to get lost in and enjoy over and over again.

Maxime loves two things in life: reading and cats. She's not a fan of school, and definitely not of the books they have to read there...which says a lot since she loves books. She also doesn't like all the rules her working mother lays down, and one of those is not to feed any cats but your own. Which Maxime obeys right along with the rest even if not happily. But then, she discovers empty cat food bowls around the neighborhood and realizes that something is going on. Now, she's on a mission to figure out who is behind the odd bowls.

This is a lovely tale, which will hit home with young readers and give them a character to understand and connect with. Maxime's likes and dislikes make sense and strike a chord. While she's kind and mostly a 'good girl', she still has a slightly rebellious side and enough curiosity to drive independence. Readers will be right with her as she takes matters into her own hands, wields her detective gear (so cute!), and heads out to solve the mystery. It's easy to root for her and inspiring when she meets someone, who challenges her and opens her up to something she didn't even know she was missing. In other words, this is a grabbing tale with tons of goodness and keeps the readers in the tale until the very end.

Despite the heavier page count, this is a picture book, and it works splendidly. There's a short paragraph or two on each page, which is very appropriate for chapter book readers, who love picture books while knowing their words pretty well.  It is even still very do-able as a read-aloud for the middle and upper end of the usual picture book audience. The vocabulary is appropriate for the level, and the plot keeps the pace high and interesting.

The illustrations draw in and can be flipped through by non-readers, who want to enjoy the 'story' on their own. There are many details worked into the settings, and each one strengthens the atmosphere as needed. Especially seeing Maxime frustrated or dealing with daily life adds a slight bit of humor and her detective skills are more than entertaining.

This is a grabbing read from beginning to end and is sure to be a favorite for readers...especially cat and mystery fans.

And here they are...

Lucile de Pesloüan began to publish her writing in the form of fanzines in 2012, under the name of Shushanna Bikini London. Her first book, the graphic novel What Makes Girls Sick and Tired, has won many prizes. She lives in Montreal, Quebec.

Jacques Goldstyn is an illustrator and a political cartoonist who began life as a geologist. He received the Governor General’s Award in 2017 for his book Azadah and was inducted to the Canadian Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2018. His graphic novel, The Stars, was also published by Aldana Libros.

Angels in the Sand by Lori Keating

I'm taking a more serious turn today and picking up a middle grade novel, which addresses a difficult theme: grief at the loss of a loved one. It's been getting great reviews and should take a Christian lean.

So, let's take a peek!

ANGELS IN THE SAND

by Lori Keating

Monarch Educational Services

Middle Grade Contemporary

112 pages

ages 8 to 12

Not long after losing her father, ten-year-old Jess Alexander faces devastating news when her grandmother is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Jess travels from Florida to Bangor, Maine, to spend one last Christmas with her grandma and complete their shared "must-do" list.

The following Christmas, as Jess reminisces about her grandma, she receives a surprise that makes her wonder if her grandma is still watching over her.

Jess's journey takes her through a spectrum of emotions, forcing her to confront the limits of life and the unyielding power of love.

Content death of father, grandmother; grief, loss

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON    /     B&N

MY TIDBITS

Wholesome care, warmth, and empathy coat these pages like a hug and leave the reader with a sense of hope.

Ten-year-old Jess and her mother have, finally, snuggled into a good place after the death of the father when the news comes that their last living relative, Grandma, has stage four cancer. Since this is discovered only days before their Christmas vacation to visit her, Jess decides to create a to-do list with all of her and her grandmother's favorite things. This includes tons of snow angels. Despite the amazing attitude grandmother shares, Jess knows what is coming. Plus, the loss of her father still stings, at times.

The author approaches death from a Christian and wholesome point of view to create a gentle and very caring atmosphere. While the sense of loss and grief are, of course, there and Jess does, obviously, feel the weight at the loss of her father...later, her grandmother...the mother or someone else is there for her. And visa-versa. Even the grandmother holds faith close and is like a shining light of goodness. About half-way through the book, the plot shifts a bit to bring in the hope and possibilities life still has in store for the living. This doesn't cancel the grief but demonstrates that wonderful moments are still to come. Plus, the author weaves in the constant reminder of remembering loved ones through an idea that they watch us even though they've passed on.

All of this is told from Jess' point of view and does a lovely job at staying at the middle grade level. The stages of grief are subtly visited and demonstrate how Jess moves through. It's a very positive read through and through and doesn't down-play the grief, either, but rather keeps faith at the forefront and demonstrates how much a treasure true support from others can be.

A Burning in the Bones by Scott Reintgen

I've been very excited to dive into today's read. It's the last in the WaxWays series, and I did read the first book, A Door in the Darkness, when it hit the market in 2023. I loved that first book...somehow, managed to sleep through the release of book two...but got my little hands on this last one, so I can end the series, at least. 

I'm curious if this skipping over the middle will cause problems or not, or if the tale is as exciting and wonderful as I remember it to be?

Let's find out!

(Note: This one is headed to my possible favorites of 2025 list)

A BURNING IN THE BONES

Waxways #3 

by Scott Reintgen

Margaret K. McEldberry Books

YA Fantasy

544 pages

Ren’s quest to dismantle Kathor’s corrupt system comes to a head as political machinations and a mysterious disease take hold of the city in this edge-of-your-seat conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Waxways series.

After taking control of House Brood, Ren and Theo dreamed of using their newfound influence to change the rest of Kathor, but now they find their efforts being countered by the other great houses, who have no interest in a world where they enjoy less power.

No one understands that better than the Tin’Vori siblings. The return of their ancestral home was a decade in the making, but they’re eager to keep rising from the ashes. Nevelyn begins researching House Brood—and ends up face-to-face with an enemy that’s already slouching toward the gates of the city. The one enemy no one can a plague.

The victims experience strange bruising, an unquenchable thirst, and a temporary disruption in magic. When doctors trace the illness to its source, they find another corpses placed in strategic locations around the city. As Ren leads the hunt for the culprits, she’ll find herself two steps behind a devious enemy whose sights are set on an unexpected the city’s magic.

Survival will require every ounce of their skill, every bond old and new, or else the future Ren and Theo have worked to build will burn down with the rest of the world.

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON     /     B&N

MY TIDBITS

Tense and fast-paced, this is a read that drives forward the entire way through.

I'd read the first in this series, missed the second, and grabbed up this one, and surprisingly, this wasn't a huge issue thanks to the way the author sets it up. Granted, reading this one from beginning to end would still be recommend, since the story builds.

The read rotates between several characters and does so with finesse. Mercy is now added to the mix as she deals with a mysterious disease outbreak. Ren and Theo have their hands full with running House Brood and are coming to terms with the workload involved, and Nevelyn, while at first more on the side, runs across some interesting information surrounding House Brood. While these threads begin separately, they weave ever closer together to create a grabbing plot with tons of intrigue and more.

The pacing runs a similar course. While the starting scenes draw in, the first chapters allow the reader to sink into each character's situation and allow depth to sink in as to what they are up against. Before this can begin to drag, the action shoots high taking the tension and intrigue with it. The scenes hook and make it hard to put the read down, since something is always happening and each event carries impact. This is sold as YA, although the characters don't really give that feel, anymore, and come across with adult maturity. It is appropriate, however, for the age group.

A lot of secrets and past situations are exposed, some expected and others not. Not everything is addressed, and Theo doesn't reach the depth the others do, but this also adds a more natural feel since life doesn't clearly wrap everything with nice bows, either. The emotions run high, making the characters no problem to root for as they make understandable decisions. Especially Ren takes the reigns and creates a cause to root for and keeps the reader on the edge of their seats. 

This is a very, grabbing read and rounds off the series nicely. 

And here he is...

Scott Reintgen is a former public school teacher from North Carolina. When he’s not writing, he uses his imagination to entertain his wife, Katie, and their three children. Scott is the New York Times bestselling author of the Waxways series, the Nyxia trilogy, the Dragonships series, and the Celia Cleary series for younger readers. You can find him on Instagram @Reintgen, on X @Scott_Thought, or on his website at ItsPronouncedRankin.com.

Happy Book Birthday, Alone by Megan E. Freeman!

It's time to shout-out another birthday! This read is a partner book to the popular Alone by the same author. It's a book in verse about a girl who finds herself alone on the planet as everyone else has been evacuated. Both books are written in verse. I did enjoy the first one, although I found it a bit drawn on some of the logic. But the writer does a beautiful job, so I'm excited to see where she takes this next book.

AWAY

by Megan E. Freeman

Aladdin

Middle Grade Dystopian  /   Poetry

480 pages

ages 8 to 12

A group of children investigate the threat that prompted large-scale evacuations in this powerful and dramatic companion novel to the New York Times bestselling Alone told in multiple POVs.

After an imminent yet unnamed danger forces people across Colorado to leave their homes, a group of kids including an aspiring filmmaker and a budding journalist find themselves in the same evacuation camp. As they cope with the aftermath of having their world upended, they grow curious about the mysterious threat.

And as they begin to investigate, they start to discover that there’s less truth and more cover-up to what they’re being told. Can they get to the root of the conspiracy, expose the bad actors, and bring an end to the upheaval before it’s too late?

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Fear, uncertainty, and friendship come through loud and clear on every page.

Four kids enjoy their normal lives unaware that everything is about to be turned upside-down. When agents appear at their doors and evacuate everyone to camps, angst is high. Thanks to toxins, the world is dying around them...or so they are told. They are shipped around and moved from camp to camp until they finally all come together. The four become friends and realize that there's more to what's happening than anyone is telling them. And it isn't good.

This book is written from the four characters' points of view: two in verse, one in script form (to match the movie desires), and one in letters and news reports. The voices are very distinct, which makes it easy to keep them apart and enjoy each personality, since each character gets a chance to hit the reader on a more personal level. While a little confusing, at first, they pacing soon settles into a grabbing rhythm and pulls into the world and circumstances.

The camp isn't instantly there, and the social life develops over time. This gives it a more believable flow and allows things to gain depth and sink in. The tensions are understandable and keep the pages turning as the mystery and danger grow. It's easy to root for the characters as they come together and take on the 'evil', and there's enough realistic aspects to keep it grounded...and make the characters easier to fever for. Several logic holes still sneak in, but nothing which breaks the tension. 

Dystopian and adventure fans will enjoy the conspiracy, dangers, and inspiring friendship bonds.

And here she is...

Megan E. Freeman attended an elementary school where poets visited her classroom every week, and she has been a writer ever since. She writes middle grade and young adult fiction. Megan is also a Pushcart Prize–nominated poet. An award-winning teacher with decades of classroom experience, Megan taught multiple subjects across the arts and humanities to students of all ages. She lives near Boulder, Colorado. Visit her online at MeganEFreeman.com.