Hocus Pocus Hotel Michael Dahl

Illustrated by Lisa K.Weber

204 pgs.

Target audience: Ages 8 to 11

Rating: Wizard

 

Today at Blackstone Middle School, Charlie Hitchcock or Hitch, like so many unfortunate souls before him, receives the dreaded summons from the school bully, the biggest boy in seventh grade, Tyler Yu. But when he meets Ty in a back alley it is not to use Charlie as a punching bag, but to make use of is famous detecting skills. Ty lives with his parents in the Abracadabra Hotel which was built as a refuge for retired magicians. The prospects of Ty using his wages to buy his dream motorbike drop when a magician disappears before Ty can collect his rent money. Other odd and spooky happenings prompt this unlikely pair to form an investigative team. Ty’s knowledge of the hotel layout and Hitch’s acute visual memory plus cryptic messages from the elevator operator ensure success.  The boys turn the hotel upside down while discovering lots of magician’s tricks as they go. Brightly colored illustrations combined with the Sherlockian notes drawn in black and white by Hitch are sure to appeal to the budding detective who can use Hitch’s diagrams to solve the mystery along with them. This delightfully funny and entertaining first volume will surely become a fan favorite. (This book provided for review by Children's Lit - www.childrenslit.com)
 

Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage by M.C. Beaton

Read by Donada Peters

Donada Peters deftly portrays the contrast between the gruff exterior and the softer inner monologues of retired public relations guru, Agatha Raisin, who now presides in a cottage in the Cotswolds. On the day of her long awaited wedding to her handsome neighbor, James Lacey, Agatha’s husband, Jimmy Raisin, whom she left and never divorced drops in to protest. When he’s found dead in a ditch, Agatha and James are prime suspects. The narrator draws the listener in by expertly relaying the exasperation of James and the hopefulness of Agatha as they rush to clear their names. The more they investigate, the higher the body count becomes. The diverse cast of these quirky villagers requires a range of voices and accents which is beautifully achieved by Peters’ steady performance.

Random House Audio, 5 hrs. Unabridged, 2000
 

The secret prophecy by Herbie Brennan

364 pgs.
Target audience: Ages 8-12
Rating: Wizard

Edward Michael “Em” Goverton wakes up one morning to find his dad, a university professor, dead. Since his father was recovering from a bout with the flu, this came as total surprise. Things get even weirder when strange men in black suits carrying guns show up at the funeral and then start to follow Em. So he starts digging into his dad’s research on a new biography of Nostradamus. It seems his dad discovered a secret prophecy, one which a mysterious group called the Knights of Themis want their hands on at any cost. Soon Em finds himself enmeshed in a dangerous web of predictions, mystery, and betrayal. He must race against the clock to prevent a catastrophic plot, but whom can he trust? This is sure to please readers hungry for fast paced thriller mysteries. There are codes to break, prophecies to interpret and plenty of twists and turns. Think “Da Vinci Code” for kids. Brennan, author of the popular “Faerie Wars” books, brings us the first installmnt in an exciting new conspiracy series. (This book provided for review by Children's Lit - www.childrenslit.com)
 

The Haunting of Nathaniel Wolfe by Brian Keaney
233 pgs.
Target audience: Age 9-12
Rating: Wizard

Are ghosts real or just a figment of our imagination? Hidden in the foggy depths of the East End neighborhood of Victorian London is Cicero Wolfe, a medium whose seances attract the poor, vulnerable masses desperate for closure. But his son Nathaniel who greets the guests knows the truth. His dad is an imposter, a gambler, a con artist, a man who squanders every penny he earns on gin. Young Lily Campion is a kitchen-maid for the wealthy Chesterfield family. Her mistress, Sophie, has taken ill suddenly just like her mother before her. Lily and Nathaniel's worlds collide when Nathaniel recovers Lily's stolen purse from a well known thief, Maggot Harris. The last thing Nathaniel expects to see during his father's latest performances is an actual ghost but the woman in white keeps appearing to him attempting to tell him something. Unexplained phenomena are occuring in Lily's workplace as well. They discover that the woman in white is Lily's late mistress, that Maggot Harris has been found murdered with a receipt for arsenic in his pocket and that Mr. Chesterfield is up to something most unsavory. Kids will love following clues as Lily and Nathaniel solve the ghostly mystery. Keaney creates a brilliantly detailed portrayal of Victorian London from the winding streets and shops, to the authentic dialogue and vocabulary to the well drawn characters. This is not a scary story, but rather a supernatural puzzle. There is plenty to like about this first volume of a promising new series.
(This book was provided for review by children's lit - www.childrenslit.com )

Ghost Knight by Cornelia Funke
330 pgs.
Target Audience: Ages 9-12
Rating: Wizard

Jon Whitcroft is an eleven year old with a big hairy problem - his mom's new boyfriend, dubbed The Beard due to his overabundance of facial hair. Jon tries everything he can think of to scare him off, but The Beard shows no signs of leaving. In fact Jon's exploits earn him banishment to a boarding school. He is certain that his time at this new school will be a fate worse than death. However the appearance of a posse of three ghostly riders drained of color and full of bloodlust jolts him out of his doldrums. Why are they after him and why can no one else see them? Jon joins forces with Ella, a plucky schoolmate to solve the mystery behind these deadly pursuers. Ella lives with her grandmother, Zelda,  who just so happens to give ghost tours for a living. Together the children summon the ghost of the late knight, Longspee, for help and protection. The plot clips along at a nice pace. Readers will enjoy the ghostly adventure and mystery. The illustrations, often paired with text to enhance the story, are lovely. It is easy to relate to Jon's character as he slowly grows to appreciate all the people in his life and that what looks most dire can often turn out to be pretty awesome indeed. Funke produces yet another winner, a book chock full of delightful characters and her trademark charm and wit.