The Hotel Balzaar: (A Magical Middle-Grade Mystery About Stories, Secrets, and a Girl Searching for Her Father - For Kids Ages 7-10 in Grades 2-5) (The Norendy Tales)

This author is a treasure,read it in one sitting

Magical realism. She writes to the heart. Her stories are both Heart breaking and Restorative. Amazing story, beautifully told. Need re read the first one.

Very nicely written. Heart warming. Enjoyable equally by adults.

Beautiful stories contained within. I purchased this on a whim for my future children and I'm so glad I did

This is a child’s viewpoint having read the first book as well.Good, but not as good as the first one.-Lucy, 8 yr old

In March that year, Marta and her mother arrived at The Hotel Balzaar. The room they were given had a bed, a sink, and a chest of drawers that had seen better days. It was a small room, with a round window facing east, so that when the sun rose, the room was lit by the brilliance of the sun. Every morning began the same, her mother rising before the sun, putting on her uniform, and reminding Marta that she must be quiet…exceptionally quiet. Marta knew how important it was that she be very quiet, even quieter than a mouse. When she’d dressed and brushed her teeth, she would get dressed.Leaving their room, she took the back stairs, avoiding the elevator, even though the stairs were very dark, and walked down the stairs to the lobby where there were stuffed chairs that were covered in velvet, if slightly worn. In the lobby was a fireplace, and above the fireplace was a large painting of a field with dark clouds hovering, if she looked at it closely enough she could see a single wing made of luminous feathers, which she decided must be the wing of an angel, which left her wondering why there was only one wing. Also in the lobby was a large grandfather clock, with a face that highlighted a cat chasing a mouse. This is where Marta would visit first thing in the day, with her hands held behind her so as not to touch anything, remembering her mother’s words. But Marta worried about the mouse being constantly chased with no relief.There was a bellman, as well, whose name was Norman Francis Binwithier who was five hundred years old, possibly even six hundred years old. Old enough that one could see tufts of hair springing from his ears, which was almost as impressive as his ability to sleep standing up, smiling, a skill which was of incalculable value. When he introduced himself to Marta, she told him that she was not supposed to talk to anyone. He tells her ‘we have not spoken,’ to which she replies that her name is Marta, and being the gentleman who honors discretion, he lets her know that, of course, he has never met, never spoken to, or seen her.. Ever. Still, she asks him what he dreams of, and so he tells her of his dreams, which follows with him asking her what she dreams of. She tells him that she doesn’t dream, although she does dream about her father returning, but she didn’t share that with him. She’d never even told her mother about that dream.Once, her mother found a pair of slippers left behind by a guest, and gave them to her, another time she gave her a perfume bottle which was empty, but the label had a beautiful mermaid on it, and words written in another language, which Marta felt had special meaning, even if she wasn’t sure what it was, so she kept it on the dresser, and an envelope that was obviously precious to her mother.Once she is introduced to a countess, her life begins to change, as the countess has decided that she must mentor this child, although Marta’s mother has forbidden her to befriend anyone.Meanwhile, her father, a soldier off to war, is always on both of their minds, of course. Her mother tries to not let her worries for him show, but Marta seems to be very aware of how much she tries to put on a happy face even when she is not happy.A lovely story of the struggles of families when war interrupts the lives they’ve been living, the worries of the wives, the children, and the men who are welcomed home.Many thanks for the ARC provided by Candlewick / Penguin Random House

A story of love enduring. For children but not just. A gift of despairing story wrapped in a fabric of hope and dreams.

This is a very sweet and interesting story. It's appropriate for all ages. I highly recommend this book as a read aloud.