Hocus Pocus Hotel by Michael Dahl

What do you do when the biggest guy in school gives you a note and tells you to meet him in the alley after school?  Charlies figures he doesn't have much of a choice, he goes to meet him and accept his doom.

Capstone Young Readers held a contest where I was able to snag a copy of this book (thank you).  It's available for sale now, so you can share the tale with your young one now.

First off, this has a touch of "Encyclopedia Brown" drama running through it.  Things are not always what they seem and Charlie can see through it because of his photographic memory.  We needed a new hero since Don Sobol is no longer around to carry along with E. B.

Another point in the story's favor (at least in my opinion) is that the hotel is a home for aged magicians.  The original owner has disappeared, there are ghosts and other odd happenings in empty hotel rooms, and it has the general feel of being haunted.

The note Charlie got was simply to set up a meeting with Tyler, who lives at the hotel.  He wanted Charlie's help in solving some mysteries within the Hocus Pocus Hotel.  Charlie is able to help, so Tyler invites him back again.

They maybe an unusual team, but they work together to find out just what/who is haunting the hotel and why.  The answer to that question is interesting and sets up the the premise for the next book in this series.

Here's the trailer for the book to tempt you further:  Hocus Pocus Hotel

If your child likes solving puzzles, this book will tickle them.  If they would like to learn about it, Charlies draws out his solutions and explains them.  You can't miss with this book.  Why not give it a read?

If you'd like to win my ARC, leave a comment here on my blog and email me at info at bookfaerie.com with your name and address and why you would like to read this book.

Happy reading.

The Return of Abracadabra by Michael Dahl

This is the second in the series about Hocus Pocus Hotel.  I reviewed the first one here:  Hocus Pocus Hotel.

I was lucky enough to win an ARC of the second book from Capstone (thank you).  It is being published this month, so watch for it.

I enjoy reading about the magic tricks they do and how they work.  What seems magical is usually an illusion of some form.

The master magician Abracadabra has returned to his hotel and decides to offer a magic show with competition.  His greatest rival shows up to participate and wins.  This sets the stage for a private competition between the two of them.  The winner takes all.  It takes more than just magic tricks to prove the real winner, though.  That's where Charlie and Ty fit in.

This author knows his subject matter and uses it well in his stories.  I also enjoy the friendship between old and young that's portrayed.  Children and elders have a lot to teach others in life and Mr. Dahl shows you how it can work.

This an enjoyable read that any young reader should enjoy.  Anyone interested in magic tricks will especially be attracted.  And check out the website for this series.  They have a magic trick video on there for card tricks!

Happy reading. 

Hocus Pocus, It's Fall! by Anne Sibley O'Brien, Susan Gal

Hocus Pocus, what a beautiful book!  Ms. Gal's illustrations are rich and warm.  The story is sweet and the gatefold pages make it unique.

Abrams Appleseed sent me a copy of this book for review (thank you).  It has been published, so check with your local bookstore for a copy now.

Gatefold means that the interior pages have a two page illustration and then open up to another full page illustration.  It really shows off the artwork and makes it fun to look at.  The rhyming text flows smoothly and offers a rhyme that feels good.

Here is unique way to see the beauty of fall for your little one.  I bet it will become one of their favorite books.

The Secrets of Life and Death by Rebecca Alexander

This book is mix of medieval and contemporary times.  Ages have passed since the first sorcery was used but the evil still lives.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review (thank you).  It has been published, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

I found this book a bit odd and hard to read.  Each chapter goes back and forth from historical reference to present day. Some chapters are only a few pages long.  It made the reading a bit choppy.  I also wasn't sure about the story line.  However, I persisted in reading it and it was challenging and thought inducing.  Not really my cup of tea, but worth a read.

There is magic, sorcery, evil, angels, demons and elementals.   Girls are turning up dead in contemporary times with odd sigils on their bodies and no blood.  Occult Professor Felix gets involved and bites off more than he can chew.

In the past, a King is trying to keep his wife alive so she may bear him children, preferably a son.  She comes from a very strange background, but is a beautiful woman.  As the witches work to keep her alive, she becomes more than a person:  she turns into a living demon.  She's also alive in contemporary times but wearing a different face.

There's actual history here, along with hocus pocus magic and blood letting.  This one might very well make you hear noises at night.  I'm sure it'll not allow you to sleep well while you're reading it.  There are things in the world that are beyond understanding, but I sure hope the things discussed in this book aren't it!

The Lady Who Lived Again by Thomasine Rappold

Madeline was good friends with the other young women her age.  They flirted, danced, and had fun together.  In one unfortunate moment, all that changed...

Lyrical Press and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It was published December 8th.

When lightening struck, the horse on the wagon was scared and took off.  All the young women died, even Madeline.  However, Madeline woke back up.  Now the whole town thinks she was possessed by a demon.  Normal people don't rise again.  She also killed all those other girls.  She becomes a pariah in her own hometown.

She doesn't leave because her grandfather is there.  He needs her and she needs him.  What she does do is try only to go into town when she has to.  Otherwise she stays in her own prison.

When a new doctor comes to town, she first meets him when he's hunting on her land.  He's shot a deer.  She removes his arrow and heals the deer.  This is a new ability she developed after nearly dying.  She tells no one about it.  And she lies to the doctor about the deer.  It was an odd first meeting.  He knows he had a kill shot and he suspicions she's not telling him the whole truth, but he lets it go.

Her best friend has asked her to be in her wedding.  She doesn't want to but she'll do it for her.  When her ex-fiance taunts her in the dress shop, she tells him she'll be at the wedding with her fiance.  Then she visits the doctor and asks him to play the part of fiance.  He agrees if she'll tell him how she managed to recover from her almost fatal accident.  She agrees to work for him in the office doing paperwork and clean up.  She also does some healing when he's not looking.  After all, he doesn't believe in any of that hocus pocus stuff.

There's a bit more sex in this story than I like but the story itself was well written and a good tale.  He's is not marrying because he's a doctor; she's not marrying because of her secret.  Sometimes things change.  There's lots of drama and a happy ending, so all is not lost.