Winterhouse

Reviewed by: Sheila Dube - Springvale Public Library, Springvale, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 25, 2018

Review

Puzzle lovers will be quickly pulled into the mystery surrounding Winterhouse, a luxury hotel, and the unusual family lineage of Norbridge Falls, the owner. Orphan Elizabeth Somers, comes home from school to find her guardians gone on a trip they can't afford and a train ticket for her to travel to Winterhouse by herself for Christmas break. Even on the way, mysterious and unusual premonitions and unique strangers spark Elizabeth's imagination. She meets Freddy Knox, who is her age and is there on his own. They find they share a love of word puzzles, scavenger hunts and inventions. Elizabeth finds that she is drawn to strange midnight happenings in the vast hotel library and engages Freddy's reluctant help. The pacing becomes slow at times with the minute to minute details of the day and actions by Elizabeth, but those looking to find out what will "happen next" will stay for the full reveal. Each chapter's heading contains a ladder poem and the black and white illustrations by Bristol add to the quirkiness and darkness of the puzzling magic.

Overall Book Score: good