The Secrets of Winterhouse
(Libby/OverDrive eAudiobook)

A year has passed since Elizabeth Somers was last at the Winterhouse Hotel (in Winterhouse, 2018), where she discovered that she was a member of the hotel's resident Falls family and that she has special powers, which allowed her to prevent her grandfather's evil twin, Gracella Winters, from obtaining a long sought-after magical text known as the Book. Elizabeth is elated to find that, thanks to her grandfather, Winterhouse will now be her permanent home. As she settles in, she meets a few suspicious guests: the rude Powter family as well as Elana Vesper and her grandmother, all of whom have come to unearth the secrets of Winterhouse. With the help of her inventor friend, Freddy, Elizabeth delves deeper into the hotel's history, learning that Gracella may not have been defeated after all. Guterson's rich mystery and lively characters, complemented by Bristol's atmospheric illustrations, will keep readers turning the page to solve the puzzles within and leave them eagerly anticipating the next book in this intriguing and magical series.--Selenia Paz Copyright 2019 Booklist

Telekinetically gifted Elizabeth returns to the enchanting winter hotel owned by her grandfather. There Elizabeth and her friend Freddy find a second object of power by following anagram clues contained in a mysterious seal--but evil Great-aunt Gracella tries to steal it from beyond the grave. The plot lacks impetus and the magic-facilitated ending is somewhat incoherent, but a first-rate setting and nicely diverse cast of characters carry the novel. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

One year after the events of Winterhouse (2018), 12-year-old Elizabeth Somers returns to the grand Winterhouse Hotel for Christmas break.Elizabeth's pleasure at being back with her grandfather Norbridge and her young, anagram-loving inventor friend, Freddy, and at being included in the family tree, is increased by learning that Winterhouse will now be her permanent home. The delights of living in a place with its own candy factory, a lake for skating and mountains for skiing, a large library, and movies playing nightly are appealingly detailed. But something is not quite righttwo sets of unpleasant guests are behaving strangely, and Elizabeth's great-aunt, the sorceress Gracella, might not be entirely dead. The Winterhouse seal, an intriguing riddle set into the floor, suggests hidden doorways and tests Elizabeth's and Freddy's puzzle-solving skills. The book adheres to a white default: None of the characters are identified by race in the text, though Freddy and librarian Leona are illustrated with dark skin; gloomy Mr. Rajput, one of the hotel's frequent guests, is likely of South Asian descent. Elizabeth is an appealing heroine, fond of reading and puzzles, confident in her intelligence, but she grapples with her temper and emotions and worries about fitting in at school or among people in general. Though Elizabeth counts Leona among her friends, the cast is male, with the only other primary female characters fairly unlikable.An engaging blend of sleuthing, puzzle-solving, and magic. (Mystery. 9-13) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A year has passed since Elizabeth Somers was last at the Winterhouse Hotel (in Winterhouse, 2018), where she discovered that she was a member of the hotel's resident Falls family and that she has special powers, which allowed her to prevent her grandfather's evil twin, Gracella Winters, from obtaining a long sought-after magical text known as the Book. Elizabeth is elated to find that, thanks to her grandfather, Winterhouse will now be her permanent home. As she settles in, she meets a few suspicious guests: the rude Powter family as well as Elana Vesper and her grandmother, all of whom have come to unearth the secrets of Winterhouse. With the help of her inventor friend, Freddy, Elizabeth delves deeper into the hotel's history, learning that Gracella may not have been defeated after all. Guterson's rich mystery and lively characters, complemented by Bristol's atmospheric illustrations, will keep readers turning the page to solve the puzzles within and leave them eagerly anticipating the next book in this intriguing and magical series. Grades 4-7. Copyright 2019 Booklist Reviews.