Hotel Dare

Gr 3-7-Siblings Olive, Darwin, and Charlotte are sent to their abuela's hotel in Mexico for the summer. Abuela asks them to assist in cleaning several rooms of the hotel but specifies that they are not to enter her office. When the trio inevitably break the one rule they've been given, they inadvertently unlock doorways to other worlds. When Charlotte disappears, Abuela is forced to explain why their abuelo is missing and to enlist their help in traveling through the different worlds to search for him and the missing Charlotte. This graphic novel is a blend of mystery, science fiction, and adventure as the siblings encounter various beings in the different worlds they explore in their attempt to reunite their entire family. While at times the novel is heavy-handed with its emphasis on the importance of family, the dialogue carries the story through boldly colored panels filled with action sequences that will keep readers turning pages. World-building is kept to a minimum; a lack of exposition regarding each of the places the siblings visit may be a disappointment to those who enjoy detailed descriptions of other worlds. VERDICT With a mysterious hotel, space pirates, and a visit to the land of the dead, this book will have a broad appeal. Give to fans of Mark Siegel's "Five Worlds" series or Molly Ostertag's Witch Boy.-Jenni Frencham, Indiana University, Bloomington