Winterhouse

Raised by her unloving Aunt Purdy and Uncle Burlap, who were as stingy as they were unpleasant, orphaned Elizabeth Somers was surprised one Christmas season to be sent away for three weeks to a luxurious mountainside hotel called Winterhouse. Here she made her first real friends, in the form of Freddy, a young boy her own age, as well as Norbridge Falls, the proprietor of Winterhouse, and enjoyed many fun activities, from skiing to jigsaw-puzzle solving. She also soon became involved in a mystery involving a long-missing member of the Falls family, a magical book said to contain a powerful message, and a sinister plot against Winterhouse itself...

I've been meaning to pick up Winterhouse for some time now, ever since I saw it compared to show more one of my recent middle-grade favorites, Greenglass House, and I'm glad that I finally did! It's an enjoyable, atmospheric read, and I can certainly understand the comparison to Milford's books, given the similarities in form (mystery with a fantastic element) and setting (snowbound hotel/inn at Christmas). I found Winterhouse itself an appealing setting - with all of the activities, the natural and man-made beauty, and the marvelous treats, I'd love to visit it myself! - and Elizabeth's story engaging. That said, I didn't find it quite as mysterious as I'd hoped, and unlike Milford's books, I saw all of the big reveals coming from miles off. It was immediately clear to me, for instance, that Elizabeth was Norbridge's long-lost granddaughter, or that the Hiemses were smuggling a body into the hotel, in their coffin-like "crate". Knowing these things ahead of time didn't ruin the story for me, although it did make it somewhat less gripping. My only other criticism would be the rather one-dimensional nature of the main villain, whose motivations are never really explored, but left chiefly as a matter of that person being evil.

Leaving aside these issues, this was still an appealing tale, especially for a debut, and I had no sooner finished it, than I was reaching for the sequel, The Secrets of Winterhouse. Recommended to middle-grade readers who enjoy atmospheric mysteries with a fantastic element to them. show less

This book started off great. I was immediately intrigued by the hotel and Elizabeth is spunky and likeable. I can't say I really liked any of the other characters though.

Freddy gets mad at Elizabeth because he thinks she's too bossy, and that just rubbed me the wrong way. If it were a male main character you know he would be described as 'headstrong' or some such nonsense.

Also, Norbridge tells Elizabeth something along the lines of "If someone has 9 out 10 bad things about them, focus on the one good thing." WOW. That is the worst advice I have ever heard. Like, just focus on the fact that Hitler liked dogs & children. Forget about that pesky genocide.

Overall, I was disappointed more than anything because I really thought this was going show more to be at least a 4 star book when I started it. show less

Middle grade fantasy about an orphan named Elizabeth who is mysteriously sent to a hotel and feels compelled to solve its magical mysteries. The book felt derivative, but more importantly, I Guterson champions ideas with which I disagree (poverty makes you mean and is something about which one should feel shame whereas wealth is desirable, for example). He also uses the crazy woman in the attic (although in this book it's a cabin) idea. I was surprised at how nonchalantly the adult characters mentioned the craziness and off-the-railness of another character. I don't think middle grade readers need to be introduced to disparaging ideas about mental illness. Beyond these issues, the book was boring. I would not recommend it.

When Elizabeth’s guardians send her away to a strange hotel for Christmas vacation, she expects to spend a miserable holiday there. Instead, she finds a new friend and a fascinating mystery . . . and maybe even a hint of magic, and a little bit of danger.

This is a solid entry in the genre of middle-grade puzzle novels, perfect for young readers who love anagrams and secret codes. There were enough clues to figure out the solution to one big riddle before the main character does, which is always gratifying. I did think that one particular plot element relied too heavily on coincidence, but all in all, a satisfying read. This book name-checks everything from The Westing Game to Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, which makes it seem show more a little self-conscious at times, but readers familiar with those works will appreciate the wink and nudge. Recommended to those who enjoy this sort of book. show less

A good illustrator and jacket design can make all the difference. I picked up the book at a bookstore because the jacket illustration caught my eye and the end papers drew me in. There are a lot of similarities to Harry Potter - orphan living with unkind relatives, an unknown benefactor, a white haired mentor with a beard (albeit a well-groomed beard), the search for an object that can change life as the characters know it, reuniting a bad spirit with its body, preteen discovering and learning how to control her magic - and the list goes on. That said, being a bookish outsider myself, I gravitate toward stories with these themes even as an adult. I was able to lose myself in the book and wish myself at Winterhouse. I will recommend the show more book to young readers and look forward to reading the sequel hinted at in the last pages. show less

Orphan Elizabeth Somers has lived with her poor and unpleasant aunt and uncle since her mother and father died when she was four years old. Suddenly, Elizabeth's aunt and uncle tell her that they are going on a vacation and she must take a lengthy train and bus trip to a hotel called Winterhouse. Elizabeth would rather stay at home alone, but her aunt and uncle lock her out of the house, leaving a few items of clothing in a bag on the front porch. Reluctantly, Elizabeth makes her way to the hotel, hoping the living conditions there will not be any worse than the house in which she now lives, but what she finds when she arrives at Winterhouse is a luxurious hotel in a winter wonderland with quirky guests, unique employees, and a show more gregarious owner. It isn't long though before mysterious happenings show Elizabeth that there may be more going on in Winterhouse than she originally thought.

Winterhouse is a wonderful first book in what promises to be an interesting mystery series. Elizabeth is fully developed as a character. We see her strengths as well as her weaknesses and how she copes with those around her. Other characters in the story are not as well developed but still inhabit their roles in the story. Winterhouse is a magical place that is described in detail throughout the book, making it almost another character. During the story, many multimedia aspects allow the reader to interact more with the story and the illustrations add another layer of enjoyment to this book. Overall, Winterhouse is an extremely enjoyable mystery, well worth the read. 4 1/2 stars show less

Orphan Elizabeth Somers stays lives with her impoverished aunt and uncle. She loves books and puzzles, especially word puzzles. When they announce vacation plans for themselves and a stay at a grand house called Winterhouse for her, she wonders who paid for it. On the train she meets some creepy people who get off at the same stop and go to the same house. They cause problems from the moment they set foot in the door. Elizabeth soon meets the owner of the home who welcomes her. Elizabeth loves puzzles and helps a couple of men place a piece in what must be one of the largest and most challenging jigsaws of all time. She possesses a "magic touch" where when things "seem right" she feels it. She meets a boy about her age who has come show more alone to Winterhouse for several years and works on a scientific project for the owner. She loves books and libraries and finds a very interesting book in the reference collection she takes to her room for further study, even though she knows she should not. The house contains many puzzles begging for solution. This book will entertain readers in upper elementary to early middle school grades. Readers will want a few word puzzles of their own so parents (and teachers) should prepare for this outcome. The book creates a springboard to discuss good versus evil. I received an advance electronic copy of the book through NetGalley with the expectation of writing an unbiased review. show less