Release: August 18th 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Source: Amazon
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N
__
__
A family-run haunted hotel’s livelihood is under threat when a bigger haunted hotel opens nearby in this hilarious, spooky story
Twelve-year-old Willow Ivan’s family has run the Hotel Ivan for four hundred years. Through thick and thin, they’ve held on tight to their title as the Best Haunted Hotel on Mercer Street. That is, until the Hauntery—a corporate chain of haunted hotels—moves in down the street. As the Ivan’s business fades, so do their ghostly staff. And Willow begins to worry about the future of The Ivan.
Then Willow meets Evie, a Hauntery ghost who’s forced to play the part of a Spooky Little Girl even though she longs to be a Terrifying Phantasm. So when Willow offers her a job at The Ivan, Evie accepts—but she doesn’t tell Willow that she’s still working for The Ivan’s competition, for fear of losing her new job and friend.
Together, the girls come up with a plan to save The Ivan. But with The Ivan ghosts already fading and Evie’s secret threatening to come out, will it be too late
About the Author:
Cory Putman Oakes was born in Basel, Switzerland, but grew up in Novato, California and attended Marin Catholic High School. She then spent three fantastic years at the University of California at Los Angeles before graduating in 2001 with a B.A. in Psychology. In 2004, Cory graduated from Cornell Law School with a Juris Doctorate Degree and her husband, Mark (the first was the intended consequence of attending the school, the second was a bonus). Since then, she has been an associate at a big law firm, taught business law to undergraduates at Texas State University and written several books for young people.
Cory now lives in Austin, Texas with Mark and their two kids. In addition to writing, Cory enjoys reading, cooking, running, and hanging out with her family and pets.
The Second-Best Haunted Hotel on Mercer Street Review:
“The Second-Best Haunted Hotel on Mercer Street” is a charming middle-grade novel of friendship and family mixed with spooky ghosts and haunted hotels.
I enjoyed the way the author executed the story. She includes a lot in the story, like grief, loss, friendship, humor, and even suspenseful moments. The author also makes the tale so creative, like coming up with GhouledIn, a professional networking site exclusively for ghosts. I also loved the movie references she includes, like the twins from the Shining. Moreover, the author created the setting in an atmospheric yet family-friendly manner. If this hotel were actual, it would be one of the very few Haunted Hotels I would not mind checking out.
The main characters are well written. Willow and Evie are lovely, and I enjoyed how the author progressed the story alternating between their perspectives. It was interesting to see how they meet and form a friendship. They have contrasting personalities, and you would think they have nothing in common, but they fit nicely. Moreover, I liked how the author handled Willow’s relationship with her father over the loss of her mother. The author also adds exciting moments, particularly around Mr. Renard’s character. I also found Pierce to be a memorable character.
Similarly, the illustrations by Jane Pica adds beautifully to the book, and I loved the way she drew the expressions on the characters. The pictures give the story a whimsical feel and would appeal to the reader.
Overall, “The Second-Best Haunted Hotel on Mercer Street” is the perfect middle-grade book to pick up for Halloween or if you are in the mood for fun haunted house (or, in this case, Haunted Hotel) story.
