Winterhouse
By
Ben Guterson



What it's all about...

This book is about a young girl named Elizabeth and what happens to her over Christmas vacation. She lives with her aunt and uncle and is not treated very nicely. She loves books and puzzles and anagrams and list making. She doesn’t have many friends and spends most of her time reading...alone...in her room. But...on the last day of school just before Christmas vacation she arrives at her house to find a note...$3.00...and very weird instructions from her odd aunt and uncle. She is to board a train and a bus and go to Winterhouse...where she will spend the next three weeks. She doesn’t realize until she gets to Winterhouse that it is a magical wonderful hotel.


Why I wanted to read it...

I love middle grade books! Elizabeth was special. She loved puzzles and there were tons of puzzles within this book. Winterhouse was special and filled with guests. Elizabeth even made a friend...Freddy! And...just wait until you read about Flurschen...yum!

What made me truly enjoy this book...

There was a bit of a dark side to this book...and a lot of dark mystery! That made this book a bit of a page turner for me!

Why you should read it, too...

Middle grade readers who love puzzles as well as mysteries should truly love this book. It ended in such a way that I have hopes for a book 2!

“I received an advance reader’s copy from the publisher through NetGalley and Amazon. I decided to read it and write a review.

Elizabeth Somers is an 11-year-old orphan, living with her awful aunt and uncle. She has vague memories of the accident that took her parents' lives, and a pendant around her neck, given to her by her mother. But a mysterious benefactor has paid for Elizabeth's aunt and uncle to go on vacation over winter break, and she's sent off to the Winterhouse Hotel, owned by the odd but kind Norbridge Falls. There, Elizabeth makes her first real friend - an inventor named Freddy, whose family sends him off to Winterhouse every winter break - and discovers a strange book in the library. She learns that the Winterhouse has some very deep secrets, but she's not the only one trying to discover them: there's a very creepy married couple that seems to be trying to figure things out, too. And why are they inviting her to tea? Mysteries abound in the first story of a new trilogy.

Winterhouse is loaded with puzzles for readers to piece together as they go. You've got a bookish heroine, a kid inventor who loves word puzzles almost as much as our heroine does, and a mystery code that will make or break our characters. There's an awesome librarian, if I may say so myself, and a quirky proprietor whose secrets run deep: in short, a wonderful and group of characters that readers will enjoy adventuring with and discovering more about. Angular black and white illustrations by Chloe Bristol add interest to the book's surroundings, and the beginning of each chapter provides a word ladder to introduce readers to a fun pastime that comes up throughout the novel. Other word games include anagrams, ambigrams, and a Vigenere Square - a code that holds the mystery to the story. Author Ben Guterson explains the puzzles and codes on his webpage. There are some great book references in Winterhouse, too: some of Elizabeth's favorites include good readalike suggestions, like The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart and Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein. (I'd also add Jennifer Chambliss' Book Scavenger and Greenglass House by Kate Milford.)

A fun beginning to a new middle grade series. Give this one to your code breakers, for sure.

Winterhouse is the story Elizabeth, who finds herself spirited away from her exceptionally dull and rather chilly aunt and uncle and to the magical world of the Winterhouse Hotel. The mysteries begin almost immediately when a strange couple won't stop staring at Elizabeth on the bus ride to Winterhouse. Things get stranger when Elizabeth arrives and meets the quirky proprietor, Norbridge, and the strange man and woman from the bus check into the hotel, as well. Elizabeth quickly discovers that Winterhouse is a place of mysteries and riddles. Together with her newfound friend, Freddy, Elizabeth uncovers a generations-long puzzle with life-and-death stakes that only she will be able to solve. While the premise of Winterhouse isn't revolutionary, this mystery is very enjoyable. Elizabeth is white while Freddy is darker complected. Both are very intelligent, though in their own ways. Each chapter heading includes a word puzzle and extra bit of information for the reader. While one of the "big reveals" may be seen a mile away by astute readers, it doesn't detract from tale's enjoyment. Hand this to fans of mysteries with just a bit of magic; they're sure to enjoy it!

Despite being a readalike for <i>Greenglass House</i>, this book was definitely more compelling read for me. I have coworkers who loved the older book, but this one was filled with a bit more intrigue, and it clipped along really well.

A plot-driven story about a girl who is shipped off to a mystery hotel for her winter break, and ends up finding herself in a noir-style mystery. She makes a great friend, and readers will definitely enjoy trying to figure out what Elizabeth will do next. There were definitely moments where I wanted to just scream at her because she was so stubborn and naive, but again I think that was Guterson's point.

The dark/light magic in here is accessible and isn't too nuanced for the intended audience. For some reason, I kept picturing the camp I used to go to as the main setting for this, although I'm sure that's partly because I can't imagine how huge this hotel is and I didn't want to picture the Shining.

Readers 4-7th grade will love this book, Freddy and Elizabeth, and the eccentric Norbridge Falls. The remote yet lush setting is the perfect backdrop for the intrigue and puzzles in store for the main character.

A charming middle grade novel, Winterhouse is the perfect read for the winter season. I really enjoyed reading about the Winterhouse hotel and all of its attractions. It seems like such a wonderful place to visit, especially during the holiday season, as Elizabeth does. Speaking of Elizabeth, she and the other characters were great, though for the most part pretty one-dimensional. Some sections of the book did drag a bit, making it hard to stay focused on the story. I did guess most of the twists and revelations but I kept reading to see how they would unfold. I'm interested to see what would happen in the sequel. The events ended pretty well in this book with not many loose ends. Overall a great middle grade read!

Moved a little too slow for my taste and I really don't like when books name drop book titles, songs, etc. because it always feels forced to me and this was the case with this one mentioning book titles. That said, I can see myself recommending this book to kids who I think will enjoy it. The illustrations are great!

What a delightful middles-grades read! A precocious protagonist in a mysterious hotel is always a win for me and this is an especially well done mix of those elements. It is less weird Warren the 13th. Elizabeth is a fantastic, like-able main character. I was rooting for her the whole time. The resolution wasn't entirely unexpected but I was looking forward to it the whole time because I wanted something to go right for Elizabeth. The mystery was engaging and the resolution satisfying, which is exactly what you want in a mystery. I will definitely pick up the next installment as soon as it is out. I would recommend this to readers who like to solve the mystery along with the protagonist. I think fans of the Westing Game, Warren the 13th, Serafina and the Black Cloak or Mr. Lemoncello's Library will enjoy this book.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A fun and fascinating book that I would recommend to anyone who liked "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library." The characters are quirky. And the hotel itself is a character. It's a good escape book.

While Elizabeth's aunt and uncle go on vacation, Elizabeth is sent to spend her winter break from school at a mysterious hotel. Her aunt and uncle don't explain why, and although Elizabeth at first is resentful of this trip, she eventually begins to enjoy herself at the hotel, and while there finds both a friend and a mystery to solve.

I thought the descriptions of the hotel and the various characters staying there were fantastic. I loved Elizabeth's interest in various codes and ciphers. The mystery aspect was a bit obvious, but I'm not the intended audience of this book so I can give that a pass. What I can't give a pass to, though, is the fact that Elizabeth and her friend Freddy are both staying at this hotel, both without adults watching over them, and no one seems bothered by this. They aren't under the watch of anyone, really. Even the Dursleys protested when Harry was whisked off to Hogwarts. Other than that, this story would make a great read for a snow day when one is trapped indoors.

Recommended for: tweens
Red Flags: none
Overall Rating: 3/5 stars

Read-Alikes: Greenglass House, Book Scavenger, Masterminds

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley for the purposes of review.

I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't expecting it to take a "supernatural" path, but I was pleasantly surprised. The story moved along at a good pace and the different mysteries kept me wanting to know more. I'm looking forward to the next books in this series.

E ARC from Netgalley.com

Poor Elizabeth Somers. Her parents died when she was four, and she has been raised by her uncaring Aunt Purdy and Uncle Burlap. When they decide to take a vacation over Christmas, she is packed off to Winterhouse with $3 and a grocery bag of clothing. There's little explanation, but she is glad to have a few books with her, and the hotel is not as bad as she has feared. Aside from the creepy booksellers, the Hiems, who warn her that the proprietor, Norbridge Falls, is not what he seems, and is not to be trusted. Norbridge seems quite nice, and looks out for Elizabeth, and also shows her the tremendous library at Winterhouse. Elizabeth also meets Freddy, whose parents send him to the hotel while they travel, and the two discover that they both like anagrams, word ladders, and other puzzles.
Strengths: This definitely had a Lemony Snicket sort of vibe, and the parallels between this and Greenglass House are definitely very strong. Also had shades of Seible's Trouble with Twins. Well paced, with plenty of twists and intriguing characters, this certainly has a lot of fine qualities to recommend it.
Weaknesses: Read this during extreme attack of Middle Age ennui, and was immediately annoyed by "Uncle Burlap". Really? Burlap? And dead parents. I loved Winterhouse itself, and the idea of the library, and just about the time I was settling into those lovely thoughts, Elizabeth and Freddy started with decoding messages, of which I am not a fan. That, and Elizabeth's favorite book is Anne of Green Gables, she claims to have read Swallows and Amazons, and she ends the book reading The Wind in the Willows. I'm done with Anne, even I hadn't read Swallows and Amazons until it appeared on a list of 100 Best Middle Grade Books, and in 15 years, I haven't been able to get a single student to read The Wind in the Willows. So, a bit "bah, humbug" here.
What I really think: I'm not sure if my students will be willing to invest in a trilogy of these, but I may have to buy this first book because I love the cover so much.

This is a book about a girl who loves books, so of course I loved it.
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Ten-year-old Elizabeth comes home one day to find that her aunt and uncle are gone on vacation, leaving her three dollars and a bus ticket to the Winterhouse Hotel. What a couple of dears.
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At Winterhouse, Elizabeth meets the owner, Norbridge Falls, and another kid on his own, Freddy, who's inventing a fuel source using walnut shells.
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The hotel isn't exactly 100% normal, and avid reader Elizabeth is immediately drawn to its library, where she finds a strange book hidden on a shelf. She sneaks it out of the library and begins to read it, and then weird stuff starts to happen.
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I found the beginning of the book to be kind of Harry Potter-ish, with the neglected child getting an invitation to a magical place. But I really liked Winterhouse and its inhabitants, and the magic is far more subtle (and creepy).

Elizabeth is curious but not annoying, and she's not irritatingly precocious. Freddy is her first real friend, and she makes mistakes with him because friendship is new to her. When he (rightfully) gets mad, they avoid each other, and I thought that was a realistic portrayal. Even Elizabeth's embarrassment and apology seemed true, because it's really hard to admit you screwed up, but it's worth it when a friendship is important.
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The book makes clever use of word games, even including one at the beginning of each chapter. It also name checks a lot of other children's books, so the reader can find something else to dive into when s/he finishes this one.

I liked Chloe Bristol's illustrations a lot; they reminded me of the artwork in older (read: from my own childhood, sigh) children's books.
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This is absolutely a book I'd give my 10-year-old niece (and I will!), but older readers will enjoy it too.

Cute and fun for puzzle lovers. Sometimes the setting was confusing - how big could that hotel really be? But readers won't care, they'll just want to visit. The Big Mystery is actually a few mysteries and their solutions aren't always telegraphed, which is always a good thing. That this is the first in a series may also be a good thing... I'll have to wait and read.

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 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.