Hotel Dare sounded like a fun slightly spooky read for a weekend camping. I wanted something lighthearted with great values at the core. A tough list? Yep. But Hotel Dare checked all the boxes. The artwork was well done and the story was filled with adventure, I appreciated how this book was about family and unconditional love as well. Super cute read.

"Home isn't a place. It's wherever your family is."

This was one of my most anticipated reads for the fall season… and for good reason, because everything about this screamed Halloween! Three siblings visiting their grandmother, whom they have always known very little about, family secrets long left unanswered. It’s only once past the front doors that the three find there’s much more to this old hotel than meets the eye…

What I Loved
Firstly, there’s a lot to love about this story. The Dare siblings are a mixed family, with Olive and Darwin being Mexican-American, and Charlotte being newly adopted into the family. Although it doesn’t come to play a part in the story, Olive also states confidently that she’s queer. Perhaps most important, though, is the way this story celebrates and incorporates Mexican culture and what it means to be a family. In a lot of ways, I found myself comparing this to the movie Coco, as I do think they share similarities, centering their stories around themes of family and heritage, as well as deriving influences from Mexican culture such as Dia de Los Muertos.

I love that the main theme that threads through this story is redefining what family means and recognizing that family isn’t strictly biological—it’s the people around you who will love you unconditionally, a place where you’ll always belong. This becomes a personal conflict for Charlotte as she finds herself struggling to feel like she belongs in this new family she’s been adopted into. It’s clear that Olive and Darwin look more alike, and their differences from Charlotte become even more apparent when they visit Mama Lupe and Charlotte is the only one who doesn’t speak Spanish. Charlotte, understandably, feels like the odd one out and doesn’t yet feel that Mama Lupe is her grandmother, or that Olive and Darwin are her true family, and over the course of the story it’s Charlotte’s own personal journey she takes to figure out that family runs so much deeper than whether we look the same or speak the same tongue. I really admired that this was something Charlotte had to go through, that it wasn’t just a given and that she had to learn what it truly meant to be a family, especially coming from the perspective of an adopted sibling. These different family dynamics and gradually shifting ideas of what makes a family are really important to incorporate, and I especially think this book would be valuable to readers who may come from a mixed family like the Dares or those who come from a foster family or similar situation.

Besides the big, important ways that make this book stand out, there are so many other reasons to love this book. It’s light and fun, with side characters here and there that will immediately win their way into your heart, such as Brad the beardless wizard, and Sunny, who is perhaps the most adorable little furball to ever exist. This combined with an intriguing plot makes this a fun book to read if you’re in the mood for a supernatural/mystical story full of twists and turns at every door.

…And Not So Much
I think a large part of why this book didn’t fully win my heart in the end is that it took a while to piece certain details together. As the story begins, it sort of immediately takes off and drops you right into the scene without a lot of backstory or exposition to go off of. For example, Charlotte kept talking about the orphanage as if she were just there, and I had no idea how much time there was between when she was last at the orphanage and when she was adopted by the Dare family. Was she just recently adopted? How long has she been with this family? Days? Weeks? A few months? In general, I also felt that there was so much of Charlotte’s story that was left untold… perhaps intentionally, but it still left me with so many questions and desperately wanting to know more! What was her adoption story like? What made Olive and Darwin’s parents want to adopt another child, and one so much older like Charlotte (totally not a bad thing!). What was Olive and Darwin’s initial reaction to this family decision? It gives off the impression that Olive, Darwin, and Charlotte are a trio who are all on their own, simply because the parents aren’t heavily mentioned, so it feels like that part of the story is missing. It would’ve been nice to have a scene or two of the three Dare siblings having a heart-to-heart and talking about how Charlotte came to be a part of the family, as well as talking about their parents.

Along with this, there are a few other details of the plot that I was a bit fuzzy on, and as the story went on, I found myself less and less interested in the intricacies of the plot, like the powers of the mask and the different realms all being in peril. I was also a bit let down in that I went in thinking this would have more of a spooky, Halloween feel, complete with haunted house (er, hotel!) vibes. And while this is still a good book to read around Halloween time, I wouldn’t say that it’s entirely a Halloween story. It turned out to be a much different story than I went in anticipating—but also in some good ways! All in all, this was a really enjoyable read, with a lot of heart and good messages around family behind it all.

This was such an interesting and original story!! It was so diverse and it really made me wanna keep reading. There were a lot of sub plots but I really liked that. Everything was connected and and came to a natural end. There was still a cliffhanger and it really left me wanting more. I can't wait to read the next in the series!

This book has it all. Love. Adventure. And most importantly of all, family. This book swept me away into a world of many worlds with vibrant drawing, a captivating plot and great characters. I loved each and every one of the characters and their own mini plots. I liked the fact that Charlotte had a bit of an attitude. That Darwin was a bit quiet and quirky. And Olive as the ring leader. They all had their own story to tell and they were developed and explained well. The only thing that put a big question mark over my head is telling us within the first few pages that a main character is gay. It just seemed out of place and had nothing to do with the plot. So it stuck out like a sore thumb. I understand representing a wide spectrum of characters, but it needs to be somehow part of the plot or the character development. It just seemed like the author just wanted to put a check in the diversity tick box. So it was a little bit out of the blue. Other than that, I fully enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend this book to my students and fellow graphic novel readers. I can't wait to buy this book for my classroom library!

This world-hopping adventure story for kids teaches an awesome lesson about the importance of family. Family isn't about being biologically related....it's about who you trust and who makes you feel loved and valued. Three teens go to visit their Grandma Lupe in her run-down, mysterious, old hotel. They discover a secret that sends them into several different magical fantasy worlds. Space pirates. Wizards. Aliens. This book has a little bit of everything!

I loved this story! The teens are learning how to become a newly blended family and come together to solve the mysterious predicament they find themselves in. Their Grandma Lupe is quirky and feisty, yet lovable.

The artwork is fantastic! The story is interesting and exciting, while making important points about family relationships.

Loved it! I will definitely be looking for more by this author and illustrator! Terry Blas has written stories for several familiar animated characters including Steven Universe and The Amazing World of Gumball. Claudia Aguirre's art appears in multiple graphic novels/comics including Open Earth and Kim & Kim #1.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this graphic novel from Boom! Studios. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

What an amazing graphic novel! I honestly can't believe how good it was. I loved the different worlds that were represented in this book, just as much as I loved the diverse representation of characters. The plot was extremely interesting and it was super easy to read this book in one sitting! I would totally recommend it.

A seriously fun concept for a graphic novel. I loved seeing just how crazy things were going to get with Charlotte, Olive, and Darwin. I really enjoyed this one.

I really enjoyed this book. It was full of action, adventure, family dynamics, and magic. I would recommend this to children ages 10-14 who enjoy action-packed graphic novels.

I admit, I got really reeled in when I read the first chapters. I like how Charlotte really expresses herself in comparison to her initial appearance. She knows who she is but is still struggling to fit in somewhere in her family. That's something that's shared with the rest of the cast. Most of them know who they are as people and they help the ones who need to know who they are. Others don't really know who the others are and only find out how the influence one another because they get out of their comfort zones. As for the plot, I like the idea of trying to reconnect with loved ones but the subplot of an evil world conqueror just feels like it doesn't belong. The bittersweet ending is certainly something that leaves things open. I wonder if there is more to come.

Three kids are spending their summer with their eccentric grandmother in her unusual hotel in Mexico. What starts out as a contemporary family story quickly turns into an adventurous fantasy with portals that lead to many different worlds. The artwork is beautiful. The various worlds each have their own distinct style. There's a pretty epic battle panel.

This story showcases different types of families. It's full of acceptance and diverse characters. This book kept my attention the whole time. Full of excitement. I give this book a 5/5. There's so much great going on in this story!

The ARC for this book was provided by the author via netgalley.

Amazing! From start to finish it had me intrigued. I immediately felt for Charolette, my favorite characters are most definitely the women. We never really met their father, Jorge & I already didn't care much for him but then again he didn't know the full story about what happened. I really liked Xochitl for some reason I felt like she could've had a bigger part but hopefully we'll just see more of her next time! I want to know why Brad doesn't have a beard but he's not half as bad as the others were making it out. I hope papa Justino gets better & I'd love to read the story of them getting him better! I can't wait for more adventures at hotel dare.

Hotel Dare is a good and diverse read with great artwork, family feelings, and magical adventures. I would definitely support Terry Blas and Claudia Aguirre again. However, there is too much happening in this book and I really wish the plot and characters were better developed.

Adopted siblings Olive, Darwin, and Charlotte are spending the summer with their estranged grandmother Mamá Lupe. The kids are stuck inside doing chores at her creepy hotel. However, thanks to inquisitive Charlotte who is also the newest addition to their family, the Dare children are about to have the adventure of a lifetime! Behind each hotel door, there’s a portal to a different and amazing place. Olive is transported to a world filled with bearded wizards, Darwin finds a cotton candy kingdom, and Charlotte discovers space pirates. However, when these worlds start colliding, the Dare family must save the day!

Claudia Aguirre’s art is eye-catching and detailed. Every time I look at a panel, I notice something new. I love the inclusion of Mexican culture and imagery.

This is an interesting story but it could have been a lot better. I like the well-paced plot and some twists surprised me. However, the book is bogged down with too many plotlines. There is enough potential in this book to comfortably create an excellent series. Squeezing all these stories into one book did the writing a disservice. Moreover, certain important things aren’t properly explained and this took me out of the book.

I love seeing each new world. I wanted to know much more about each place. However, these locations are underdeveloped and there isn’t enough time to understand or care about them. Although I liked following each kid on their different adventures, the storytelling and themes would have been tighter and more meaningful if the kids had explored each new world together.

I love the interesting and diverse characters! The Dare children are relatable. However, I would have liked to see more individual growth, especially from Charlotte who at first feels like she isn’t part of the family but who suddenly belongs at the end. I love mysterious and courageous Mamá Lupe. I would have liked more of her backstory. Her interactions with Xochitl also felt rushed.

However, the book has too many characters. While they are unique and memorable, they could be much better developed. The characterization is rushed and insufficient and it’s hard to connect with them.

I love the theme of family but I wish it was more organic. I wanted to see the Dare kids working together and spending time together more meaningfully. The book touches on issues of belonging in an adopted family but it is underexplored.

Hotel Dare is a great and quick read with lovely art but it could’ve been much stronger. But, I did enjoy it and it’s an easy and fun book that will appeal to kids and teens.



💀💀💀 skull masks out of 5!

We Stan diverse characters and a diverse family!
This was SUCH a great adventure from beginning to end that I could not put down.
Some things were confusing at first, but it all wrapped up really nicely.
I really want more of this series very soon! Also the artwork is definitely worth mentioning - it was absolutely electric, so colorful, and totally eye catching. Loved all of it!

When Olive, Darwin, and Charlotte are dropped off at their Mamá Lupe’s place, they are quickly put to work. Of course, cleaning the creepy old hotel their grandmother lives in is not how they expected to spend their summer. One day, Mamá Lupe tells them to continue cleaning while she’s out and gives them strict instructions not to go near her office. Ignoring her grandma, Charlotte picks the lock and explores the forbidden office with her reluctant siblings, and accidentally unlocks a magical world within the hotel.

This is such a cute and heartwarming story, but it could’ve been so much more. I think that it suffers from having too much going on at once. It has a great cast of characters, the storytelling is beautiful, the artwork is wonderful, and the story itself is great. That said, the story began to splinter down once the kids are separated into different worlds, or dimensions I guess, and it continues throughout the rest of the story as more and more gets tacked on. Unfortunately, this book reads more as a companion story to a book or series that doesn’t exist, especially because of how little we spend in two of the other worlds. It just seemed like we should’ve known these worlds already.

At its core, the story is about family, and we follow Olive, Darwin, and Charlotte, who are siblings through adoption. I love that Olive and Darwin have bonded and Darwin feels like a member of the family. However, Charlotte does not, and her feelings is what drives some of her actions, including pressuring her siblings into going into Mamá Lupe’s forbidden office. I loved watching their individual adventures, but I wish that the kids went into the different worlds together from the start. Because of how much they are separated, Charlotte finally feeling like a member of her family seems like an afterthought.

I loved the characters, but I loved Mamá Lupe the most. I would love to follow a series following her and her adventures as she searched for her husband across the different worlds. It appears to be a stand-alone story, but I will 100% be here if a book following Mamá Lupe were to come out.

Hotel Dare is a fun romp about a mixed family. A trio of children are sent to stay with their grandmother at her creepy hotel. They spend their summer trying to find out what caused a rift between members of their family. In the process, they discover something that allows them to travel to multiple worlds.

I think the art does a wonderful job with the story. It's a little more cartoony, which seems to fit the age of the characters. This allows the fantasy elements to mesh into the story a lot better. The hotel and each of the areas that the children travel to are distinctive. I love the artifacts that allow the characters to travel between these worlds and how that ties into the history of the family.

As much as these fantastical elements are part of the story, from the start it is all about family. This is something that carries throughout the book. It lends strength to the story that something that everyone can identify with is a central theme and remains important even after some of the more interesting things are introduced. Definitely would recommend.

Some intriguing choices going on in this book. We have a fair amount of Hispanic culture, with the spirit realm and the like. At the same time, we've got the isolation and cultural confusion that comes with adoption. Lots of detail in the illustrations.

Hotel Dare was truly BEAUTIFUL--and I mean that in every aspect. The illustrations are vivid and so colorful, the story is incredibly unique and fun, and the characters are diverse and original. Set in a hotel whose rooms transport entrants to fantastical worlds, the Dare siblings learn the importance of family--even adoptive family--as well as friendship and love.

There were a few things I would have liked a little more clarity on (some character history/details), but dimensional portals, family trees, diverse characters, and great Claudia Aguirre artwork check off a lot of boxes for me.

This graphic novel has gorgeous artwork that uses traditional Mexican figures and styles, but the story is a bit of a mess and very heavy-handed in its message of family unity, although it also includes chosen family with blood family. Three siblings travel to their grandmother's hotel in Mexico where they discover portals to other worlds. Each travels to a different one, making new friends who all then join together in a quest for the siblings' grandfather, who disappeared into a portal years ago and for whom their magic-using grandmother has been searching. Some of the plot lines are worthy of a telenovela, which is probably deliberate given the early reference to telenovelas in the book. With a little editing and a lighter touch on the moral of the story, this would have gotten a higher rating from me.

Hotel Dare is a heartwarming tale of adventure and family, and I really enjoyed it.

It tells the story of the siblings Olive, Darwin, and Charlotte who are going to spend the summer with their grandma, Mama Lupe. They're expecting it to be boring, but what starts as a chore, turns into a journey into different worlds after they stumble upon a magical Aztec brooch.

The different characters they encounter there all help them come to important realizations about accepting who you are and your differences, loving yourself and loving your family, no matter who they are or how you met. As Mila, the friendly space pirate says: "If you have people who love you, treasure them, however you got them. And not juts your blood kin. Family are people who treat you like family. Even when it's difficult and there's problems. Especially then."

Overall, Hotel Dare is a fun, fantastical journey with great and important messages perfect for all ages.