Kate Dicamillo (text) and Júlia Sardà (illustrator), The Hotel Balzaar (The Norendy Tales), Walker Books, October 2024, 160 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781529523782
Although The Hotel Balzaar is the second book in the Norendy Tales series, the story stands alone and can be enjoyed without having read The Puppets of Spelhorst. Marta and her mother live in an attic room of the Hotel Balzaar, where they wait for Marta’s father, a missing soldier, to return to them. Marta is free to roam the hotel while her mother cleans rooms, but must do so silently and invisibly so as not to cause any disturbance to hotel guests. When an eccentric countess and her pet parrot arrive at the hotel, Marta’s quiet existence is turned upside down. The countess begins to tell Marta a series of seven intertwining stories. As the countess unfurls each story, Marta must be patient and try to piece together their relevance. Ultimately, the stories come together, and Marta gets what she most desired.
This is a quiet and elegant story. There are magical elements, but the lines between real and imagined are blurry. For example, the countess claims her parrot can recite Shakespeare, but Marta never witnesses it. However, the parrot does seem able to communicate complex thoughts through body language and noises. There are beautiful illustrations throughout, adding to the classic feel of the book.
This book is most suitable for children aged 8-12, particularly sophisticated readers who are willing to sit with a little uncertainty before the story ties together. It would make a lovely gift for a thoughtful reader.
Reviewed by Laura Holloway
