Ghost Hotel

Ghost Hotel #1

by Larry Weinberg

Ghost Hotel

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult, Middle Grade

Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[C. (Don't blank click my reviews, comment please! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Definitely do not judge the profundity and emotionality of this book, by it's tacky, juvenile spook cover! I do prefer haunted manor types but what you are getting is very memorable and meaningful. It is a touching and regrettably realistic portrayal, of a family who helped slaves escape into Kentucky before the Civil War. The route the little girl takes ends up in a portal that leads her to our time period. Here in 1994, with amnesia about the ordeal from whence she came, she is raised and loved by another set of parents. “Ghost Hotel” was published that year by Larry Weinberg.

Anna / Hanna experiences déjà vu about her original parents' hotel, not knowing that their spirits didn't want to rest without seeing what became of her. And it becomes clear that she wants to go back to her birth time, to set a horrible escape night right. Oh, you respect and love everyone involved and wish this loyal, brave, smart girl could live with both sets of parents, who all love her truly! You also wish that the strife and sense of their black friends being hunted, could not possibly have been veritable history. No, this is not the trivial youth paperback that it seems!

Although it is about running to freedom, family, friendship, and hard choices; mystery wrapped in metaphysical possibilities give this story a special spark. It is moving that we did not have slavery and that Canada encapsulated relief for many families. It is a 176 page novel with no time for building-up suspense or for crafting a background but the action snatches our interest and the emotional situations keep our hearts invested. Some brisk novels work with streamlined, need-to-know detailing and information. This one certainly did. Happy Thanksgiving week-end, everyone! Sincerely, Carolyn.

[Erin 😎]

What in the “liberal white savior” did I just read?

[Rogue Kat · Rating 1 out of 5]

I remember reading the second book, Return To Ghost Hotel some time when I was in middle school and I remember liking it. So when I saw this at a thrift store last week, I snagged it.
The book is definitely a quickly paced, exciting read for the intended age group. For someone in their early 30's doing a nostalgia read..... it's kind of meh. You can absolutely read it in a day, but it's very repetitive.
It definitely has some really strong white savior themes.
Was this book all that great? No, it's written for a way younger age group.
Is it a great starting point for initiating important conversations and learning about important black historical figures? Absolutely.

As an adult, I got bored part way through, but finished because it's a quick, easy read, and having that general memory of liking it when I was maybe 12.

Leave this one to the kids.
Historical time travel mystery will keep them on the edge of their seats.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, the front cover of this book is RIDICULOUS! Absolutely no such ghostie kind of creature like that in the book. However, the innards were a very nice find. If i were still a kid, i would probably have given this 4 stars. One gets much more of a glimpse of what life was like for slaves & those of the Underground Railroad in the days prior to/during the Civil War than what one could ever do reading a history book. Ignore the cover and let your kids (or yourself) read this. :)

[P Bright · Rating 1 out of 5]

This YA literature was in truth a story about the underground railroad. That being said, I don't think it should have been marketed as a ghost story. False advertising!
The underground railroad part of the story was interesting but I was all set for a YA ghost story so I was disappointed.

[Jayme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very, very weird book. It had an interesting twist that made it cool though.

[Issie Petrie]

I read this book years and years ago but I remember loving it at the time

[Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book back in 2006 or so and it recently came back to me through reddit where someone else was trying to remember it. For about two weeks it bugged me that I could not remember which book it was, which I blame on the misleading title and cover.

This story had very little to do with ghosts, it was more of a time-travel story about a white girl who had "skipped ahead" from the year 1850 while running away from slavers. She goes back in the story to find the boy she was helping escape and bring him with her back to the present. Lots of Underground Railroad history.

I enjoyed it, though that could be due to the nostalgic lens I read it through.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the book is titled “Ghost Hotel”, the story is actually a time travel book with not much time spent at the hotel or with the ghosts.
Anna travels back to 1850 where she gets involved with Underground Railroad. The story is touching and fast paced.
I have already ordered the next two in the series. I am hoping they are just as good.

[Austin Sheehan · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a book called "Ghost Hotel" there was quite a bit more time travel, rescuing slaves, and underground trains than I expected.

It was short. That was good. So if you want to read a book in about 2 hours this is one you can use.

[Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good!

[Lindsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry, I just cannot finish this.

[Michael]

I liked the book because of the sense and feel of adventure. It is a book that captures my imagination. It makes me want to be there to experience it. This book would be a horror/adventure movie that would be along the lines of the Adams family mixed with shawshank redemption. The mix of the two is the sense of the real and the unreal with the house being involved. With the help of animation today I think it could be a movie that is the same as the book. I think the book has a great appeal for all ages and would be a great movie for anyone who likes adventure.

[Samm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another for the read all of Sara's books challenge. This book for young readers was way better than I expected it to be. I was anticipating a lot of ghost cheese and common tropes of books that sport this type of cover, but the historical context and story elements pleasantly surprised me.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was definitely not what I expected. I figured it would be about ghosts and paranormal experiences and whatnot, but I was surprised. It's a harrowing tale of slavery and time travel, filled with action and intensity that will keep you on the edge of your seat till the very last page.

[Mo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good introduction book for elementary age school children learning about slavery and the Civil War Era.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah read this and told me it was really good and I had to read it. yes, she was right. Cool insight into the Underground Railroad.

[Geoff Lin]

I like ！