Review of The Mystery of The Hillside Motel
Posted: 25 Jul 2024, 11:27
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Mystery of The Hillside Motel" by David Murray Anderson.]
The Mystery of the Hillside Motel by David Murray is a young adult novel about eight-year-old David and his adventure while his family stays at the Hillside Motel. He meets a girl there named Teri, and he is immediately smitten. He is too young to know what love is, but he knows that somehow this girl must stay in his life forever. Teri is very adventurous and believes there are secrets to be discovered about the motel and the surrounding area, and she pulls David into her adventures. What things do they find out? What happens to their relationship, especially once David’s visit ends? You’ll have to read this book to get the answers to those questions.
This is a light, fun book. David tells this story as the narrator, which adds an element of insight into his emotions and thoughts. This perspective is executed very well. It is easy to read and has a simple plot that is easy to follow. It is short and can be finished quickly. One unique aspect of the book is that there are several genres mixed into one book. There is a bit of romance, some adventure, and a hint of paranormal happenings. Even though this is marketed as a young adult book, it is written in a way that can be enjoyed by many ages, including adults. The content is appropriate for preteens and older. There is no sexual content, and there are only two instances of borderline profanity.
The book does seem to be professionally edited. There are a few minor errors; none of these distract from the book itself. Another round of editing never hurts, but the errors don't detract from the story. It is also a well-written book with good flow, sentence structure, and vocabulary. All of this contributes to the ease of reading the book.
Unfortunately, there are a few issues with the book. The first is that the story seems off for kids who are eight years old. The way the kids talk, the things they think about, and the relationship between David and Teri match kids that are eleven or twelve or even older. It doesn’t fit kids that are only eight. Another downfall is that there are a few inconsistencies. There are times when something is said at the beginning of the book, but then a contradictory statement is said later on. For example, when they get to the motel, it seems like they are still far from their grandparents’ house, but then David tells Teri that their grandparents live in the area.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. It is a good book that is easy to read. It has a lot to offer for people with different interests. The issues I mentioned above were on my mind throughout the entire book, which is why I took a star off. However, the book is still enjoyable, so I didn’t think it was fair to take off more than a single star. Readers who enjoy a story about friendship and adventure would enjoy this book.
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The Mystery of The Hillside Motel
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Mystery of the Hillside Motel by David Murray is a young adult novel about eight-year-old David and his adventure while his family stays at the Hillside Motel. He meets a girl there named Teri, and he is immediately smitten. He is too young to know what love is, but he knows that somehow this girl must stay in his life forever. Teri is very adventurous and believes there are secrets to be discovered about the motel and the surrounding area, and she pulls David into her adventures. What things do they find out? What happens to their relationship, especially once David’s visit ends? You’ll have to read this book to get the answers to those questions.
This is a light, fun book. David tells this story as the narrator, which adds an element of insight into his emotions and thoughts. This perspective is executed very well. It is easy to read and has a simple plot that is easy to follow. It is short and can be finished quickly. One unique aspect of the book is that there are several genres mixed into one book. There is a bit of romance, some adventure, and a hint of paranormal happenings. Even though this is marketed as a young adult book, it is written in a way that can be enjoyed by many ages, including adults. The content is appropriate for preteens and older. There is no sexual content, and there are only two instances of borderline profanity.
The book does seem to be professionally edited. There are a few minor errors; none of these distract from the book itself. Another round of editing never hurts, but the errors don't detract from the story. It is also a well-written book with good flow, sentence structure, and vocabulary. All of this contributes to the ease of reading the book.
Unfortunately, there are a few issues with the book. The first is that the story seems off for kids who are eight years old. The way the kids talk, the things they think about, and the relationship between David and Teri match kids that are eleven or twelve or even older. It doesn’t fit kids that are only eight. Another downfall is that there are a few inconsistencies. There are times when something is said at the beginning of the book, but then a contradictory statement is said later on. For example, when they get to the motel, it seems like they are still far from their grandparents’ house, but then David tells Teri that their grandparents live in the area.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. It is a good book that is easy to read. It has a lot to offer for people with different interests. The issues I mentioned above were on my mind throughout the entire book, which is why I took a star off. However, the book is still enjoyable, so I didn’t think it was fair to take off more than a single star. Readers who enjoy a story about friendship and adventure would enjoy this book.
******
The Mystery of The Hillside Motel
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon