*The Hotel Balzaar by Kate DiCamillo

In The Hotel Balzaar, Kate DiCamillo continues her magical Norendy Tales series with intriguing hints of further connections.

*The Hotel Balzaar (A Norendy Tale) by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Júlia Sardà. Candlewick, 2024, 151 pages.

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10

Recommended for: ages 8-12

The Puppets of Spelhorst, published last year, was a Redeemed Reader starred review and the subject of one of our Newbery Buzz discussions. As the first of DiCamillo’s “Norendy Tales,” Megan and I speculated about how the author would develop the puppets’ story further. The Hotel Balzaar doesn’t answer that question—in fact, it appears to take off in an entirely different direction. But within a page or two, the story commands its own space, as well as this reader’s attention.

Chapter 1 wastes no words in getting off the ground: “In March of that year, Marta and her mother arrived at the Hotel Balzaar. They were given an attic room that contained a bed, a sink, and a battered chest of drawers.” Marta’s mother has taken a job as a maid in a grand resort hotel that appears to have seen better days. Where is Marta’s father? Off to war, but months have passed since they’ve heard of him, and Mama clearly fears the worst. Her workday begins early in the morning with a short break at noon for lunch and a late evening quit time, during which Marta is free to roam so long as she remains inconspicuous and “quiet as a small mouse. You must bother no one. You must not be a nuisance, ever.” Marta is obedient but curious, and soon a splendid object of curiosity arrives at the hotel.

It’s an old woman dressed in furs with a live parrot perched upon her shoulder. She identifies herself as “Countess,” but her imperious manner fades when she spies Marta spying on her. “I am very fond of children. Very fond, indeed. You must come and visit us.” “Us” includes the parrot, whose name is Blitzkoff and who, the Countess reveals, was formerly a very famous general. What’s the story behind that? Marta wonders. As it happens, the Countess has stories to tell, but not about Blitzkoff (who actually seems happier as a parrot than he was as a general).

The stories unfold over several visits, and they appear to have little or no connection to each other. Some of them hint that the Countess knows something about what happened to Marta’s father, and others trail off without a conclusion, which frustrates the girl to no end. When Marta shows her cynical side, the Countess offers a corrective: “It takes no courage at all to doubt, Marta. And we are not beyond rescue. We are never beyond rescue . . .” and it’s time for another story.

DiCamillo’s economy in sketching characters and moods shines brilliantly here. She communicates a lot in 150 pages, complemented perfectly by stylistic illustrations that convey both whimsy and melancholy. Marta’s sadness, and her anger at the sadness, is childlike, but no less moving for that, and she’s rewarded by a happy ending. But what about the puppets? And the girls who loved them? The action of Hotel Balzaar appears to take place about two generations after Spelhorst, so might the Countess be Emily or Martha grown up and grown old? Like the Countess’s tales, this novel appears to have no connection to the previous one, but the latest edition of The Tale of Despereaux ( 2004 Newbery award) includes a passing reference to Norendy. All will be revealed, just as all the individual stories of earth will be connected one day. In the meantime, we look forward to the next Norendy.

Bottom Line: A heartfelt, quasi-magical story about stories, with a hard-won happy ending.

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Resource: A Picture-Booklist of Fairy and Folk Tales.
• Review: Tales of Wonder (starred review) examines eight “essential” fairy tales and how to enjoy them with children.
• Reviews: Kate DiCamillo’s three-volume series of contemporary friendship stories include Raymie Nightengale, Louisiana’s Way Home, and Beverly Right Here.

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