Warren the 13th and the Whispering Woods

Gr 3–6—In this second installment in the series, the Warren Hotel is now a thriving, walking hotel that carries Warren the 13th and his guests to exciting destinations. However, Warren's hapless uncle Rupert causes the hotel to fall and stop functioning. The guests flee, Warren is replaced with an evil mimic, and Warren must travel into the dangerous Malwoods to rescue the hotel and his friends from evil witch Queen Calvina. The writing is clear and simple, and the plot moves briskly and efficiently. Industrious, kind, and ethical Warren is a sympathetic hero. His friends include Petula, a young witch hunter—in—training, and Sketchy, a genderless creature who always manages to come to the rescue. Fairy-tale tropes and a Victorian setting give the story a gothic feel, echoed by the numerous black-and-white illustrations, which resemble Victorian-era engravings. Almost all of the broad, square pages are illustrated, and there are detours into a variety of texts, including newspapers, a "Wanted" poster, and speech balloons.