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Hocus Pocus Hotel #1
Out the Rear Window
Tyler Yu asked Charlie Hitchcock to meet him after school, and Charlie assumed it was for a fight. But when it turns out Ty just needs help solving a magical mystery at the Abracadabra Hotel, an unlikely friendship is formed.
105 pages, Library Binding
First published August 1, 2012
3 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Michael Dahl
553 books155 followersMichael Dahl is the author of over 200 books for children and young adults, including the acclaimed Finnegan Zwake mystery series and The Library of Doom. His works have earned Edgar and Anthony Award nominations and national design honors. As Editorial Director at Stone Arch Books, he champions engaging, award-winning stories that inspire young readers everywhere.
He also writes under aliases Chris Carey, Rick Thomas, and Mark Ziegler.
He also writes under aliases Chris Carey, Rick Thomas, and Mark Ziegler.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 12, 2022
Charlie Hitchcock knows he's going to get beat up. How does he know? Well, when the school bully gives you a note that has an address on it and tells you to be there after school and to tell nobody else, that's the only conclusion that makes any sense. Or it did until he got to the address and saw it was the Abracadabra Hotel.
Instead of beating him up, Tyler wants Charlie's help. Tyler's mother is the hotel manager, and his father is the chef. Apparently, a long-term guest has gone missing and Tyler is hoping that Charlie can help find him. Will they be able to figure out the clues and find the missing guest?
This was a fun mystery to listen to. Not only were there clues for the missing guest, but there were also magic tricks that were performed, with some being explained when the characters figured out how they worked. The unnamed narrator also did a good job reading the story. He had a way of reading it that reminded me of the old whodunnit tv shows; his voice was suggestive without giving away too much. The story's mystery was similar to those of Scoobie-Doo, with Charlie's deductive reasoning reminding me of Velma. As a result, there was a lot of nostalgia with me as I was listening to it.
As this book starts a series, I am looking forward to reading/listening to more books in the series.
Instead of beating him up, Tyler wants Charlie's help. Tyler's mother is the hotel manager, and his father is the chef. Apparently, a long-term guest has gone missing and Tyler is hoping that Charlie can help find him. Will they be able to figure out the clues and find the missing guest?
This was a fun mystery to listen to. Not only were there clues for the missing guest, but there were also magic tricks that were performed, with some being explained when the characters figured out how they worked. The unnamed narrator also did a good job reading the story. He had a way of reading it that reminded me of the old whodunnit tv shows; his voice was suggestive without giving away too much. The story's mystery was similar to those of Scoobie-Doo, with Charlie's deductive reasoning reminding me of Velma. As a result, there was a lot of nostalgia with me as I was listening to it.
As this book starts a series, I am looking forward to reading/listening to more books in the series.
February 15, 2023
It's really interesting how some authors manage to fill interesting things in such a short space of time. This debut starts around 3pm one day and ends sometime in the morning on the next day. We have Charlie Hitchcock, who's (I assume) something of a "school nerd" with large glasses; and then we have Ty [Tyler] Yu, who most students assume is some sort of school bully. Ty slipped Charlie a note that tells him to meet him at a specific address, and to not mention it to anyone. He must have opened his mouth, though, because the book starts out with Charlie's best friend Andrew and a lot of other students gawking at him as if he's heading to his doom. Even Charlie himself is convinced he might be heading for a knuckle sandwich or some sort of humiliation, but he goes to the address because he's "just too curious."
Perhaps only to Charlie's surprise about half of the people who read this series, Ty didn't set up a trap. Interestingly, Ty also doesn't have that stereotypical "bully look" that too many authors use for someone they want the reader to loathe entirely. Ty is actually this scrawny kid who's got a little muscle, but he's not this rotund child wearing the stereotypical jeans with the tattered ends and some "tough guy" jacket. He's actually just wearing white t-shirt and jeans that are tucked into brown boots. Instead of a pounding, he's got a favor to ask of Charlie. Someone in the hotel is missing and he wants help finding the person.
What's also interesting about stories like this is that you never really realize that there aren't many recurring characters until you really think about it. Honestly, I think there were 8 or less characters with speaking parts, and some were only mentioned. The artwork by Lisa K. Weber has that "haunted" or "Halloweeny" feel that seems to fit right in with the story. For kids or not, the illustrations serve as descriptions of how certain characters look when Michael Dahl didn't specify in the text.
I wanted something different and this definitely is. 4 stars.
Perhaps only to Charlie's surprise about half of the people who read this series, Ty didn't set up a trap. Interestingly, Ty also doesn't have that stereotypical "bully look" that too many authors use for someone they want the reader to loathe entirely. Ty is actually this scrawny kid who's got a little muscle, but he's not this rotund child wearing the stereotypical jeans with the tattered ends and some "tough guy" jacket. He's actually just wearing white t-shirt and jeans that are tucked into brown boots. Instead of a pounding, he's got a favor to ask of Charlie. Someone in the hotel is missing and he wants help finding the person.
What's also interesting about stories like this is that you never really realize that there aren't many recurring characters until you really think about it. Honestly, I think there were 8 or less characters with speaking parts, and some were only mentioned. The artwork by Lisa K. Weber has that "haunted" or "Halloweeny" feel that seems to fit right in with the story. For kids or not, the illustrations serve as descriptions of how certain characters look when Michael Dahl didn't specify in the text.
I wanted something different and this definitely is. 4 stars.
January 9, 2020
You know it isn't very often I pick up books out of the young adult section of the library. When me and my fiance picked it up we didn't know if we'd like it. However it was so short we sat and read it in one session. It was actually a good mystery that was puzzling and funny at the same time. Granted it is meant for a younger audience but i really enjoyed it.
August 20, 2024
Amazing book for mystery lovers, includes lovely illustrations and helpful diagrams
September 23, 2024
Entrañable. Es fácil de leer, rápido y adictivo. Amo la dinámica entre los protagonistas y el hotel es curioso. Volveré por la serie.
February 22, 2022
Magic and mystery? Gotta love it! The characters pop, and the setting is ingenious. My 6 and 8 year old loved it. I also appreciate the Hitchcock references. It's simply a well written book.
December 14, 2022
Meet me after school at 1313 Gideon Street. Alley in back. Don't show this to anyone!"
Charlie Hitchcock has just been handed a note from Tyler Yu, "the biggest-seventh grader at Blackstone Middle School." Is it Charlie's turn to get beaten up? But when he arrives at the address, he is standing in front of the old hotel known as the Hocus Pocus. And there's Ty looking big and angry but what he says takes Charlie's breath away. "I need your help."
It seems that Ty lives in The Abracadabra (the hotel's true name). There have been mysterious black outs on a regular basis and now Mr. Madagascar, a tenant, is missing. Ty wants Charlie's help to find him. Did something sinister happen? Or is it a trick? "One must beware the great Abracadabra. There is magic in its walls."
When you're dealing with a hotel that was built by a magician, you always have to question what you know. Brack, the somewhat creepy elevator operator, warns Charlie to "Never trust what you see here. Or what you don't see. People may even seem to disappear from time to time ... but remember, it's a big hotel." Does he know more than he's letting on? As Charlie and Ty investigate, there seems to be more questions than answers.
A strong mystery series for emerging readers. I've been looking for mysteries with substance for some of my struggling readers. This is a good series for them.
Charlie Hitchcock has just been handed a note from Tyler Yu, "the biggest-seventh grader at Blackstone Middle School." Is it Charlie's turn to get beaten up? But when he arrives at the address, he is standing in front of the old hotel known as the Hocus Pocus. And there's Ty looking big and angry but what he says takes Charlie's breath away. "I need your help."
It seems that Ty lives in The Abracadabra (the hotel's true name). There have been mysterious black outs on a regular basis and now Mr. Madagascar, a tenant, is missing. Ty wants Charlie's help to find him. Did something sinister happen? Or is it a trick? "One must beware the great Abracadabra. There is magic in its walls."
When you're dealing with a hotel that was built by a magician, you always have to question what you know. Brack, the somewhat creepy elevator operator, warns Charlie to "Never trust what you see here. Or what you don't see. People may even seem to disappear from time to time ... but remember, it's a big hotel." Does he know more than he's letting on? As Charlie and Ty investigate, there seems to be more questions than answers.
A strong mystery series for emerging readers. I've been looking for mysteries with substance for some of my struggling readers. This is a good series for them.
July 31, 2014
Very cute book. The story starts out with Charlie getting a note. Not just any note but a "meet me" note from the toughest kid in Middle School. Everyone knows that Ty is major trouble. Charlie should probably have ran in the opposite direction instead of meeting Ty at the designated place and time, but he was intrigued by "why". Charlie heads over, off campus, to meet up with Ty. After a few minutes he realizes Ty is not going to be beating him up right away. He invites him inside a weird looking hotel. Its really not weird, but a Magic themed Hotel called the Abracadabra. Ty has a mystery that he would like Charlie to figure out. Ty has lost one of his resident magicians! He has vanished and he needs the witty, smart kid to help him with his problem.
I see both boys and girls a like enjoying this fun mystery.
The book has great colored illustrations to help bring the story to life and at the end the book includes Discussion questions, writing prompts, and a hand magic trick for you to learn! Neat. ZPD 3.7 and 1.0 AR points.
I see both boys and girls a like enjoying this fun mystery.
The book has great colored illustrations to help bring the story to life and at the end the book includes Discussion questions, writing prompts, and a hand magic trick for you to learn! Neat. ZPD 3.7 and 1.0 AR points.
January 19, 2013
The great magician, Abracadabra, named his mysterious hotel after himself. Affectionately called the “Hocus Pocus Hotel,” the building houses more than its share of mysteries. This time, a resident magician has vanished into thin air. When tough guy Tyler Yu can’t figure it out on his own, he enlists Charlie Hitchcock, with his photographic memory, to help him.
Dahl combines magic tricks and illusions smoothly into the mystery of the magician’s disappearance. The explanations of the mirror tricks are further clarified through helpful illustrations, and a simple magic trick is included at the end of the book for readers to try. Aspiring magicians and mystery fans alike will enjoy this mysterious tale, first in a new series.
Dahl combines magic tricks and illusions smoothly into the mystery of the magician’s disappearance. The explanations of the mirror tricks are further clarified through helpful illustrations, and a simple magic trick is included at the end of the book for readers to try. Aspiring magicians and mystery fans alike will enjoy this mysterious tale, first in a new series.
August 2, 2015
Tough guy Tyler lives and works at the Abracadabra Hotel. As the name implies it was built by a famous magician, for retired magicians, and there is magic in the walls. When one of the residents goes missing, Ty asks fellow classmate Charlie Hitchcock (who happens to have acute visual memory)to help solve the mystery. Dahl creates a fun world that young magic and mystery lovers will enjoy entering. This is the first in a small series that hopefully will continue to grow.
May 22, 2020
Es un libro infantil bastante entretenido, donde puedes aprender diversos trucos de magia con una historia de misterio muy entretenida.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews