The Pink Motel

by Carol Ryrie Brink, Sheila Greenwald (Illustrator)

The moment Kirby and Bitsy arrive with their parents at their newly inherited motel in Florida, they know it's an unusual place. First of all, it's pink. Not just regular pink, but pink, pink, PINK!

Then there's the roster of regular guests: an artist from Greenwich Village, a magician from The World, and a carpenter form Nobody Knows.

It's the perfect combination for adventure - from mysterious messages to alligator hunting, dognapping, and Great-Granduncle Hiram's rumored secret treasure. The action at the Pink Motel never stops!

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Mystery, Juvenile, Adventure, Young Adult

214 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

Carol Ryrie Brink was an American novelist and children’s writer best known for capturing frontier life with warmth, humor, and historical detail. Raised in Idaho after a childhood marked by early family tragedy, she grew up under the care of her grandmother, whose vivid storytelling later inspired her most celebrated book, Caddie Woodlawn, winner of the 1936 Newbery Medal and a lasting classic of American juvenile literature. Educated at the University of Idaho and the University of California, Berkeley, she graduated Phi Beta Kappa before marrying mathematician Raymond W. Brink and settling in Minnesota, where she balanced family life with a prolific writing career. Over several decades she produced more than thirty books for young readers and adults, often drawing on Midwestern landscapes, pioneer history, and her own experiences. Summers spent in rural Wisconsin further enriched the authentic settings of her fiction. In later years she also pursued poetry and painting. Honored by her alma mater and commemorated in her hometown, Brink remains remembered for stories that celebrate independence, resilience, and the imaginative life of childhood.

Reviews

[Brok3n · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plausibly deniable fantasy

Lately I have gotten out of the habit of rereading books. However, being reminded of The Pink Motel, I remembered that I was at one time very fond of this book, and I thought "Why not? I can reread it in an hour...". So I got myself a copy (paperback -- it's not available on kindle) and read it.

I grew up in a house full of books. Most of the books were randomly arranged on bookshelves throughout the house. (Since I knew intimately the contents of every bookshelf in the house, the lack of order didn't bother me.) However, old books would occasionally show up in corners and crannies. I think I was about 12 when I unexpectedly found The Pink Motel somewhere. (In other houses loose change might show up under the couch cushions -- in ours you were likely to find a lost book.) It was a faded pink hardback, probably a first edition that had found its way into our home from a school library that had deemed it surplus to needs. I had never heard of the author. (Carol Ryrie Brink is a name to conjure by in children's literature, but I didn't yet know that. The Pink Motel is one of Brink's later works, number 20 in Wikipedia's list -- she had long been a successful children's author when it was published.)

The Pink Motel is a stealth fantasy novel. You will not see its genre listed as fantasy, but that is what it is. It was obvious to me that Miss Ferry was a witch, with her remarks about the ogres and giants she knew in her youth many hundreds of years ago and her reference to the wand she had left at home. Of course, she dismissed these as jokes as soon as anyone noticed, but it was clear she did that to provide plausible deniability to comfort those who did not believe in the existence of witches. Since I, like all sensible people, knew that witches did indeed exist (as characters in books of fiction), I did not need this crutch and could confidently ignore her denials.

Miss Ferry is not the only fantastic character. In fact, outside the Mellen family, none of the characters in The Pink Motel seems like a person from The Real World. I remember being particularly entertained by the gangsters, who were funny and could not possibly be believed as Real World gangsters.

So that is The Pink Motel -- a charming and funny fantasy that pretends, implausibly, not to be a fantasy. Apparently the pretense is good enough to fool the publishers, the Library of Congress, and the people at Goodreads who classify books into genres.

Blog review.

PS 16-Jul-2023: In working my way through The Collected Stories of Roger Zelazny, I found this surprising endorsement in the tribute by Gerald Hausman.

In writing this, I am suddenly reminded that I have left out the last and most eccentric of Roger's gift books. How did I miss The Pink Motel by Carol Ryrie Brink? Roger presented this skinny little novella to me one day.

[Mk619 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book as a child, and my brother recently reminded me of it. It's about a family from Minnesota who inherits a pink motel in Florida. Since it was written in 1959, the motel is a series of pink stucco cottages with spanish tile roofs... very vintage mid-century.

I've just re-read it -- thank heaven for Amazon Marketplace -- and loved it just as much. Its language is a little archaic, but in a good way. And the story holds up well.

The Pink Motel attracts all kinds of odd types, and the children in the book are always having adventures, and believable adventures at that.

But there's something magic about the motel and the book. It's a great read.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a weird kind of magical thinking in these books that has gone out of fashion these days. Most modern kids books either are firmly rooted in reality or are over-the-top fantastic. This book rides the line in a way you just don't see as much anymore. For instance, the kids teach poodles tricks in hours that would take days or weeks. People do and say things that would be schizophrenic in real life and even the villains are cartoonish and silly.

I'm not complaining about any of the above, just saying it's got a definite 1950s feeling about it and it is a lot of fun because of it, not in spite of it.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and humorous, though not very realistic. Kids would probably eat this one up, but as an adult I saw some glaring holes, like...where were the adults while the kids were roaming the motel and using things at will from the office? Fun, though, even though the setting is more of a sketch than a vibrant scene!

This was my first-ever ILL book, so if you're looking for a copy to read, you might just read the same pink hardcover from Texas that I did!

[Kate Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun escape of a book! You're following Bitsy and Kirby and their parents as they take over management of the Pink Motel on the Florida coast. You get to know their family while also meeting some of the locals and hotel guests. I loved the tropical setting and colorful cast of characters. What this might lack in emotional depth it makes up for in a lively atmosphere and cozy writing.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightfully quirky! I really don’t want to say too much. This is a book to dive right into knowing only that you’ll finish it with a goofy smile on your face.

P.S. I adore Miss Ferry and Mr Carver.

[Clara Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this one so much I read it aloud to my kids two times! What a wonderful story of a family who takes over a motel in Florida, complete with eccentric house guests, friendly neighbors, and even criminal types! Our favorite lines come when one of the kids meets a poodle belonging to one of the guests. She tells him the dog's name is 'Pantaloon.' He says, "Nice to meet you, Panty." No, it's "PantaLOON," she replies. To which he responds, "Nice to meet you, Loony." The kids cracked up so hard and made me read that part over and over. These are the kinds of stories that wonderful memories are made of, memories of sitting on the couch with the kids around, just reading and reading till my voice got tired, all of us enjoying the wonderful escape into the world of the story! I'm so thankful to great writers like Carol Ryrie Brink who helped make those special times possible..

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my top 5 favorite books as a child. It's not in print anymore, as far as I can tell, but if you ever see a copy you should read it. It's not the most dramatic plot ever written, but it's such a sweet story and the characters are endearing. I highly recommend for children and adults alike.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book as a young girl. I believe I first read it when I was about 8, and that it was my first real chapter book. It set me off on a lifetime of enjoying mysteries. I wonder if it has stood the test of time. It's really fun to see so many others loved it as well.

[Gina House · Rating 4 out of 5]

A silly and entertaining read! Usually, I don't enjoy middle grade books that are too silly or ridiculous, but this story was clever and also very well written. The family who inherits The Pink Motel really get more than they bargained for! lol. But, the children are extremely versatile, intelligent and almost keep the place going without much help from their parents. The kooky (though likable) residents of this Florida motel each play their part in the little mystery that occurs. It has strong Dr. Seuss vibes, lively black and white illustrations and a satisfying ending. Recommended!

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't going to write a review for this one (for a lazy/lame reason haha) but here are a few thoughts on the story and content. It won't be as thorough as my other reviews, since I wasn't planning to give an account for everything in it, but hopefully it will be of some use.

I liked how the story began. Brink had a nice, narrative flow and the opening sentences definitely were curiosity-piquing. I was just as excited as the children were when they went to the Pink Motel and just as curious over their discoveries. And the characters that staid at the Motel were funny, memorable, and all slightly (and purposefully) over the top: the Browns who were too busy to do anything but tan, Sandra who was not interested in anything, Miss Ferry who leaned towards the sarcastic side, and the others who all had their comical moments.

The ending was just okay though. It turned into a mystery (if you can call the obvious a mystery ;)), with the parents being very silly and lacking all manner of discernment, and their son having to solve the mystery to save the day. The bad guys felt bad for stealing and planned to give up their thieving ways. They were forgiven and everything ended happily ever after.

Though not stellar, it was still an enjoyable read. And if you like purposefully silly and overblown stories and characters, you'll relish this.

Ages: 7 - 12

Cleanliness: Uses of “good gracious” “goodness” "goodness sake" "merciful heavens" “gee” and the like are throughout the book. "Screwy" is used a few times. There is a magician who has lost his magical touch - he performs little tricks and eventually gets his touch back. There is an old woman that teases about having left her wand at home in the broom closet and there are a few other references to being a witch (it is left somewhat ambiguous). The parents have no discernment and are part of the silly characters of the story. Mentions that a boy is colored.

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!

Visit my website!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I last read this maybe 30 years ago and couldn't have told you a thing about the plot so I decided to read it again. I had lots of "Oh, yeah!" moments.... "Oh, yeah, a family from Minnesota inherits a Florida motel," "Oh, yeah, the lady and her little show dogs stay at the motel," "Oh, yeah, there are gangsters and alligators and a mystery." It was sweet and I liked it. When I'm 70 and have forgotten it again, maybe I'll read it all over.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A childhood favorite, I cannot say much about the quality of writing or story line, except that I do remember loving it as a child - and that must count for something, for though we as adults love to rate and compare children's books from the viewpoint of an adult, there is value in what a child likes to read as a child.

[Susann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story that didn't change my life but did make me yearn for a trip to a less-developed Florida of 50 years ago, with pink motels and coconut shell filing systems.
Bought at Willard's Emporium in Mankato.

[Bob Cipolla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I vividly remember Mrs. Hannah, my 4th grade teacher and one of my all-time favs, (1969), reading this book to us. I can still hear her voice and the "crinkle" that the pages made as she turned them. I wish I could remember the content of the story more clearly ... Think I might have to see if there is a Kindle edition and revisit the past!!! This has to be a 5-Star book if I can still remember it after all this time!!!

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It bugs me when adults give low reviews to children books. Feels like it’s getting a low rating because you’re an adult who doesn’t appreciate simple messages? Nothing wrong with either, just my personal opinion. Round up, not down.
This was a sweet, fun book. I can see it running imaginations wild in children :)

[Jennifer Wolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute mystery for those who have graduated from Dick and Jane. OK maybe not really a mystery, but there are some quirky and cleverly-named characters.

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding tale of a family recreating itself in Florida with an odd assortment of characters and a pink motel.

The story is geared toward children but it's wry wit is easy to take for any adult. The story is rather original in it's handling and resolution. Nothing heavy handed or action packed. Just a charming little novel that's fun to read.

The characters are most of the fun. Each distinct with a voice written as their own.

Rink wrote my favorite children's novel and I don't recall reading this, though I might have.

About the Florida setting: Rink nails the cottages that dotted the roadways through Florida at the time of the publishing of this book, 1959.

There's a handling of a baby gator that is a bit loosely handled. Especially with little dogs darting all about and no mention of other babies or their mama.

Bottom line: I recommend this book.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

In which the Mellons inherit Great-Uncle Hiram's pink motel and adventures ensue. As Cousin Rose says: "It's a real bright pink, a speaking pink, as you might say. And whether because of the color or because Uncle Hiram was a rather unusual person, it attracted the most unusual guests."

Oh yes. The Pink Motel is hilarity from start to finish, peppered with sly asides and running gags. Everyone and everything is slightly overdrawn, a bit exaggerated, larger than life - but they fit the pink, pink, pink motel.

Carol Ryrie Brink didn't only write Caddie Woodlawn; good as it is, that's the book she wrote that I reread least.

[Greta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading this book over and over since I was a very young girl whenever I would visit my grandmother. My copy is a lovely shade of pink and was handed down to me from my grandmother so I have a lot of sentimental attachment to this story. 40 years later, I introduced it to my daughter and was reminded how magical it was. Despite being written in the 50s it has held up pretty well. It's not very dated. I was happy that she loved it too! The characters are fun and engaging, and despite the fact that everyone knows who the culprit is, long before it's revealed, it's still a really fun story for kids.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have the original hardcover copy of the 1960 edition. I loved this book as a child in elmentary school. I wanted to inherit a pink motel and go to Florida so I could meet all these interesting people. What a great introduction to the world of mystery solving. I have read it over and over.

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books when I first started reading chapter books as a child. The cover on my copy is pink (though rather grubby, as it first belonged to my mother and her siblings).

[Cindy Garrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a special book to me. It's the book that got me to love reading. Remember when your class had a regular visit to the library and you had to choose a book? I didn't ever find one, it seemed. Then I happened on this one! I loved it and was immediately caught up in the story! Perfect book to read to a child who can enjoy a magic picnic basket! I got a copy to keep. ❤

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My parents owned this book, and I read it many times growing up. I don't remember much about the writing style or quality, but I know that as a kid, I really, really enjoyed it.

[Gina Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a cute, old tale of mystery. Brink has some wonderful turns of phrase and is a lovely writer. Quite different from Caddie Woodlawn but still very enjoyable. My girls were arguing over who got to read it next since I had finished.

[Susan Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story! How did I miss this one when I was a kid?! (Borrowed)

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

kinda cute read aloud. the girls liked this more than i did. a little too much dialogue and telling rather than showing for my taste. read because it's set in florida and we were traveling there

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pink Motel
I bought myself a BD present. This was one of my favorite books while growing up. (For those of you who know pink is my favorite color, it was not because of the color in the title). I remember walking to the bookmobile that visited our neighborhood during the summer. This was one of the books I checked out. I often thought about this book over the years wondering what was it that left such an impression on me. I remembered the plot. It is about a family who inherited a pink motel in Florida that had a lot of quirky characters rent the cottages. But that couldn't be what left such an impression over all the years. There had to be something more. I started searching for the book. Libraries no longer carried it. At first it wasn't available online. Every few years, I would look for it again. Then I discovered It had been reprinted in 1993 in paperback w a different cover. I didn't want paperback and I wanted the same cover that I remembered. Plus I wanted one in good condition. Then I finally found one but it cost several hundred dollars. I didn't want to read it that bad. A few weeks before my BD I looked again and found one for a reasonable price. I couldn't wait to read it again. Now I know why this book stayed with me over 40 years. It is so delightful with humorous characters, a good mystery and fun, ole-fashion childhood play. The overall message is so positive. Old Uncle Hiram wrote notes on pink paper ( yes, pink - to match the motel, of course!) and kept them in empty coconut shells. These sayings, such as "While there's life, there's hope", related to understanding and getting along with others and being happy regardless of your circumstances, values which still apply today. In contrast, since the book was written during the late 1950's ( published in 1959) there are a couple of things that are considered outdated today, such as the mention of "boy toys" and "girl toys" and talk of a rocket going into space. If this story could be re-written with those few changes, it would be a great story for young children today.

In case you are wondering why the motel and paper was colored pink, Old Uncle Hiram thought the color would attract some interesting, peculiar and unusual guests, which it certainly did.

Anyway, for a shy young girl, this book encouraged me to dream, explore and think happy thoughts during a hot summer in Florida many years ago.

Now I ask you, what book did you read as a child that left a huge impression on you?

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute, a little surreal, more like Baby Island than Family Sabbatical. Honestly, could have done without the magical realism elements, like the Mary Poppins character--because beaches and coconuts and alligators and kids running wild are magical enough on their own--but it was fine. I think this is the third book I've read where a family inherits a motel from a distant relative, which is odd... well, one might have been purchased, but same basic plot... anyway, surely this is the grand-daddy. I would have liked to read it in a proper old edition instead of a new paperback, because that would have made it all seem more magical. I thought the little boy Big was written to be African American--there's a slight dialect and some cultural markers--and I see that he is, on the paperback cover. But I wondered whether that was more explicit in the original edition, and some dated elements might have been removed.

[Sunday Kofax · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently rereading this as an adult, I realized how good this book is. I think we’d call it magical realism now, there’s such a light tough of unreality. The pith of the story (made more extraordinary by the context of being written in the middle of the post-war focus on normality) is that everyone has something to add, even if it’s not clear at first or doesn’t happen every time they open their mouth. It’s genre is mystery, it takes place in southern Florida, and it’s solid in its whimsy. I’m shocked it’s not been made into a movie.

It’s a vintage read, with words and a few references that aren’t common now, which adds to the novelty. It lacks the level of casual, overt racism and sexism prevalent in this era. There’s a poor, Black boy as a character, and I guess I can say there’s a lack of overt racism. Is there more subtle racism at play? Quite possibly. That’s a good lens for me to study as I read it next time.