Marta roams the Hotel Balzaar as quiet as a mouse while her mom works. She spends most days in solitude, hoping her father will come home. Then one day a countess arrives at the hotel. Marta’s days become far more interesting as the countess tells her tales, and she begins to rediscover hope that her story will have its own happy ending.
Each day Marta marvels at the painting and the clock in the Hotel Balzaar lobby. She quietly entertains herself while her mom works, carefully staying away from guests and trouble. She dreams of a day when her father returns from the war and they can leave the hotel, but he’s been missing a long time. Marta knows her mom has already given up.
One day the countess arrives at the hotel. Marta tries to stay out of her way, as usual. However, the countess invites Marta to come and listen to her stories. There are seven stories—and they must be told in the correct order.
The countess spins tales of heartache and triumph. Marta struggles to figure out what the tales mean and why they often feature disappointing endings. Most of all, Marta clings to her belief that her father will come home. The countess tells her that “it takes no courage at all to doubt.” And so, Marta must find the courage to believe.
Angels, God and nuns are all mentioned.
A mermaid is pictured on a perfume bottle. A witch casts a spell in one of the stories. However, the magic in the tales bleeds over into the real world (the general turned parrot is the countess’s parrot, the countess herself is one of the characters from the stories, etc.)
Marta’s mom, a housekeeper, provides for their small family, making ends meet and taking care of them since her father disappeared in the war.
Elsewhere, one character leaves her husband. One woman leaves her husband while pregnant then leaves the baby with a couple she barely knows. The king takes the boy away from his family because of his singing abilities.
Marta’s father is fighting in a war. War is discussed in a general sense. One woman gets hit in the head with the handle of a hoe. Marta’s father suffered a serious head injury.
None.
How do you stay hopeful when hard things happen? Do you think most people struggle when waiting for something that they long for? Why or why not?
Marta was impatient to hear the next story. Do you ever get impatient? How do you think you can become more patient?
The countess tells Marta that doubting doesn’t take courage. Read Romans 15:13. Why does believing take courage? How does God help you have joy and hope?
The Hotel Balzaar is filled with hope and redemption. The majority of the book is composed of the countess’s stories, which some readers might not prefer. But others might appreciate the way DiCamillo weaves plots, characters and themes together.
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Book reviews cover the content, themes and worldviews of fiction books, not necessarily their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children. The inclusion of a book’s review does not constitute an endorsement by Focus on the Family.
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