The Multicultural Kid Blogs' Read Around the World Summer Series started this week and today we are sharing a young adult novel that is written by a German author and takes place in Switzerland. Be sure to follow the entire series all summer. I will be sharing the book recommendations on my Facebook page. In general Mondays will be books for younger kids, Wednesdays will be middle grade books and Fridays will be young adult but some may get switched around. The book we are sharing is A Castle in the Clouds by Kerstin Gier and translated by Romy Fursland.
Seventeen-year-old German Sophie Sparks is going to have to repeat her junior year, so she drops out of school and wants to get as far away from her parents' disappointment as she can. She gets an internship at a fancy hotel in Switzerland. Her internship includes everything from working in the spa and laundry room as well as a chambermaid and a babysitter. The hotel is on the top of a mountain above the cloud line so it is nicknamed castle in the clouds. The hotel is still run as it has always been and is a bit rundown. The story has romance, drama, and suspense as well as some magic. Their are stories of ghosts as well as kidnappers. There is the mysterious, good looking young man staying at the hotel with his grandfather. Sophie keeps find him in somewhat suspicious activities. There is the cute son of one of the owners who shows up for his holiday break to work as an intern. Then there are the wealthy guests and the ones who saved their money to go to the new year's eve ball. Plus there are the temporary workers that were hired for the holiday season. Who can she trust and can she figure out what is going on?
This is a page turner. There is so much in this book from a look at the German culture to how old hotels are run. There is a look at friendship and romance. The book has many twists and turns that you don't know what is going to happen next. It definitely keeps the reader wanting more. There is even a message about tradition as well as good versus bad. I know Hazel is planning on reading it soon as well. I know she is going to like it. I hope you will check it out.
