Review by Booklist Review
In a shameless homage to The Shining--both book and film--Marcks takes readers to Estes Park, Colorado, where famous but reclusive horror writer Jack Axworth lives at the now-defunct Underlook Hotel. When rumors surface that Axworth is planning to demolish the Underlook and move out of town, Estes Park is sent into a tizzy. Amid the hubbub, 13-year-old Suzy and kid-filmmaker Elijah receive invitations to visit the hotel--Suzy to tutor Axworth's son, Danny; Elijah to interview Axworth. Marcks constructs a ridiculous (in a good way) mystery that teams Suzy and Elijah up with Danny and Rena, the Underlook's teenage manager, in wild pursuit of the Underlook's history and true purpose, all while trying to save the hotel from destruction. The artwork injects a retro feel into the story through square frames tinted like vintage 8mm film for Elijah's video shots, and much of Kubrick's aesthetic is lovingly tucked into the hotel's details. Supernatural forces and realistic personal problems confront the gang during their investigation, which ultimately proves to be a fast-paced mystery with fun horror trappings.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Thirteen-year-old engineer Suzy, portrayed with pale skin and straight blond hair, teams up with brown-skinned, bespectacled documentarian Elijah to save a historic hotel from demolition in this energetic graphic novel mystery by Marcks (Shark Summer). Small Estes Park, Colo., relies on revenue generated by tourists to stay afloat. The Underlook Hotel, which is owned by reclusive horror author Jack Axworth, is the mountain town's biggest attraction; ghost-hunting tourists and Jack's avid fans, dubbed "Underlurkers," flock to Estes Park for a glimpse of the infamous mountaintop hotel. But Jack, who has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia, plans to demolish the property, despite the town's protests. Joined by Jack's son, Danny, and Rena, the Underlook's caretaker, Suzy and Elijah attempt to halt the demolition, and as they dig into the hotel's history, mysteries surrounding Axworth's family and the town's old mining system unfurl. Marcks's intricately detailed depictions of the Underlook's architecture, Suzy's inventions, and surrounding wildlife make for a bustling setting that serves as its own character--though this occasionally comes at the expense of the tweens' own development. It's a plot-driven mystery with myriad intertwining threads that features whip-smart, proactive protagonists. Ages 8--12. (Oct.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 5--8--Elijah Jones has come to Estes Park, CO, to film a documentary about famed and reclusive author Jack Axworth, while Suzi has agreed to spend winter break tutoring Jack's son. Neither knows the entire story--that Axworth has early-onset dementia and aims to leave the small town and the famed Underlook Hotel behind. It has become too much for his caretaker, Rena, to care for him. When Suzi and Elijah arrive at the hotel, they discover Jack's plans to demolish it as he leaves town. Suzi is desperate to save the hotel because of all it means to the town, and she has one week to try to get it done. The creepy setting and ominous, dark tone of the book will have mystery readers hoping for more. The book's plot takes a lot of twists and turns and is often confusing. The characters are not all consistent, and so many parts need to come together quickly. The dark colors and detailed panels add to the mood and tone of the book, but somehow it does not deliver the punch it needs. It takes too long to build up the plot and then rapidly wraps up. VERDICT There will be a small population of readers who might enjoy this read, as there are many mysterious parts of the book. An additional selection for library shelves.--Esther Keller
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
An old Colorado hotel with dark secrets and a brooding horror novelist as its caretaker make a properly atmospheric setting for a young filmmaker's latest project. Fresh from the cinematic escapades of Shark Summer (2021), teenage documentarian Elijah Jones arrives in Estes Park thinking he's been invited to record a rare interview with famous recluse Jack Axworth--but he's actually been summoned to make a biopic of the novelist, who has young-onset dementia. Once again, the footage Elijah ends up with tells more than the story he set out to make, as Axworth's poignant reminiscences and increasingly erratic behavior become inextricably mixed with a portrait of a struggling town whose history and very survival center on the nearby Underlook Hotel, a closed-up resort haunted by tales of supernatural evil and slated for imminent demolition. Is there time to save it? The storyline struggles to advance through thickets of subplots and hints, but the Underlook's deadline adds enough suspense to keep readers interested, and the hotel turns out to have hidden levels and treasures to be discovered when the action flags. Also, Marcks trots out such an engaging supporting cast, led by local teen engineering whiz Suzy Hess and including colorful characters like a ghost hunter with a truly creepy crow, that watching the ensemble in action is pleasurable enough. Finished art was not seen, but Elijah and another significant character present as Black in the otherwise White cast. Stronger in character than plot but spooky in parts. (Graphic fiction. 10-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
