Bookseller blurb: Everything is humming at the Heartwood Hotel one year after the forest fire. Yet Mona the mouse feels like something is missing. Something besides the Golden Acorn—a legendary treasure buried and forgotten long ago. When a stranger turns up at the Heartwood with a map, suddenly the whole forest is taking part in a big treasure hunt and the hotel’s regular activities are turned upside down. But Mona has an idea to get things back to normal: throw a surprise birthday party for Mr. Heartwood! As the Heartwood attracts treasure hunters—well-meaning and otherwise—and as Mona's best friend Tilly seems to be pulling away, Mona feels like her plans are slipping through her paws! Who will find the legendary treasure? And what if danger finds the hotel first?
Opening sentences: "It was autumn once again in Fernwood Forest, and no place was cozier than the Heartwood Hotel. A silver moon hung, thin as a whisker, above the old oak tree. Golden leaves decorated the hotel's branches, and the delicious aroma of roast acorns drifted from within."
I actually squealed when I saw a NEW Heartwood Hotel book in Canada last month. Kallie George lives in British Columbia, Canada. I grabbed it with both hands, went back to my hotel and read the whole book straight through in one huge, delicious gulp! If you have not yet discovered this sweet series quickly add them to your 'to read' or 'to borrow' list. I am sure this series will be easy to find in many school and public libraries. Kallie George creates real tension in this newest installment as we watch Mona struggling to understand why her precious friend Tilly is so distracted and where is Mr Heartwood he needs to know some of the hotel guests are acting suspiciously.
The writing in the Heartwood Hotel books utterly delights me:
"Branch Room 22 wasn't big. ... Still, the rooms had a view of the forest and enough space for a soft grass bed and a night table. Mona could see Tilly had plumped the pillows and readied a nutshell of hot water and honey-oat soap to wash with."
"Two hedgehogs were sitting on the couch near the hearth, chatting over cups of hot honey. Other guests drifted in and out of the dining hall, along with the delicious smell of breakfast - hot buttery acorn rolls, fried thistles and mushrooms."
"The room had a bed with a moss blanket and freshly stuffed mattress, a bathroom with a hollowed-out burl for a tub, and a balcony that was discreetly hidden by branches, for safety's sake. ... There were even complimentary acorn collies on the pillow."
This newest book has a slightly larger size. The new editions, which have different covers from the original ones, match this size but if your library has the original copies the two newest books will look slightly different on your shelves. You can see other books illustrated by Stephanie Graegin here.
Now there are six books in this series (the sixth book is not yet released):
