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mariahistryingtoread's review against another edition
3.0
Floors is a perfectly serviceable story.
It kicks off quickly, the main character is appropriately spunky, and the Whippet hotel is an interesting setting to explore. While I think it could have been tightened up a bit more - the few point of view chapters of a character outside the hotel pulling strings within for a mysterious reason were not needed, there were not enough kooky characters futzing around which could have been fixed if it were an apartment building instead, solving the mystery was too straightforward - the story was competently written and I did not regret reading it.
It was explicitly linked to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in-text, and I can see how Carman used that as a framework for his story. However, it does not resemble it outside of the basic premise of a kid in a fantastical place owned by a wacky man. The whimsy that Roald Dahl has in his writing is unfortunately lacking which might have contributed to my overall indifference.
I prefer mysteries where there are a lot of clues or puzzles that the reader can also ponder on. All of the puzzles in this book were informed by knowledge of the Whippet that only Leo could have so it's more that you are observing him as he tries to work things out. In that way it is more split between adventure and mystery than 'pure' mystery to me.
A solid book that I have no qualms about recommending. I think it might be a bit dull for a kid particularly if they struggle with spatial awareness like I do, but if you get the correct mechanically inclined child then you have hit gold.
It kicks off quickly, the main character is appropriately spunky, and the Whippet hotel is an interesting setting to explore. While I think it could have been tightened up a bit more - the few point of view chapters of a character outside the hotel pulling strings within for a mysterious reason were not needed, there were not enough kooky characters futzing around which could have been fixed if it were an apartment building instead, solving the mystery was too straightforward - the story was competently written and I did not regret reading it.
It was explicitly linked to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in-text, and I can see how Carman used that as a framework for his story. However, it does not resemble it outside of the basic premise of a kid in a fantastical place owned by a wacky man. The whimsy that Roald Dahl has in his writing is unfortunately lacking which might have contributed to my overall indifference.
I prefer mysteries where there are a lot of clues or puzzles that the reader can also ponder on. All of the puzzles in this book were informed by knowledge of the Whippet that only Leo could have so it's more that you are observing him as he tries to work things out. In that way it is more split between adventure and mystery than 'pure' mystery to me.
A solid book that I have no qualms about recommending. I think it might be a bit dull for a kid particularly if they struggle with spatial awareness like I do, but if you get the correct mechanically inclined child then you have hit gold.
bookph1le's review against another edition
4.0
In my quest to make a reader out of my eight-year-old daughter, I've taken to reading a lot of children's books with her. My experience have, in general, been kind of hit or miss. Sometimes I really like something, but she doesn't. Others, she likes them and I don't. It's always a good feeling when we find a book that bridges that gap, one that both parent and child can enjoy. Floors is one such book. There will be a few spoilers in this review.
There is a lot about Floors to recommend it, but I was drawn in by the sort of wacky description of the book. That description really only scratches the surface. As we read about the many themed rooms in the hotel, I really marveled at the depth of the author's imagination. For me, the most apt description is to the Gene Wilder Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The Whippet Hotel offers a veritable feast for the imagination: from a room centered around robots to the Cake Room, you just can't help but be drawn into the author's vivid descriptions. By the end of the book, you will wish that the Whippet Hotel was real and that you could visit it. It would put to shame anything Las Vegas can throw at you. I'm extremely, extremely impressed by just how fantastical and wonderfully imagined the hotel is. It's a character in its own right.
But the hotel isn't the only thing this book has going for it. I also really enjoyed the characters of Leo and Remi, and the gradual evolution of their friendship. Leo has a really lovely back story, and I liked the book's messages about love and loss and learning to move on. Leo handles all of these themes in a way that struck me as very lifelike and my daughter didn't have any trouble relating to him. Leo is everything a good character should be: believable, admirable, yet still flawed. I really like books where children act like children and the author takes their concerns seriously.
Also interesting to me was the way Merganzer's similar childhood experiences were interwoven with those of Leo. There are some very poignant and lovely passages in which Merganzer recounts childhood experiences with his mother. I also have a son, so the theme of two boys growing up without their mothers definitely tugged at my heartstrings.
My only real disappointment in the novel was with the ending, which just didn't really work for me. There was a lot of buildup but the ending was unsatisfying. It mirrors the Will Wonka film in a lot of ways, so I found some aspects of it very predictable though, of course, the triumph of the virtuous was satisfying. Still, I wish it had felt a little less predictable and that Merganzer wouldn't have emerged as a sort of Deus Ex Machina.
There is a lot about Floors to recommend it, but I was drawn in by the sort of wacky description of the book. That description really only scratches the surface. As we read about the many themed rooms in the hotel, I really marveled at the depth of the author's imagination. For me, the most apt description is to the Gene Wilder Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The Whippet Hotel offers a veritable feast for the imagination: from a room centered around robots to the Cake Room, you just can't help but be drawn into the author's vivid descriptions. By the end of the book, you will wish that the Whippet Hotel was real and that you could visit it. It would put to shame anything Las Vegas can throw at you. I'm extremely, extremely impressed by just how fantastical and wonderfully imagined the hotel is. It's a character in its own right.
But the hotel isn't the only thing this book has going for it. I also really enjoyed the characters of Leo and Remi, and the gradual evolution of their friendship. Leo has a really lovely back story, and I liked the book's messages about love and loss and learning to move on. Leo handles all of these themes in a way that struck me as very lifelike and my daughter didn't have any trouble relating to him. Leo is everything a good character should be: believable, admirable, yet still flawed. I really like books where children act like children and the author takes their concerns seriously.
Also interesting to me was the way Merganzer's similar childhood experiences were interwoven with those of Leo. There are some very poignant and lovely passages in which Merganzer recounts childhood experiences with his mother. I also have a son, so the theme of two boys growing up without their mothers definitely tugged at my heartstrings.
My only real disappointment in the novel was with the ending, which just didn't really work for me. There was a lot of buildup but the ending was unsatisfying. It mirrors the Will Wonka film in a lot of ways, so I found some aspects of it very predictable though, of course, the triumph of the virtuous was satisfying. Still, I wish it had felt a little less predictable and that Merganzer wouldn't have emerged as a sort of Deus Ex Machina.
misspippireads's review
3.0
Welcome to the Wippet Hotel! The Wippet was created by an excentric gentlemen who excelled at creating strange inventions. Each floor of the hotel is unique and full of surprises and adventures. No one knows the ins and outs better then the janitorial staff of the Fillmore family. Leo Fillmore discovers all this and more when a mysterious box is discovered...which leads to more myserious boxes.
Carman writes an amazingly imaginative tale that will appeal to a wide range of listeners. If you need a book that needs to span a range of ages during a roadtrip, this is an excellent selection. The older listeners might be able predict the some plot points, but there are plenty of surprises along the way. The ending wraps up happily with hints at more Wippet adventures.
Jesse Bernstein reads the first Floors novel. The narrator is well-known for his reading of The Lightning Thief and the Percy Jackson series. His voice is youthful and he differentiates between the characters. I prefer consistancy between books, so if the Floors series continues, I hope Berstein will return to tell the tale.
Reviewed from a library copy.
Carman writes an amazingly imaginative tale that will appeal to a wide range of listeners. If you need a book that needs to span a range of ages during a roadtrip, this is an excellent selection. The older listeners might be able predict the some plot points, but there are plenty of surprises along the way. The ending wraps up happily with hints at more Wippet adventures.
Jesse Bernstein reads the first Floors novel. The narrator is well-known for his reading of The Lightning Thief and the Percy Jackson series. His voice is youthful and he differentiates between the characters. I prefer consistancy between books, so if the Floors series continues, I hope Berstein will return to tell the tale.
Reviewed from a library copy.
amotisse's review against another edition
5.0
How wonderful to listen to some junior fiction. It really allows the imagination to run wild and free. The Whippet Hotel is somewhat exclusive but incredible! Full of secret floors and passages, interesting people and plenty of mystery.
Definitely a place I’d love to explore.
Definitely a place I’d love to explore.
jenniepicky's review against another edition
2.0
I usually don't have much trouble listening to a book in the car while driving, but I had real trouble paying attention to this one. It wasn't the narrator's fault (as has been suggested by other reviews) because I have listened to other books read by him and haven't had any troubles at all. I just didn't find the characters or plot particularly unique or interesting. But children who love Wayside School may find just what they are looking for.
aoosterwyk's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting details, but I just kept thinking of Willy Wonka as I read.
izumisano's review against another edition
4.0
Would have liked the ending better if it wasn't exactly like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
saidtheraina's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a sucker for cool world-building.
This is definitely a book about a place. Leo is the son of the maintenance guy at the fantastical Whippet Hotel. This hotel is right in the middle of a major city and has many quirky characteristics. Each room has a theme. My favorite was the pinball room, because in addition to pinball-themed décor and actual pinball games, the ENTIRE ROOM turns into a giant pinball game! The features of this hotel border on (and quite possibly slide over the edge into) fantastical and science-fiction.
Within this world lives a cast of wacky characters - employees, guests, and strangers to the hotel.
The best part about this book is definitely exploring the different crazy rooms Carman has cooked up. Although I remember there were wacky characters featured in the story, I only vaguely remember individuals, and only vaguely remember the plot of the central mystery. If you're like me, you'll eagerly look forward to the moments when Leo visits a room you haven't seen yet.
I featured this book in my outreach visits to local elementary schools leading up to Summer Reading 2013. It's definitely been a hit!
---
However, can we talk about how much better the pbk cover is than this?!?
This is definitely a book about a place. Leo is the son of the maintenance guy at the fantastical Whippet Hotel. This hotel is right in the middle of a major city and has many quirky characteristics. Each room has a theme. My favorite was the pinball room, because in addition to pinball-themed décor and actual pinball games, the ENTIRE ROOM turns into a giant pinball game! The features of this hotel border on (and quite possibly slide over the edge into) fantastical and science-fiction.
Within this world lives a cast of wacky characters - employees, guests, and strangers to the hotel.
The best part about this book is definitely exploring the different crazy rooms Carman has cooked up. Although I remember there were wacky characters featured in the story, I only vaguely remember individuals, and only vaguely remember the plot of the central mystery. If you're like me, you'll eagerly look forward to the moments when Leo visits a room you haven't seen yet.
I featured this book in my outreach visits to local elementary schools leading up to Summer Reading 2013. It's definitely been a hit!
---
However, can we talk about how much better the pbk cover is than this?!?
karieh13's review against another edition
5.0
(Written by my 8-year old son.) This book was AWESOME – 5 stars. I liked the plot the best, it was interesting and I liked the characters, especially Leo and Remi. They teamed up and they saved the Whippet Hotel.
One thing that makes the book so interesting is that every single hotel room is different and not like your average hotel room. There was one that was a life sized pinball machine, one that was a railroad room and one that was a HUGE junk maze.
“The entire thing appeared to be made of junk, pile after pile rising all the way to the ceiling. Chairs, old dishwashers, cans of paint, picture frames, books, shelves, computers, telephones, car tires – it went on and on and it all looked like as if it might crumble to the floor any moment.” The author described the rooms really well so that I could see them in my head.
I can’t wait to read the next book and find out what happens to Leo and the Whippet Hotel!
One thing that makes the book so interesting is that every single hotel room is different and not like your average hotel room. There was one that was a life sized pinball machine, one that was a railroad room and one that was a HUGE junk maze.
“The entire thing appeared to be made of junk, pile after pile rising all the way to the ceiling. Chairs, old dishwashers, cans of paint, picture frames, books, shelves, computers, telephones, car tires – it went on and on and it all looked like as if it might crumble to the floor any moment.” The author described the rooms really well so that I could see them in my head.
I can’t wait to read the next book and find out what happens to Leo and the Whippet Hotel!
clairegoatcher's review against another edition
4.0
it was a great book filled with adventure and suspense about a ten year old boy who found these strange boxes and now has to make it through many secret rooms in the whippet hotel. a small hotel with many whacky rooms. can he make it?....
P.S. I wish they made a second book :)
P.S. I wish they made a second book :)