Debbie Noble Black continues her magical series with The Old Secret at Hotel Oregon. Enchantment surrounds Sara, but she doesn't want her friends or family to think she's weird for talking about it. She made friends with a spirit embodying an old coat, Silas, and her grandmother sent the coat to her at her new home. Her dad drives the family to Oregon for a few days, and they stay in McMinnville at the McMenamins Hotel Oregon. In the strange motel, odd pictures catch Sara's eye, and one is a painting of schoolchildren. In her room, Sara finds many old clothes that share their history with her. Among them, she hears the voices of children who are stuck in the picture. The children need to find their way out of the picture, but they can only do it with Sara's help.

Packed with magic, history, and suspense, Debbie Noble Black's book is a fantastic selection for children. Children will learn about historical objects, like old calculators, and scientific marvels, such as solar eclipses and active volcanoes that look like mountains. The story moves along quickly, keeping young readers entertained while they learn. Sara and her brother grow closer, showing a sibling bond. The realistic drawings help young readers get a real feel for the things Sara sees as she visits Oregon. After the story, the book offers activities and information to keep the adventure going. Characters from the past are brought into modern adventures, making The Old Secret at Hotel Oregon both educational and entertaining.

Ten-year-old Sara is the main character in The Old Secret at Hotel Oregon by Debbie Noble Black. She’s feeling disenfranchised, having moved to a new school, and forced to start over with relationships and classes. Against the backdrop of a loving family, including a typically grumpy teenage brother, Sara navigates school and home while nursing a magical secret. With the help of a historical military coat and an ageless kitten, she can engage with the ghosts of discarded clothing and listen to their stories. But while her nightly journey to the closet while on holiday provides a distracting mystery for her to solve, another crisis is brewing. A horrible twist of fate means that Sara is chosen as the front-runner to represent her classmates in a school-wide competition. The prize is so wonderful that losing is a dreadful proposition with far-reaching consequences. But Sara hasn’t bonded with her classmates and knows they expect her to fail. As the stakes rise in the real world, she’s pulled into the mystical realm to save the lives of twelve children trapped within a cruel curse.

Debbie Noble Black has created likable characters with the realism of disgruntled teenage siblings. I related to the push and pull between Sara and her brother, Daniel. It reminded me very much of my childhood and negotiating with my sister. There is an interesting thread of restoration throughout this novel that sets it apart from the trauma-ridden parent-hating novels often written for this age group. The girls who bullied Sara in her first term are now themselves the new kids at a different school, and she feels compassion toward them by the end of the novel. The children Sara must rescue from the magical painting are there because of their own cruel actions, but she still helps them. And though her older brother is dismissive and arrogant around her, he responds to her by coming through for her when she needs him. The Old Secret at Hotel Oregon is well-written, perfect for children or teens struggling with school or family issues, and is refreshing. I loved the innocence of this novel and Sara’s very staunch moral compass. The illustrations were also very cute.