I absolutely loved Secrets of the Hotel Maisonneuve. It had all the ingredients of what I consider to be a great middle-grade novel (or any novel, for that matter): an intriguing plot, perfect pacing (not too fast, not too slow--just right), a setting with its own unique flavour, and, most importantly, characters I actually care about. "Secrets of the Hotel Maisonneuve" is a real treasure (pun intended) and is a Canadian classic in the making. I think readers young and old will enjoy it.

Through complex and diverse characters, Levangie weaves a complex and revealing tale, fully satisfying to the young reader hungry for mystery and adventure, but equally rewarding for wisdom-seeking adults. Kudos to Levangie for not dumbing his story down in an ill-advised effort to pander to simplicity for simplicity’s sake. He gives his young readers the credit they deserve for being able to take in the contradictions of fully developed characters, and a story told in fully developed sentences. A story that reminds us that we all carry baggage, and that overcoming life’s challenges requires equal measures of courage and empathy.

Rich with warm and wonderful characters, magical developing relationships, Vietnamese cooking lessons, as well as insights into the horrors of abuse, discrimination, the safety and succor provided by a loving family (Jacob’s family just may be the best ever captured on paper) and the life-altering glow of empathy, discovered—this book also provides a compelling and fascinating look at historical events, including life in Montreal in the time leading up to WW1, the Vietnam War, and the fall of Saigon. I loved this book—finding myself tearing up in places and smiling with delight in others. (I’m) hard-pressed to remember a more rewarding middle-grade reading experience.

There is not a wasted word in this book. It's delightfully multicultural and inclusive in an utterly natural way, and it has typical 13-year-old troubles without becoming trivial (Jacob doesn't like his sister's boyfriend, is being bullied, loses friends, worries about his parents' finances). The mysterious letter he finds and the ensuing treasure hunt through the hotel also proves to be important to his entire family, and the relationship he develops with Mrs. Nguyen is sweet and helps him reconnect with his own heritage. Highly recommended!