Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye

September 14, 2015
Based on a concept created by book designer/illustrator Staehle, this impeccably designed novel pulls from literary and visual sources that include a Victorian-style two-column text layout, intricate engravinglike illustrations in red and black, and an adventure with echoes of classic children’s titles like Raskin’s The Westing Game and Dahl’s The Witches. In fact, witches are just one problem facing 12-year-old Warren—he looks part gremlin, part Burnett’s Little Lord Fauntleroy—who stands to inherit the Warren Hotel where he lives and works. The hotel has fallen on hard times under the stewardship of Warren’s uncle Rupert, and Rupert’s new bride, Aunt Annaconda, is tearing it apart as she searches for a mysterious artifact known as the All-Seeing Eye. Once word of the treasure gets out, a lack of guests ceases to be an issue, though others quickly arise in its place. Del Rio, a veteran of the comics world, knows how to keep the story moving, supplying twists and double-crosses to keep Warren (and readers) guessing. Stylish, exciting, funny, and just slightly macabre, this entertaining novel bodes well for Warren’s future adventures. Ages 8–12.

September 15, 2015
As sole remaining worker for the once-grand hotel he eventually stands to inherit, 12-year-old orphan Warren toils to keep up with the destruction his (supposed) aunt Annaconda is wreaking in her search for a legendary All-Seeing Eye that might restore her waning witchly powers. The fortuitous appearance of a trail of cryptic clues, along with a stranger shrouded in bandages and Annaconda's equally malign sisters Scalene and Isosceles, escalate the hunt to a mad scramble. With help from a tentacled but friendly monster lurking in the boiler room and Petula, a beautifully tattooed witch hunter, Warren ultimately discovers that the real prize is the hotel itself, which turns out to have several unusual capabilities. Page design plays a large role in setting the tone. Initial letters and loud exclamations are printed in red and, often, a variety of antique display types; the double columns of narrative switch to white on black for Annaconda's scenes; calligraphic patterns or esoteric geometric figures appear in many of the dark, wood-engraving-style illustrations. Codes, visual puzzles, and mirror writing also figure prominently. As heroic of heart as he is grotesque of features ("toadlike face, gray skin, crooked teeth"), Warren leads the way to a triumphant resolution that presages further adventures. Just the ticket for fans of Unfortunate Events in dim corridors and murky subterranean chambers. (Light horror. 11-13)

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Starred review from January 1, 2016

Gr 3-6-Warren the 13th would proudly welcome guests to his ancestral hotel, but his mentally absent Uncle Rupert and avaricious Aunt Annaconda have let the hotel molder. Twelve-year-old Warren cheers the arrival of a lone guest and the revelation that within the hotel lies a legendary treasure, the All-Seeing Eye. As Annaconda is revealed as a witch and Warren teams up with her apprentice, Petula, hordes of people rush the hotel, eager to join in the treasure-seeking. The mysterious bandaged guest, Annaconda's witchy sisters, and the ancient tutor Mr. Friggs each have a part to play in the hunt, with surprises for readers. Warren and his loyal retainers follow clues from an old journal to preserve the Eye from Annaconda's sorcerous plans. A steampunk-hybrid-novel is the best description for this square-shaped tome with Gothic red-and-black illustrations and engravings. Staehle enhances his bizarre characters with varied layouts and the powerful pop of blood red accents. Del Rio uses smart dialogue, vivid imagery, and a two-column layout for a smooth, quick-moving read. Memorable details, like the cook's giant pudding cookies and the backward writing that Warren must decipher, ground the fantastical setting and characters, as do the specific clues that observant readers can follow to solve the mystery on their own. Children who enjoy Brian Selznick's heavily illustrated books will be at home with this offering. VERDICT A whimsical mystery with a lot of heart and spine-tingling illustrations, this novel will circulate as soon as children open it.-Caitlin Augusta, Stratford Library Association, CT

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2015
Grades 3-6 The once-grand Warren Hotel has gone to seed since the death of Warren the thirteenth's father five years ago. Though his uncle technically runs the place, young Warren is the hotel's maintenance crew, housekeeping staff, and bellboy all rolled into one. Keeping eight floors tidy is no easy task, especially with his cruel aunt Annaconda tearing rooms apart to search for the hotel's All-Seeing Eyean object legend says is hidden somewhere on the grounds. An old journal, cryptic clues, and a mysterious guest soon usher in a full-blown hunt for the Eye (whatever it may be), with Warren desperate to save the hotel and his birthright by finding it first. This madcap Victorian gothic mystery is the first in a series that will delight fans of Lemony Snicket and Pseudonymous Bosch with its puzzles, magic, unusual characters, and bighearted protagonist. Its distinct black-and-red illustrations and two-column page design will grab readers' attention, while the quirky, engaging story will keep them hooked. A treat for the eyes and imagination.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)