Sunny and the Hotel Splendid

Alison Moore's first novel, The Lighthouse, was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and the National Book Awards (New Writer of the Year), winning the McKitterick Prize. Both The Lighthouse and her second novel, He Wants, were Observer Books of the Year. Her short fiction has been included in Best British Short Stories and Best British Horror anthologies, broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra and collected in The Pre-War House and Other Stories. Born in Manchester in 1971, she lives near Nottingham with her husband Dan and son Arthur.Ross Collins was born in Glasgow, Scotland quite a while ago. At that time would eat anything and resembled a currant bun. Ross still enjoys precariously swinging backwards on chairs. He lives in Glasgow with a strange woman, a small child and a stupid dog.

The writing is pitched perfectly at children but the quick witted humour makes this tale enjoyable for every reader. The detailed illustrations scattered throughout the text add to the pleasure. I particularly enjoyed the ghosts’ reaction when it appeared the hotel really was haunted. Sunny and Ana are fabulous with their calm reactions, particularly to adult disbelief. A warm and witty story of friendship and acceptance. A plot and protagonists that will fire the imagination of readers whatever their age.