Goldie Vance: The Hotel Whodunit (Goldie Vance Novel #1)

by Lilliam Rivera (Author) Elle Power (Illustrator)

Goldie Vance: The Hotel Whodunit (Goldie Vance Novel #1)
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

Move over, Nancy Drew--there's a new sleuth in town! Inspired by the beloved comic series, Goldie Vance is ready to sleuth her way through never-before-seen mysteries in this original novel series by Lilliam Rivera featuring 16 full-color comic pages!

Marigold "Goldie" Vance lives and works at the Crossed Palms Resort Hotel in Florida with a whole slew of characters: her dad, Art, the manager of the joint; Cheryl Lebeaux, the concierge and Goldie's best friend; and Walter Tooey, the hired hotel detective. Her mom, Sylvie, works nearby at the Mermaid Club.

While life at the Crossed Palms is always busy, the resort is currently overrun with Hollywood-types filming the hottest new creature feature, and tensions are at an all-time high. Even Goldie's mom is in on the movie act, doing what she does best: playing a mermaid. Just when Goldie thinks the movie biz couldn't get any more exciting, a diamond-encrusted swimming cap goes missing, and all fingers point to Goldie's mom as the culprit. Can Goldie uncover the true thief before it's too late?

Based on Hope Larson and Brittney Williams's critically acclaimed Goldie Vance comic, this thrilling novel explores a never-before-seen caper and features 16 full-color comic pages essential to unraveling the mystery. 

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Kirkus

This biracial, LGBTQ protagonist seamlessly shifts from comics to prose in a winner of a series opener.

Publishers Weekly

In this middle grade debut by Rivera (Dealing in Dreams) based on the beloved comics series, Goldie Vance, 16, may officially be a valet at the Cross Palm Resort in St. Pascal, Fla., where she lives part-time with her hotel manager father, but she considers her real title house detective in training. Lucky for Goldie, the actual hotel detective, Walt, gives in to her request to help out with a big movie filming at both the Cross Palm and the Mermaid Club, where Goldie's mother works as one of the pool mermaids. The movie features megastar Delphine, an actress whom vivacious Goldie quickly befriends, and the Bejeweled Aqua Chapeau, a diamond-encrusted swim cap worth over a million dollars. When the cap goes missing and Goldie's mom becomes the top suspect, Goldie resolves to solve the case. Though Goldie's narration frequently sounds young for a 16-year-old, the hotels make great settings for intrigue, and the teen's world is filled with entertaining characters, including her crush, Diane. Goldie's endless optimism and belief in herself inspire while creating amusing moments in this satisfying gumshoe mystery. Comic book inserts by animator Power further enliven action-packed segments. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8-12. (Mar.)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-7—Sixteen-year-old Marigold "Goldie" Vance is a valet at the Cross Palms Resort in St. Pascal, FL, where her dad has worked for years as manager. Really, she would prefer to be assistant to the hotel's house detective, Walt Tooey, as she dreams of being a detective. Goldie pays close attention to details, always has a notepad with her, practices active listening, and is a self-proclaimed sneak. The Resort has a big job on their hands when movie conglomerate, Baldwin Studios, books their biggest star Delphine Lucerne as a special guest while filming their latest blockbuster. Goldie is on high alert when the menacing and power-crazed Mr. Cecil Davenport of Baldwin Studios asks Walt to keep an eye on a special delivery requiring the utmost privacy and security. While Walt tries to shoo Goldie away, she knows he really needs her. Originally a researcher, his clumsy tendencies would be much more suited to working in a quiet bookstore. Will Goldie be able to keep the special delivery safe? Based on the comic book series, Rivera's task of bringing Goldie to a prose novel is nicely done. Readers will love Goldie, an ambitious female lead who challenges gender roles, is gay, and is not to be underestimated. The book features two eight-page comic spreads. VERDICT A great purchase for middle grade collections, especially those whose readers are looking for their next boisterous supersleuth.—Gretchen Schulz, Schaumburg Township District Library, IL

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes



Lilliam Rivera
Lilliam Rivera is an award-winning writer and author of the young adult novels Dealing in Dreams, The Education of Margot Sanchez, the middle grade novel Goldie Vance: The Hotel Whodunit, and the forthcoming Never Look Back by Bloomsbury. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Elle, to name a few.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780316456647
Lexile Measure
830
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date
March 17, 2020
Series
Goldie Vance Novel
BISAC categories
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV013060 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Parents
JUV028000 - Juvenile Fiction | Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories
JUV014000 - Juvenile Fiction | Girls & Women
JUV031030 - Juvenile Fiction | Performing Arts | Film
Library of Congress categories
Mystery and detective stories
Detective and mystery stories
Hotels, motels, etc
Racially mixed people
Motion pictures
Production and direction
Resorts

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