A Castle in the Clouds by Kerstin Gier

Translated from the German by: Romy Fursland

ISBN-10: 1250300193

ISBN-13: 9781250300195

Publisher: Holt Books for Young Readers (Henry Holt & Company)

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Sophie Spark is completing an internship at Castle in the Clouds, a picturesque hotel in the Swiss mountains. On any given day, she might be cleaning rooms, working in the spa, or chasing after mischievous children. When she inadvertently overhears a secret, she must find a way to stop what she heard from happening.

As Sophie sets off to see what she can do, she meets a full cast of characters, including a sweet elderly couple, the hotelier’s son, a writer of thrillers, and more. While continuing to navigate her life at the hotel, strange things start to happen, and Sophie must learn who she can trust. Will she be able to keep herself, the hotel, and its occupants safe?

This is a great book for teens, as Sophie is not on a typical track of high school, then on to university. A Castle In The Clouds shows teens that they have a variety of options and to pick what best suits them. The book will also be relatable to teens that may already be on a different track. This is also a great translated title, as none of the story is lost, and the translator fully tells the original story in a comprehensive manner. Full of charm and mystery, this is a fantastic foray into contemporary writing from German fantasy author Kerstin Gier.

Recognition:

2021 GLLI Translated Young Adult Book Prize shortlist

Reviews:

NPR Books

Kirkus Review

Kerstin Gier is the author of the Silver trilogy and the New York Times-bestselling Ruby Red trilogy. The Ruby Red trilogy has been translated into 25 languages.

Kerstin Gier

Romy Fursland is a published literary translator who specializes in fiction but with experience translating academic non-fiction, drama and poetry. Her translation services specialize in the fields of marketing, arts and culture.

Tegan Beese is a Young Adult librarian with a love for helping teens find their perfect book. She strives to create diverse, interesting, and important collections that will appeal to all readers. She served on the 2020 ALA Michael L. Printz Award Committee and was the 2020 YALSA Volunteer of the Year. She is also currently obtaining her Masters of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, in hopes of continuing to put forward fantastic literature for teens.