Review: Frostbite Hotel by Karin Adams

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Kirby Katz has big dreams of making his fortune as an entrepreneur, just like his role model, hotel magnate William T. Williamson. But Kirby discovers that operating a “snow hotel” in the schoolyard comes with its own set of challenges: sourcing the best snow blocks, staff “team-building,” marketing, and competition from Brewster’s Best Five-Star Inn — run by the Bear and his gang of the meanest kids in Grade 6. Worst of all, when Brewster’s gang starts stealing Kirby’s best ideas, all evidence points to a “mole” among his own staff.
Will Kirby’s vision for the Frostbite Hotel survive the cold reality of corporate recess espionage?

MY TAKE:
If ever there was a book that's perfect for budding entrepreneurs, it's this one.

In Frostbite Hotel, Kirby Katz dreams of becoming a millionaire businessman. While reading his idol William T. Williamson's business book, Kirby hatches an idea. He decides to build a hotel and recruits some of his classmates to work at his hotel. However, running a business isn't as easy as he thought it would be. There's also the problem of competition with a bully who seems to enact Kirby's ideas for Frostbite Hotel faster. Is there a spy in his midst?

I thought this was a pretty clever book. What better way to teach kids about the principles of (hotel) business than by inserting them into a novel? I liked that the lessons were incorporated in such a way that it doesn't feel like a lesson book and feels more like a natural progression of the story. The problems that Kirby faces as a CEO is similar to what business owners, even those in bigger businesses, will be able to relate to.

Business lesson aside, this is an interesting children's book. The kids are quite realistic, although it seemed like most of the girls in the story were bratty than nice. This makes me think that this might be geared more towards young boys than young girls. However, if you're thinking of getting this for a young girl, you shouldn't be discouraged. At least one of the girls' annoying attitudes turn out to be an asset later on.

Two of the things I liked most about the story, aside from the business aspect and the characters, were the idea of Magic Monday Morning, and the ending. Magic Monday Morning is when kids are allowed to work on projects that are related to their dreams or future careers. I don't know if any schools do this in real life, but they should consider doing that. I would definitely send my son to a school that had something like Magic Monday Morning. As for the ending, I liked that it championed cooperation, not only in business but also in life.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lorimer for the e-copy.

THE GOOD:

1. Kids can learn business principles.
2. The kids are realistic.
3. Kirby seems like a smart kid. 

THE BAD:

1.  The two most prominent female kids are sort of bratty.

READ IT IF:

1. Your child is a budding entrepreneur.
2. Your child is a go-getter.
3. Your child is being bullied. 

RATING:


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