The Pink Motel [Paperback]

Carol Ryrie Brink (Author)

Book Description

The moment Kirby and Bitsy arrive with their parents at their newly inherited motel in Florida, they know it's an unusual place.

First of all, it's pink. Not just regular pink, but pink, pink, PINK!

Then there's the roster of regular guests: an artist from Greenwich Village, a magician from The World, and a carpenter form Nobody Knows.

It's the perfect combination for adventure - from mysterious messages to alligator hunting, dognapping, and Great-Granduncle Hiram's rumored secret treasure. The action at the Pink Motel never stops!

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin (April 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068971677X
• ISBN-13: 978-0689716775
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #316,526 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Carol Ryrie Brink was the author of many books for young readers, including Caddie Woodlawn's Family, the companion volume to Caddie Woodlawn, and Baby Island.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The psychological subtext, April 18, 2003

By 

Dale Hrabi (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pink Motel (Paperback)

This was my favorite book as a child in the '60s. I recently re-read it and realized why: the key theme is the acceptance by the conventional of the "Unusual." The narrow-minded vs. the open-minded. The extremely narrow-minded parents balk at the "unusual" color of the pink motel, and declare that they will paint it "gray or brown or white" as soon as possible. The children, more open-minded, love the color of the motel and actively seek out the unusual. Of course, by the end, even the parents have loosened up under the spell of the Pink Motel, and somewhat nervously accept the Unusual.

It's clear to me that one reason children embrace this story is that it reassures them that there might be a place for them in the world, no matter how unusual they are: i.e. adopted, too bright, extremely isolated, gay, or the "wrong color" (depending on where they're going to school).

Beyond that, it's just a terrific story, swiftly told, with great illustrations. The weather-vanes are especially charming.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lifelong favorite, September 11, 2004

By 

K. Failor - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Pink Motel (Paperback)

Like others, I received this book when I belonged to the Weekly Reader Bookclub as a 4th grader. It is the first real novel I ever read and it gave me a love of reading that has lasted about 45 years. The easy fantasy, fun chatacters and secret of Uncle Hiram have lasted that long in my heart. I read this book 10 times, literally, before I ever read another novel. When it came as a book club selection even the hardback was pink!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite book in elementary school, February 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Pink Motel (Paperback)

The Pink Motel was my favorite book in elementary school. That was back in the days before the Internet was so widely known and used, and therefore I never thought I could BUY the book. I would check it out from my school's library and try to painstakingly copy it by hand into a notebook. I gave up after a chapter or so. As an adult, I had to buy this book for nostalgia. I think the appeal for me is that it sets my imagination on fire...what an exciting book full of eccentric characters. I highly recommend this book!