Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief

Grams is Sammy’s grandmother. She is described as an elderly woman who wears glasses. Grams has been Sammy’s guardian for about a year when the novel begins, and her nurturing presence in the girl’s life is especially important because her mother left her with Grams. As a senior living on a fixed income, Grams has limited resources, but she expresses her abundant love for her granddaughter through her cooking, including “the best French toast [Sammy] ha[s] ever had” in honor of her first day of junior high (27). Another of Grams’s prominent traits is her fretfulness: “Grams worries. All the time. About the way I dress and the food I eat, about me getting home on time, and especially about nosy Mrs. Graybill seeing me come and go” (1). The woman’s worries mount as Sammy gets into trouble at school and becomes involved in the investigation, but she defends the girl against accusations from school administrators, busybody neighbors, and police officers alike. Grams is a loving, supportive, and concerned grandmother to Sammy.

As the protagonist’s grandmother and guardian, Grams develops Sammy’s characterization and the themes of family and justice. Because the Senior Highrise is “government-subsidized for senior citizens—not entire families” (48), the otherwise law-abiding Grams has to conceal her granddaughter’s presence to keep their little family from being evicted. The woman’s predicament appeals to the reader’s sympathy and demonstrates the moral complexity of justice. Grams also develops the importance of family through her unconditional love for her granddaughter. This theme plays into the novel’s resolution; Sammy shows an increased appreciation for Grams when she looks forward to returning home to her even though she knows “Grams is going to keep [her] up all night” so that she can hear “the whole story” of how she solved the mystery (163). Grams provides an example of a character who understands the importance of family, and her comforting presence contributes to the story’s happy ending.

Oscar, whose real name is Larry Daniels, is the culprit behind the recent string of robberies. When she sees the thief in Chapter 1, Sammy notes that he has “bushy brown hair and [a] beard” (5), and her “feeling that [she’s] seen this guy before” provides a key instance of foreshadowing (6). When he’s disguised as Oscar, Daniels wears “dark glasses” and an “old blue fishing hat” (45). These accessories prevent Sammy from immediately recognizing him as the thief. When he’s first introduced, the ice cream vendor is presented as an affable and beloved member of the community. Sammy expresses a high opinion of him in Chapter 6: “Once you get to know Oscar you’ve got to like him” (45). His pleasant, unobtrusive personality allows him to fade into the background, allowing him to evade suspicion and adding to the surprise of the novel’s plot twist. The young sleuth discovers that Oscar’s amiable facade conceals a deceptive and greedy criminal. He pretends to have impaired vision and hearing so that people won’t realize that he is eavesdropping on their personal conversations and waiting for an opportunity to steal from them. Near the end of the novel, an officer reveals that Daniels already has a criminal record and is “not somebody [he] would recommend tackling without backup” (160). This description illustrates the threat that the thief poses and makes it all the more impressive that the 13-year-old catches him by herself. Oscar first appears as a kindly ice cream vendor, but his true colors as the greedy and menacing Larry Daniels are revealed.

As the titular hotel thief, Oscar sets the plot into motion and gives the young detective a challenging puzzle to unravel with her critical-thinking and observational skills. In keeping with the conventions of the mystery genre, the criminal’s identity is unknown for most of the story, but the author scatters clues for Sammy and the reader throughout the story. For instance, the young sleuth finds two incriminating messages written on Double Dynamo napkins, which Oscar has easy access to through his job as an ice cream vendor. The character illustrates one of the author’s main points, the idea that people aren’t always what they seem: “[Y]ou don’t think of Oscar as being an eavesdropper. I mean, everybody knows he’s blind and almost deaf” (159). This explains how the thief uses people’s perceptions against them and explains why Sammy doesn’t consider him a suspect for most of the novel. Oscar adds suspense to the novel’s climax by chasing Sammy, and his arrest adds a satisfying sense of justice to the mystery’s resolution.

Marissa is Sammy’s best friend. The 13-year-old has a caring temperament, supporting Sammy in both her personal troubles and her investigation. The author often depicts Marissa “chewing on a nail” to contrast her nervousness with Sammy’s boldness (10). Despite her generous and kind disposition, the seventh grader endures painful loneliness. She longs to spend quality time with her parents but rarely sees them because of their focus on their careers and stock portfolio, and Sammy is “the only friend [she’s] got” because her other peers only care about her money (76). Marissa is a supportive friend who struggles with nervousness and loneliness.

As the protagonist’s best friend, Marissa makes important contributions to the plot and the theme of family and friendship. She functions as Sammy’s sidekick, giving the amateur detective a partner on the case and someone with whom to share her ideas. Marissa helps Sammy solve the mystery by suggesting that they go to the Heavenly Hotel together, joins Sammy in testing her theory that Oscar is the thief, and facilitates the happy ending by leading the police to Sammy. Van Draanen also uses Marissa’s character to add humor to the story, such as when she rips her pants on a fence. In addition, she develops the importance of friendship through her steadfast loyalty to Sammy, and her familial situation leads the protagonist to a greater appreciation of her grandmother. Marissa’s characterization is dynamic because she gradually learns to assert herself rather than relying on Sammy to defend her: “I couldn’t help smiling. I mean, Marissa McKenze finally told someone to bug off and she did it sticking up for me” (100). Marissa supports Sammy throughout her adventures, and she eventually learns to stand up for herself as well.

Borsch is the police officer assigned to the robbery investigation. In Chapter 3, Sammy offers the following description of him: “His hair’s done with Crisco, and his shirt is so tight it looks like he’s trying to press it from the inside out. On top of that he’s nosy. Very nosy” (20). This unflattering depiction reflects the conflict between the two characters. The grouchy officer is almost always in “a very bad mood” (20), and he infuriates the protagonist by mocking her and “treating [her] like a stupid little kid” (22). Borsch’s negative attitude toward Sammy illustrates her struggle to have adults take her seriously because of her age, an issue that the author’s young audience may relate to. In the most egregious example of his ill temper and pomposity, the officer accuses Sammy of forging the notes left by the thief and fails to show these essential pieces of evidence to his partner. The grouchy, snide Officer Borsch nearly jeopardizes his own investigation with his overweening arrogance.

Borsch’s involvement with the case adds tension and furthers the theme of the moral complexity of crime. Sammy wants to ensure that Gina and the thief’s other targets receive justice, but she must lie to and hide from the police at various points in the novel to protect her living situation.

Borsch’s antagonistic relationship with Sammy adds interest and suspense to the story by making the protagonist’s intelligence a source of suspicion rather than simply an asset. For example, Borsch tells her, “You’re clever. You’re real clever” (115), before accusing her of manufacturing evidence. At the end of the story, Sammy vindicates herself by catching the thief, and Borsch helps to secure the happy ending by making the arrest: “I never thought there’d come a day when I’d be happy to see Officer Borsch, but let me tell you, I don’t think I’ve ever been so relieved to see anyone in my whole life” (153). This resolution suggests that the police officer and the amateur detective may develop a more cooperative relationship as the series continues.