Tag: books about libraries

REVIEW: The Night Librarian by Christopher Lincoln

REVIEW: The Night Librarian by Christopher Lincoln

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Dial Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Twins Page and Turner love going to the New York Public Library. In fact, one day they take their father’s rare copy of Dracula to the library for some research.  Page feels like their dad spends more time with his collection than he does with his kids. Taking his book feels like “revenge.” But when the rare – and expensive – book CRAWLS away and disappears in the library, the twins need help.

They meet the Night Librarian and discover that books, especially old books, have magic. And their characters can sometimes leave their stories! And Dracula, and others, have done just that.

Page and Turner team up with some other book characters to see if they can find the escapees, especially Dracula, before their parents get home.

Review

I loved the artwork in this graphic novel, and the magical library premise is a lot of fun. I was frustrated at times, though, when the main plot – the lost book and escaped characters – took a long backseat to establishing the world building. In addition to significant world building, the author is also trying to establish the character dynamics for the twins and their parents. It’s an ambitious undertaking. I loved it in principle, but didn’t always like it in execution.

Page is hard to like, and Turner’s negative self-talk and low self-opinion even makes him hard to root for at times. The escaped book characters are mostly fun, and the choices of books to highlight in the story were good. There’s one moment where the storytelling hits a hiccup – a twist in the story that is “told” rather than “shown.” It felt abrupt, and like a missed opportunity to develop Turner’s character a bit more. Thankfully, the final solution, while similar in it’s suddenness, was laid out in a more satisfying way.

So this was uneven for me in a lot of ways. Would I suggest it to kids? Sure. Graphic novel fans, book lovers, library lovers, and fantasy lovers may all find something enjoyable here. But I personally didn’t love it enough to pick up a sequel if there ever is one.

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Good, solid, fine

REVIEW: Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library Graphic Novel by Chris Grabenstein

REVIEW: Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Graphic Novel by Chris Grabenstein

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy Thanksgiving to my American readers! If you are looking for gift ideas on this Black Friday, be sure to check out my Holiday Hint List of book recommendations.

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Random House in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Game designer Luigi Lemoncello builds a fantastical public library in his home town and then invites a group of kids to take a early peek inside by spending a night in the library. But the lock-in turns into a game when the kids have a chance to solve the puzzle of how to escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library.

Review

Outstanding! I have been a fan of this book – really, of the whole series – from the beginning. And this is a fantastic graphic novel adaptation of the first book in the Lemoncello’s Library series. It’s been too long since I read the original for me to be able to comment on what was trimmed out for length. But the story here hangs together brilliantly.

This would be a great introduction for kids who aren’t familiar with the prose novel or kids who think the novel looks intimidating. Graphic novel adaptations can be a great onramp for some kids before they try out the full book. I also think this is a fun option for kids (and teens and adults) who already love the original and want to explore a visual version of the story and characters. Do not miss this one! Highly recommend.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

BONUS REVIEW: The Broken Spine by Dorothy St. James

BONUS REVIEW: The Broken Spine by Dorothy St. James

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When Duggar Hargrove, town manager, decided that bringing Cypress, South Carolina “into the future” meant turning the library into a book-free zone, the decision was hardly popular with library patrons, much less the staff. The books were headed to a landfill, and whenever Tru raised her concerns, Duggar patted her on the head dismissively.

So Tru and her friends snuck into the library late at night, rescued some of the most popular titles in the library’s print collection, and stashed them in the library’s old bomb shelter.

And while they were setting up their secret book room, Duggar Hargrove was killed.

Now a hot shot new detective trying to prove himself likes Tru for the murder. How can she prove her innocence when her alibi is creating a secret room with essentially stolen books?

Review

This was fun! I enjoyed the cast as well as the premise. I felt for Tru, watching outsiders dismantle her sanctuary, dismissively destroying a place that was so much a part of her life. The final explanation of the crime was interesting and satisfying.

It felt odd to me that there were many moments in the book where Tru is supposed to be this drab, disinteresting, forgettable character. People outside her closest circle are pretty dismissive about her in her day to day life. At the same time, though, she is supposed to have made such a spectacle of herself with her anger over the changes at the library that most of the town believes she is a murderer. Those pieces felt at odds with each other. I didn’t see a lot of evidence of a murderous level of anger in the book. It’s just something we are told.

The cast here felt just right. There are enough people to have several suspects as well as Tru’s closest friends. The townspeople were plentiful enough to feel real but not so many to feel overwhelming. The cat was a fun part of the story, too.

Considering how popular the secret book room is, I’m kind of surprised there wasn’t a stronger rebellion in town over the changes to the library. I’ll be interested in seeing how long Tru and her friends can – or need to – keep their bookroom a secret. Book 2 is currently scheduled to release this fall. Mystery fans, bibliophiles, and library advocates should definitely give this new series a try.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders

REVIEW: Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Josie Way is on the run. She had a job at the Library of Congress in Washington DC. But something happened there, and now she’s in Wilfred, Oregon, determined to lay low. She’s been hired as the town librarian. But when she gets to Wilfred, she finds out that the library may get torn down to make way for a retreat center.

After only a few days at the library and in Oregon, Josie feels like she is finally where she belongs. The air is fresher, and colors even seem more vibrant. She has an almost magical connection to the library and its collection of books, not to mention the library cat. Josie doesn’t want to walk away from this special place.

But she can’t forget she’s in hiding. And the dead body she finds near the library is unsettling to say the least. Does it have anything to do with the trouble Josie is fleeing? Or does Josie’s new home have sinister troubles of its own?

Review

This is the first book in the new Witch Way Librarian Mystery series, and it is outstanding! The author does a breathtaking job teasing out the story in the early chapters – Josie on the run, the experience on the plane, the change in her perception. Talk about “show, don’t tell.” I was hooked right from the beginning, marveling out loud to my husband about how well crafted the beginning of this book is.

That early high quality carried throughout the whole book – the library, the town, the story of Josie’s life back in DC, her family, the library situation. It was all so well woven together. I loved every bit of it! The mystery is well-constructed, with nice wrinkles and twists along the way.

For me, this was a perfect blend of mystery and fantasy. I love both genres and enjoyed how the author weaves both together. I can’t wait to see what will happen with Josie’s magic in book 2. Seven-Year Witch is scheduled to release in late summer 2021. And I can’t wait to get my hands on it! Paranormal mystery fans should not miss this one! (Magic elements: spells, powers, transfer of consciousness to the cat, tarot cards used as prop by nonmagical character)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: A Kind of Paradise by Amy Rebecca Tan

REVIEW: A Kind of Paradise by Amy Rebecca Tan

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Volunteering at the library for her summer vacation wasn’t Jamie’s idea. It was her penance, her punishment. One epically bad choice at the end of the school year – and the fall out over the next few days – left Jamie ashamed and humiliated.

The library was quiet, but there was a routine to it. Black Hat Guy always shows up around 4 pm, sits in the same chair charging his phone, and taking a nap. Wally always comes in on Tuesdays with a fresh carnation for the desk and 5 DVDs to return. Jamie comes to love the library. She loves the tasks she learns to do, the staff, and the patrons. But any reminder of school, any hint of what happened at the end of the year, floods Jamie with guilt and shame all over again. Can she ever hope to move past her failure? Will some people from her school ever let her move on?

Review

This was delightful!! I loved the library setting – the staff, the regular patrons, the fight to save the library from closure. It was a terrific setting for the story. Jamie learns so much from her friends there – and also from the books that surround her every day.

Jamie is a great protagonist. When readers get the full story about what she did at school, they’ll see why she did what she did and what the impact was. She earned her guilt, but she also should be able to turn a fresh page in her story. At the start, she doesn’t know how to do that. But she can learn.

I loved the heart of this book. It’s a relatively low-stress story with lots of character insights. The relationships between the characters feel authentic and warm. These are people I’d love to know. This library would be my second home. And Jamie’s growth over her summer at the library is everything I love about character-driven middle grade fiction! Highly recommend.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Read on Arrival by Nora Page

REVIEW: Read on Arrival by Nora Page

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Cleo Watkins is a librarian in Catalpa Springs, Georgia. At seventy-five, there’s not much that flusters her anymore. Except for dead bodies, of course.

In some ways, Dixie Huddleston was Cleo’s arch nemesis. The woman checked the book Luck and Lore out from the library 45 years ago and refused to return it. Oh, she’d tease that she was going to give it back. But she was as bad as Lucy in the comic strips, yanking the football away from Charlie Brown. Whenever Cleo got her hopes up about getting the book back, Dixie would dash them once again.

The story was an oft repeated one around town. In an article about the library reopening after some major repairs, Cleo even mentioned her desire to have the book back by the re-opening. But that didn’t mean she’d kill Dixie! Who would kill someone over an overdue book? To clear her name, Cleo will be sleuthing once again.

Review

Book 2 in the Bookmobile mystery series (not to be confused with the Bookmobile Cat mystery series by Laurie Cass) was great fun. I’m going to have to go back and read the first one, Better Off Read, now.

I loved Cleo! I usually enjoy book or library related stories. But I especially liked this one with a non-traditional sleuth. Cleo is older than most cozy protagonists. And I loved that there was no love triangle in this either. The balance between Cleo’s sleuthing and the time she spent dealing with her library issues was great. The story moved at a good pace and all the pieces tied together nicely.

The mystery was terrific! There were several factors at work in the story besides Dixie’s murder. Cleo had a librarian rival. There were weird omens and threatening notes all over town. And on top of that there were several strong suspects who might have wanted Dixie dead. The solution was a fascinating choice – the author really did a fine job with the whole set up and resolution.

If you are a cozy mystery fan, be sure to check out Cleo and the gang from Catalpa Springs in the Bookmobile Mystery series!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Library of Ever by Zeno Alexander

REVIEW: The Library of Ever by Zeno Alexander

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Imprint in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Lenora is stuck. Her parents are off traveling the world, and she is left behind with a nanny. A horrible nanny, too, who is working her own angles and agendas while dragging Lenora along. But when the nanny has to head to the library, Lenora sees her chance to escape.

Ditching the nanny by dodging through the stacks, Lenora opens a gateway to an unusual library thanks to an act of protective kindness. And this new library offers exactly what Lenora wants – a chance to both learn things and make a difference to others.

While Lenora is learning what it means to be the “Fourth Assistant Apprentice Librarian,” dark forces are gathering. They know knowledge is dangerous, and they are determined to destroy it.

Review

This is a fun fantasy story on the young side of middle grade. I loved Lenora! She is bright and resourceful. She keeps a notebook to record what she learns and her questions – I love that! And I learned some cool things right along with her. She has an earnest desire to learn. And she works to overcome the fear and angst that would naturally arise in such an unusual setting with few if any instructions for how to proceed.

I was frustrated by the villains when they appeared in the story. I felt like the villains, and their cause, lived on a different level in the storytelling than the fantasy worlds Lenora visited. It was like her travels and tasks were painted in rich, vibrant colors, and I was immersed right along with her. But the direct confrontations with the villains to me felt like black and white interactions in comparison. They pulled me out of the delightful fantasy.

This could be a function of (a) being an adult reader of a book for kids, and (b) reading a lot of adult and young adult fantasy where things are far more drawn out and motives are more often teased rather than stated plainly. So, I wanted this to be longer, with more drawn out trials for Lenora on each task. With a longer story, the villains could have been developed more slowly, too. And their motives would have felt less obvious.

But as I considered it, I don’t think that is the goal of this book. There are books for that – for the longer trials and nuanced villains – Percy Jackson and the like. This feels like more of an introduction to fantasy for maybe a slightly younger audience. A good introduction for readers who aren’t yet ready for those longer books just yet (The first Percy Jackson book is twice as long as this one.). For those almost-ready readers, this will be great! I feel like Lenora and the library will give a taste of the magic and mythology and world building of fantasy, but in a politely-sized format with a relatively quick return on the reading investment – action, results, resolution, and hints at a future adventure.

I think this would make for a great family or classroom read aloud. The quickly resolved adventures (1 – 2 chapters) work for classroom or bedtime reading. And depending on the age and insight of the readers, discussions about the villains and their goals could be very interesting, too.

I think readers will love Lenora, so be sure to watch for her future adventures! The library in this book is a delightful place to spend some time.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Property of the Rebel Librarian by Allison Varnes

REVIEW: Property of the Rebel Librarian by Allison Varnes

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Random House in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When June’s parents find a school library book in her bag that they think is inappropriate, she’s mortified that her parents are being so overprotective. The idea of them complaining to the librarian is embarrassing! But the idea that her favorite teacher could lose her job over it wasn’t on her radar at all.

But that’s what happens. Ms. Bradshaw is suspended. Then a group of parents starts weeding “inappropriate” books out of the library. And being found with a banned book becomes a detention-worthy offense.

June is determined to keep reading, hiding a book in her bedroom or between the pages of a text book and taking advantage of a neighborhood Little Free Library. And over time, she finds a few fellow rebels at school who are eager to find new reading material. So June starts sharing her stash. The kids know they have to keep this secret, but school administrators are watching. They are determined to “protect” the students from books they think are dangerous.

Review

June is a great character. She has some excellent moments that made me want to cheer. Her parents and the school board, PTO and administration were infuriating. I was appalled by the idea of such an extreme censorship response, especially with so little input from any true educational experts. June’s parents’ “solution” for June’s personal library at home was ludicrous.

As a kid, my parents let me read anything I wanted. As a parent myself, I try to speak into what my teen reads. We talk about what we are reading and why one of us might not keep reading a particular book. We talk about listening to your conscience and the Holy Spirit when that voice tells you something isn’t a good thing to read. I want my child to be a thoughtful and critical reader. Those are skills in short supply these days, but they can’t be developed if I control his reading life.

This book has some things in common with Ban this Book which I reviewed earlier this year, although I think Ban this Book has more to offer readers than just the censorship story. Each one has its own “flavor” and stands on its own.

Lots of terrific books are cited in this one. Hand this to any reader who loves books about books or who enjoys a little rebellion in their protagonists.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Fantastic Library Rescue and Other Major Plot Twists by Deborah Lytton

REVIEW: The Fantastic Library Rescue and Other Major Plot Twists by Deborah Lytton

Posted on by Jaymie

[Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Jabberwocky for the opportunity to read an electronic ARC/review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Ruby Starr is a book fanatic. She loves to read and even started a book club with her friends. And then other kids also started book clubs. They’ve started a great reading culture in their school.

When Ruby and her friends pick out a brand new book for their club to read, they struggle to get enough copies for their group to share. That’s when Ruby discovers the school library is having budget issues. The library hours are being cut, and they can’t buy any new books.

Ruby and her friends decide to do something to help the library. But Ruby’s desire to be the hero in her own story causes some trouble that snowballs into a big mess.

Review

This is a cute middle grade book that feels geared toward the younger side of the age range. The characters are around ten and their interactions focus on friendships, homework and food fights. Ruby is a fun, imaginative, and creative character. The action of the story is occasionally set to the side when Ruby’s imagination kicks in.

I love that Ruby owns and names her feelings – even if she’s not proud of them. She recognizes that she wants to be in charge, be the hero, save the day. And that can make her envious and make her refuse the help of others around her.

The story about the book club and the library rescue was solid, but even better was Ruby’s personal story. Her thoughts and feelings and choices, her triumphs and failures, made this a worthwhile read for me.

This is the second book in a series. I haven’t read the first book, but that did not impact my understanding of the things going on in this story. Give this to elementary kids who enjoy friendship stories and stories that celebrate books and reading.

Rating: ♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Ban this Book by Alan Gratz

REVIEW: Ban this Book by Alan Gratz

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Amy Anne is a quiet girl. A reader. She’s bright and articulate, but people don’t always know that. Amy Anne has a comeback and a response for everything that happens around her – from obnoxious sisters, to unfair expectations at home, to things that happen at school. But Amy Anne keeps all those thoughts on the inside.

When Amy’s favorite book, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is removed from the school library by Mrs. Spencer, an overzealous parent, and an acquiescing school board, Amy Anne has a lot to say. She even prepares a speech for the school board. But when it comes time for her to speak, Amy Anne keeps her seat, keeps her speech, and keeps quiet.

Unfortunately, Mrs. Spencer isn’t done “protecting students” from the books in the library. So Amy Anne gets an idea. She’ll start her own library and run it out of her locker. And she’ll stock as many of the banned books as she can get her hands on!

Review

This is a fantastic book! I loved Amy Anne from the first page! I longed to speak up for her and rescue her, but it’s so much more satisfying to watch her find her own voice along the way.

There are three main things going on in this story. First,  this is a love letter to the power of books. Books can teach us about things we don’t know, they can entertain us, and they can help us understand ourselves and others. There’s a guest appearance by author Dav Pilkey that is terrific.

Another big piece is the free speech/censorship issue the school goes through. The author does a great job of helping Amy Anne see the “villain” as more than a book-hating monster. It’s fantastic.

Finally this is the story of Amy Anne finding her voice. Her thoughts and feelings about things around her are often right on target. But she doesn’t say them so nothing can change. The evolution of THIS part of the story was my favorite.

I highly recommend this book to parents and librarians and teachers. This would be fantastic to read aloud with a class or for a kid’s book club. There are questions in the back for discussion or writing as well as common core standards references for teachers.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥