Tag: Mr Lemoncello series

REVIEW: Mr. Lemoncello's Fantabulous Finale by Chris Grabenstein

REVIEW: Mr. Lemoncello’s Fantabulous Finale by Chris Grabenstein

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Kyle Keeley is back, and this time he’s hoping to win it all! Mr. Lemoncello is giving away his entire empire to a 13-year-old kid, and Kyle wants to be that kid.

Kyle isn’t the only kid hoping to win. There’s Simon and Soraiya in New York and Gloria in Florida as well as Betina in California. As Kyle gets to know the other contestants – 13 in all – his confidence starts to waver. Most of his closest friends chose to sit this one out, and he could have too. He’s not sure his gaming skills are best in the group. And running the Lemoncello empire requires more than game skills. But he also knows that Charles Chiltington is up to no good. Kyle has to stay in the game to keep Charles from ruining the Lemoncello legacy.

Review

A lovely send-off for, as Chris Grabenstein says in his acknowledgements “this particular arc of the Lemoncello universe.” While there are new stories – and graphic novels – still to come, this is a satisfying conclusion to the initial book series. The games are fun, and the contestants for the most part are endearing kids who hope to succeed. I loved that there was space for several series regulars to sit this one out. They set a boundary for themselves and pursued their passions – it was great!

Thankfully the Chiltingtons did most of their scheming off-page because I have been over Charles since the All-Star Breakout Game. But he got to make a final appearance and close out his arc while Kyle and Mr. Lemoncello closed out theirs. At least for now.

Teachers, librarians, and series fans will want to finish the series and pick this one up. There’s tons here to love!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

2023 Year In Review, Part 1

2023 Year In Review, Part 1

Posted on by Jaymie

2023 was a tough reading year for me. I read the fewest number of books that I have since I started keeping track on Goodreads. But even more than just numbers, I didn’t encounter a lot of books that left a lasting impression. When I tried to figure out what my top 10 books were, I struggled to remember things I read in the earlier part of 2023.  This makes me want to look deeper at my past reading numbers to see how this year measures up.

I read 145 books in 2023, and I feel good about that number, even if it’s the lowest of the last seven years. I set a one book goal on Goodreads for 2023, which was a brilliant idea I came across on Instagram – it kept me from obsessing about meeting a goal. And it freed me up to go with the flow a bit more this year with my reading. I’m looking forward to digging into some of my other reading stats later this year.

Now, let’s take a look at my favorites from 2023. Of the 10 books on my list, two are nonfiction. Half of the list are books I read from review copies this year. There are 3 YA books on the list and 1 middle grade book, and there are two graphic novels on the list.

Today we will cover books 10 through 6, plus an Honorable Mention. Then Friday we will pick up the rest. (You can see my lists from past years here.) Here we go!

Honorable Mention: The Labors of Hercules Beal – This was not a 5 star book when I read and rated it, which pushed it out of consideration for my Top Ten list. But the story, and the character of Hercules, really stuck with me this year, unlike a lot of other things I read that I loved in the moment but then forgot. So I had to make mention of this book for 2023. You can read my full review here.

 

 

10. A Letter to My Congregation – I didn’t post a full review of this on the blog in 2023, but this was a hugely influential read for the year. I rated this “5+++” when I initially read it. My Goodreads review reads: “This was exceptionally good and a perfectly timed read for me. I loved the tone of it which made it easy to plow through over a couple of days. I was underlining something on almost every page. While I thought the chapters on the author’s journey to acceptance and alliance were excellent, my favorites were the two chapters (4 & 5) on how the Church can disagree on this issue – and other issues as they arise over time – without splitting or tearing each other apart. I hope to get some people together to talk about those chapters in particular.” ♥♥♥♥♥+++

 

9. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library (Graphic Novel) – This is the one middle grade book on the list this year. I loved this adaptation of a “classic” middle grade novel. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

8. Manslaughter Park – This is the third book in the Jane Austen Murder Mystery series for teens and young adults – and I loved it! I read this on a retreat so I will always associate it with that whole experience which adds to its specialness. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

7. Summer Reading – I discovered Jenn McKinlay through her mysteries, but I have become an even bigger fan of her romance novels. You can read my full review of this one here.

 

 

 

6. Starter Villain – My husband and I both enjoyed this stand alone book from John Scalzi – it’s quirky and fun, and one I will happily read again. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

Be sure to come back Friday for the rest of the list!

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!

REVIEW: Mr. Lemoncello's Very First Game by Chris Grabenstein

REVIEW: Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game by Chris Grabenstein

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

A young Luigi L. Lemoncello longs to fit in and find his place, but he was born to stand out. And he finds a kindred spirit at a travelling carnival where he meets Professor Marvelmous. Luigi is so good at the Professor’s carnival game that he gives Luigi a job there every day while the carnival is in town.

At the carnival, Luigi gets to practice being a showman. And the professor and Luigi’s friends encourage him as he works on his game ideas.

But two town bullies are determined to cause trouble for Luigi and his friends. Of course, one of them is a Chiltington.

Review

This was a fun prequel! Fans of the Lemoncello series by Chris Grabenstein will love all of the Easter eggs in this book. But newcomers could start here, too. I think it’s more fun to read the books in publication order, but that’s just my opinion. The story stands solidly on its own.

Luigi is a delightful character as a child (also as an older adult in other books). He’s sweet, clever, and kind. And the Professor is an excellent mentor who gives sage advice while also giving Luigi space to find his own path.

The bullies are the worst, just like in the earlier books. But Luigi is eventually able to outsmart them. The ending is a happily-ever-after for the Lemoncello family as well as Luigi’s friends.

This is a fun, feel good story, perfect for summer reading! This would also make a great classroom read aloud, but again I think it works best if the students have previously read (or heard) at least one of the other books.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Mr. Lemoncello's All-Star Breakout Game by Chris Grabenstein

REVIEW: Mr. Lemoncello’s All-Star Breakout Game by Chris Grabenstein

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Mr. Lemoncello is at it again. This time, his latest game is going to be televised on Kidzapalooza, a station “where kids rule.” It’s the station where Haley Daley’s TV show broadcasts.

Mr. Lemoncello has created a game where teams of kids enter fictional stories in motion capture suits and play out stories from different genres. Each story contains a puzzle to be solved. Solve 5 to get to the final puzzle to win the game and “breakout” from the Alexandriaville library.

Charles Chiltington is determined to beat Kyle Keeley once and for all. He puts together a crack team of 8th grade book fanatics to compete against Kyle and his 7th grade friends. But when the game gets started, all of the teams are in for some surprises!

Review

This was another fun Lemoncello adventure. There are tons of book references in this one, just like in earlier books. But specific books are not the focus of the game itself which gives this a little different “flavor” from the other books in the series.

Kyle and his friends are as delightful as ever. As usual, Kyle is a normal pre-teen – never perfect but always well-intentioned. And in this story he gets to experience some empathy-building tasks that help him grow as a hero for the series.

I was disappointed by some of the adults in this one – Kyle’s parents and the teachers who apparently buy the baloney Charles is still shoveling. As a teacher – and a parent – my “spidey-sense” would have been tingling at all the sucking up Charles does. Add in Charles’ behavior from the previous books, and there should be no adult outside Charles’ own family who would take him at his word. The author puts some effort into making Charles somewhat sympathetic, but I wasn’t buying it. Sure, he has some terrible influences at home, but Charles still makes the choice to be a bully and/or a cheat every time. And those choices are on him. Maybe it’s time for a new nemesis for Kyle to square up against.

Kids will love this new Lemoncello adventure. Character qualities, motivation, and empathy are great discussion topics for group reading.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD - Books about Books

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD – Books about Books

Posted on by Jaymie

I am such a book geek. And I say that with pride. I love finding people and authors and communities that love books as much as I do. Here are some books – for all ages – that share a love of books, reading and bookish places.

Books for Kids

Bunny’s Book Club – There are a couple books on this list that are TBRs rather than books I have read. This is one of those. I haven’t found this one in person to check it out, but it looks perfect. I hope to read this one soon.
Doris the Bookasaurus – Doris’ love of books is annoying to her little brothers because it keeps her from playing with them. When she shows them a book they love, though, everything changes. This is darling.
Library Lion – I always looked forward to reading this story about a lion in the library to my students. It’s lovely, and students really connect with it.
Madeline Finn and the Library Dog – Madeline struggles with reading, but a program at the library where she can practice her reading with a dog helps her grow as a reader. This is delightful. You can read my review here.
Wild About Books – This is one of the picture books we often by for new babies. Sure, it’s not a book they can enjoy right away, but it is such a great love letter to books that we are confident families will grow to love it like we did. This was another favorite to read aloud when I was teaching.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library – The epitome of books about books! This outstanding middle grade story about kids competing in a book-based contest in a futuristic library has been a hit with every student I ever handed it to. Book 3 in the series comes out this fall and a movie of this first book will be coming to Nickelodeon soon.
Finding Serendipity – First in a series about a girl who discovers a land where stories live. In book one, Serendipity gets help finding her missing mother by the main character in her mother’s famous books. I enjoyed sharing this series with students.
Fish in a Tree – The main thing I remember about this book is the origin of the title which is a quote reportedly from Einstein that says if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it will always think it is stupid. The main character in this book has dyslexia and finally has a persistent and observant teacher who discovers it and helps her. This was a fantastic story!
The Losers Club – I just finished this AWESOME story (I’m still trying to find a review slot for it here on the blog). At the center of the story is a boy who is getting in trouble every day at school – for reading. So he starts a club for kids who want to read, but he calls it the Losers Club so a lot of people don’t join and mess up his quiet reading time. Not only did the story highlight reading, but it also talked about a lot of books kids might enjoy.
The School Story – Andrew Clements wrote The Losers Club and also The School Story which is about a girl who writes a book and secretly tries to get it published. This is one of my favorite early Clements stories along with Frindle, No Talking and The Last Holiday Concert.
Bookishly Ever After – Earlier this year I reviewed this book for older teens about a book nerd who tries to use the characters from her favorite books to help her negotiate a romance.
I Kill the Mockingbird – I adore this book about a group of teens who hide copies of To Kill a Mockingbird in order to get everyone talking about it.  While this one is written for a middle grade audience, I found that my older students connected with this better than the younger ones. This works for all teens.

Books for Adults

Classified as Murder – This is the second book (my favorite) of the Cat in the Stacks mystery series about a college librarian who works in the archives. Fantastic mystery series, terrific cat that adds a fun component to the series. Here you can read a review of the most recent book in the series.
A Dark and Stormy Murder – Outstanding mystery series about two writers collaborating on books while solving mysteries. You can read my review here.
The Eyre Affair – This is the other book on this list I have not read. I have several of the books in this series about a literary detective, but I haven’t tried it yet. I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s Nursery Crimes series.
Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops – This nonfiction book is laugh-out-loud funny while also being a little sad when it comes to true stories from folks who work with books.
The Writing Desk – I recently read this fantastic Christian novel about two writers in different time periods and the ways their stories connect. Excellent.

 

Do you have any favorite books about books?