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librarianeno's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death and Death of parent
q_bert13's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Super cute story filled with loveable characters, an easy storyline and great writing. A light mystery that explores a small town, and lets the reader revel in a shared nostalgia.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Bullying, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
khakipantsofsex's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Fire/Fire injury
beepbeep101's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
ezwolf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was a nice, short read about a lost library, the boy who’s trying to find it, a cat, some ghosts, and a handful of mice. I was not expecting this mysterious middle grade book to give me so many emotions, but the end did have me tearing up a bit!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
thrym's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Fire/Fire injury
lahars_little_library's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
ashleysills's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
What a sweet book! I absolutely loved the unique POV characters and their individual stories, which all came together beautifully in the end.
The Lost Library is what I would consider a cozy middle-grade mystery. Narrated by Mortimer the cat, Evan the boy, and Al the ghost, each character each character overcomes their own struggles as they solve the mystery of why the library in their town burned down 20 years ago. And solving that mystery might uncover more of the truth than they ever expected.
I've never read a book quite like this. It spoke to my introverted, tender-hearted, book-loving soul and had so many empowering truths that even young readers will appreciate.
One of my favorite quotes: "Being a Great Reader has nothing to do with reading great sophisticated books, or reading great long books, or even with reading a great many books. Being a Great Reader means feeling something about books." (Note: these words are still subject to change)
I highly recommend this book to middle-grade kids and kids at heart everywhere, especially those who are a little more shy and unsure of themselves. This book is definitely for them. 💜
Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book. It will release on 8/29/23.
The Lost Library is what I would consider a cozy middle-grade mystery. Narrated by Mortimer the cat, Evan the boy, and Al the ghost, each character each character overcomes their own struggles as they solve the mystery of why the library in their town burned down 20 years ago. And solving that mystery might uncover more of the truth than they ever expected.
I've never read a book quite like this. It spoke to my introverted, tender-hearted, book-loving soul and had so many empowering truths that even young readers will appreciate.
One of my favorite quotes: "Being a Great Reader has nothing to do with reading great sophisticated books, or reading great long books, or even with reading a great many books. Being a Great Reader means feeling something about books." (Note: these words are still subject to change)
I highly recommend this book to middle-grade kids and kids at heart everywhere, especially those who are a little more shy and unsure of themselves. This book is definitely for them. 💜
Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book. It will release on 8/29/23.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death
rachel_from_avid_bookshop's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass is a middle-grade mystery that celebrates the power of a good book. Evan has grown up in a town without a library and none of the adults talk about the fire that destroyed such a beloved place. A librarian, a cat, a few ghosts, and a handful of mice put in motion an unraveling of a collective puzzle that may make you gasp! Highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Grief and Death
Minor: Mental illness and Death of parent
purplepenning's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
The kind of adventurous, thoughtful, mysterious, empathetic story that can turn readers of any age into great readers.
These young readers felt things about books, which is why I call them great readers. Being a great reader has nothing to do with reading great sophisticated books or reading great long books or even with reading a great many books. Being a great reader means feeling something about books.
The Lost Library is told in three perspectives: 1) Evan, who is an inquisitive boy entering the last summer before middle school; 2) Al, a ghostly librarian who has lost her place in the world; and 3) Mortimer, a large orange cat who is dedicated, kind, and lonely. They are connected, tenuously, by a little free library, and more deeply by the mysteries of the former town library, another inquisitive boy, and the improbabilities of mice.
The dear boy was, as I've said, a great reader. He read a good number of books and, more importantly, he took some of them straight into his heart.
Fun, sweet, mysterious, sad, triumphant, and just a touch fantastical — it's a near perfect middle grade read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Mental illness and Death of parent
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