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atamano's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
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? Yes
3.25
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
juliesplotsandpages's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
What a charming book! I started reading this, and then just couldn't put it down. I loved the way it was told - through three different perspectives. But it was done in such a unique way!
I will say that this book deals with a couple of heavy topics, but it handles them beautifully. And it's not at all a heavy or dark read in spite of the topics. Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass manage to keep the story fun and lighthearted and interesting. I was clearly engaged from the start. Very sweet read! Highly recommend.
I will say that this book deals with a couple of heavy topics, but it handles them beautifully. And it's not at all a heavy or dark read in spite of the topics. Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass manage to keep the story fun and lighthearted and interesting. I was clearly engaged from the start. Very sweet read! Highly recommend.
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Death
Minor: Grief
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.
Minor: Death of parent, Bullying, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
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
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!
Graphic: Grief and Death
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
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.
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.
Moderate: Grief, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Mental illness and Death of parent
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