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drusmilford's review against another edition
4.0
Great fiction book for kids who love libraries, books, games, puzzles to solve and understand or want to learn about the Dewey Decimal system. Fun read.
vtsarahd's review against another edition
5.0
This book was a joy to read! It was like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory meets The Gollywhopper Games. Author Chris Grabenstein has created a delightfully fun book for children. the eccentric game inventor Mr. Lemoncello has designed an adventure for a group of twelve year old children in his hometown. Their new public library, state of the art and full of exciting technology and twists, is scheduled to open on Mr. Lemoncello's birthday. There is a contest to have the children escape from the library within 24 hours to win the grand prize. Kyle Keeley finds himself selected as one of the finalists and is the main character. He encounters some new friends and discovers that his own love of books begins to blossom along the way. This book contains so many literary references and even a hidden puzzle that will be great fun for young readers. Highly recommend!
alli_thebookgiraffe's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a fun read! i enjoyed trying to figure out the puzzle with them. it was most definitely a modern day willy wonka. Love Love Love!
rcpope's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
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? Yes
4.5
katdfleming's review against another edition
4.0
A truly fun book on so many levels! Can hardly wait to tell my students about it.
bessadams's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism and Bullying
alicebme's review against another edition
3.0
Audiobook with the boy on our commute. Lots of title dropping in this scavenger hunt game made it fun for mom. Well-read son recognized a lot of them as well. Fairness and teamwork are major themes, and some diversity makes me kinda buy it. Always up for a book for kids NOT about a white boy and his minority sidekicks, but so it goes.
jmontg18's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.25
protoman21's review against another edition
5.0
I swear that Chris Grabenstein wrote this book specifically for me. I am a librarian who loves puzzles and games and has created several scavenger hunt/puzzle games for the kids who visit my library. I love children's books and have read most of the ones mentioned in this book. Not only was the idea for the story perfect for me, but the plotting and the pacing of the story was very well developed. The characters were interesting without being caricatures and the literary references were cleverly placed without being confusing for those not in the know. If I didn't already think that this story was customized for me, Grabenstein throws in a reference to Graeme Base's amazing picture/puzzle book The Eleventh Hour that I devoured when I was twelve years old. Comparisons to Willy Wonka are inevitable, and though Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library might not become the classic that Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is, I enjoyed it just as much, and I especially appreciate the message to the next generation that libraries are still useful and reading will always be an adventure that you can never imagine.
brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I'm giving this 3 stars because I think for its intended age, it's probably pretty good. Personally, I think it's more like a 2 star book. I thought this would be better than it was. I love libraries (I work in one), but this was not really a library. I mean, sure there were books there, but it was just so over the top. These kids (some of them anyway) seemed to know every book that was ever written. I found it completely unrealistic. I am and always have been an avid reader, and I shelve books at the library, but I wouldn't be able to list every book by multiple authors like they did.
I think it's more for puzzle and game lovers, actually. That's the part I found most enjoyable; trying to figure out the puzzles.
I think it's more for puzzle and game lovers, actually. That's the part I found most enjoyable; trying to figure out the puzzles.