I just finished Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstien, an action-packed, fast-paced middle-grade novel.
The story, in a nutshell, involves twelve-year-old Kyle. He is one of a group of students gets to stay overnight in the new town library, designed by his hero, the famous game maker Luigi Lemoncello). Come morning Kyle must work with friends to solve puzzles in order to escape.
The disbelief comes with the library. Mr Lemoncello’s library is full of holograms, video screens, locked doors and all kinds of gadgets. But at its heart, the book is a giant scavenger hunt and the kids involved need research skills, logic and a love of reading. The book is full of references and allusions to kid lit. Mr. Lemoncello is a 21st century Willy Wonka.
I can see the book being popular with kids who already read a lot, but it would be an excellent read aloud. Kids would be inspired to pick the book up themselves, but might also be inspired to read the books mentioned in this one.
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