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sara_hudson's review
4.0
I am a big fan of the Mr. Lemoncello books - witty, fast-paced, something to think about but no beating readers over the head with a message. This prequel does not disappoint. The pacing is just as snappy as the other books in the series, but the plot is more linear - making it more accessible to younger readers and listeners. The late 1960s references are fun (Spaghettios, Wacky Packs bubblegum cards, the CBS Evening News), but there are no references to great world events. (unlike The Wednesday Wars, for example) The story also has an It's a Wonderful Life plot line where the evil Chiltingtons and Willoughbys own the whole town. There are plenty of jokes for readers of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, but it will work just fine read before that book. A nice sprinkling of library stuff - not as much as Escape - and plenty of rebus puzzles. A great time.
rdyourbookcase's review
4.0
It was fun seeing Mr Lemoncello’s origin story, but I still like the originals better.
maryhannawilson's review
5.0
Before Kyle Keely and his friends began their library puzzle-solving adventure, the creator of their favorite games was a kid himself. Now readers can step back in time and get to know the puzzle-obsessed Luigi Lemoncello before he was a world-famous game maker.
In this prequel to the Mr. Lemoncello series, readers will return to the beginning and meet thirteen-year-old, game-obsessed Luigi Lemoncello! Luigi loves solving puzzles and creating games for his friends. But sometimes he just doesn't feel like there will be any way for him to succeed in life with his game-playing obsession until he meets Professor Marvelmous at the town carnival. Professor Marvelmous opens Luigi's mind to the joy that game playing can bring to the people around him. Now Luigi and his friends find themselves on an adventurous puzzle-solving quest created for them by Professor Marvelmous. If they can solve it in time, the prize will be beyond anything they can imagine.
This book was such a fun prequel to the Mr. Lemoncello series by Chris Grabenstein. Kids will enjoy seeing the roots of the well-known characters from the future series. Fans of the series will recognize quite a few of the last names in this book. While this book can be enjoyed on it's own, I personally think it works quite well as a prequel to be read after the other books.
I appreciated the message about being who you are and embracing your own uniqueness. Kids of all ages can appreciate seeing someone learn to embrace what makes them unique and using it to bring joy to others.
And like all of the wonderful books in this series, kids will find plenty of puzzle-solving fun along the way!
In this prequel to the Mr. Lemoncello series, readers will return to the beginning and meet thirteen-year-old, game-obsessed Luigi Lemoncello! Luigi loves solving puzzles and creating games for his friends. But sometimes he just doesn't feel like there will be any way for him to succeed in life with his game-playing obsession until he meets Professor Marvelmous at the town carnival. Professor Marvelmous opens Luigi's mind to the joy that game playing can bring to the people around him. Now Luigi and his friends find themselves on an adventurous puzzle-solving quest created for them by Professor Marvelmous. If they can solve it in time, the prize will be beyond anything they can imagine.
This book was such a fun prequel to the Mr. Lemoncello series by Chris Grabenstein. Kids will enjoy seeing the roots of the well-known characters from the future series. Fans of the series will recognize quite a few of the last names in this book. While this book can be enjoyed on it's own, I personally think it works quite well as a prequel to be read after the other books.
I appreciated the message about being who you are and embracing your own uniqueness. Kids of all ages can appreciate seeing someone learn to embrace what makes them unique and using it to bring joy to others.
And like all of the wonderful books in this series, kids will find plenty of puzzle-solving fun along the way!
kristensreadingnook's review
4.0
Thank you to PRH Audio for a complimentary audiobook.
Before Mr. Lemoncello had a library, he was 13 year old Luigi from a large family who was struggling to make ends meet. During the summer carnival, Luigi meets Professor Marvelous, the witty and boisterous proprietor of a balloon game. Luigi is enthralled with the balloon game and soon becomes Professor Marvelous’ apprentice, learning all he can about the art of attracting crowds and entertaining people, not to mention how to create clever clues.
This middle grade novel is a great prequel to the series. It is a stand-alone so can be read without knowing anything about the other books. It is full of humor, courage, and some heart-warming quotes that I will be adding to my commonplace journal.
Before Mr. Lemoncello had a library, he was 13 year old Luigi from a large family who was struggling to make ends meet. During the summer carnival, Luigi meets Professor Marvelous, the witty and boisterous proprietor of a balloon game. Luigi is enthralled with the balloon game and soon becomes Professor Marvelous’ apprentice, learning all he can about the art of attracting crowds and entertaining people, not to mention how to create clever clues.
This middle grade novel is a great prequel to the series. It is a stand-alone so can be read without knowing anything about the other books. It is full of humor, courage, and some heart-warming quotes that I will be adding to my commonplace journal.
mjenae's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
The prose could use some work in a couple places, and that distracted me in the beginning. But once the excitement started, I was swept away. Grabenstein is a plot-maniac; never realistic, but always full of spellbinding action and wonderfully distinct characters. I loved reading about Mr. Lemoncello's origins, especially his mentor. Now I know where he got his fantisimo insanity from.
annieb123's review against another edition
5.0
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Mr. Lemoncello's Very First Game is a prequel/flashback to the popular Mr. Lemoncello middle grade reader series by Chris Grabenstein. Due out 3rd May 2022 from Random House on their Children's imprint, it's 304 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately; it makes it so easy to find information with the search function.
This is such a richly imagined world with a cast of colorful and engaging characters. Despite the fun and fast paced action, the author manages to convey some really important points about honesty, loyalty, integrity, family, friendship and generosity without ever once sacrificing fun or being preachy.
The writing is accessible and warm with a lot of humor and carefully engineered plot arc. The resolution and denouement were satisfying and well done. It's enhanced by the inclusion of puzzles and rebus illustrations which are integral to the plot and move the story along.
This would be a good selection for public or school library acquisition as well as for the home library. It would also make a fun choice for book club discussion or buddy read.
Four and a half stars. Definitely one for fans of the series and can be read as a standalone.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Mr. Lemoncello's Very First Game is a prequel/flashback to the popular Mr. Lemoncello middle grade reader series by Chris Grabenstein. Due out 3rd May 2022 from Random House on their Children's imprint, it's 304 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately; it makes it so easy to find information with the search function.
This is such a richly imagined world with a cast of colorful and engaging characters. Despite the fun and fast paced action, the author manages to convey some really important points about honesty, loyalty, integrity, family, friendship and generosity without ever once sacrificing fun or being preachy.
The writing is accessible and warm with a lot of humor and carefully engineered plot arc. The resolution and denouement were satisfying and well done. It's enhanced by the inclusion of puzzles and rebus illustrations which are integral to the plot and move the story along.
This would be a good selection for public or school library acquisition as well as for the home library. It would also make a fun choice for book club discussion or buddy read.
Four and a half stars. Definitely one for fans of the series and can be read as a standalone.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
tellybelle13's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5