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kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
First in the Mr. Lemoncello's Library adventurous mystery series for middle-grade readers and revolving around a gamesman’s sense of fun. The focus is on the cheeky young Kyle Keeley, an adoring fan, who lives in Alexandriaville, Ohio.
Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library has won or been nominated for a multitude of awards: In 2016, it won the Grand Canyon Reader Award for Intermediate, the Golden Sower Award for Chapter Book, the Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader’s Choice Award for Junior Division, the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award, the William Allen White Children’s Book Award, the Magnolia Award, the Virginia Reader’s Choice for Elementary, the Mark Twain Readers Award, and the Volunteer State Book Award for Intermediate (3–5).
In 2015, Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library won the Garden State Book Award, the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award for Grades 4–6, the Blue Hen Book Award for Best Children’s/Young Adult’s Novel, the Maine Student Book Award, the Flicker Tale Children’s Book Award for Juvenile Books, the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award, and the Rhode Island Children’s Book Award.
In 2014, it won the Sunshine State Young Readers Award for Elementary (Grades 3–5), the Great Stone Face Award, and the Buckeye Children’s Book Award for 3–5.
In 2013, it won the Agatha Award for Best Children's/Young Adult Novel.
Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library was nominated in 2016 for the Bluestem Book Award and the Young Hoosier Book Award, in 2015 for the Pennsylvania Young Readers’ Choice Award for Grades 6–8, and 2014 for the Anthony Award for Best Children’s or Young Adult Novel.
It’s also a television movie released in 2017 by Nickelodeon.
My Take
It’s all about learning, never giving up, and the importance of working as a team…and how fabulous the library is…especially once you learn how to use it! Grabenstein turns it all into a game, a great game that could inspire your own kids to make use of the library…or at least the idea of how knowledge can be useful. Lord knows, Grabenstein had me stumped on a number of clues.
I’d have to agree with the assessment that Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library is a “cross between [Roald Dahl's] Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and [the film and novelization of] A Night in the Museum”, as “Chris Grabenstein uses rib-tickling humor to create the perfect tale for his quirky characters … with the crafty twists and turns of this ultimate library experience” with interactive possibilities. It’s helpful that he uses a third person omniscient point-of-view to allow us to “listen in” to the thoughts and feelings and “watch” the actions of different kids as they pursue the game.
I did love the concept of the initial scavenger game the boys played, although I’m not sure parents would be too pleased with it. Then again, it focuses on a young man who isn’t big on books, but does adore games of all sorts. If this adventure can get Kyle to want to read, well… I had to laugh as Kyle keeps finding books he wants to read…YES!!
I suppose you could consider this a fantasy book as well, since the too-funny Mr. Lemoncello is too odd for words, and as for a world-famous librarian…? Well, who’da thunk? And the money spent on the library…whoa!! Then all those parents being cool with their kids having to "escape" the library? Only in books, lol.
I do like Kyle, and he has quite a generous spirit. Grabenstein’s other characters run the gamut of types with those with a sense of responsibility, those who hide behind a mask, those with a “superior” air, and the cheaters.
The story is FULL of foreshadowing, that was obvious to me afterwards! Better not count on me in these games!
The Story
The real challenge isn’t getting IN to Mr. Lemoncello’s library, it's getting OUT!
Twelve-year-old Kyle Keeley enters an essay contest and wins an overnight stay in his hometown’s new and technologically enhanced town library funded by Mr. Lemoncello, a game board creator.
Once inside the library, Kyle and his fellow essay winners discover they will need to play their way out of the library, using clues left by Mr. Lemoncello in the ultimate board game come to life!
The Characters
Kyle Keeley is twelve with a love for games...but not for books. Mike is his oldest brother, seventeen, and a high school superstar jock. Curtis is fifteen and the more intellectual of the three. Their parents are keen on the kids being active.
Kyle’s fellow students
Akimi Hughes is one of Kyle’s particular friends. The super enthusiastic Miguel Fernandez is president of the school’s Library Aide Society. Sierra Russell always has her nose buried in a book. Her parents have recently split up. The snooty, brown-nosing Charles Chiltington (his uncle, James F. Willoughby, III, is the head librarian of the Library of Congress) knows he's the best. Andrew Peckleman is a library aide. Haley Daley is the class “princess”. Bridgette Wadge, Yasmeen Smith-Snyder, Sean Keegan, Rose Vermette, and Kayla Corson are more students who won the contest. Mrs. Dana Cameron is Kyle’s homeroom teacher. Mrs. Yunghans is the school librarian.
Mr. Luigi Lemoncello is a master game maker whose games are always a little goofy around the edges. Just like him. He was born in Alexandriaville into an Italian family with nine siblings. Dr. Yanina Zinchenko is a world-famous librarian who will be the new head librarian. Gail Tobin had been the librarian back when Mr. Lemoncello was a boy.
Twinky is the neighbor’s Doberman.
The Cover and Title
The cover is grayed-out color-wise in its minty greens, pinks, yellows, and blues. It’s definitely all about the game with its dot counters, die, and spin-the-wheel with the silhouette of kids interacting with the library. There’s one sitting atop a slanted “billboard” announcing the title in a combination of script font (in white) and a gradated yellow in a showy circus-type of font with a minty green balloon, all against a deep green background bordered in layers of white. It’s a clever way to announce the series information as well. There’s a gray striped kitty stretching atop a wooden bookcase and what looks like a vintage minty green phonograph horn silhouetted against a pale gray full moon in the upper right corner of a gradated green sky full of sparkling white stars and lines of those game counters in pastel colors. Below the “billboard” is a sweeping curve of staircase leading up with bookcases on either side and more game counters on the stairs and spreading out onto the floor. Another silhouette is pulling down hard on the arrow of the wheel on the lower right while another is walking along, engrossed in her book, and the fourth silhouette is prancing past the stairway. The author’s name uses the same circus-style font in white, centered at the bottom.
The title is the name of the game, Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library.
Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library has won or been nominated for a multitude of awards: In 2016, it won the Grand Canyon Reader Award for Intermediate, the Golden Sower Award for Chapter Book, the Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader’s Choice Award for Junior Division, the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award, the William Allen White Children’s Book Award, the Magnolia Award, the Virginia Reader’s Choice for Elementary, the Mark Twain Readers Award, and the Volunteer State Book Award for Intermediate (3–5).
In 2015, Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library won the Garden State Book Award, the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award for Grades 4–6, the Blue Hen Book Award for Best Children’s/Young Adult’s Novel, the Maine Student Book Award, the Flicker Tale Children’s Book Award for Juvenile Books, the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award, and the Rhode Island Children’s Book Award.
In 2014, it won the Sunshine State Young Readers Award for Elementary (Grades 3–5), the Great Stone Face Award, and the Buckeye Children’s Book Award for 3–5.
In 2013, it won the Agatha Award for Best Children's/Young Adult Novel.
Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library was nominated in 2016 for the Bluestem Book Award and the Young Hoosier Book Award, in 2015 for the Pennsylvania Young Readers’ Choice Award for Grades 6–8, and 2014 for the Anthony Award for Best Children’s or Young Adult Novel.
It’s also a television movie released in 2017 by Nickelodeon.
My Take
It’s all about learning, never giving up, and the importance of working as a team…and how fabulous the library is…especially once you learn how to use it! Grabenstein turns it all into a game, a great game that could inspire your own kids to make use of the library…or at least the idea of how knowledge can be useful. Lord knows, Grabenstein had me stumped on a number of clues.
I’d have to agree with the assessment that Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library is a “cross between [Roald Dahl's] Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and [the film and novelization of] A Night in the Museum”, as “Chris Grabenstein uses rib-tickling humor to create the perfect tale for his quirky characters … with the crafty twists and turns of this ultimate library experience” with interactive possibilities. It’s helpful that he uses a third person omniscient point-of-view to allow us to “listen in” to the thoughts and feelings and “watch” the actions of different kids as they pursue the game.
I did love the concept of the initial scavenger game the boys played, although I’m not sure parents would be too pleased with it. Then again, it focuses on a young man who isn’t big on books, but does adore games of all sorts. If this adventure can get Kyle to want to read, well… I had to laugh as Kyle keeps finding books he wants to read…YES!!
I suppose you could consider this a fantasy book as well, since the too-funny Mr. Lemoncello is too odd for words, and as for a world-famous librarian…? Well, who’da thunk? And the money spent on the library…whoa!! Then all those parents being cool with their kids having to "escape" the library? Only in books, lol.
I do like Kyle, and he has quite a generous spirit. Grabenstein’s other characters run the gamut of types with those with a sense of responsibility, those who hide behind a mask, those with a “superior” air, and the cheaters.
The story is FULL of foreshadowing, that was obvious to me afterwards! Better not count on me in these games!
”A library doesn’t need windows, Andrew. We have books, which are windows into worlds we never even dreamed possible.”It’s going on my buy list! And if you want to encourage your kids to think outside the box and find learning fun, you'll be picking it up too.
The Story
The real challenge isn’t getting IN to Mr. Lemoncello’s library, it's getting OUT!
Twelve-year-old Kyle Keeley enters an essay contest and wins an overnight stay in his hometown’s new and technologically enhanced town library funded by Mr. Lemoncello, a game board creator.
Once inside the library, Kyle and his fellow essay winners discover they will need to play their way out of the library, using clues left by Mr. Lemoncello in the ultimate board game come to life!
The Characters
Kyle Keeley is twelve with a love for games...but not for books. Mike is his oldest brother, seventeen, and a high school superstar jock. Curtis is fifteen and the more intellectual of the three. Their parents are keen on the kids being active.
Kyle’s fellow students
Akimi Hughes is one of Kyle’s particular friends. The super enthusiastic Miguel Fernandez is president of the school’s Library Aide Society. Sierra Russell always has her nose buried in a book. Her parents have recently split up. The snooty, brown-nosing Charles Chiltington (his uncle, James F. Willoughby, III, is the head librarian of the Library of Congress) knows he's the best. Andrew Peckleman is a library aide. Haley Daley is the class “princess”. Bridgette Wadge, Yasmeen Smith-Snyder, Sean Keegan, Rose Vermette, and Kayla Corson are more students who won the contest. Mrs. Dana Cameron is Kyle’s homeroom teacher. Mrs. Yunghans is the school librarian.
Mr. Luigi Lemoncello is a master game maker whose games are always a little goofy around the edges. Just like him. He was born in Alexandriaville into an Italian family with nine siblings. Dr. Yanina Zinchenko is a world-famous librarian who will be the new head librarian. Gail Tobin had been the librarian back when Mr. Lemoncello was a boy.
Twinky is the neighbor’s Doberman.
The Cover and Title
The cover is grayed-out color-wise in its minty greens, pinks, yellows, and blues. It’s definitely all about the game with its dot counters, die, and spin-the-wheel with the silhouette of kids interacting with the library. There’s one sitting atop a slanted “billboard” announcing the title in a combination of script font (in white) and a gradated yellow in a showy circus-type of font with a minty green balloon, all against a deep green background bordered in layers of white. It’s a clever way to announce the series information as well. There’s a gray striped kitty stretching atop a wooden bookcase and what looks like a vintage minty green phonograph horn silhouetted against a pale gray full moon in the upper right corner of a gradated green sky full of sparkling white stars and lines of those game counters in pastel colors. Below the “billboard” is a sweeping curve of staircase leading up with bookcases on either side and more game counters on the stairs and spreading out onto the floor. Another silhouette is pulling down hard on the arrow of the wheel on the lower right while another is walking along, engrossed in her book, and the fourth silhouette is prancing past the stairway. The author’s name uses the same circus-style font in white, centered at the bottom.
The title is the name of the game, Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library.
allicatca's review against another edition
5.0
I just finished listening to this book on CD. The reader did a great job with all the voices.
Overall, I thought this book was clever and engaging. I certainly love children's books so I enjoyed all the references to literature. Just the idea of a cool library like Mr. Lemoncello's gets me excited!
I liked that there was more than one way of solving the puzzle. I think I will check out the hard copy so I can see what clues I missed and so I can make a list of books to read to my children before I read this one to them!
Overall, I thought this book was clever and engaging. I certainly love children's books so I enjoyed all the references to literature. Just the idea of a cool library like Mr. Lemoncello's gets me excited!
I liked that there was more than one way of solving the puzzle. I think I will check out the hard copy so I can see what clues I missed and so I can make a list of books to read to my children before I read this one to them!
reader4evr's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this! Couldn't put it down! Very clever & super fun. Loved all of the books that are mentioned and fun facts about the Dewey Decimal System. A book nerds dream to play this game!
chapita4's review against another edition
5.0
The Boo's review (8). If I could give this book Google stars I would....you know 1 followed by 100 zeros. It has all kinds of cool stuff like hover ladders and a cafe in a library...that's crazy. I liked the whole book so it's hard to pick a favorite part. If I had to pick a favorite it would be when they use the hover ladders. It was a good idea to work as a team to solve the puzzles. My favorite character trait was Kyle's determination to win every game. Go read this book!
bookph1le's review against another edition
3.0
I stuck with this one because my son is practically eating it with a spoon.
For me, it wasn't quite as fun. The book's greatest strength is the imaginative library. I absolutely loved it and wished I could crawl into the book and explore it with Sierra. I think I'd have enjoyed the book a lot more had it not focused on the game aspect and, instead, centered more around the wonders of the library itself.
I didn't think the writing was all that strong, and I found this book chock full of cliches. It was obvious to me from the start who would win because the characters are very stereotypical. This might be exactly why my son loves it, because it is predictable and reassuring. I'm not saying this is necessarily a bad thing, or that he couldn't handle something more challenging, but for me, I prefer more nuance to my writing, and there are many, many talented middle grade authors who can offer me just that. I could enjoy this book for what it was, but it was pretty disposable for me.
For me, it wasn't quite as fun. The book's greatest strength is the imaginative library. I absolutely loved it and wished I could crawl into the book and explore it with Sierra. I think I'd have enjoyed the book a lot more had it not focused on the game aspect and, instead, centered more around the wonders of the library itself.
I didn't think the writing was all that strong, and I found this book chock full of cliches. It was obvious to me from the start who would win because the characters are very stereotypical. This might be exactly why my son loves it, because it is predictable and reassuring. I'm not saying this is necessarily a bad thing, or that he couldn't handle something more challenging, but for me, I prefer more nuance to my writing, and there are many, many talented middle grade authors who can offer me just that. I could enjoy this book for what it was, but it was pretty disposable for me.
mehsi's review
5.0
4.5 stars.
Wow this was a super fun book. I loved that it took place in a library, though it felt more like a media centre than a real library. For instance, the games, the reality stuff, I just didn't think it fitted.
But other than that? I wanted to be in that library and get lost there for days and days. It seems like such a fun place, filled with books, filled with stories. I really loved the fact they had holographic librarians from all kinds of times. Or even fairy tale or famous people to help people in the library.
The characters were all fun and nice, well all... with exception of Charles, or mister Bratty I-know-it-all-and-you-all-suck. I really disliked him and his attitude and how he did everything to win, no matter how dirty or mean. Even if it meant treating people like poo.
Kyle was a really great character though. At first I thought he was just your typical boy, with nothing more on his mind than games, games and comics. But in this book we can see him change. At first he doesn't like the books that much, but sooner or later you see him longing for a book, wanting to know more about the book. And it all happened pretty believable, it wasn't an instant switch from dislike and disdain to like and thinking it is pretty cool.
Add to that that Kyle was pretty smart, even though you get the impression he is not. I liked how he treated his team, and how he tried to add more people or to help people even when they don't belong to his team. It shows character.
My favourite character out of all characters? Sierra. Getting lost in books, shy and an overall awesome girl who knows a lot about her books.
Of course, the who will win this contest thing was obvious, but I blame that mostly to the fact this is a kids book, and what I noticed is that often kids books have a predictable plot or ending. Which isn't that bad, but still is a bit of a shame. Still I had fun cheering for our protagonists and their battles, their puzzles.
Oh and on that matter. I loved the puzzles, I had lots of fun trying to puzzle and try to figure out the mystery by myself.
I also loved the various references to other books, to other series. Some I didn't get (because I hadn't read the book), but quite a few I got and they had me laughing and cheering. You don't often see books getting referenced in another book.
All in all I loved this book, it was really interesting and it also reminded me a bit of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This time a contest and a tour through a library. :) I would really recommend this one to everyone.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Wow this was a super fun book. I loved that it took place in a library, though it felt more like a media centre than a real library. For instance, the games, the reality stuff, I just didn't think it fitted.
But other than that? I wanted to be in that library and get lost there for days and days. It seems like such a fun place, filled with books, filled with stories. I really loved the fact they had holographic librarians from all kinds of times. Or even fairy tale or famous people to help people in the library.
The characters were all fun and nice, well all... with exception of Charles, or mister Bratty I-know-it-all-and-you-all-suck. I really disliked him and his attitude and how he did everything to win, no matter how dirty or mean. Even if it meant treating people like poo.
Kyle was a really great character though. At first I thought he was just your typical boy, with nothing more on his mind than games, games and comics. But in this book we can see him change. At first he doesn't like the books that much, but sooner or later you see him longing for a book, wanting to know more about the book. And it all happened pretty believable, it wasn't an instant switch from dislike and disdain to like and thinking it is pretty cool.
Add to that that Kyle was pretty smart, even though you get the impression he is not. I liked how he treated his team, and how he tried to add more people or to help people even when they don't belong to his team. It shows character.
My favourite character out of all characters? Sierra. Getting lost in books, shy and an overall awesome girl who knows a lot about her books.
Of course, the who will win this contest thing was obvious, but I blame that mostly to the fact this is a kids book, and what I noticed is that often kids books have a predictable plot or ending. Which isn't that bad, but still is a bit of a shame. Still I had fun cheering for our protagonists and their battles, their puzzles.
Oh and on that matter. I loved the puzzles, I had lots of fun trying to puzzle and try to figure out the mystery by myself.
I also loved the various references to other books, to other series. Some I didn't get (because I hadn't read the book), but quite a few I got and they had me laughing and cheering. You don't often see books getting referenced in another book.
All in all I loved this book, it was really interesting and it also reminded me a bit of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This time a contest and a tour through a library. :) I would really recommend this one to everyone.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
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!