When Kyle learns the world’s most famous game maker, Luigi Lemoncello, has designed the town’s new library and is having an invitation-only lock-in on the first night, he’s determined to be there. What he doesn’t realize is that getting in is the easy part. Getting out is going to take more than a good roll of the dice, a lucky card and some smarts.
Mr. Luigi Lemoncello, famous game maker, has built a library in Alexandriaville, Ohio, twelve years after the former library was torn down to create a parking garage. Now, to unveil the new library, 12 twelve-year-olds will get to spend the night in the library. Kyle Keeley loves Mr. Lemoncello’s games and would really like to be one of those spending the night in the library, but he’s forgotten to write his essay which will be the winning ticket. Fortunately Kyle knows the game’s not over, until it’s over. His last minute email to Mr. Lemoncello cinches him a spot in the sleepover, along with his best friend. Now all he has to do is survive the puzzles and find a way out of the library before noon. Kyle bands together with some of the others who bring their own unique set of knowledge to the table, and they are up for the challenge. This book will win a prize for both library lovers and puzzle lovers.
289 pages (plus there are clues for an unsolved puzzle in the book and a challenge from the author to interpret the clues)
Recommended by: Alice Cyphers, Pennsylvania USA
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"Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library." It's the new game in town and the entire library is the game board. Mr. Lemoncello himself, the generous benefactor who has funded the construction of a state of the art library, has designed a game and twelve children will be playing it.
Who ever figures out how to use what's inside the library to get outside the library will be crowned the winner. That's the plan.
Now, inside the library the twelve competitors are watching each other closely and trying to decide who their allies will be. They are being watched at all times. It's like "the Hunger Games but with lots of food and no bows and arrows."
Kyle is a thinking kind of guy and he is slowly beginning to figure out how to make sense of this puzzle with the help of a few friends and some deals.
What is in the library that will help them get out? Can you solve the puzzle before Kyle and his crew figure it out?
288 pages Ages 8-12 978-0375870897
Recommended by: Barb
Editors' note: Great read alike for THE WESTING GAME, SEVENTH LEVEL, GOLLYWHOMPER GAMES, CHASING VERMEER... great for readers who love to solve puzzles.
ALSC Tween Recommended Reads https://www.ala.org/alsc/sites/ala.org.alsc/files/content/Tween13_RecReadsList.pdf
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Wow! This book has everything you need for a great read - a fabulous new library, a competition involving the library, lots of references to great books, characters to love and root for, and at least one character to heartily dislike. Mr. Lemoncello has donated the money to build a brand-new public library for his hometown. There is an essay contest to choose twelve 12-year-olds to be the first patrons to explore the new library. Once the kids are chosen, they get to visit the library and try out all the gaming systems, books, holographic displays, and the snack shop. They also learn that they can participate in another competition with the winner earning the right to star in commercials for Mr. Lemoncello's gaming products. The heart of the game is to find your way out of the library without using the front doors or emergency exits and doing it within 24 hours. There are trivia questions, a scavenger hunt, rebus puzzles, codes and more included in the game. Will the characters we like the most defeat the annoying boy who places winning above every other value?
I met the author at the Knoxville Children's Festival of Reading this year. He was one of the speakers that participated in the big 10th Annual Festival and he read aloud the beginning of the book to us. I was hooked right away. The story reminds me of The Westing Game, but also has elements that are like The Mysterious Benedict Society. And if you think I am dropping a lot of titles into my comments, just wait until you see how often Mr. Lemoncello works literary references into his remarks. That was probably one of my favorite parts of the book, watching for the next reference and thinking, "I've read that!" This is a great book for book lovers, game players, and anyone who enjoys a good story.
For more information about Chris and his books, check out his website.
Recommended by: Suzanne Costner, Librarian, Tennessee USA
