A New York Times Bestseller
Kyle Keeley is the class clown, popular with most kids, (if not the teachers), and an ardent fan of all games: board games, word games, and particularly video games. His hero, Luigi Lemoncello, the most notorious and creative gamemaker in the world, just so happens to be the genius behind the building of the new town library.
Lucky Kyle wins a coveted spot to be one of the first 12 kids in the library for an overnight of fun, food, and lots and lots of games. But when morning comes, the doors remain locked. Kyle and the other winners must solve every clue and every secret puzzle to find the hidden escape route. And the stakes are very high.
In this cross between Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and A Night in the Museum, Agatha Award winner Chris Grabenstein uses rib-tickling humor to create the perfect tale for his quirky characters. Old fans and new readers will become enthralled with the crafty twists and turns of this ultimate library experience.
"Pick up Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library for your kids to discover the coolest library in the world." —James Patterson, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
77 of 82 people found the following review helpful.
Willy Wonka Meets Mrs. Frankweiler Meets Ready Player One
By LTCL
I know what you are thinking- she works in a library so of course she is going to love this book. You would be correct! It is wonderful and I can't wait to show it to all our patrons! Mr. Lemoncello is an eccentric board game inventor who has donated a public library in his small hometown. This is the ultimate in technology, fun and creativity and a select few will get to spend the night in it before it opens to the public. What quirky Mr. Lemoncello doesn't share with the lucky winners is that they will have to solve a series of puzzles to escape. It is Jeopardy! mixed with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory mixed with The Mixed Up Files of Basil E. Frankweiler and the game of Clue! Full of action and wonderful challenging puzzles (I got giddy when I was able to solve some of the clues). Author Chris Grabenstein knows how to grab the attention of middle schoolers since he is the co-author of the popular series with James Patterson. This is a wonderful trip down memory lane for the parents, one all night Trivial Pursuit game and my personal favorite book this year!
64 of 68 people found the following review helpful.This book will only appeal to certain kinds of kids:
By JoAnn Bixby
Kids who like books, kids who like games, kids who like puzzles, kids who like mysteries, kids who like friends, kids who like fantasy, kids who like fun, and kids who like balloons. If you don't fall into one of these categories, skip the book.This story of 12 kids who get to spend the night the the new library and are then invited to compete in a game where they must "escape" within 24 hours to win a fabulous prize is one that will surely be a favorite of kids everywhere. It is already one of my favorites. I can't wait to re-read it.I plan to use this book in the coming school year with my 4th and 5th grade classes. Whether we use it as a "book club" or a "read aloud", I know they will love it.
36 of 39 people found the following review helpful.Best Book I've Read All Summer
By Rob Davis
Escape from Lemoncello's Library is full of fantastic surprises at every turn. It was definitely the best book I have read for months, and I could not put it down until I finished it. I could see it as if it were a play because of all the colorful detailed descriptions. I was sad after I finished it when my Dad said there was no such library YET... Maybe one day there will be a library with holographic librarians that help you find books and hovercraft-like elevators that allow you to reach books 50 feet in the air. If you enjoy playing board games and solving puzzles, you will love this futuristic book too. By Jackson, 10 year old
