Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library

By /

Author: Chris Grabenstein
Illustrator: Cover art by James Lancett

© Date: 2013
Publisher: Yearling
Pages: 289
Chapters: Yes
Illustrations: No
Publisher Recommended Age: 8-12
Bonus Activities at End of Book: Interview with author, bonus clue for an extra puzzle, and list of books referenced in story (note that subsequent books have a book list and bonus clue for an extra puzzle)

Summary from Book: When Kyle learns that the world’s most famous GAME MAKER has design the town’s new library and is having an invitation-only LOCK-IN on the first night, he is determined to be there. But the trick y part isn’t getting INTO the library—it’s getting OUT. Kyle’s going to need all his smarts, because a good roll of the dice or a lucky draw of the cards is not enough to WIN in Mr. Lemoncello’s Library.

Note: This review is done from memory. I originally read this a short bit ago.

Page Pig Thoughts: A story full of riddles, a kooky library benefactor, and a game that celebrates books is hard not to like. Chris Grabenstein manages to make the characters relatable, create well-paced clue finding games, and use a gaming hero to make these stories feel fun, not nerdy. Everyone in the stories has their moments to shine and brings their own skills to the games.

Mr. Lemoncello is a bit like a game-making Willy Wonka, which adds intrigue and joy into the stories. I love Mr. Lemoncello’s comfort in marching to the beat of his own drum. The prequel story that looks at how he got into game making and feels good about his uniqueness was one of my favorites of the series. My other favorite was book 3 that discusses highly successful people that had moments of failure and needed resilience before being successful. Although if I read them all again, maybe I would have new favorites.

Page Pup gives these two thumbs up and has been contentedly doing the puzzles while reading the books a second time. We are anxiously looking forward to the last book in the series coming out.

Family Unit: Kyle Keeley (age 12) lives with his older brothers (jock Mike age 17 and smartest sibling Curtis age 15) and their mother and father

Conflict/Social Issues:

  1. Charles Chiltington wants to win, which Kyle understands. But his personality bugs Kyle and Akimi.
  2. Andrew constantly wants to prove that he is better than Miguel.

Positive Items:

  1. Kyle takes the initiative for finding a new way to submit his library essay.
  2. Teamwork rules the day and brings success for Team Kyle. Everyone on the team was willing to share the prize, be kind to their teammates, and listen to what others had to offer.
  3. Kindness matters. Kyle and Akimi really want to win the game, but are always willing to take time out to help someone out. Their kindness earns them bonus clues and further team members.
  4. Haley Daley is not a stereotypical popular cheerleader. She is witty and a good team player for everyone. She changes teams when Charles encourages Andrew to make a choice that disqualifies him.
  5. Information about how a library is organized is used to help find clues for the game. Which means that I learned about Dewey Decimal categories.
  6. Mr. Lemoncello uses his money and kooky style to create a fancy, futuristic library that appeals to a wide variety of children that makes hanging out at the library cool.

Items of Interest:

  1. Kyle and his brothers love playing board games with one another.
  2. Kyle breaks a window in the house while on his quest to beat his brother’s at a game. He gets grounded for a week and loses 50 cents from his allowance for the rest of the year.
  3. Luigi L. Lemoncello made his fortune creating games, but decides to bring a public library back to his hometown of Alexandriaville, Ohio. As a boy, he treasured his time in the library and found great inspiration there. He is sad that Alexandriaville has been without a public library for 12 years.
  4. The 12 year olds at Kyle’s school were supposed to write essays about why they are excited about the new public library. Kyle forgot about the extra credit assignment. When he hears that the essays are to pick winners for a library lock-in that will have food and games, Kyle writes a one sentence essay in the bus on the way to school.
  5. When Kyle sees that his idol, Mr. Lemoncello, will be judging the essays, he writes a new essay. He struggles to find a way to submit it because he missed the deadline, but tries emailing it to Mr. Lemoncello.
  6. Kyle is shocked that his essay was actually received and he is one of the lock-in winners.
  7. Turns out the kids in the lock-in get the chance to play a game and win a spot in Mr. Lemoncello’s holiday commercials. The kids have to find an exit out of the library using their own wits and the library resources.
  8. Kyle is not the best student and not into reading books. His knowledge of games is the skill that he brings to his team.
  9. Charles Chiltington comes from a wealthy family and is not afraid of using and trampling on people on his quest to win the prize.
  10. Haley Daley’s dad has been out of work for over a year and her family has been borrowing money from family to try to stay in their home.
  11. Sierra Russell’s parents are divorced, her dad moved to a different town, and she is on her own at the party before the lock-in.
  12. Miguel Fernandez is the head library aide at school.
  13. Andrew Peckleman always feels like he is in Miguel’s shadow and desperately wants a moment to shine brighter.
  14. The library is filled with clues for finding the exit, but the kids are not aware of what is an actual clue and how to decipher them.
  15. Charles Chiltington gets disqualified for not being kind to library materials and his “teammates” (meaning kids that he is using on his quest to victory).
  16. At the start of the game, Kyle teams up with his best friend, Akimi. Their team slowly acquires more members, Sierra, Miguel, and eventually Haley. At the end of the game, all of the participants are on the same team.
  17. Team Kyle is able to decipher the clues to find their exit at the last minute.
  18. Kyle is briefly concerned that no one will be at the finish to celebrate Sierra, but popular cheerleader Haley announces her at the exit. Everyone has someone to cheer for them.

Other Books in Series (At Time of Posting):

  • Book 2 – Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics – Deals with the subject of banned books. Freeing your mind with banned books may not be for everyone, but looking at the reasons why a book might be banned is intriguing.
  • Book 3 – Mr. Lemoncello’s Great Library Race
  • Book 4 – Mr. Lemoncello’s All-Star Breakout Game
  • Book 5 – Mr. Lemoncello and the Titanium Ticket
  • (Coming Soon November 2024) Book 6 – Mr. Lemoncello’s Fantabulous Finale (Review)
  • Prequel – Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game

1 thought on “Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library”

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