Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library has a great premise. If you love games (board games, word games, puzzles, etc.) OR if you love libraries (books, reading), then you're in for quite a treat. Mr. Lemoncello is a famous game maker. He makes board games and video games. His games are the best in the world. His hometown has not had a library in twelve years; the old library had burned down. So the new spectacular library needs a grand opening like no other. Twelve lucky children (all age twelve, of course) will get to spend the night locked in the library! But that's just the start of this fantastical book. For in reality, the children will have to "escape" from the library--it's a contest of wits. There are games to be played, risks to be taken, teams to be formed. It will take brains to solve the ultimate game. They only know they cannot use the door they came through or they will be disqualified!
Readers meet all twelve children, but not all children get equal time and attention. This book is fun not because of the characters, but because of the engaging puzzle and the cleverness of the text. This text might appeal more to adult readers, especially librarians who know their children's literature, than to children. But it was fun. I really enjoyed it!
© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
