Sunday, August 18, 2013

Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

If you can find all the clues, you'll win the ultimate game prize pack.  All the middle school participants wanted it badly.  Now, how can they accomplish this best?

Random House Children's Books sent me a copy of this book for review (thank you).  It has been published, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

Mr. Grabenstein picks an interesting premise for his book.  He chooses a prize of the new, fun video games but has them search in a new library for the clues.  The clues are tied to the Dewey Decimal System and they include classic book titles.  However he mixes this old fashioned library method with holograms, an IMAX theater, and electromagnetic hover ladders that float patrons up to the books they want. (I want one of those!)

As is usual in a group, some play fair, some cheat, some switch sides, and some aren't anybody's friend.  Anyone caught cheating is evicted, so the numbers grow smaller as the weekend goes along.

There's a kicker at the end, though.  The morning the doors are supposed to open, they don't.  Apparently they are going to have to find their own way out.  Nobody mentioned that when they locked them in...

It's an interesting tale with little clues and nuances along the way.  I found the mix of technology with old-fashioned charming.  And I didn't see that see that end coming.  Nice job, Mr. Grabenstein.

Happy reading.

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