I was pretty darn excited to finally get this book from the library. I loved Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library; it earned a 5 star review for it's creative, fun, and witty storyline with great character development. Plus, it was about children's literature and libraries; this previous elementary school librarian was a big fan.
To be honest, I wasn't expecting a sequel. I probably should've because the first one was so good; of course they'd want to keep the fun going. When I finally got a copy of the second book, Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein, to read I flew through the book enjoying the fun hover boards to browse the shelves, and all of the other cool stuff in Mr. Lemoncello's library. I mean what patron and librarian wouldn't like a hover board that tracks your heart rate to know what books to bring you to?! It just sounds super cool; can that really be invented? I love library technology! #nerd
For the sequel, Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics, I gave this book 4.5 out of 5 stars in my review. This book has puzzles and fun, and the same fun characters and storyline idea of sort. I felt this middle grade fiction book wasn't predictable; there were parts of the story that I should've seen coming, but instead I was completely immersed in enjoying the story.
This book is great for 4th though 7th grade boys and girls alike. I think bookworms, puzzle/riddle fans, and competitors will enjoy this completely clean and relatable read. Now, you don't have to read the book in order, but it will make a lot more sense if you do.
The only reason this book lost half a star is b/c the story was definitely more plot based. However, I think it would've been a stronger read and equal to the first book, if it had more character development.
Amazon has the following book review from School Library Journal. I share this with you to give you a better idea of the story; and book description of sort.
"After receiving a million requests from fellow book lovers, billionaire game maker Luigi Lemoncello launches a Library Olympics open to kids all over the country to challenge the reigning literature-loving champions of Alexandria, OH. The sequel to Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library (Random, 2013) pits teams of four middle schoolers from seven different geographical regions against the reigning hometown favorites, led by Kyle Keeley. The games feature a duodecimalthon of 12 challenging library-related games, from solving Dewey-related rebus puzzles to identifying banned books, all taking place in the ultra-modern, technologically advanced Lemoncello Library. The grand prize is an all-expenses paid college scholarship, plus bragging rights. Before long, however, mysterious events threaten to jeopardize the Olympics and the library itself—books are disappearing from the shelves, and some groups or individuals may be to blame, as not everyone is a fan of the sparkling new library. Kyle and his teammates must band together with the rival teams to outwit those intent on bringing Lemoncello and the library down. Dewey Decimal aficionados, bibliophiles, and gamers will all find something to savor while trying to decipher the clues in this fast-paced sequel. At the end of the book, Grabenstein challenges kids to find quotes from banned books within the novel and to read the extensive list of titles mentioned throughout the story. VERDICT This is a successful blend of mystery, adventure, and suspense, with a sizable cast of characters, in a wholly satisfying sequel that easily stands alone."
Please tell me you've read the first Mr. Lemoncello's book? If not, you have two great books to read. They are both fast and fun reads that you might as well read together; two times more fun.
Happy Bookworm Puzzle Loving Reading!
As a librarian, this may have been my favorite quote in the book only b/c I preached this to the students at my high school library constantly.
"Google can bring you back 100 million answers; the librarian can bring you back the right one."
May you always go to your librarian for the right answers.
Did you read this book, what did you think of this book? I always love to hear your thoughts/reviews.
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