The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass

**Let me count the ways I love the cover of this middle grade novel:**

**The magical and endearing story that lies inside:**

Within the pages of The Lost Library, no one and nothing is quite as it seems, largely related to the tragic and mysterious fire many years earlier that tore through the town’s beloved library, claiming the lives of the librarian and two others who were trapped within.

Is this book depressing? Not at all! The clever narration alternates between self-proclaimed library guardian Mortimer (#3 above), a ghost named Al who bakes apple muffins and makes 4:00 tea for the other two ghosts (related to #5, the ghostly library), and a sensitive and curious boy named Evan (#4) on the transformative cusp between 5th and 6th grade. The delightful supporting cast includes Evan’s mouse-loving father, his headset-wearing, technically gifted mother, his favorite 5th grade teacher Mr. O’Neal, his highly restricted best friend Rafe, the ghost librarian Ms. Scoggin, and ghost patron Mr. Brock.

The story kicks off with the sudden appearance of a little free library, miraculously constructed by Al. This sudden appearance is highly perplexing to all, as the library burned down when Evan’s parents were teenagers. Take a book, leave a book. Or both, the sign says. Evan is the first to help himself to two of the books from the tiny but varied collection, the sole literary remainders from the tragic fire. One of these books, How to Write a Mystery Novel, serves as the manual Evan uses in his attempt to solve the long held mystery of the fire’s origins. Curiously, the book is stamped with the date of the fire, with his father’s name showing as the last person to take it out. The other book, held together by tape, is stamped with the same take out date but lists the name of a famous mystery writer, H.G. Higgins. A pseudonym, Evan and Rafe suspect. Meanwhile, as the novel progresses, townspeople drop off more and more books and plenty of treats for Mortimer, who remains steadfast in his role as guardian of the little free library.

**Questions abound in this well plotted mystery.**

-Why didn’t the town ever rebuild the library? Many years have passed since the tragic fire!

-Will the culprit end up being one of the supporting characters, as How to Write a Mystery Novel suggests?

-Why does Mortimer feel guilty?

-Who is the mysterious H.G. Higgins, and could the author be responsible?

-Why does Al hide when visitors come to the History House, and how is she able to do so many physical things? How come none of the ghosts seem to know what happened to them and their dear library?

-How does Evan’s family have enough food to eat when Evan’s father relocates mice instead of exterminating them and often needs to reimburse his unhappy clients?

-Why does Rafe put up with his parents’ restrictions without complaint?

-Will Evan survive the transition to 6th grade?

These questions and many more will be answered, and the entire cast of characters, including the town itself, will benefit from the revelations Evan and Rafe uncover. The culprit, or culprits, will surprise and delight you, and your senses will be fully engaged as you sniff out clues along with the boys. I’ll finish this review post with these words from the book’s inside jacket:

“The Lost Library is a timeless story about … owning your truth, choosing the life you want, and the power of a good book (and, of course, the librarian who gave it to you.”

The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass. Feiwel and Friends, $17.99 Aug. 29 ISBN 978-1-250838-81-0