The Lost Library

‘Pure enchantment.’ – New York Times, on Bob‘A tribute to the power of storytelling.’ – Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Bob‘An unusual fantasy with simplicity, immediacy, and wit.’ – Booklist (starred review) on Bob‘A perfectly paced plot, supported by secondary characters to whom readers will relate.’ – School Library Journal (starred review) on Bob‘A boy who visits a little free library gets more than he bargained for when he becomes a sleuth caught up in the middle of his town’s most enduring mystery…. A page-turner with striking characters and a satisfying puzzle at its heart.’ * Kirkus *‘Mass and Stead employ a rich cast of characters—including ghost librarians, graduating fifth-graders, mice, and a cat—to dive into the heart of Martinville…Full of heart, sly narration, and Stead’s expected air of mystery, this is well suited for lovers of books and libraries and novels featuring ensemble casts.’ * Booklist *‘There are ghosts and magic and plenty of community spirit…An engaging mystery.’ * CBCA VIC *‘Such a cute, quick read…Who wouldn’t love a cat, a lost library and a ghost? The writing is lovely and light…I’d highly recommend this for any of the young readers in your life.’ * Cosy Dragon *‘A beautiful imprint on my imagination…I would highly recommend this book.’ * Sunshine House *‘[The Lost Library] will delight its young readers as well as older lovers of books and libraries…An uplifting story that will leave readers feeling happy.’ * ReadPlus *‘This is a book about books, and how they can change people’s lives…A great class novel…About stories, and love, and secrets.’ * GLAM Adelaide *‘With its optimistic tone, quirky characters, and subtle life lessons, The Lost Library casts a magical spell…Mystery-loving bibliophiles of any age will find something timeless in this heartwarming tale. It serves as a reminder that books have the power to transport us to new worlds and change our own.’ * NZ Booklovers *‘This intricately woven story unfolds seamlessly, keeping the reader charmed by the quirky characters and involved in unravelling the several mysteries…This story is rich in themes—the power of reading, of fame, being kind to animals, and being yourself and navigating change, all of which sit lightly on the plot, adding depth and flavour to the mix…Even people who don’t normally frequent libraries will enjoy this charming and engrossing story.’ * StoryLinks *‘Absolutely had me at the title…Classic middle-grade…Is there one single thing about this book that we don’t love? You’re in unbelievably safe hands…It’s a winner.’ * Your Kids’ Next Read *‘Whenever I read a page, it made me super excited to read the next…I loved it a lot and I will give it a 5 star rating.’ * Ayden, Year 5, Shelftalkers *‘Absolutely charming, with just enough mystery to keep young minds guessing.’ * NZ Listener, 50 Top Children’s Books *‘An absolute treasure…This is a magical mystery about the power of stories.’ * Readings, Best Junior and Middle Grade Books of 2023 *‘Perfect for lovers of books and cosy mysteries! A timeless mystery.’ * West Australian *‘This is a delightful read about the importance of books, libraries and how they can heal and bring people together, sometimes in the most unexpected ways.’ * Deborah Abela, CBCA Reading Time *‘Stead and Mass have penned a real page-turner in this novel…A wonderful story about finding your “people” and taking the path you want in life…The power of libraries to transform and give a sense of belonging to anyone who embraces them is a key message in this book, and a very timely one.’ * Magpies *‘The Lost Library was probably one of the best books I’ve ever read…It was amazing and I didn’t want it to end.’ * Audrey, Year 5, Shelftalkers *‘A great story for those who are curious and like mystery and adventure books. I think this book is suitable for everyone in Grades Five and Six.’ * Jessica, Grade 5, Brentwood Park Primary School *

Wendy Mass

Wendy Mass is the author of eleven novels for young people (which have been translated into 13 languages and nominated for 46 USA state book awards), including A Mango-Shaped Space (which was awarded the Schneider Family Book Award by the American Library Association), Leap Day, the Twice Upon a Time fairy tale series, Every Soul a Star, 11 Birthdays, Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall, Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, and Finally. Her most recent book is The Candymakers. Wendy wrote the storyline for an episode of the television show Monk, entitled ‘Mr. Monk Goes to the Theatre,’ which aired during the show’s second season. She tells people her hobbies are hiking and photography, but really they’re collecting candy bar wrappers and searching for buried treasure with her metal detector. She lives with her family in New Jersey.

Rebecca Stead

Rebecca Stead is author of When You Reach Me, Liar & Spy, First Light, Goodbye Stranger, Bob, The List of Things that Will Not Change, and The Lost Library. Her books have been awarded the Newbery Medal, the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for Fiction and the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize. Rebecca lives in New York.

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