Parents' Guide to

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library: Mr. Lemoncello's Library, Book 1

Book Chris Grabenstein Mystery 2013
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library: Mr. Lemoncello's Library, Book 1 Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Mary Eisenhart By Mary Eisenhart , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 8+

Fun mystery about kids locked in library by wacky genius.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 8+?

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Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 8+

Based on 8 parent reviews

Kimber U.
Kimber U. Parent of 12-year-old
October 24, 2023
age 8+

Anthony D.
Anthony D. Adult
July 29, 2023
age 9+

It's way overrated.

The kids in this story never come across as real kids - they decide to work as a team and they really want to win the game, but the big "prize" (motivation) is that just one contestant will be used by the creep Mr. Lemoncello to advertise his products, and thereby be 'rich' and 'famous' -- seriously?? Another gripe is the poor description of the super complex interior of the library. And finally, the way the kids manage to solve the puzzles & connect the dots - pfft! how are we supposed to relate to any of them?
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What's the Story?

If it's a game, 12-year-old Kyle Keeley loves it. Books, not so much. But when he learns that his hero, eccentric-genius game developer Luigi Lemoncello, has funded an over-the-top, media-rich, interactive library for their hometown, he's thrilled to be one of a dozen kids invited to the grand opening. Things get even more interesting as the party winds down and Mr. Limoncello announces a contest: The kids are locked in, and have to come up with an ESCAPE FROM MR. LEMONCELLO'S LIBRARY. An awesome prize hangs in the balance. The library itself has many clues.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (8 ):
Kids say (25 ):

Author Chris Grabenstein spins a captivating tale that will keep kids turning the pages and often give them -- and their parents reading along -- the giggles. The kid characters will resonate with young readers, who'll probably get plenty of ideas for new books and other interesting info to check out.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about libraries in their lives. What were they like when parents and grandparents were kids, and what are they like now? If you visit your local library, what do you like about it?

  • Do you think playing games helps you learn? How?

  • Why do you think stories about people who have to solve a problem, and have to decide whether to compete or cooperate, are so popular? Can you think of other examples?

Book Details

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