Reviewing: Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library (Mr. Lemoncello’s Library #1) by Chris Grabenstein

Read time: 2 minutes

Book Blurb:

Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers’ Favorite Middle Grade & Children’s (2013)
A New York Times Bestseller

When twelve-year-old game fanatic Kyle Keeley scores a spot at the grand opening of the new library built by the enigmatic Luigi Lemoncello, he has no idea he’s about to get locked inside with a dozen other kids. To escape, they’ll need to decipher puzzles and codes and use every ounce of wit and creativity. One wrong move, and you’re out of the game. It’s a wild, bookish adventure packed with twists, challenges, and plenty of surprises for anyone who’s ever dreamed of getting lost in the library.

Let’s talk about the book:

What caught me off-guard with this book wasn’t just the sheer volume of puzzles (though A+ for the brain teasers), but how the library itself becomes a character: quirky, mysterious, always one clue ahead. Imagine stumbling into a place where Dewey decimals and game rules intertwine, and suddenly you’re on the clock, racing before the library turns the page on you.

The kids each bring their own brand of chaos. Kyle’s scrappy, the rivals are snippy, and sometimes alliances shift faster than you can say “dictionary”. But the real fun is in how Grabenstein weaves little bookish nods and gleeful librarian energy into every corner. I kept grinning each time a new gag or literary Easter egg popped up. It’s less about who’s going to “win” and more about ow the team navigates twists, temptations, and the pure joy of geeking out over a space where imagination runs wild.

Would I recommend it?

For sure! If you like your stories with a dash of wordplay and whole lot of sneaky smarts, this one is worth a read – no matter your age.

Do you agree?

Did you outwit Mr. Lemoncello’s clues, or did you take a wrong turn in the stacks? Which room would you explore first? Let’s swap puzzle-solving strategies in the comments!

Grab your copy!

Kobo
Goodreads
Check out Chris Grabenstein’s author page

Series books in order of reading (Incl. review links):

Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game (Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Series #0) – Read full review here
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library (Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Series #1) – Read full review here
Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics (Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Series #2)
Mr. Lemoncello’s Great Library Race (Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Series #3)
Mr. Lemoncello’s All-Star Breakout Game (Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Series #4)
Mr. Lemoncello and the Titanium Ticket (Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Series #5)
Mr. Lemoncello’s Fantabulous Finale (Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Series #6)