Author(s): Rebecca Stead, Wendy Mass

Junior Fiction | Anna's Book Talkers

When a mysterious little free library (guarded by a large orange cat) appears overnight in the small town of Martinville, eleven-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change.

Evan and his best friend Rafe quickly discover a link between one of the old books and a long-ago event that none of the grown-ups want to talk about. The two boys start asking questions whose answers will transform not only their own futures, but the town itself.

Told in turn by a ghost librarian named Al, an ageing (but beautiful) cat named Mortimer, and Evan himself, The Lost Library is a timeless story from award-winning authors Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass. It's 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).

CONSTANT READER STAFF REVIEW: ANNA

When a little free library pops up in town, eleven year-old Evan is intrigued. When he discovers that the books all originated in the old library that burnt down twenty years earlier, he smells the beginnings of a mystery. With help from Mortimer, the old library cat, and Al, the librarian ghost, Evan sets out to solve the mystery - with astonishing results.

This is such a sweet and lovely story. As clues were revealed and the plot thickened, I was drawn in to this small town and its inhabitants. The ending is as well-crafted as it is satisfying. This is a wonderful, gentle mystery, from two very talented authors.