Kyle loves games. Any sorts of games. Outside, inside, card games, scavenger hunts and video games. He and his brothers love challenging each other in competition games too, but his favourite games are ones designed by Luigi Lemoncello. His family have practically raised their boys on Lemoncello board games, and they have made a huge impact on Kyle.

When Kyle hears that the school essay he forgot about was for a special essay competition by Mr Lemoncello, he’s scrambling to get something down on paper.

The winner of this competition is to be one of the 12 tweens/middle graders to see the new town library before anyone else, and then sleep over in it! This is a huge deal to Kyle because Mr Lemoncello himself designed the new library.

Kyle makes the cut along with his friends and other children. There is lots to see and do, and many games to play. This library is like no other with holograms for librarians, entire rooms dedicated to different topics and games built within. Sourcing a book may require a ride on the hover ladder to reach a book at the top of the shelves, or you might want to hang out in the electronic learning centre for – you guessed it. More games.

The 12 lucky students are fed well and tired out when they hit their sleeping bags. But the real fun begins when they wake. They are still locked in!

Mr Lemoncello has another challenge. Find an alternate way out (without using the normal windows & doors) and Mr Lemoncello has something even more amazing in store for you if you win.

Kyle and his friends must decide whether to work together or apart, whilst others are already racing away to the first challenge. These aren’t easy, and require thinking outside of the box. It’s the biggest challenge Kyle has ever faced.

Using many different types of codes, quizzes, puzzles and the dewey decimal system, the clock is ticking, and time is running out. Can Kyle escape Mr Lemoncello’s library using all his past Lemoncello knowledge?

This is the first graphic novel in this series, and also the first book in the Mr Lemoncello series I have read. It is incredibly entertaining and as a book lover, I enjoyed the book references throughout the story.

If you haven’t read the titles mentioned within, they are excellent titles to follow up on yourself. Teamwork is a key component of this story, and Mr Lemoncello doesn’t stand any nonsense from participants who try to do things the easy way.

Many children (and adults) would love to be locked inside a library or bookshop overnight, but Mr Lemoncello’s library would be out of this world with all the amazing extras he has included in his new building.

The illustration style/panels are fun and bright and full of movement as 12 tweens race around exploring the exhibits, technology and books, and then compete in the ultimate game lover’s challenge.

If you love books, libraries, puzzles, or American Kid’s Lit – or all of these things, this is the book for you.

Author – Chris Grabenstein

Illustrator – Douglas Holgate

Graphic Novel

Age – 8+

(2023, Series, Graphic Novel, Library, Books, Words, Dictionary, Puzzles, Competition, Essay Writing, Games, Teamwork, Humour, Friendship, Rivalry, Tension, Ticking Clock, American Children’s Book Classics, Technology, Holograms, Clues, Game Lovers, Challenge, Fun)