I hope this spooky mystery will invite children to explore the wonders and magic of their own public libraries!

To every kid that had every wanted to live in a library, here is your book. The mystery is interesting and child appropriate. The imagery is perfect and will make children want to visit this historic building. A first rate book for every book lover.

Over a hundred years ago, the libraries in the New York Public library system were built with a coal fired furnace, and an apartment on the top floor. This apartment was the residence of the building superintendent and his family, and the family's mantra was always “Don't let the fire go out.” The story is set in the 1920's, and Viviani Fedeler's s father is one such superintendent. The library is virtual playground for Viviani and her siblings and as they roam the floors of library, the reader receives a complete tour of the building. Family and friendship plot points frame this middle grade mystery-historical fiction mashup. Recommend to fans of The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler.

A middle grade novel based on Viviani Fedeler, who really did live with her family in the New York Public Library in the 20s. I loved the library references and details of what life in the library might have been like. I'm not sure most middle grade readers will find them as interesting. I was also not satisfied with the character of Merit, a recent immigrant from Egypt. Cultural details about her seemed tagged on, not integral to who she was. Still, that's a minor complaint in a fun historical story with a touch of mystery. For 7-10 year olds.

Viviani Joffre Fedeler has spend all of her eleven years living in the New York Public Library. In fact, she was born there. Thanks to her father being the building's superintendent, Viv spends her time exploring the rooms, the stacks, and every nook of the library. She considers herself a story collector, so she collects all the stories of the library to recount to all her friends at school. But a new student, Merit, doesn't find Viv's stories to be much fun. She actually considers them to be lies! Viviani simply can't understand. She invites Merit to spend the night at the library, so Merit can see the stories aren't lies. But something strange happens during that night, spooking everyone. The next day, an expensive collection goes missing. Viviani, her siblings, and her friends must gather all their wits and courage to get to the bottom of the case.
What a fun middle grade mystery. I really enjoy the background of the story, the real Fedelers and their lives being incorporated into the story. It's a great setting for a series. I'm excited for more.

Although the mystery was not much of a mystery, I still enjoyed this story of Viviani and her siblings and friends quite a bit. She was a great heroine. I cringed at the parts when the kids ran roughshod over the library, but that's just the librarian in me.

Definitely a book written for book lovers. I would recommend it for upper elementary age students and for those who love From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

A cutesy book for juvenile readers set in the New York Public Library. I had trouble getting into the story and relating to any of the characters. May interest fans of From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. frank.

Everyone in her family tells stories. Tall tales about pirates, ghosts, cannibals, and encounters in the past. She loves the tales and makes some of her own. But the new girl calls her liar...

Henry Holt Books for Young Readers and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It has been published and you can grab a copy now.

They have an expensive collection of stamps on display at the library. When the girl who called her a liar comes to visit, she brings her camera. If she sees this ghost she's been told about, she'll take his picture. She sees no ghost, just the girl's older brother dressed up. She goes home early and calls her a liar again.

Then they find out the stamps have been stolen. The management threatens her father's job. But the photos give them a clue about the robber...

I enjoyed the storytelling and especially liked how she handled Mr. Green. This is based on fact so it makes it even more fun to read.

Viviani Joffre Fedeler is a girl as unique as her name! What a delightful and fun to read protagonist! It is a every bookworm's dream to sneak around a library after dark, especially the New York Public library. The Fedeler family was a riot with all of their different outlooks and how much they all enjoy their home. There were a couple of antagonists that were fun to dislike and even more fun to like by the end of the story. This is a quick romp through an era that is a personal favorite. Easy to read, well written and great for anyone 10 years old and up.

Young Viviani "Red" Fedeler, an imaginative little girl who was born and lives in the New York Public Library, is a story collector. With her brothers and best friend Eva, they play baseball, "Master Thief" with the night security guard and try to stay out of the way of the mysterious custodian Mr. Green. When some valuable stamps go missing from a library display, Viviani has to team up with Eva and a reluctant ally to catch the thief and clear suspicion from two innocent men. This book was a fantastic, delightful story based on the real family of custodians who lived in the NYPL before it was even open to the public in 1911. My trips to the NYPL have always been wonderful adventures but to actual grow up there would have been phenomenal! I hope this book is the first of many to show all the wonders you can find in a library. I highly recommend this book!

Viviani was born in the New York Public Library where she lives with her parents and her two brothers. She loves stories, but doesn't think think the stories of her own life are very important. When Viviani tells a new girl at school that the library is haunted, the girl does not believe her. Viviani's plan to prove she is not a liar gets her into a predicament with her friends, but then she needs the help of one of those friends to solve a library mystery.

This book takes place in the 1920s and is based on the real life Viviani Fedeler who was actually born in the New York Public Library in 1917. Because her father was the superintendent of the library she lived there until she was fifteen. In the note at the end of the book, the author provides some historical information about Fedeler's family and the library itself.

The story draws readers into the time period, but also brings the library itself to life. From playing baseball in the library, with books as bases, to hiding in the card catalog, to exploring the rooms of the library at night, Viviani's life in the library seems fun and full of adventure. The story also addresses friendship as Viviani wrestles with a dilemma related to making and keeping a friend. The ending of the story is satisfying as Viviani learns about stories and realizes she does have a story worth sharing.

The Story Collector will speak to the hearts of those who love books and stories, especially librarians. The interesting setting and a plot with a bit of mystery make this story an enjoyable read.

Would you like to grow up living in the massive, beautiful, historical New York Public Library? If you are a book lover you should say yes! What if I told you it was haunted by the ghost of a man named Big Red? This is exactly where eleven-year-old Viviani Fedeler grew up with her two brothers. Viviani is a terrific storyteller and adventurer and somestimes both of these things can get her in trouble. One night when her and her best friend, Eve, sneak into her father's workshop deep in the basement they possibly come face to face with a ghost. This is when her father tells her the story of a man who died while building the library. He was up to a bit of mischief when he fell to his death and now he haunts anyone who is mischievous. Viviani has always captured the attention of her classmates with her storytelling, until one day a new girl comes to join their class. Viviani thinks that she could become a new best friend until Merit calls her a liar for telling her stories, and suddenly the class starts to question Viviani. When Viviani invites her to spend the night in the library so that she can photograph the ghost, things go all wrong and the change of the bff status happeing dwindles. With Viviani down in the dumps at least she has the extremely valuable and rare stamp collection on display that she can go look at, that is until one night when it is stolen. Suddenly her dad's job is in jeopardy which means that her family's home is in jeopardy. Viviani has to somehow prove who stole the stamps but can she do it on her on? Can Viviani and her friends sabotage the thief's plan and save the day? Will the ghost of Big Red scare them off? Read this incredible book to find out what happens to Viviani and her crew.

This book was beyond amazing to me. It is every true librarian's dream to live in a library like the New York Public Library. This book is set in the 1900s and brings in so much history. The descriptions of the various rooms in the library is fantastic.

The premise of this book caught my attention right away, unfortunately the actual book did not. After plodding through half of the book waiting for something to happen I decided it just wasn't for me. I did enjoy the descriptions of the NYPL but they weren't enough to get me to finish reading the book.

While I loved the idea of this book (a girl who LIVES in the NYPL!), I just couldn't get into it. The story seemed a little awkward to me. We don't find out until much later why she's writing to her "friend" and I didn't understand the story collector at first. I wish the story was developed a little better and maybe would have been more about Viviani's life, rather than her trying to trick a new girl.