Do you ever get bored and hope for adventure? Well, that is exactly what Lenora is facing. Her parents are off traveling the globe and they have left Lenora with a nanny. Lenora is so bored doing everything that the nanny wants to do, but when she has to stop off a the library, Lenora is thrilled. She sneaks away from the nanny so that she can go to the children's section. On the way she gets lost and ends up in a part of the library where she does not belong. This part of the library seemed much older with stone wall, bridges and tunnels. There were books and librarians everywhere. As she was staring in awe at the view before her, she is interrupted by one of the tallest ladies she has ever seen. Lenora is told she must leave because she doesn't work there. Lenora doesn't want to leave so she asks if she can work there and the lady, Malachi, approves. Malachi puts Lenora to work right away helping patrons in various rooms of the library. In order to help these patrons she must travel far and wide and meet some pretty incredible people (and insects, and animals, and robots). Each time Lenora helps someone, she gets a promotion. However, with every turn she faces challenges and dangers. There are men who are trying to destroy all knowledge and Lenora is in the way. With every adventure, Lenora is threatened and her life is in danger. Can Lenora avoid these men and continue to do her job? Or will they finally put an end to Lenora and all the books that she finds precious? Read this incredible book to find out!

This is really such a great book. If you love books, libraries, and adventure, this is the book for you!. This book takes imagination and stretches it to a whole nother level. The adventures that Lenora takes are just mind-blowing. In the end you will be pulling so hard for Lenora to defeat the bad guys!! This is a must read book for 2019!! (and I personally hope there is a book 2 coming soon!)

Libraries have always been my friend. The books are treasures to me and I was always afraid of running out of things to read. But the one at home was nowhere near as exciting as this one!

Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published April 30th.

Lenora's parents on vacation and have left her with a nanny. All the nanny wants to do is shop. Soon, Lenora is bored, bored and bored. Then the nanny takes her to the library. She sneaks away from her and goes looking for the children's section. What she finds instead is huge hidden library filled with librarians and customers and tons of books. She loves it!

When she's stopped and asked what she's doing there, she explains she'd like to work there. That wouldn't be boring! The head librarian give her a brief interview and says she'll hire her. She can start as the Fourth Assistant Apprentice Librarian. Her job is to work the reference desk and answer customer's questions. She can also tidy up the room in between customers.

The questions are fascinating. She has to look or visit to get the answers. And she has some man with a black bowler hat who's trying to disrupt the library and steal some of the books.

I really enjoyed this one. It's written for middle graders, has plenty of action and it didn't take long for me to start admiring Lenora. She does what she needs to do and protects the books and patrons. She has conversations with whales, penguins and ants. I don't think she's going to bored any longer...

This is exactly the kind of book I would have absolutely adored as a child, and I still loved it as an adult!

Lenora is bored, bored, bored - stuck with a dull and inattentive nanny while her parents are off traveling and probably having all kinds of adventures without her. She spends all day every day being dragged from place to place as the nanny runs errands and visits all kinds of boring people, until one day, the nanny finally says something interesting: we're going to the library! Only to pick up one book so that she can impress an acquaintance, but nevertheless it shouldn't be that hard to disappear for awhile and have some real fun in the kids' section!

In a surprising turn of events, the halls Lenora remembers don't take her right to the Children's section, but rather to an archway that leads to the Library of Ever, a mazelike place holding all the knowledge in the world. There, Lenora promptly runs into the Chief Answerer, Malachi, and is subsequently hired and assigned the position of "Fourth Assistant Apprentice Librarian" at the young age of 11. Throughout this book you'll find adventures involving the year 8000, strange men in dark suits and bowler hats, hot air balloons, kittens, and more. I loved the imagination of the author and imagining for myself what such a library would even look like, and was definitely entertained throughout Lenora's fast-paced adventures. Recommended for all lovers of libraries and adventures!

Thank you, NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book.

I feel rather confused by this fantasy MG. On one hand, I loved it—the premise, the theme, the writing. On the other hand I felt rushed through adventures and never fully connected with the main character, Lenora. She was lovely and quirky but lacked depth and I so badly wanted to know her and root for her more than what I actually did.

The idea and theme behind the book was more than wonderful—that knowledge is light and libraries and librarians are seeking light for all where other dark forces are censoring such knowledge. The problem I had with this was how explicit the theme was shoved in the reader’s face. For that reason, I think this is best suited for 2nd through 4th graders. I think 5th graders would see through the blatant messaging, whereas if it were more subtle, this book could be great for a larger age span.

While I was able to picture each of the adventures, through great writing, each adventure felt so rushed and I desired more depth to each one rather than having so many.

All in all, I definitely recommend this book to educators and librarians due to the theme. It will definitely make you smile. And I think young readers will enjoy the fast-paced and short nature of this fantasy.

I received an electronic ARC from MacMillan Children Publishing Group through NetGalley.
So many adventures in this shorter book. Lenora is a lonely young girl whose parents travel and leave her with a nanny. They head for the library and Lenora begins a series of adventures. No spoilers but I loved this heroine and getting to see her mature and grow in various ways.
Alexander tells a fast paced story that will hold an elementary level reader's interest. This could also be used as a read aloud.
Looking forward to more adventures for this young librarian.

What is a girl to do when her parents are off on a trip to Europe and have left her in the care of a nanny who spends all her time visiting her own friends and dragging her charge along like excess luggage? Well, Lenora waits for the right moment and then makes a break for it. Being a smart girl our protagonist makes her move while they are at the library (so the nanny can check out a book to show off to her friends). As she searches for the children's section, Lenora encounters a strange arch that leads her to the ultimate library. When she is made the "fourth assistant apprentice librarian," her adventures really begin.

Between helping patrons from the future, rescuing stranded penguins, finding lost kittens, and other amazing help desk assignments, Lenora encounters menacing figures in bowler hats who seem intent on preventing patrons from using the library. The head librarian, Malachi, tells her these characters are the "Forces of Darkness" and have always been around. Holding to the belief that "Knowledge is Light," Lenora does her best to fight the insidious actions of the dark. As she tells two of the figures when they point out she is just a child, "I'm also a librarian. And I'm not going to hide the truth from anyone."

Lenora's research into patron queries will have readers learning about Leap Day and Leap Years, the tallest mountain in the world, the ancient Egyptian goddess Bast, and tardigrades. They will also encounter robots, beluga whales, ant colonies, and various other wonders that will spark interest in new and exciting subjects to research for themselves.

This middle grade tale is a good match for fans of The Ninja Librarians by Jen Swann Downey, or readers who enjoy books about books such as Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library or The Book Scavenger.

This book truly tackles what it means to be a librarian. The quest for knowledge, the want to solve puzzles, the need to protect the artifacts, and the want to help others. It's a beautiful and imaginative romp through one of the most important professions and is accessible to elementary children through adults.

When her parents leave her in the care of an inattentive and extremely boring nanny, Lenora despairs. Then, against all odds, they stop at the library. Lenora contrives to lose first her nanny, then herself. She stumbles through a mysterious portal to a mind-bendingly massive library and, after swearing a fiercesome vow, is appointed Fourth Assistant Apprentice Librarian. After that, she hurtles through a series of tasks involving leap years, tardigrades, Mount Everest, and the forces of darkness. Her quick thinking, courage, and research skills see her through every thrilling and perilous adventure.

Join Lenora in the Library of Ever in her quest to become a librarian, help patrons, and discover more about herself and everything else!

When Lenora's parents leave her with a nanny to travel the globe, book loving Lenora is frustrated with the adults who dictate her life. When at the library (so her nanny can get a book for the sole purpose of impressing someone), Lenora stumbles into the Library of Ever and is hired as a fourth assistant apprentice librarian. Soon, she is going on adventures in looking for information and answering questions that take her through time and space, as well as around the world. I can't wait to see what awaits Lenora on her next adventure!

Delightfully charming tale of a girl who falls into adventures at a magical library. Very stylized and fast-moving, will have my son read it to test how it goes with actual kids, but I loved it.

I received this book as an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I really liked this book . It portrays the true life of real librarians. (In our dreams) I had just done some research on Tardigrades before reading this book. So I was super excited to be introduced to a real life one. :) The only thing is I would have liked to have seen Lenora go to a "break room" and interact with other librarians. The book was very fast paced I would have liked to have seen her get a snack or something and I'm sure the other librarians are just as fascinating. :) I was shocked, disappointed when the book ended. I thought for sure there would have been more. And yet it just stopped and left me hanging. I will anxiously await the next book.

I wanted to love this book since it was set in a library and seemed like a fun, middle grade adventure story. The story had great potential: girl sees mysterious man, tries to save the library and children from adults who won't let them read what they want, etc. However, I never bought the story fully. I think savvy middle grade readers will see through the plot and not stick it out. Great premise, just wish it offered more depth of character development and storyline.

As a librarian, I can tell you it is the greatest job EVER! That is exactly what our 11 year old heroine discovers in this story. Helping patrons discover that "Knowledge is Light" by combining history, adventure, and friendship...what's not to love?!

I liked the story, but I found it way too short. I wanted more of the adventures in the incredible library! It's reminiscent of those books of my childhood that offer magical, fantastical adventures away from the prying eyes of adults.

Ok, so the first chapter had me feeling a little bit sorry for Lenora and a little bit bored. But then the adventure began! The most important question I have is When Does Book 2 Release??! (the problem is 📌 I received book 1 from NetGalley as a prerelease, so I have no idea how long it will take!) 

The Library of Ever is staffed by some brave Librarians, who are determined to defend knowledge (which gives light) from the Forces of Darkness.

I was intrigued by the creative way we are given a taste of so many different tidbits of knowledge. Enough to satisfy the story, but still make you want to know more, and maybe do a Google search or three! 

Type: Chapter book

Highlights:

Courage
Guarding knowledge by sharing it
Learn some interesting facts and spark a desire to learn!

I received this e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Lenora, age 11, is bored out of her mind! Her wealthy parents are off on a world-wide cruise and Lenora is stuck with her inattentive nanny. While off doing errands (BORING!), they stop at the library. Lenora ditches her nanny and soon discovers a mysterious archway which leads to an enormous and wondrous library. The library has every book ever written in every culture. Lenora convinces Malachi, the Chief Answerer, to give her a job – Fourth Assistant Apprentice Librarian. As she helps patrons, Lenora learns a lot and moves up in rank. There are also dark forces, men in overcoats and bowler hats, who try to thwart her efforts. Lenora tries her best to protect the Light of knowledge.

This ode to librarians is a fast-paced, action-packed story for middle grade readers and adults alike. It can be described as a cross between A Wrinkle in Time and Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library. It may seem a bit disjointed as Lenora mores from adventure to adventure but it does work for this book. It all works out in the end. I expect we will see more of Lenora in the future.

#TheLibraryOfEver #NetGalley

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for providing a review copy.

Neglected by her wealthy parents and nanny, Lenora loses herself in the library downtown-- specifically, in the Employees Only section, which seems larger and more fantastical and, frankly, magical, than actually possible. Here, the librarians give her a job as Fourth Assistant Apprentice Librarian, have her take a vow to help those who need it, and set her loose in the library with a series of increasingly difficult tasks. If this sounds like a daydream of a knowledge lover, well, you're not far off the mark. But as a librarian myself, it doesn't sound much like my job-- and not just because I don't answer reference questions by befriending penguins and flying a balloon around a giant globe.

First, there's a lot to like about this book. The premise of a magical library, as well as all the topics and exhibits it includes, is delightful. Many books about books and libraries focus on literature and literary allusions, which are fun if you're the kind of person who has already read whatever the author considers as their canon, but less fun if all the references go over your head. This book focuses instead on the information side of libraries-- the reference questions and the science facts and what I'd generally call nonfiction. There's not really any rhyme or reason to which facts Lenora already knows and which ones she learns and records in her notebook along the way. That, though, feels pretty accurate to me to how kids collect facts on topics that interest them. I also like the depiction of the library having exhibits and artifacts and not just books.

What gives me pause, however, is that, fantasy aside, this depiction of the library sounds very little like a modern public library. Reference desks full of librarian staff who refer patrons to enormous books-- that's an adult's idea of what a library is, and a nostalgic view of some past library. Lenora's library has space rockets and translators for ants and robots with time machines but no computers or internet. That just doesn't reflect the libraries kids who read this book would be visiting. This retrograde view of what libraries are is just as dangerous as the bland Forces of Darkness and their simplistic censorship lessons at the end of the book.

I'll still probably pick up a copy for my library-- books about libraries are pretty popular there, and this feels like a perfect choice for a readaloud with an early elementary school aged kid or a readalike for fans of the Mr. Lemoncello's Library books.

It took me a few chapters to get into this one, but then I got charmed by Lenora and her adventures. Loved the ending and potential for the story to continue in exciting ways. Full review on goodreads..com

This children's fiction surprised me with how creatively adventurous and charming it was. It was a fun, fantastical, whimsical tale kind of reminiscent of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library combined. But it's still its own story! I loved the setting of the library, but this is a magical library that expands to contain all knowledge, known (and sometimes unknown!) It also did a good job of championing libraries to all reading. This will be an easy sell to my 3-6th grade students! Enchanting! Well done for what appears to be the author's first offering!

#NetGalley #TheLibraryofEver

What a fun adventure book with an important message. As a librarian, I think all librarians are heroes and Lenora certainly is, making tough, daring choices all in the name of knowledge. Will there be a sequel? I certainly hope so.