The Lost Library felt like a warm cup of tea on a cold day. It felt like a warm hug. It felt like a reminder that happiness is a possibility, and that it can be found in the smallest things. This book contained so many poignant scenes and rich emotions.

My favorite thing about this was definitely Mortimer. I'm a cat person through and through, and honestly, he was the reason I picked this up. I'm glad to say I wasn't disappointed. I loved everything about them. He was like an old curmudgeon, but in cat form. I loved how many chapters we got from his POV, and even though I would've loved more, I acknowledge that he had the perfect amount. His chapters were just so thoughtful and adorable!

As for Al and Evan, I loved them too. Evan isn't normally a protagonist I would tend towards, as he's young and naive. That naivety worked perfectly in this story though. Between Mortimer; the wise and all-seeing guardian, Al; the healing librarian with a story worth sharing, and Evan; the young boy with the power to bring people together, this story was perfectly balanced.

At its core, The Lost Library was an ode to both books and the power of community. It was bittersweet in some ways, but also beautiful in others. After encountering a Bookstore Cat earlier, I was in the mood for something cozy, and this was perfect. I already know it'll be lingering in my head for quite some time.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

I loved The Lost Library. A sweet read that included the importance of friendship, family and of course, cats

In the last week before Evan graduates from fifth grade, someone makes a Little Free Library out of the handful of books that survived the Martinville library fire over twenty years ago. Evan grabs two books at random and gets pulled into the mystery of the fire. It's not like he can ask Mortimer, the library cat, or Al, the ghostly librarian, about the incident, but even the ordinary adults in Martinville clam up about it. The short chapters from alternating POVs keep this charming, low-stakes mystery about the transformative power of literature humming along.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this charming middle-grade book. As a librarian and lifelong bibliophile, this book spoke to the deepest corners of my heart. It is so evident that the author, too, understands the importance of libraries & librarians, how we should protect them both, and for that, I am so grateful.

While I could gush on about this book for hours, I will force myself to limit my review to three major highlights/positives:
1. The short, alternating chapters will be great for reluctant readers and children who are looking for high-interest chapter books for emerging readers.
2. One of the main characters, Evan, and his best friend Rafe, are wonderfully complex and not afraid to show their sensitive side, leaning on each other the way brothers would do. Often-times, I think male MCs have a cliche, "tough-guy" personae, so it was refreshing to see one openly cry and be vulnerable.
3. The role of Mortimer, the cat, who is also one of the points-of-view in this book brought me smiles and tears throughout the story. To see this perspective and slowly understand his importance in the solving of the "who started the library fire" mystery was a true delight.

This was a great contemporary mystery woven with the bonds of family and friendship, even in the unlikeliest of places, people, and creatures.

I love these authors and this story. It was an endearing story. The mystery wasn't much of a mystery, well one part, and the twist wasn't intense, but I don't think that was the point of the story. It was about relationships and uncovering clues about the people around us.

Original mystery story told through different voices including Mortimer the cat. Twists and turns will have readers guessing why and what will happen next.

A bit disjointed but ultimately sweet. ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................