This was another wonderful book from Stead and my first intro to Wendy Maas. I felt like this one had the same feel as Steads When you Reach Me, such a well written story with touches of humor, Mortimer the cat was very entertaining. Plus you have a ghostly librarianand a mystery that Evan and Rafe need to solve.

This book was a wonderful story I enjoyed it very much and look forward to buying it for my library!

Narrated by Christopher Gebauer; Jennifer Blom & Rob Dircks, all the narration in this one was fabulous!!! (multi-voice or middle grade Audie worthy)

4 stars

I received this book from the publisher Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a fair and honest review!

I was drawn to this book because of the cover, but when I read it was about a free little library and a cat protecting it had to read it.

The audiobook is not too long and fun with multiple narrators, one for each point of view. I was really curious about the cat's voice and it's perfect.

Very clever and fast-paced mystery story told uniquely. Nice plot twists at the end.
Free little libraries are such precious treasures in communities and it is no different in this case, and has a larger meaning at the end related to the character Al.
Evan picks up two books that will change the course of things while other people bring more to share. The books will change Evan's life.
Such a refreshing story with three amazing point-of-view characters, a cat: Mortimer, a 5th grader boy Evan who has the support of his best friend Rafe, and a ghost Al, all connected to the same: books.
The story becomes a mystery to be solved that has to do with the past and the secret around the original burnt-down local library.
I like that the main character took a book from the little library that explains how to write mysteries and is using the knowledge to discover how the library got destroyed. Will there be a villain/antagonist or not?
My favorite character was Al the librarian who understands and respects that there are different types of readers.
A book perfect for those who have a special passion for sharing books.

This was a super fun and exciting middle grade read. I think kids the ages around 7-10 will really enjoy this. I am not a super cat fan but the one in this book had me giggling. I also liked the fact that it was about a little free library because i am a contributor to that program.. maybe one day I will come across the same one!

I loved this sweet mystery! It’s so fun getting multiple point of views in a book and I especially loved that we got three in this one! Mortimer, the grumpy cat, Evan, the almost middle schooler, and Al, the ghost librarian.

This book really took me back to my childhood, running around with friends trying to solve mysteries (that may or may not have existed). I loved the incorporation of the little free library and how excited everyone was to finally have books available to borrow, trade, or have! As a book lover myself that was so much fun to listen to. There were a few fun twists that I didn’t see coming and I always love when a book keeps me guessing. I think my kids would have a blast listening to this story!

I really enjoyed all the different narrators for the different POVs! It always adds something to a story when there is more than one voice.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy of this book! All thoughts are my own.

A fun and easy Middle Grade book with 3 POVs: a cat, a library assistant (who may or may not be a ghost), and a 5th (almost 6th) grade boy. What starts off with the mystery of a Little Free Library later includes a mystery of the town's burnt down library and the identity of a famous mystery author. I liked Evan's curiosity and friendship with Rafe, but would've liked to see more of his character and his relationship with his parents. There was a tad much cat POV for my liking haha. Although this is a Middle Grade, everything seems to fall into place too easily for the mysteries. The audiobook was fantastic, though, with 3 different narrators. I do love books about books and libraries, but this one didn't hit the mark for me.

*I received an advanced listener's copy from Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for the opportunity to listen to an advance review on NetGalley. I loved this book! Such a great story filled with a little bit of suspense, great characters, and a cat! The narration was perfect! Would definitely recommend this story.

A cute middle grade book with excellent narration. Would recommend for any kid that likes mystery with a little bit of whimsy. It's entertaining enough for their adults to want to know what happens next also.

This was just a super cute little middle grade book with fun characters which involve Mortimer the cat, Evan the boy, AL the ghost and some cute little mice. Throw it all together with books and a library and you have a winning combo ! There were a few mysteries to solve throughout. It was an enjoyable magical journey.

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @macmillaudio, @rebeccastead & @wendymass for my ALC in exchange for an honest review.

When Evan wakes up, there is a new little free library on the town square. He eagerly selects two books from it only to discover that they were both returned on the same day, which happens to be the same day the old library burnt down. Evan embarks on a journey to try to find out what happened and what connect a famous mystery writer has to the town.

This was a cute audiobook to listen to. The narrator was excellent. While I saw twists coming as an adult, I don' think that it would be as easy for kids and even knowing what was going to happen, it was still enjoyable. I liked how Evan kept trying different angles with the mystery and persevered to find the answer.

On a superficial level, this was a quick story. I was confused quite often about when the events in the story were taking place, often it seemed that the library characters behaved as if they were from the 1920's perhaps rather than contemporary times. It was a mystery about a burned-down library from 20 years ago being investigated by a young sleuth based on clues discovered in a new little free library box that shows up on the town lawn filled with books from the destroyed library. While I enjoyed the story, I question whether the target audience will. The cover is adorable though.

This well-narrated audiobook centers on Evan, an inquisitive boy who loves to read, as he approaches fifth-grade graduation. He lives in the sleepy town of Martinville, which is devoid of a librarian since the fire that burned down the old one twenty-five years ago. Two authors penned this delightful tale, ideal for any bibliophile to peruse and multiple narrators flesh out the story: Mortimer the gold striped cat; AL, the assistant librarian who lives with the other library ghosts; and Evan. The town has just started a Little Library, and Evan nabbed some of the books from the box--all of them due the same day as the fire. As he gets deeper into How to Write a Mystery, he tries to figure out who started the fire back in the 1980's. He wonders if his father's reticence has anything to do with the tragedy. With his best friend Rafe at his side, Evan follows the possible clues. AL reflects on her years as a young librarian and the book club she conducted with the local school children. Mortimer provides the cat perspective on what he surveys: both the History House where the ghosts reside and the movements of Evan. This book is an homage to books, readers, libraries, and librarians.

The Lost Library
Rebecca Stead; Wendy Mass
Evan is ten years old and a six-grade student. His best friend is Rafe start middle school in the fall but they aren’t excited about the change. They discover a new little free library has appeared overnight. The library is guarded by a large orange cat named Mortimer and the librarian is a ghost named Al. Evan borrowed two old worn books off the shelves. Evan and Rafe discovered a connection between one of the books and something that occurred in the past. Curious, Evan and Rafe begin asking questions but the adults do not want to discuss the event.
This tale is told from several points of view, Al, a ghost librarian, the mysterious orange cat named Mortimer and Evan. The target audience for The Lost Library is upper elementary and middle school. This is an adorable tale featuring a young boy, a free library, a cat, some mice, the ghost librarian and a fire. The chapters are short and filled with action. The story demonstrates that through a book a new world can open. The audiobook is read by different people according to whose point of view is being expressed.
This is the book for this summer.
Booklovers know the importance of books and will attempt to develop a love for reading in children.

This is the kind of story I would have loved to read as a child. A good mystery that has animals as well as people as the main characters. And the story was all about a library, librarians, and a writer. What could be better?

A cute middle grade mystery story about a fire, a librarian, a young boy, a special little free library, a cat and a couple mice. Tie them all together and this was a heartwarming story perfect for anyone who loves books and the power of libraries of all kinds to bring people together and spread joy. Good on audio too! Many thanks to NetGalley and Librofm for early audio copies in exchange for my honest review!

A cozy mystery for all ages!

When a free library mysteriously appears one day in the small town of Martinville, Evan decides to pick out two books not knowing that his decision will bring upon the mystery of the library fire that happened 20 years ago. With his friend Rafe, they will find the clues that brings this case closed and hopefully help a couple friends in the process.

This story is told by six-toed cat Mortimer, the ghost librarian, Al and Evan himself. Together, these characters tell an exciting and cozy story of forgiving yourself, learning life lessons of growing up and becoming who you want to be.

I loved this story! Although the book is for children, I found that people of any age can enjoy this book. The audible is fantastic and I love the different narrators (especially Mortimer and the mice). Overall, just a great book that left me intrigued, laughing and a little teary at the end.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this audiobook.

A Little Free Library?! A cat?! I'm in.

This was cute!

Pros:
- The mystery of the library fire was engaging
- I loved how the community came together to support the Little Free Library.
- The three narrators were all fantastic (listened at x1.5 speed)

Cons:
- Can we stop with the miracle cats living 20+ years? That's probably a personal thing because I had miracle cats growing up so I know they can live that long, but none of my adult cats have lived passed thirteen

Meh:
- Technically, someone who looks after a Little Free Library is a steward, not a librarian, but I don't know if that would change since Al was a real librarian
- The ending was a little too Mega-Happy-Ending for me, but sometimes you need a nice over-the-top feel-good ending like that.

I think this would make a great read-aloud book in 4th or 5th grade.

I didn't think I would fall in love with the characters in this book as fast as I did. You get to know and understand them quickly enough as the story progresses through three different points of view, and they're all such lovely people (and cat). The story is entirely compelling, the characters felt all too real, and I will admit that many of Al's chapters left me with a slight misty eye. By the end of the book I was entirely enveloped in that little town, I can't wait for kids to read or listen to this story.
The narration was also spectacularly well done, and fitting to all of the characters. I would have liked it if, in the final chapter before the epilogue, the narrators still voiced their own characters when the perspectives changed, but that's a minor complaint.

I was excited about this book and was hoping to like it more than I did. While it was a sweet story, I never felt very connected to it and was often confused by the different POVs. I did love the narrator and think it has potential for younger audiences, but it just wasn’t for me.

When a little free library opens up in Martinville, eleven-year-old Evan chooses the two smallest books and takes them with him. Little does Evan know that these two books are about to lead him on an adventure that will change his life forever.

Evan finds that the books he picked from the library were from the former town library and one had been checked out by his father several times. Along with his best friend, Rafe, Evan finds out about the history of the former library and a possible crime.

I loved this book! I have already recommended it to several people. The main characters, Evan and AL, are complex and well-developed. Al’s description of a ‘great reader’ touched me as a teacher of children who struggle to read,
Being a great reader has nothing to do with reading great, sophisticated books or reading great, long books or with reading a great many books. Being a great reader means feeling something about books.
There were many surprises in this plot and I was engaged from beginning to end.
I listened to the audio version of this book and the readers were pleasant to listen to.

What an absolutely beautiful story this was! It is an homage to families, the ones we are born to and the ones we make for ourselves, as well as books and libraries - all things that are near and dear to my own heart. The mystery of what happened to the library in Martinsville was well paced and plotted, the characters were endearing and wonderful, and I even enjoyed the anthropomorphic animals, which is something I almost never say. I saw the big reveals coming, but it did absolutely nothing to detract from my enjoyment of the story or how it unfolded. Everything about this one was a delight.

On top of that, the narration was lovely and suited the story perfectly. I am not usually a fan of multiple narrators, but it worked really well here as a way to differentiate the characters perspectives as well as the elements of the story they were relating.

This was a really lovely tale and I will be definitely looking for more from the author in the future...