This books was a wonderful paranormal mystery that wasn’t spooky. It would be great for grades 2-5 and an incredible classroom read aloud. The short chapters and fast pace make it very accessible to readers. It would also make a good bridge for kids moving from early chapter books to longer middle grade novels.
The message about the value of libraries, books, and authors to communities, even little free libraries. There’s also value shown to animals (a cat and mice for our animal lovers) as being smarter and more helpful than we think.
A very timely title that I hope will be on many award lists and read aloud in classrooms.
Great for fans of “Book Uncle and Me” by Uma Krishnaswami and Katherine Applegate.

Quintessentially wholesome. I've found myself reading more and more middle grade books over the years and I am so impressed with this one. It has everything to keep a child (and an adult!!) entertained. There is a central mystery, a cat, a ghost, and friendship. I really can't praise this book enough. In addition to well formed characters and a good plot, it also has good lessons that a child will remember. Oh and it highlights the importance of the library!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

The Lost Library is such a sweet and sad story about moving on. Libraries are so important to me - they're safe havens, a place to learn and dream. The authors understand the magic that is a library & it emanated from the pages. I listened to the audiobook and the narrators are fantastic.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan.Audio for providing an advanced copy of the audiobook for an honest review. Any quote(s) used in my review have been uncorrected.

I was interested in this book/audio book mainly because the town I live in has over 400 little free libraries. This book was exactly what I was expecting to read. Perfect for young readers and adults a like. I can see the inspiration from page one and found it to be a very heartfelt story of adventure.

I appreciate the story getting straight to the point but also giving mystery to keep the reader engaged.
This is a delightful, wholesome story that I think many readers will enjoy.

Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass are two of my favorite authors. This book was a must for me especially as a librarian. It was heartwarming and entertaining. Highlighting the importance of libraries comes at an important time. This book is a tribute to books and community.

If a book doesn't grip me from the beginning, I have a hard time getting into it. This was just plain boring. I made it a decently in but nothing of import was happening.

I absolutely loved the audio for this! The voices were amazing and the voice actors did a wonderful job bring the story to life. This book was beyond adorable and I loved how poetically it was written. While this is middle grade I found beautiful underlying themes and lessons. The story was immersive and vivid and the author did a wonderful job writing such a lush world. If you're looking for a audio/book to hold your attention as ana duly or while you read to your child then I highly recommend this as I was beyond invested and glued from page 1.

Okay, y'all, this book was SO wholesome and adorable. I honestly requested the ARC based solely on the cover (little free library? book cat? HECK YES), so I had really no expectations going in.

<i>"Being a great reader has nothing to do with reading great, sophisticated books, or reading great long books, or even reading a great many books. Being a great reader means feeling something about books."</i>

Mortimer is a cat that has tasked himself with guarding the little free library in Martinville, a small town whose only library burned down years ago and was never rebuilt. Evan, a young boy, discovers something strange and mysterious about the books in the little free library and how they might be connected to the library. He decides to do a little sleuthing and uncover what might be a huge town secret.

It's a sweet little story and the various POVs (portrayed amazingly by three different actors in the audiobook) went a long way to make the story compelling and mysterious.

I will be buying a copy of this for my kids. And I highly recommend it for any librarians or book lovers for a cozy read.

This is such a cute fantasy/ghost/mystery novel for children and lovers of children’s lit! I could definitely see my kids liking this story and may just have to share it with them! Thank you NetGalley, Rebecca Stead & Wendy Mass for this delight of an eARC!

What a delightful little story! This book has me gasping multiple times, going "I knew it", and nearly crying at the end. This is a super quick read, but I loved it nonetheless. I think this will be a big hit with with late elementary early middle school crowds.

4.5*

This is exactly the type of middle grade book that I love. It had mystery, books, a writer, cats, mice and ghosts. I only wish I knew of more people who loved middle grade books so that I could put this book in their hands once it publishes.

Readers that enjoy fantasy and mystery stories will be sure to enjoy this cute story about a little free library and the former library building that use to be there.

I listened to the audiobook version of the story as provided to me by Netgalley and the publisher.

It is a sweet and melancholy story. You hear the story progress both in real time and as memories from three main characters. Mortimer, the cat, gives his perspective, and makes friends with some mice. The assistant librarian, Al, shares her memories as she tells you about living in the history house as a ghost, along with the main librarian and a patron, who had died in the fire that burned down the library 20 years ago. And then there’s Evan, a fifth grader, who, after taking two books out of the little free library, that Al builds, determines to solve the mystery of the library.

I enjoyed the story. It went quickly. It was a little sad but there’s a happy ending for everyone.

4 out of 5 Stars

A cozy little mysterious for kids about libraries, cats, grief, and the truth behind a fire.

I'm amazed by the sheer adoration I have for this book!

Within the enchanting tale of "The Lost Library," three distinct voices—Evan, Mortimer, and Al—unfold their captivating narratives. The story commences as a mysterious library materializes in the heart of Martinville, with Mortimer assuming the role of its devoted caretaker. The library's allure captures Evan's attention, prompting him to seize the opportunity and secure two books. Meanwhile, Al, a ghost residing in the town's historical abode, observes these events unfold. As Evan delves into the pages of one of his newly acquired books, an intriguing revelation unveils itself. This discovery sets in motion a series of profound inquiries that thrust Evan and his best friend Rafe into an extraordinary exploration. Their journey of questioning not only unveils the hidden secrets of the town's history but also unravels the profound essence of genuine friendship.

4 stars

This is such a charming and sweet book that will absolutely resonate with all kinds of readers. From its short, action-packed chapters to an intriguing but age-appropriate mystery to its focus on the value of books and libraries (at a time when we all really need to be reminding others of this), there's a little something to bring everyone joy.

Evan, the m.c., accesses a magical realm through a super familiar location, at least in my neck of the woods: a little free library. When he takes these books, a whole new world opens for him, and he gets to develop a novel understanding of the value of books, the importance of community, and the answers to questions about himself that he didn't even know he had!

Booklovers and folks with deep seated connections to their own libraries - especially from when they were children - will find so much to love here. This is a real love letter to all of these areas, and even readers who have not yet developed these connections may see this book as an impetus to do just that.