The perfect way to conclude an amazing series by a fun and engaging author! Chris Grabenstein does it again! MG readers who have enjoyed the Lemoncello series will be lining up to see what happens next. Kyle and his friends enter a final set of games and compete to see who will continue Mr. Lemoncello’s legacy, owning the Lemoncello empire. Readers will be laughing, trying to solve puzzles, and cheering Kyle on as he tries to make his ultimate dream come true.

Both of my kiddos love Mr. Lemoncello, and they were so excited to dive into the finale! Thank you, Mr. Grabenstein, for creating a world that kids can't resist -- this series was "fantabulous"!

** “Knowledge not shared remains unknown.” **

Chris Grabenstein offers the final chapter in Luigi L. Lemoncello’s story in “Mr. Lemoncello’s Fantabulous Finale.”

Mr. Lemoncello is continuing his competition to find the heir to his gaming empire. With several familiar characters, as well as a few new ones, they come together to answer the question “Who wants to be a bazillionaire?”

As the competition takes the children to several locations, including New York City, Florida and Ohio, they must each decide if the competition and responsibility that comes with it is worth it as they work through several puzzles and games.

Will those remaining in the competition decide to put themselves first, or will they decide teamwork is the better solution? And who will take over Lemoncello’s empire one day?

Grabenstein does a great job of creating a fun and quirky cast of characters that readers will love and love to loathe. “Mr. Lemoncello’s Fantabulous Finale” is a story of trust and working together as a team; never giving up; sacrificing for the greater good; giving up selfishness; and the power of knowledge and the importance of sharing it.

Children of all ages will enjoy this book, which is due out Nov. 5, as well as fans of authors like Lemony Snicket.

Five stars out of five.

Random House Books for Young Readers provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

I was lucky enough to get an advanced reader's copy of this book and I am so thankful I did. My eleven-year-old son has never been a strong reader, but he LOVES the Lemoncello series. The excitement of getting a sneak peak at this fantabulous book was the inspiration he needed. My previously-a-non-reader READ this book outloud to me! The world is enthralling enough that he forgot his reluctance and fear and dove in.

In this book, Mr. Lemoncello has one final competition that will result in one fortunate winner, determining the future of the Lemoncello empire - and Kyle Keeley is eager to play!

This book references all of the previous books, so it is best to read the series in order. There aren't quite a many puzzles as the early books, but there is still a mystery to solve. Great fun!

I am truly sorry to see this Lemoncello chapter end, because Chris Grabenstein created a world in which a less-than-perfect person with a great big heart and passion for FUN can do amazing things. Long live Lemoncello!

When books as wondermous as Chris Grabenstein's Mr. Lemoncello series comes onto the kidlit scene, the reading world takes notice - and that's exactly what will happen in a few weeks when Mr. Lemoncello's Fantabulous Finale releases. As the title implies, this is the last book in this incredible series, and the only way it improve would be to multiply itself into additional stories.

I'm sad to see the Mr. Lemoncello universe come to an end. The creative genius that Grabenstein brings to the table in his middle grade books is nearly unmatched, and this holds true for the Fantabulous Finale.

Like the rest of the series, this book highlights the fun that readers can have by interacting with stories in a variety of ways. Mr. Lemoncello shows us how to turn books into games, how to bring words off the page, and how being smart and literate can make us awesome. Our kids need more books that will challenge and inspire them, and that's exactly what Mr. Lemoncello does.

I love how Mr. Lemoncello's Fantabulous Finale takes competition and shows that winning isn't everything; that, in fact, doing right, working as a team, and leaning into one's own individual strengths is much more important. Loyalty, friendship, and personal responsibility are ideals that are woven into every part of this story, and as that's all wrapped up in bean jokes and rollercoasters, middle grade readers are going to eat it up.

Mr. Lemoncello's Fantabulous Finale perfectly meshes the middle grade mind with ethics, character building stories, strong educational lessons, and sheer entertainment. I can't wait to see what Grabenstein creates for middle grade readers next, because I'm here for it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Mr. Lemoncello's Fantabulous Finale
By: Chris Grabenstein
Genre: Young Readers

Summary:
The famous Mr. Lemoncello has decided to make plans for handing over the reigns of his vast empire. And in true Lemoncello fashion, the only way to find the successor is through a contest. The winner will be the one who will take over for Lemoncello. Let the games (and silliness) begin!!

Since his was 13 years old, Mr. Luigi Lemoncello has made his fortune in the games business. However, it grew to libraries, factories, a soon-to-be amusement park- just to name a few. But the day has come when he's decided to pass the baton. So, he holds a contest. 13 kids can get a Titanium Ticket. Of those 13, one will be the winner of it all! However, the contest isn't without it's bumps along the way.

Fans of the series will get a chance to visit with the beloved characters they've come to know (Kyle). They'll also get an unpleasant visit from the series least likeable character (We're looking at you, Charles). Not to mention get to meet some new kids to add to the mix.

Our 13 Titanium Ticket holders partake in scavenger hunts, brainstorming game ideas, challenges & math riddles. All the while, whittling the number down as they move through the contest. The stakes all change when they get the yet to be open to the public amusement park, Lemoncelloland. As each kiddo is given an individualized mission, they navigate the different lands and rides. All to be met with news that brings the contest to a screeching halt. Said news forces the remaining players to shift their focus.

Readers of this beloved and fun series will enjoy it's finale. It was entertaining to see each character reveal their true selves through the different games of the contest. Some players you were happy to see go, while others chose to live out their dreams in other areas. The teamwork you have come to love in the previous series installments is in this one, as well. Charles Chiltington is still up to his usual tricks- just as he's been throughout the series. But seeing the way they play out in this book was fun.

I loved meeting most of the new characters. There were some I wasn't sad to see not make it. As the characters navigate the challenges, you could really see who was a good fit and held the same spirit that Mr. Lemoncello himself had.

The ending wasn't all that unexpected for me, but it was still great. I felt it was the right call and spoke of Lemoncello's vision for his company, but his loyal customers. I'm sad to see the series end. It's always been one of my favorites just for how fun and creative they are. However, I look forward to seeing what Chris Grabenstein comes up with next.

What a fantabulous ending to the Mr. Lemoncello series! Although I must admit that I am a bit sad to say goodbye to Luigi, Kyle and all of his friends. Chris Grabenstein does a fantastic job weaving the entire series together, even tying in The Island of Dr. Libris and bringing closure with the Chiltington family. And of course there were puzzles and balloons! This series will continue to be a beloved classic for years to come. Thank you for touching so many readers' hearts with this magical series.

Mr. Lemoncello’s Fantabulous Finale is a children’s novel written by Chris Grabenstein. It is the sixth book in the Mr. Lemoncello’s Library series.

Summary: Mr. Lemoncello is ready to name his heir to the entire Lemoncello gaming empire!

And what better way to make this decision than a game?

Thirteen thirteen-year-olds have been chosen from across the country to compete in Mr. Lemoncello’s biggest game yet.

There can only be one winner.

Who will it be?

My Thoughts: I read this book aloud to my kids. We have loved the Lemoncello series from the very beginning but have to admit we were a little disappointed with this one.

We enjoyed reading more about our favorite characters, and there was a fun Willy Wonka-esque feel as well.

But the storyline was a little haphazard, and many things were quite predictable-making it easy for us to guess what was going to happen next in the story.

I thought the author did a great job tying in characters from his other books though.

My oldest son had yet to read the Welcome to Wonderland series, and this prompted him to read those, which was great. My other two kids had already read the Wonderland books and were delighted to be reacquainted with those characters.

There is also a fun nod to The Island of Dr. Libris.

Maybe we are a little spoiled by all of the previous books.

So, while this one was still fun, it sadly wasn’t our favorite.

I would like to thank Random House Children’s for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. Thank you!

What a Fantabulous ending to a wonderful series. This was a great books bringing back many of the characters of the Lemoncello series. A well written story to find the winner of the entire Lemoncello fortune. We will miss Mr. Lemoncello but hope he may make an appearance in future books written by Chris Grabenstein.

Everyone loves a good game, right?! When the stakes are bigger than ever, the game gets serious. Mr. Lemoncello has decided to create a big game, one where the prize cannot be rivaled. Luigi Lemoncello is awarding his entire game-making empire the single winner. All of the big players have come out to try and win the best prize of all time. Unfortunately, it isn’t cut and dry. While his arch nemesis, Charles, isn’t allowed to enter, his cousin somehow gets a spot. Some horrible rumors are floating around about Mr. Lemoncello which could mean the end of the empire. Kyle may not be able to win this time when the prize is all he has ever wanted.

The ending to this phenomenal series didn’t disappoint. It is littered with references from previous books which are always fun to read. I loved the twists and turns that Teddy, Charles’ cousin, throws into the mix. Every time I read one of the Lemoncello books, trying to figure out the clues had me turning the pages and staying up late to finish. I would love for LemoncelloLand to actually be built. It can take all my money! While this is the end of the series, the afterword promises another exciting series on the horizon, and I can’t wait.

Grabenstein did not disappoint with this series finale. I loved the twists and turns as we tried to compete with Kyle Keeley and his rivals to win it all in this high stakes competition. Each page turn reminded this reader of Willy Wonka's golden ticket as Kyle is on a mission to win BIG. Now, I have to go and read the prequel to bring this series home. I can't wait to get my students hooked on the Lemoncello series. I recommend for 3rd grade and up.

I never wanted Mr. Lemoncello's story to end! It's been such a journey reading about Kyle Keeley and his adventures and I wish I could meet Mr. Lemoncello in real life! My students are obsessed with this series and can't wait for Chris Grabenstein's next big hit.

Join Kyle and a new group of kids as they try to win the rights to Mr. Lemoncello's library, corporation and new theme park. Who is honestly trying to win this? Is someone out to sabatoge this? Will the winner take all or need to share?

I'm not ready for this series to end! I loved the cameos from Grabenstein's other books. This one was a fitting finale, but I'm hopeful we'll see this library and world again.

This was the perfect conclusion to the Lemoncello series, fun, puzzles, with a touch of mystery and plenty of literary references. I do wish we got to spend more time on the challenges like we have in previous installments, but there's just enough room left over that should we come back to this world there's still things to do.

My family has been a fan of the Mr. Lemoncello books for a long time! My children delight in trying to solve the riddles along with the kids in the stories. I was both excited and sad to see there was a final book in the series. While I enjoyed the book, I did not think it measured up to the others in the series and had a hard time keeping some of the new characters straight. That being said- I loved all of the literary references and the riddles throughout the book. The entire book, I kept trying to figure out who the "one winner" would be and who the "bad guy" was. My family and I will definitely miss Mr. Lemoncello, but we loved reading the books and solving each of the riddles along the way.

The author's note at the end was incredibly touching and I am so glad Chris Grabenstein included it!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Not my favorite addition to this series. Up until the last quarter of the book, I was bored. The others were full of puzzles and mystery and fun. This felt like a slog through mud until Mr. Lemoncello went missing. Once they all had to work to find him and use their brains to solve the puzzles, I was hooked. But everything leading up to that point seemed like a waste of time. Sorry.

My kids loved this book! It's super cute and wholesome and kept their attention the whole time during reading. I highly recommend this book and will purchase a physical copy.

I’m so sad to see this series end. It’s been such a fun wholesome ride. I literally was tearing up when I finished because it’s just a satisfying ending but the overall feeling I get when I think about it is so good.

It amazes me how this author is able to mix things up in this series enough that your not bored with the same concept but still keeping it true to it roots. I love that throughout the book their os an emphasis on the kids still following what they love and excel at, not just winning this particular competition. It definitely has a Willy winka vibe because of the plot. It was really good and I’m gonna miss Kyle and the gang. And the red balloons.

An amazing addition to the Mr. Lemoncello series! My son was THRILLED to have the chance to read it before it publishes and is so sad the series is wrapping up. This book carries the baton through to the finish line in style with all the excitement, fun, and twists we've learned to love. So grateful for a series that has helped my kids expand their knowledge on a wide variety of books and topics while keeping them joyfully engaged.