This was a very fun, almost dystopian setting about books - what's not to love? Books about books are one of my favourite things, and this did not disappoint. I loved all of the quotes and references to other books, and the general library nerdiness of the book. I would recommend this to any kid who loves the magic of libraries.

I got this book as an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. (Unfortunately I 'm a little late in reviewing it whoops) The main character was extremely frustrating for the majority of the book. The lack of sexual anything in the book was refreshing. My difficulty with this age range of books is I want the books more fleshed out. The pace and story may be just fine for kiddos but I was frustrated with the characters and very fast pace and everything being tied up the way it was.

What would happen in the future if the written word has all disappeared and all stories and knowledge are owned by one company? This book answers that question. Filled with dystopian drama and adventure, I didn’t want to put it down!

Wow! A little scarry how close this is to coming true. Not sure if I should take it more as a warning or if I should destroy it to avoid giving people ideas.

The Legend of the Last Library by Frank L. Cole was a fast paced middle grade read about Juni, a “plifter” who lives in a post-apocalyptic United States. I enjoyed the connection to libraries and the idea of a world with no books- terrifying!! I think this will be an easy sell to students who like adventure or science fiction. Definitely adding to my purchase list for my library!

My favorite thing about the Legend of the Last Library was the deeper appreciation it gave me for paper in all forms as well as the ability to read. These two things define my life--and my home is so covered in post it notes, children's artwork, reminders and pictures that a world without paper seems like the very worst kind of world. I've read quite a few dystopian novels in my day, but rarely have they given me a deepened understanding and gratitude for what I have here and now.

I read this book out loud to my ten-year-old son, and I'm grateful for the conversations it sparked. We both enjoyed the storyline and the characters, sharing laughs and groans and all the feels. Although this book is a middle-grade read, I think that adults and young adults will also find it fascinating.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sending me a complimentary copy to review. I was not required to post a positive review and all opinions are my own.

This book is a middle grade dystopian, full of found family, adventures, wild twists, and books. Well, kind of.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐/ 5 Stars

Thirteen year old Juniper Knox lives in a world without books. She lives with her grandpa Edgar, who she pretty much takes care of instead of the other way around. After the Blight, there were no more trees left and paper is as scarce as gold. Juni lives in the mounds, a much less exquisite place, where, like everything else, it’s controlled by the multibillion company, Novexus. But after she finds a secret box her late parents left for her, and finds a true paper book, she is soon greeted by danger—but also allies, more secrets, and a lot more books.

Wow. Can you imagine a world without books? I certainly can’t. And I wouldn’t want to live in it. Much like I don’t want to live in the world Juni lives in. But Juni really wants to get to the secret library, a place full of real books. A legend. But also a legacy. Something her parents left her. But when she’s greeted by a group of outlaws—which she might become—the legend starts to feel less like a legend…

This book was an exhilarating ride to say the least. But also, really believable. I find that truly impressive when authors do this. And Frank L. Cole did exactly that. This book transported me to a totally different world. And it was really like I was living inside it.

To be completely honest, though, this book was slow in the beginning. And though I wished it was faster, there was a fair amount of context, which I guess led to the excessive introduction. This is one of those books that gets better and way faster by the second half of the book, and in that way I think this read was worth it.

I actually received the eBook along with the audiobook, and it was such a thrill to switch between with this book. The narrator, Bailey Carr, also deserved a shoutout for her amazing narration that brought the book to life. Paired with the wonderful story, this killer combo will leave your heart pumping for more.

These days I am surrounded by dystopian novels, and I think it’s a new, rising, media that I’m still getting more used to. Although I find most of my daydreams in fantasy stories far far away, I think that this book provided me with a new perspective to dystopian stories. And I’m beyond grateful. I think dystopias can be perceived and written in very different ways—just like the genre I know and love. This is a book I would totally daydream about, and I can’t wait to read more books like this! And perhaps even get inspired…


I recommend to anyone (especially middle grade readers) up for a wild ride about a secret library in a dystopian world full of adventure and mystery!

Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity for me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

My kids and I enjoyed reading this futuristic story together! It was fun to explore what a world would be like where paper is worth a high price, due to the scarcity of it and a library full of books is unheard of. I enjoyed the mystery!

This was a cute concept but it could have been better. I don’t typically read scifi/dystopian books but I wanted to give this a try. It was too YA/ middle-grade for me and not really my vibe afterall. I could have liked to read on a more interesting character and more thought provoking plot. Everything was mostly given right away to the main character without her working on getting it herself. I like stories when there is a more character development and plot.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an eARC of this book.

“Reading is salvation.”

This book is another excellent adventure from Frank L. Cole. His books have always been some of my favorites. This story has the coolest premise - what if there were no books? No paper? (Oh my word I can’t even imagine!)

The story and characters are so well done. I loved every second. I love books that read fast and pull you right in. I always expect that from Cole’s books, and I’m never disappointed. There’s always humor, well done characters, and fabulous twists and turns.

I loved Juni’s first experience with a book. It was super special and well done. It made me appreciate my love for reading even more. There’s so many things to love and appreciate in this book.

I received a paperback ARC from the publisher and a NetGalley approval. All views are my own.

In a future time, a blight has killed all of Earth’s trees and paper has become the new gold. Three kids go “plifting” (paper scavenging) to make money and, in Juni’s case, pay for her grandfather’s medical care. When she finds an honest to goodness book in her grandfather’s closet and instead of turning it in, she reads it, her world changes. And she comes to learn there may be clues in the book to a long-lost library that could change not just hers, but everyone’s world. But can she and her friends find it before the evil corporation, Novexus, who controls all information locates it?
OK, not to be too much of a spoiler, but when you read this, tell me the Overdue Archive voice doesn’t sound like C-3PO.

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for sending me an ARC in Exchange of an honest review.
I found it a strong, captivating story with likeable characters. Although I’m a bit overloaded with dystopia myself I recognized a contemporary life scenario well incorporated in the story which was well developed and presented, exciting and with vivid imagery. I also liked the pace and the ISBN trick.
Overall, a fascinating read for the age 8+ well Worth your while.

What a wonderful Middle Grade novel. Juni lives in a world without books (the horror).
A chance encounter while plifting completely changes her life and take her down the rabbit hole to find the last library.
I especially like the secret code one needs that is explained in the acknowledgements.

The author completely finishes the story but did leave enough opening to have a sequel.

Danger, excitement, & a love letter to reading & libraries! I thoroughly enjoyed The Legend of the Last Library by Frank L. Cole. It’s a middle grade dystopian novel where paper is rarer & more valuable than gold. I enjoyed following 13 year old Juniper “Juni” Knot and her friends in their quest to find the last library.

After “the Blight” destroyed all the trees, Juni’s world is surrounded by plastic and governed by a shadowy corporation known as Novexus, which controls all the information in their society. After the tragic death of her parents, Juni lives with her Grandpa Edgar in the Mounds & engages in plifting, scavenging abandoned buildings for paper to earn money for his expensive medications. In her latest plifting attempt, she meets Kobyn, who helps her escape from the Nikos, vicious dog like robots who guard the abandoned areas & keep the peace. Kobyn is associated with a secretive organization trying to locate the last known library before Novexus does.

When Juni discovers a book hidden in her Grandpa’s closet, her first thought is to sell it for money, but when her grandfather urges her to read it, she finds a brand new world opened up to her. Suddenly, Kobyn’s quest to find the library becomes even more important when she learns her parents’ role in trying to find it. She decides to risk everything to locate and preserve this last library with the help of her friends Dolan, Korbyn, and Zeno, a delightful AI hologram who’s the guardian of the library.

Really enjoyed this book! There aren’t too many dystopian novels out there appropriate for middle grade readers, & this was fantastic. The action & adventure made it hard to put down but didn’t contain anything too scary or inappropriate for this age group. It was a fast paced, fun read that kept me eagerly turning the pages. I was immediately plunged into this interesting dystopian world & once I became familiar with it, I was thoroughly invested. The world building was good even though I still had a few unanswered questions. Maybe answered in a second book? The characters were delightful and engaging. I especially loved Zeno, the holographic AI character.

I loved the references to classic children’s & middle grade books like Juni B. Jones, The City of Ember, and more. It’s a great story with positive messages, and enough references to our world and the potential for censorship that will get kids thinking. It’s a complete story in itself, but leaves an opening for hopefully a sequel. Highly recommend to middle grade readers! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own & voluntarily provided. 4.5-5 stars!

What an amazing adventure! This book was the perfect combination of mystery and adventure. I loved watching the story unfold, the author did a spectacular job with the storyline. The characters were relatable and courageous. Their curiosity and bravery were inspiring. and the ending was wonderful. This story gave important life lessons as well, reminding us of the importance of learning the truth for ourselves. I would recommend this book to all the kids I know. A wonderful addition to any library.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!

My 9yo says he would give it more than five stars if he could and wants to know if there’s a sequel planned.

This was our first foray into dystopian literature but he seemed to handle it just fine. There was so much action and adventure, and the mystery at the story’s core was clever and progressed at an exciting pace. It was TENSE at the end but great ending.

We picked up on the Easter egg [SPOILER ALERT} ISBN codes from the beginning, looking up the associated book when we were done with the chapter. But we didn’t know it was a message until the Acknowledgments so we went back to figure it out. That was my son’s favorite part.

This is such a fun dystopian story set in a future where every book has been destroyed. When we meet Juni, she has lived a life not really knowing who she is. Throughout her adventures, she learns of her surprising lineage while trying to find and save the last library (does it even exist??). Juni makes new friends along the way and find herself faced with many difficult decisions. Pick up this book and you won't be able to put it down! Be sure not to skip the author's note at the end!

Well, this was a fun, unique middle grade book. I really enjoyed this one: the conspiracies, the backstories and plot twists and reveals, the characters. There aren't a lot of middle grade dystopian books out there, and Frank L Cole did a wonderful job of doing the genre justice!

This one comes complete with a corrupt government, a country/world torn apart by some catastrophe, and characters trying to survive and discover secrets that they might die for.

Juniper or Juni is a plifter, someone who searches and hunts for paper in a world where paper is a commodity and books are not found. When she finds a hidden book in a box that contains secrets, never did she imagine that her parents, long since deceased, were part of searching for the Last Library.

There were so many instances where I was like, ok what is going to happen next! I am really hoping this is a start to a series, though, it could also be a stand-alone novel.

I definitely recommend this one for children who enjoy dystopian novels or fun, adventure packed stories or adults who also enjoy these types of stories.

Series: maybe
Genre: Middle Grade Dystopian
Romance Level: none
Publisher: Shadow Mtn
Publishing Date: August 6, 2024

Content Warning: mild violence, no swearing, no romance/explicit content

Trigger Warnings: death of family members (past), grief from said death (present), illness of family member (present)

I received a complimentary ebook on Netgalley from the publisher Shadow Mtn. All thoughts are only my own.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an eARC of this book.

This was such a fun concept that I over all enjoyed but felt could have been better. I really liked the whole concept of paper being a valuable and rare resource, and the scifi/dystopian setting. That said, I was a disappointed by Juni's lack of agency throughout the book. All the great revelations of the book (and there were some good ones!) were explained to her by other people. I really would have liked to see Juni make some discoveries of her own, rather than being spoon-fed information. At one point she reflected that she didn't feel like she'd done much and that everything had happened by accident, and unfortunately, I somewhat agreed with her. I liked her character a lot, I just would have liked to see her make more decisions and discoveries on her own!

I’ve read a number of Frank L. Cole’s books — Champion’s Quest series, Potions Masters trilogy — but I think it’s with The Legend of the Last Library that Cole really comes into his own.

The Legend of the Last Library is set in a dystopian future that looks anything but great. Cole’s world-building skills here are strong, giving you the sense that you’re walking right beside Juni as she scavenges. And — without giving too much away — there’s a setting later in the book that kind of knocks your socks off.

Juni is a well-realized main character who readers will want to root for. She’s clever and determined and protective of those she cares for. Juni also has the ability to see beyond what’s right in front of her, which makes her all the more likeable.

The Legend of the Last Library is a fast-moving middle-grade novel that has broad appeal. I can see it being a popular checkout item in school and public libraries.