Juni has grit. Even in the dystopian world she lives in, she finds a way to buck the system, and thanks to her grandfather, is one of the few of her peers who can actually read rather than just having a book "uplinked" for her. I love her grandfather and how he raised her to live outside of societal norms so that when everything starts to happen to open her eyes to the world around her, she is able to move forward in confidence to find the truth.

This seems to be the first book in a series. I don't see news about book 2 yet, but the ending of this one leads to a second. And because this seems to be a series opener, there are many questions about how the world came to be this way that are left unanswered. I hope we get some clarity moving forward in the series about the past.

That being said, this was a fast paced and interesting dystopian novel that I think has some good things even for a middle grade book club to discuss about the power of books and knowledge.

Thanks to Blackstone Audio for the gifted title. All opinions are my own.

i really enjoy the legend of the last library even though it was more for a younger audience I would recommend this book to ages 8 to 13 years olds

This is a fun and exciting dystopian fantasy! I thoroughly enjoyed middle school. It made me laugh, and I felt invested in the story and characters. I really loved this book and look forward to reading more of his books. The search for the last library was a really fun plot, and made it so I didn’t want to put this book down. Imagine a world without paper books?! What a sad world that would be. But it sure made for an inventive and page-turning story.
The characters go on a journey not only for the library but also for self-improvement, which is great for any kid to learn.
I think readers of all ages would enjoy this story.
Thank you to Netgalley for the digital Arc to preview.

I cannot imagine living in a world without books. Juni and her friends must find the hidden last library and share it with the world before Novexus claims and destroys it. Words have power and in written form have the power to change lives.

Libraries, dystopian, a quest and what stories mean in the grand scheme of things. This is a beautifully written story even as you realize the dystopian aspects of the story but written in a very accessible way! This one is middle grade but I think YA and adults will like this story too.


Narrated by Bailey Carr who does an excellent job at bringing the emotions!


4 stars

I received this audiobook from the publisher Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks and NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

I received a copy of this audiobook from netGalley for a honest review.

What would it be like to live in a world where trees had been eliminated? That's what has happened over a hundred years age in this book where a disease ate all the trees and paper- so no books. Junie finds out her parents were looking for the last library and she is now on the hunt. A great, suspenseful story! I will look for more by this author.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It just missed the publication date to be considered for my state's most recent read aloud list but I've nominated it for next year. I found this book to be engaging, it pulled me in right from the start and I finished quickly because I kept wanting to know what ws going to happen next. I certainly hope this one will turn into a series.

I feel like this is a case of "it's not you, it's me." I'm giving everything I read 3 stars recently, because they're not gripping me, but they're not bad. I kind of found it hard to understand a future where people couldn't read and were discouraged from doing so but it was also a really high tech place. It just seems like those both can't be true, you know?

The story was fine for a middle grade and there were parts that piqued my interest, like her parents and their quest for the library. But as a whole, I felt disengaged.

The Legend of the Last Library is an incredibly imaginative and gripping middle grade story. While this book is a middle grade, it would be appropriate for young adults as well.

The story follows a young female character who goes on a journey to discover historical truth, her family’s past, and who she’s destined to be. The pacing is tight, making this a propulsive read even the adults in the family will be eager to return to.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story with my almost eight year old daughter who is an advanced reader for her age. She absolutely loved this story, as did I. The narrator did a wonderful job. As I was listening with my daughter, we listened at 1x speed, but it could easily be sped up for audiobook readers who are used to quickening their listening pace.

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for this advanced audiobook copy. We will be reading future stories from this author.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to listen to in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

***AUDIO BOOK VERSION***
The Legend of the Last Library is a dystopian middle grade book for anyone who loves books and libraries.
We follow Juni, who lives with her grandfather in a rented apartment. When she's not at school, she takes part in an activity called plifting - the scavenging of paper from anywhere they can find it in. Paper is scarce since a disease called Blight killed off the trees, and now paper isn't just scarce but costs a fortune if you can get your hands on it. Juni needs as much money as she can make to pay for her grandfather's health care as he's all she has left in the world after her parents died.
Juni comes across a book hidden in her grandfather's closet, and upon reading it, she discovers clues to the possibility of a last library that is hidden and filled with books. If so, this is the last library on earth and is over 100 years old! As Juni and her friends (including a new friend) try to connect the dots, they fall within the crosshairs of someone else who is also looking for the same thing.
This Was fast paced and pulse pounding, especially when the robot dogs appeared, and I flew through this book desperate to know if the library existed and what would happen next.

What a fascinating topic! Here is a nightmarish story centered around paper as a disappearing and extremely sought after commodity.
I would recommend this book for middle school students as the subject matter might be a bit frightening for the younger elementary students.
The characters were so well-developed, and I especially liked the relationship between the main character, Juni, and her grandfather. Although it was quite a dive into the darkness of what life might possibly be without books in our lives, it was balanced with much-needed humor throughout its pages as a respite. Well done!

Interesting (and timely) dystopian story, if a bit uneven in parts. The characters could have been deeper, but I enjoyed the ideas presented and it was captivating. Could be a good starting point to discuss freedom of information, the media, misinformation, banned books, etc.. for older students.

Thank you NetGalley for a free audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.

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.

Fantastic introdution to the dystopian genre for children! The author gives the reader a world that has made everything easy. Information has been simplified and can be uploaded in sound bytes and pictures. Most people can't and don't need to even read anymore.
The blight has killed off all of the trees. There is no paper anymore. A book is more valuable than gold. All information is run through th government, who feeds out only what they care to.
It gives the children motivation to think about what they wish for, and decide if that is what they truly want. Is easy worth giving up fredoms?
Mr. Cole speaks to kids on their level and makes them think about real things. He gives ideas a voice in a way they can understand.

I enjoyed this book! I really liked the concept and enjoyed the journey it took me on! Such a cute story!

The concept of this novel caught my eye: a world where paper has become a particularly expensive currency, a group of friends setting out in search of what seems to be the last library in the world...

I really liked the story's content. The ecological dimension is obviously strong and as a book lover, I could only appreciate the quest for a legendary library, evoking the Library of Alexandria. The characters are endearing, the humor is present... I did however have a bit of trouble getting used to the narrator's voice, which greatly impacted my feelings... However, I hope that a French translation will see the light of day because I would be curious to read it again in my mother tongue!

In short, a nice title but whose audio format didn't necessarily convince me! ^^

This is an amazing young adult story about how calamity happened which forced certain things into place which not only advanced to their technology, but also made it that the skill for actually reading words on a page is rare. Junie doesn’t realize it, but as much as her grandfather protects her she’s about to be thrust on an adventure that took the lives of her parents. This is definitely a sci-fi dystopian feels. I recommend this book to families and kids as I think everyone can learn from it.

I received this free audiobook in exchange for my honest review, Thank you NetGalley. I Loved it! I didn't want it to stop, and the ending left me hoping there will be another on the way! Juni Knox is faced with challenges, living with her grandfather in a world where paper is hard to find but worth pure gold! Juni learns that her family has left an important adventure for her. I was able to connect with all the different characters, and one of my favorite characters is definitely Zeno!! Never thought I'd enjoy an AI character ever in my life! This is a clean adventure/futuristic novel I would recommend for middle grades (4th-6th grades).
Mild language for middle grades (Moron, Idiot, and Shut Up) but not too frequently.

Dystopian middle age novel about a lost library.

There were a couple times where I rolled my eyes, but on the whole, I enjoyed The Legend of The Last Library. I especially enjoyed Junie's relationship with her Grandfather and neighbor lady; and also that she was able to find info about her parents.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for approving my request to listen to the advance "listen" copy of The Legend of The Last Library in exchange for an honest review. The audio was very well done. Release date was August 2024. Approximately 8 hours.

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook of The Legend of The Last Library by Frank L. Cole.

I enjoyed the book, but felt the narrator spoke too slowly. I listened to the audiobook at 1.75 speed, and it sounded normal not rushed.

This is a middle grade dystopian book. I like that there is something that is clean for younger kids to read. I am a librarian, and I find it harder to find this type of book for a younger audience that doesn't include spicy scenes. So, thank you Frank L. Cole for making my job easier. We will be buying this book for patrons.

I thought it was a good fast paced book. After the Blight (insects) went through and destroyed all of the trees. Leaving paper to be a rare and hot commodity. The main character Juni and her friend Doler go through abandoned places in search of items that will fetch them some money. Unfortunately, most of these places are off limits and the area is patrolled by fierce robot dogs.

You follow Juni and her friend through a maze of mysteries from the past. Imagine a world without books, limited ability to access any information from the past and only a handful of people who could read. It is a scary thought.