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.

The Legend of the Last Library is a dystopian middle grade to young adult story. In my opinion it took too long to get to the search for the library. The descriptions of life after the death of trees was drawn out and did not appeal to me. If I were a young reader this would not hold my attention.
The narrator was fairly good.

I quite enjoyed this book. As someone who loves adventure and treasure hunt-style stories, this book was a pleasant surprise. The plot was charming and full of excitement, making it a fun read for both kids and adults. I honestly wish I had this book when I was younger, but even now, it captured my imagination and left me wanting more. It’s definitely a lighthearted, adventure-worthy read!

Juniper (who goes by Juni) lives in a dystopian future where there are no books, no libraries, no written word. The art of reading is fading fast. Technology is king and people are fed whatever information they want as long as its government approved. Can you imagine a world with no paper, no book, no libraries? I would be devastated. Juni's parents were killed looking for the lost library and Grandpa Edgar is all she has left in the world and she's determined to make a little extra money to help him in his declining health.

Juni's whole world is upended when she is double crossed on a major score of paper and gets a library card as a consolation prize. But the boy they stole from won't let her go that easily. Juni is swept into a whirlwind of books, lost libraries and high stakes adventures in order to continue her parent's legacy, protect her grandpa and help out a new friend and an old friend.

This book is a testament to the power of the written word and how it must be protected at all costs. Loved it! It felt like a book lover's version of Indiana Jones/Tomb Raider.

Netgalley gave me a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I thought this was going to be magic and kids that were a bit younger. Instead it is dystopian late teens. The story is good if a bit uneven in spots. I found all of the villains to be one dimensional and the political logistics of this world a bit confusing. Lots of interesting tech and familiar book titles.

In a dystopian time, paper, books, libraries and governments as we know them are extinct. Teenager Juni and her friends scavenge for bits and pieces in order to survive, while trying to evade the authorities and the robo-dogs. On one such trip, they are saved by another boy, who opens their minds to what is really happening in their world. Suddenly Junie and her friends find themselves questioning the authorities as they learn about the history that has been kept from them and embark on a quest to find the last library. This was a fun, quick read for middle grade.

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!

What a ripper Middle Years dystopian read. I must confess I tried to listen to the audio book at night at first and those dulcet tones of the narrator put me to sleep before the 30 minute timer did. I gave it another go when I wasn’t so tired and I am so glad I did.

When recommending this dystopian adventure to Year 5+ students I will be suggesting they need to give it a good 5 chapters to understand this world and its tech. Once this and the characters is established it has all the elements needed for a fabulous read. It’s thought provoking

“Imagine if we didn’t read and we relied on tech alone to experience the world”.

“Why do you think paper is so valuable when people can’t read?”

As a librarian I am no doubt biased to enjoy a book with these themes but I will definitely be purchasing for the junior library because I know I won’t be the only one to love this fantastic novel.

4.5 stars