Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library (Mr. Lemoncello's Library, #1) in Crazy Challenge Connection

Mar 01, 2014 April rated it really liked it

Shelves: blogged, middle-grade, 2014-audio-book-challenge, 2014, 2014-young-adult-audiobook-challeng, reviewed, audiobook, amazon-review-posted

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This is a really tricky review for me, I really enjoyed the book but I wonder if middle graders, who are the target audience, would feel the same. This book is a delight for big readers, there are tons of Easter eggs for avid readers. Again, some of the references might be above the grade level of perspective readers. I work with kids and while some are avid bookworms, not many would get all the references. The great thing is they might be Check out my other listens at Eargasms Audiobook Reviews

This is a really tricky review for me, I really enjoyed the book but I wonder if middle graders, who are the target audience, would feel the same. This book is a delight for big readers, there are tons of Easter eggs for avid readers. Again, some of the references might be above the grade level of perspective readers. I work with kids and while some are avid bookworms, not many would get all the references. The great thing is they might be more like Kyle, video and board gamers, who by the end of the book are curious about books they heard about through the puzzles. It might inspire them to start a To Be Read list just like him!

I really liked all the characters, at first I worried that 12 kids would be too many to keep track of, thankfully they were quickly whittles down to a manageable number. Most of the time the story is in Kyle's POV but the narration does switch to Charles and Holly as well. For the most part it is very easy to follow who is narrating, there are a couple spots where it gets jumpy or a line gets blurred. this style is great for getting into the main kids heads, it definitely makes it clear who the reader should and should not root for!

Being a bookworm I loved the library!! I would live in that library!!! This book is to readers what Willy Wonka is to candy/chocolate lovers!!! I adored every twist and turn, every bookie reference and the deliciously imaginative book repository!!

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Jesse Bernstein. He does a great job of conveying the wonder of the story. I would have loved a touch more enthusiasm in the kids voices especially at high energy moments. The characters had very distinct voices and they stayed consistent throughout the read. A nice steady pace, I like things a little quicker so I doubled the listening speed, but it is perfect for young readers/listeners.

There are morals here, but they are not hammering you to the ground. Kids are rewarded for doing the right thing and punished or ejected from the game for doing bad things. A great story that is fun and imaginative from beginning to end. Just the thing for an avid reader or someone who is looking to find a love of books! ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Nov 06, 2019 Nancy Brady rated it really liked it

Shelves: tween, library-book

"Cleverness and books" seems an appropriate descriptor for this tween novel about a boy, Kyle, who loves games of all sorts and becomes involved in the biggest game of his life. The new library has been designed by the famous gamemaker, Luigi Lemoncello, and twelve children will win the right to be the first to enter the new library.

Once inside the library, these twelve children have to use library resources to find the hidden exit to escape over the course of a few days. Who will be the one to ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 19, 2017 Rachel N. rated it really liked it

Shelves: play-book-tag, adventure, ohio, young-adult, read-in-2017, puzzles, library

This book is aimed at middleschoolers and my rating is based on that fact. Kyle Keeley is a huge fan of games and when he finds out his favorite gamemaker, Mr. Lemoncello, is having a lock in party at his towns new library Kyle decides he has to get invited. The 12 kids who win an invitation to the party have to solve a lot of puzzles to find a secret way out of the library. The library itself is pretty amazing and I had fun following the clues with he kids in the story. The characters aren't ve ...more

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Apr 23, 2020 Avigail rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, library, borrowed, 2020

During this COVID-19 epidemic period, I am looking for books to escape, and middle-grade books do that for children. It has been many years since I was in middle school, but It is fun to read books for another age group. The truth is I was browsing through my Libby-app to check if they had any other book about books. When I saw that 'Escape from Mr. Lemonchello's Library was available, I didn't hesitate to snatch it.
If you like books with scavenger hunts, books that have the magic of 'Charlie a ...more

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Mar 22, 2016 Marla rated it it was ok

Shelves: series, award-winner, challenged, book-about-books, juvenile, audiobook, asian, mystery, zz-2018, zz-2018-ammp-fairytales

I read this because James Patterson recommended it, but I was disappointed. I expected to enjoy the puzzles like Chasing Vermeer but it was mostly the same puzzle in multiple formats. And a surprising number of authors and books were adult authors and books in this children's book. I got tired of the book title puns, even though many were many references to excellent books.

Likes:
* Cool new library
* Puzzles
* Cutting tech in the new library
* Akimi ~ almost Akemi
* Holographic librarian
* Kids noting ...more

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Jun 01, 2021 TheReadingKnitter/ Kasey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, library, 2021

Overall I really liked this book and will now feel super okay with my 9 year old reading it. I loved the puzzle aspect of the story and I really think my daughter will like that once she reads it too.

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