It’s a battle of wits and literary knowledge when Kyle Keeley and his friends find themselves in a futuristic library filled with avatars and holograms. Narrator Jesse Bernstein’s youthful voice captures the personalities of the young contestants who must discover clues to escaping the library and winning the grand prize. Though the librarian’s Russian accent is somewhat flimsy, Bernstein’s articulate and carefully modulated voice reveals the outrageous moments in the game show-esque atmosphere without taking away from the children’s earnestness, or the lessons about team playing and character building. The wealth of literary and game-show references may not be understood by all children; however, Bernstein’s engaging performance may inspire listeners to check out some of the titles mentioned. M.F. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

Librarians and English teachers will happily recommend this adventurous romp from Grabenstein (the Riley Mack books), which pays playful homage to books and libraries while engaging readers in a fast-paced competition involving research and reasoning skills. Twelve seventh-graders win a chance to spend an overnight lock-in previewing their town’s new public library—it’s a marvel of technological delights conceived by Luigi Lemoncello, the Willy Wonkalike founder of Mr. Lemoncello’s Imagination Factory, which is a source for every kind of game imaginable. During the lock-in the winners, who include game-lover Kyle Keeley and a group of multicultural classmates with a mix of aptitudes and interests, are offered a further challenge: “Find your way out of the library using only what’s in the library.” The winner will become spokesperson for the Imag-ination Factory. Book lovers will relish the lavish sprinkling of book titles and references while puzzle fans will enjoy figuring out the clues. A lighthearted parody of reality survival shows, the book reinvigorates the debate over the Dewey Decimal system and traditional library skills while celebrating teamwork, perseverance, and clever wits. Ages 9–12. Agent: Eric Myers, the Spieler Agency. (June)

PRAISE FOR THE SERIES:

A New York Times bestselling series
 
"Discover the coolest library in the world." —James Patterson
 
"Lots of action and quirky humor." —The Washington Post
 
★ "A worthy successor to the original madman puzzle-master himself, Willy Wonka." —Booklist, starred review
 
★ "A winner for readers and game-players alike." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
 
★ "A fun-filled, suspenseful intellectual puzzle." —Shelf Awareness, starred review
 
"Will have readers racing to pick up the next volume." —School Library Journal

It’s a battle of wits and literary knowledge when Kyle Keeley and his friends find themselves in a futuristic library filled with avatars and holograms. Narrator Jesse Bernstein’s youthful voice captures the personalities of the young contestants who must discover clues to escaping the library and winning the grand prize. Though the librarian’s Russian accent is somewhat flimsy, Bernstein’s articulate and carefully modulated voice reveals the outrageous moments in the game show-esque atmosphere without taking away from the children’s earnestness, or the lessons about team playing and character building. The wealth of literary and game-show references may not be understood by all children; however, Bernstein’s engaging performance may inspire listeners to check out some of the titles mentioned. M.F. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

When a lock-in becomes a reality game, 12-year-old Kyle Keeley and his friends use library resources to find their way out of Alexandriaville's new public library. The author of numerous mysteries for children and adults turns his hand to a puzzle adventure with great success. Starting with the premise that billionaire game-maker Luigi Lemoncello has donated a fortune to building a library in a town that went without for 12 years, Grabenstein cleverly uses the tools of board and video games--hints and tricks and escape hatches--to enhance this intricate and suspenseful story. Twelve 12-year-old winners of an essay contest get to be the first to see the new facility and, as a bonus, to play his new escape game. Lemoncello's gratitude to the library of his childhood extends to providing a helpful holographic image of his 1968 librarian, but his modern version also includes changing video screens, touch-screen computers in the reading desks and an Electronic Learning Center as well as floor-to-ceiling bookshelves stretching up three stories. Although the characters, from gamer Kyle to schemer Charles Chiltington, are lightly developed, the benefits of pooling strengths to work together are clear. Full of puzzles to think about, puns to groan at and references to children's book titles, this solid, tightly plotted read is a winner for readers and game-players alike. (Mystery. 9-13)