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

12/01/2015
Gr 4–6—After receiving a million requests from fellow book lovers, billionaire game maker Luigi Lemoncello launches a Library Olympics open to kids all over the country to challenge the reigning literature-loving champions of Alexandria, OH. The sequel to Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library (Random, 2013) pits teams of four middle schoolers from seven different geographical regions against the reigning hometown favorites, led by Kyle Keeley. The games feature a duodecimalthon of 12 challenging library-related games, from solving Dewey-related rebus puzzles to identifying banned books, all taking place in the ultra-modern, technologically advanced Lemoncello Library. The grand prize is an all-expenses paid college scholarship, plus bragging rights. Before long, however, mysterious events threaten to jeopardize the Olympics and the library itself—books are disappearing from the shelves, and some groups or individuals may be to blame, as not everyone is a fan of the sparkling new library. Kyle and his teammates must band together with the rival teams to outwit those intent on bringing Lemoncello and the library down. Dewey Decimal aficionados, bibliophiles, and gamers will all find something to savor while trying to decipher the clues in this fast-paced sequel. At the end of the book, Grabenstein challenges kids to find quotes from banned books within the novel and to read the extensive list of titles mentioned throughout the story. VERDICT This is a successful blend of mystery, adventure, and suspense, with a sizable cast of characters, in a wholly satisfying sequel that easily stands alone.—Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CA

Kudos to narrator Jesse Bernstein for his spot-on portrayals of the myriad characters in this second Luigi Lemoncello story. Bernstein sounds resolute as eighth-grader Kyle Keeley, with his moments of snarkiness, dejection, and elation; “dweeby” as Andrew Peckleman, who is much more than that; and twangy as Texan Angus Harper. They are three of the 12 kids assembled from around the country to vie in a “duodecimalthon,” which features 12 library-related games. Bernstein effectively differentiates all the competitors. The story’s adults—the crafty Mr. Lemoncello and Uncle Woody—can’t match the collective smarts of the contestants, but Bernstein successfully plays them for laughs. Listen in for outrageous fun, book titles, and Dewey decimal numbers galore in this celebration of reading and libraries. A.R. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

2015-09-16
Can the hometown champions defeat teams from around the country in a new contest at Mr. Lemoncello's fantastic library? Responding to millions of requests, the visionary library-builder organizes a new competition, a "duodecimalthon" of 12 library-related games. The action in this engaging sequel begins slowly with a stage-setting introduction of the characters and the incredible library in Alexandria, Ohio, for readers who didn't devour Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library (2013). But once the contestants have gathered and the Olympics-styled games begin, puns, puzzles, and book references come thick and fast. Suspense builds: Mr. Lemoncello's dream is in danger, and Kyle Keeley and his eighth-grade teammates have formidable rivals. This celebration of libraries, librarians, books, and the right to read doesn't quite have the exuberance of the first, perhaps because it is so carefully constructed to make the author's point. But it has characters with encyclopedic knowledge of the Dewey Decimal System and popular children's books, and it has Mr. Lemoncello's lavish costumes, inventive games, and beyond state-of-the-art technology. The plot twists and turns before the appropriately satisfying end. Grabenstein obligingly provides a long list of good books to read (mentioned in the text) and challenges readers to find the sources of the quotations from banned books embedded in the narrative. Dewey like this? Of course, and so will upper-elementary and middle school readers and gamers alike. (Fiction. 9-14)