Here Lies the Librarian - Richard Peck

An enjoyable read rooted in historical realities.

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Common Sense rates it
4
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Book details
  • Author:Richard Peck
  • # of pages: 208
  • Publisher:Dial Books
  • Original Publication Date: 04/30/2006
  • Genre: Fiction - Humor
  • Hardcover: $16.99
  • Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 10-up
  • Read Aloud: 9
  • Read Alone: 10

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that there's not much to be concerned about here beyond a little minor violence -- but no one is hurt too seriously.

Families can talk about how things have changed between the time period in which the book is set and today -- especially for girls and women. Also, why are these wealthy and well-educated women so eager to be librarians in this hick town? How does their presence affect the locals? How does it change Peewee?

Message

Social Behavior:

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

A mention of drunks coming out of the pool hall.

Violence

Some mean brothers tie an oily rag to a dog's tail and set it on fire. Later the brothers are peppered by a shotgun. One of them throws a wrench at Jake's head during a car race, causing a crash and injuries.

Sex

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Kate Pavao

Out in the sticks of Indiana just before WWI, Peewee has lived with her beloved older brother Jake since their parents' passing. They live hand to mouth, scraping out a living by repairing what few newfangled cars happen by their country shack, and looking forward to the day when the road will be paved, bringing them more business. But only if the Kirbys, who own the garage in town, don't run them out first with constant theft and vandalism.

Meanwhile, a gaggle of wealthy young ladies fresh from the School of Library Science at Butler U. have come to town. Finding the little town library closed since the last librarian was found expired "with a fistful of library cards in her cold hand," they determine to reopen and improve it, simultaneously improving the town and, most especially, Peewee. But Peewee, content to work on cars, isn't so sure she wants to be improved.

Is it any good?

4

With his last half-dozen novels, veteran, multi-award winning author Richard Peck has carved out for himself a new niche -- the rural midwestern early 20th century comedy. This is another wonderful example of this one-man mini-genre: vivid characters (including adults, all too rare in children's books), lots of period detail, solid values, a nice mix of clever wit and broad comedy, independent girls, and an affectionately sardonic eye for the foibles of rural middle America, where the author grew up, all conveyed in some of the most carefully crafted prose in the business.

Just to get things off to a rousing start, he opens with a tornado that rips apart a graveyard, an event that sets the plot off in several different directions that wind their own ways for awhile before twisting together in a surprising but satisfying conclusion, followed by an even more satisfying final chapter set 60 years later.

The whole book is a delight, made more so, in this age of 500+ page tomes aimed at 9 year olds, by being tightly written and edited.

Other choices

Other Books by Richard Peck
Bel-Air Bambi and the Mall Rats
Blossom Culp and the Sleep of Death
Don't Look and it Won't Hurt
The Dreadful Future of Blossom Culp
Dreamland Lake
Father Figure
The Ghost Belonged to Me
Ghosts I Have Been
The Last Safe Place on Earth
Lost in Cyberspace
Monster Night at Grandma's House
Remembering the Good Times
Representing Super Doll
Unfinished Portrait of Jessica
Voices After Midnight
Strays Like Us
A Long Way from Chicago: a Novel in Stories
Fair Weather
The River Between Us
A Year Down Yonder
The Teacher's Funeral: A Comedy in Three Parts

Related Web Site
Author Site

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

4

Posted on 06/12/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 13

I was content with this book...

This book was iffy for me because I didnt visualize it in my head all that much but overall i thought that the sex, language, and all that other stuff was fine there was none of it!
4

Posted on 02/23/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 14

I hate reading But I loved this book

I hate reading most books. I have turned to reading a certain authors literature. A friend suggested Richard Peck. If all of his book are this awesome I might actually start to like reading. This book is a good page turner. You never know what is going to happen next.

Adult Reviews

There are 0 reviews.

There are no adult reviews.

Kids Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

4

Posted on 06/12/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 13

I was content with this book...

This book was iffy for me because I didnt visualize it in my head all that much but overall i thought that the sex, language, and all that other stuff was fine there was none of it!
4

Posted on 02/23/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 14

I hate reading But I loved this book

I hate reading most books. I have turned to reading a certain authors literature. A friend suggested Richard Peck. If all of his book are this awesome I might actually start to like reading. This book is a good page turner. You never know what is going to happen next.
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