Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun mystery about kids locked in library by wacky genius.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Based on 25 kid reviews
Kids say this book is a captivating and fun read filled with adventure, puzzles, and engaging characters, making it especially appealing for those who enjoy mysteries and games. However, some readers feel the plot is unoriginal and criticize the writing style, suggesting it might not resonate with everyone, particularly those who aren't fans of gaming culture.
- fun characters
- engaging adventure
- educational value
- mixed reviews
- puzzling mysteries
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
If it's a game, 12-year-old Kyle Keeley loves it. Books, not so much. But when he learns that his hero, eccentric-genius game developer Luigi Lemoncello, has funded an over-the-top, media-rich, interactive library for their hometown, he's thrilled to be one of a dozen kids invited to the grand opening. Things get even more interesting as the party winds down and Mr. Limoncello announces a contest: The kids are locked in, and have to come up with an ESCAPE FROM MR. LEMONCELLO'S LIBRARY. An awesome prize hangs in the balance. The library itself has many clues.
Is It Any Good?
Author Chris Grabenstein spins a captivating tale that will keep kids turning the pages and often give them -- and their parents reading along -- the giggles. The kid characters will resonate with young readers, who'll probably get plenty of ideas for new books and other interesting info to check out.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about libraries in their lives. What were they like when parents and grandparents were kids, and what are they like now? If you visit your local library, what do you like about it?
Do you think playing games helps you learn? How?
Why do you think stories about people who have to solve a problem, and have to decide whether to compete or cooperate, are so popular? Can you think of other examples?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Mystery
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship , History
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Random House Children's Books
- Publication date : June 25, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
- Number of pages : 224
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : ALA Best and Notable Books
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate