Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sweet library tale of tween pals, friendly ghosts, kind cat.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Worlds collide and lives connect when a little free library springs up one day in the town of Martinville -- containing the few books that weren't destroyed when THE LOST LIBRARY of the town burned down years ago. It's the secret project of AL (Assistant Librarian), a sweet, earnest, helpful, spectral companion of the quirky ghosts (the librarian and her gentleman friend) who perished in the fire. It's a trove of discoveries for fifth grader Evan as he delves into old books and the people who borrowed them. It's a big responsibility for Mortimer the cat, who secretly blames himself for the fire and wants to make amends. And that's just the beginning of the tales that unfold, the friendships that develop, the mysteries that get solved, and the hearts that get healed as the little library works its magic.
Is It Any Good?
Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass spin a sweet tale of a little free library that appears overnight in a small town, healing a community that hasn't been the same since the original building burned down. Friendly ghosts who perished in The Lost Library take a hand in the project; a fifth grader who's dreading middle school finds worlds to explore and mysteries to solve in the old library books; an elderly cat keeps an eye on the books, befriends the neighbors, and secretly blames himself for the tragedy. Narrated by all of them in turns, the tale starts slowly as their tales unfold, but readers, persevere -- the characters are quirky and relatable, and there's a strong message of kindness, discovery, surprise, the joy of learning, and finding your own path in life. A book that will reward the reader with a very satisfying end.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories like The Lost Library, involving friendly ghosts still living in their old haunts. What other tales like this do you know? Do you like them? What's the appeal?
Do you have a little free library in your neighborhood? Have you found -- or shared -- any books you liked there? Does sharing books in your neighborhood foster your curiosity? Why or why not?
Starting middle school is a big milestone -- and a big worry for lots of kids. Can you relate to Evan and Rafe's feelings about it in the story? How do Evan and Rafe show empathy for one another as they deal with their feelings about middle school?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Animals , Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Character Strengths : Curiosity , Empathy , Gratitude , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Feiwel & Friends
- Publication date : August 29, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 224
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 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