Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tween travels back in time in fantastic fantasy adventure.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
When THE SECRET LIBRARY begins, 11-year-old Dally has lost her grandfather and is living in a large estate with her wealthy mother and their servants. Dally is lonely because her mother makes her take private business tutoring instead of participating in school activities. She breaks into her grandfather's study to find a mysterious envelope he left for her at the time of his death. In the envelope is a map that leads to a magical library whose books contain secrets that let her travel through time to discover them.
Is It Any Good?
This book is incredibly clever and full of surprises. In The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon, an old-fashioned kind of princess story takes place in a modern setting with 21st-century characters. It captures the frustration many middle-school children feel when they're just beginning to crave excitement from the world beyond their own families. Plus time travel, high adventure, and a bit of historical fiction thrown in. It's a genre-blending delight most middle grade readers will enjoy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about grief and loss in The Secret Library. What are the different ways characters react to losing loved ones? Has your family ever lost a special person or pet? How can communication about feelings help?
Why do you think people keep secrets? What is the difference between being curious and being nosey?
Discuss the theme of courage in The Secret Library. Have you ever experienced fear of learning the truth about something?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , School ( Middle School )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Curiosity
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Candlewick Press
- Publication date : May 7, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 384
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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