Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library

Kyle Keeley isn’t much of a reader. He’s more into games. Board games, video games, you name it. Especially the brilliant world of Luigi Lemoncello’s Imagination Factory, which continuously puts out the best games ever. 

So when the town of Alexandriaville announces it will be opening its very first public library in twelve years, Kyle isn’t as excited as his friends at school. Twelve twelve-year-olds who write the best essays on ‘Why I’m Excited About the New Public Library’ will be invited to the library’s grand opening lock-in, and Kyle scribbles off a hurried entry: “Balloons. There might be balloons.” 

To the great excitement of the whole town, the famed Mr. Lemoncello arrives at the school to judge the essays: if he is the man behind the new library, then who knows what might be inside! Kyle quickly re-writes the essay with more care than before and sends it to an address on Mr. Lemoncello’s website, but the email bounces back. By some bizarre stroke of luck, though, he is chosen, and joins his best friend Akimi Hughes, the ditzy cheerleader Haley Daley, the sneakiest suckup in the whole school, Charles Chiltington, and eight others to the kickoff party on Friday night. 

When the heavy door locks them in, the kids discover the library is outfitted with all the crazy amenities that a beloved game inventor could possibly dream up. A holograph of Mr. Lemoncello’s childhood librarian appears in the foyer to help them along the way. The Electronic Learning Center includes a smell-a-rama machine and a space shuttle simulator. Mr. Lemoncello is showing the kids that a library is a place to learn, grow, and explore. And suddenly, for the first time in his life, Kyle wants to check out a library book more than anything else in the world. 

But the biggest challenge Mr. Lemoncello throws their way? Whoever can escape from the library first (not using the way they came in) will be the new face of the Lemoncello brand. Kyle’s experience with word games and trivia comes in handy, as he and the other kids race to use the Dewey Decimal system and other tools in the library to trace the clues that will lead one winner to fame and fortune. 

With a wonderful combination of adventure, humor, and a hodgepodge of fun facts, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library is meant to be enjoyed by kids and adults alike, and will be for years to come. Allusions to other great children’s books provide nice segues for books to read next. 

Have your kids read this book before attending a sleepover or library lock-in, then mimic Mr. Lemoncello’s games and trivia at the event. Author Chris Grabenstein offers a full-scale Lemoncello-style scavenger hunt here, on his website.