Lost in a Book

The 113th Assistant Librarian

by Stuart Wilson

Oliver has settled into his life as the 113th assistant librarian. He loves his job – even though it sometimes includes battling giant crabs or fending off firedrakes – and his new friend, the mostly-human Agatha, is always on hand to help.

But when he discovers a rare edition of a history book with unique wording, he realises the slightest misinterpretation could endanger the entire kingdom. Determined to solve this mystery, he and Agatha leave the library – with the help of an unpredictable transporting book – to establish the truth. But can they prevent Annabel Clowritch, the esteemed Member for Upper-Lower Tumbledown Barrows, from using the text to her own advantage . . . and stop a war?

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade

280 pages, Hardcover

Published September 30, 2025

About the author

Stuart Wilson lives in Naarm/Melbourne with his wife and son. He is the author of The 113th Assistant Librarian and the Prometheus High books. Quite the oxymoron, he can frequently be found lost in a book.

Reviews

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect continuation of this series! This time we follow Oliver and Agatha when they discover a rare edition of a history book with some alternate wording that may start a war anew. Of course Annable Clowritch is there causing grief for our young librarian as well. This had me stressed at times but was a super fun, adventurous addition to the series. Cannot wait for book 3!

I’m personally begging for a London spin off and his adventures in a properly run workplace. Thank you so much Lexi from Penguin AUS for getting a copy to me early!

[imogen · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a fantastic follow up! packed with action and adventure, ‘lost in a book’ continues oliver’s story as the 113th assistant librarian, and shows the trials and tribulations he faces on the job. it was super interesting and fun and i loved learning more about the world outside of blackmoor-upon-wyvern!

thank you so much to Lexi and Penguin Aus for the review copy!

[Isabelle Parrot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memento mori! These two words broke me down.

[Smitchy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Australian author Stuart Wilson's second book in the 113th Assistant Librarian series is just as epic, silly and action packed as the first! Oliver Wormwood loves his job. He is the 113th Assistant Librarian of the Blackmoor-Upon-Wyvern library and most of his days are spent lending and mending books, helping patrons and keeping the library tidy. But then there are his other duties: like making sure nothing escapes from the books, ensuring the returns window is open for the books to fly back at night and making sure the general public don't accidentally borrow the more magical items.
When a bequest gives the library new books Oliver isn't ready for the chaos it unleashes, not from magic but from words: a few simple sentences that bring into doubt the borders set after the last war. If the new book is right their country lost significant land at the end of the war and local politician Ms Clowritch is determined to take full advantage of this new information, even if it means re-starting a war!
It is up to Oliver and Agatha to find the truth and stop the war! But Agatha's illness means she cannot leave the library without risking her life. Will they be able to beat Ms Clowritch to the border? Will they get back in time? Can they make the temperamental magic behave long enough to survive?

This is a fun magical adventure for middle-grade (8-12) readers who want magic and adventure in far off lands. The behaviour of the 'adult' characters is often unhinged and I love the contrast between Oliver's chaotic job and his friend London who is part of the heavily unionised Lamplighter's Guild (Oliver is amazed paid holiday leave exists, or that breaks are mandatory). Ms Clowritch is the perfect villain and representative of certain real-world politicians in her me-first attitude. Young readers will love the chaos and action.

[Middle Grade Musings · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Agatha selected another page, instantly sucking their surroundings into a black vortex, barrelling through nothingness towards a distant point of light…’

After a local book hoarder dies, Oliver & Agatha inherit a large collection of unique books for the library. But when they notice that some of the books in this collection appear different from other copies, they start to get concerned. But it’s a particular change in a history book about the Alpine Conflict between his country Hallarum and its neighbour, Shrouded Alps, that is causing Oliver the most angst. Oliver is so worried about it, that suddenly he and Agatha are venturing beyond the library to ensure this different wording doesn’t start a full scale war between the 2 countries. Will Oliver and Agatha’s adventures outside of the library fix this mishap or will they have no luck trying to stop the impending feud between the 2 countries?

Well, Stuart has done it again with this series, crafting another heart stopping adventure. He really has a whimsical way with words, blending rich descriptions with some thrilling scenes. I enjoyed seeing the growing confidence & maturity of Oliver in his role as the librarian, characterised by his subtle mannerisms and inner thoughts. I also thought it was a bold move to take most of the action out of the library, but it paid off in spades as we saw more of the fantasy world Stuart has created - particularly Oliver and his family, the surrounding landscapes and other locations even further afield. It also helped that the story crescendoed into an action packed ending that revealed a lot about Hallarum and beyond.

With a successful sequel achieved and a third book incoming, Stuart has delivered a stunning series and I’m sure there’s even better to come!

[Jill Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oliver is always wondering when the next book in the library will attack him. This time, a giant crab is stalking around the shelves. There's also some sort of shimmer that could be someone in the Library after hours. As the 113th assistant Librarian, his life is always busy and full of danger.

When he is told the library could be the beneficiary of a deceased estate, he's delighted. Some of the many books in the collection are rare and would be a boon for them. Agatha, his friend who lives in the library and helps him, is alive because she can split herself into nine cats.

When Agatha finds books in the deceased estate collection, are different from the original version, he becomes concerned. Especially when one of them draws a different border with a northern kingdom and could reignite a war.

Mrs Clowritch, a local politician, wants to get the book to use to inflame border disputes. Oliver refuses her, and he ends up in court. The power the politician uses is not insignificant. How can they prove the book is not correct and it's a fake?

With Mrs Clowritch heading to Roc Mountain to measure the border, she has a head start. Oliver and Agatha must take an extraordinary step to reach the border before her. Using the power of the books, they make an amazing journey. Agatha could die because she's away from the Library. London, the lamp lighter, is Oliver's friend. He takes on the job of staying in the Library while they are away.

This is another 5-star rating book. The journey and the characters are magical. I loved this story.

[Nicki Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes my expectations for sequels lead to me being disappointed, but with this muchly anticipated sequel I was delighted to be back in Oliver and Agatha's world and found myself engaged and invested in this storyline. In this book, Oliver and Agatha discover a rare edition of a history book with some alternate wording that may start a war. It was an adventure filled, fun and engaging read- not just for middle graders. I cannot wait for the third installment of their adventures. #stuartwilson #the113thassitantlibrarian2lostinabook#getlitsy #thestorygraph #fable #teasippingbookworm #goodreads #middlegrade #fantasy #bookqueen #bookstagram

[Malvina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A second entry into the 113th Assistant Librarian series with Oliver and Agatha, and occasionally London Llewellyn the Lamplighter. I can't get over how utterly gorgeous the covers are on these two books; they'd certainly appeal to young bookworms. The story is fun, fast and furious, and huge adventures are had before they end up back in Blackmoor-upon-Wyvern Public Library in the nick of time. A delightful series.

[Tinkingbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of fun and a great continuation of Oliver Wormwood's story. More cats, books, adventures and crooked politicians.

[Jackie Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was LOVELY

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good

[gemsbooknook Geramie Kate Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Oliver has settled into his life as the 113th assistant librarian. He loves his job – even though it sometimes includes battling giant crabs or fending off firedrakes – and his new friend, the mostly-human Agatha, is always on hand to help.
But when he discovers a rare edition of a history book with unique wording, he realises the slightest misinterpretation could endanger the entire kingdom. Determined to solve this mystery, he and Agatha leave the library – with the help of an unpredictable transporting book – to establish the truth. But can they prevent Annabel Clowritch, the esteemed Member for Upper-Lower Tumbledown Barrows, from using the text to her own advantage . . . and stop a war?’
I adored this book.
After reading The 113th Assistant Librarian, I was desperate for a sequel, so as soon as this book came out, I knew I had to get my hands on it. I am happy to say it was everything I wanted it to be and so much more.

One of the things that I loved the most about this book was the characters. Getting to catch up with the characters I had grown to love in the first book was wonderful, and getting to see them learn and grow even more over the course of this book made for a really wonderful reading experience.
I also loved seeing the characters personailties shine in this book. We got to meet and know these characters in The 113th Assistant Librarian, and now that we know them, we got to see them shine, which made for some awesome interactions between characters.

Stuart Wilson has done a fantastic job with this book. The story was fast-paced, exciting, and completely entertaining. The characters were perfectly written and lovable, and the writing was easy to read and had a beautiful cinematic quality to it.
Now that I have finished this book, I am excited to get my hands on the next book in The 113th Assistant Librarian series.
Lost In A Book by Stuart Wilson is the perfect sequel to The 113th Assistant Librarian.

Geramie Kate Barker
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