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The Library of Memories
Copenhagen arrived at the library one day with little memory of who she is, and she's been stuck here ever since. She takes to helping preserve the library alongside the wise mechanical creatures who tend to its care, but the longer she stays, the more she forgets. Unless she can find her memories, Copenhagen will cease to remember everything that makes her who she is.
But the library has been losing magic for quite some time, and with it, all the memories it holds. To save this wondrous place from ruin, Copenhagen will have to journey deeper into the library than she's ever ventured before, even if what she finds shatters everything she thought she knew.
But the library has been losing magic for quite some time, and with it, all the memories it holds. To save this wondrous place from ruin, Copenhagen will have to journey deeper into the library than she's ever ventured before, even if what she finds shatters everything she thought she knew.
328 pages, Paperback
First published August 25, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
September 24, 2026
A girl who works in this library keeps forgetting what has happened as she continues to lose her momories. And that's what this library is, a library of memories complete with clockwork attendants. It's gorgeously illustrated. The story is a little long though. It's 300+ pages which is long for a graphic novel for children about grief.
October 24, 2026
I love the concept and the themes of memory and grief in this graphic novel, but it felt unfinished to me. I had a lot of questions regarding the world building and why it took place in a library-a place of archiving- when one of the main character’s objectives was to erase them? I found the plot a bit confusing to start and I don’t know why the reader has to go up to page 87 to get some clarity. I also didn’t feel the impact of the revelation at the end because it didn’t feel earned.
The illustrations are vibrant and visually appealing. I also loved how color was used throughout the graphic novel.
The illustrations are vibrant and visually appealing. I also loved how color was used throughout the graphic novel.
November 4, 2026
Un livre incroyable sur les souvenirs, les sentiments refoulés et le deuil, le tout illustré de manière magique, douce, colorée, gaie, et tout simplement magnifique.
Spoil :
- Copenhague est dans une bibliothèque des souvenirs, elle n'a plus aucun souvenir clef de sa vie alors elle les cherche désespérément alors qu'on lui rabâcher que c'est dangereux de vivre des souvenirs en touchant des objets à l'aveugle.
- Mais une créature se tapie dans les ombres de la bibliothèque et les souvenirs semblent se détériorer.
- Cette créature, c'est l'archiviste (sa mère)
- La vraie histoire : Minerva et Zoé (iel) sont les parents de Elisa. Zoé est mort.e. Minerva a vécu son deuil par le refoulement, en essayant d'oublier. Mais Zoé avait besoin d'elle, et de ses souvenirs, pas que ceux-cis disparaissent.
À la fin, elles sont prêtes à se souvenir et à créer de nouveaux souvenirs ensemble.
- queer
- magie
- souvenirs
Dès 12 ans ?
D'autres conseillent dès 9 ans mais même moi j'ai eu du mal à comprendre le début donc pour moi ça me semble un peu tôt.
Spoil :
- Copenhague est dans une bibliothèque des souvenirs, elle n'a plus aucun souvenir clef de sa vie alors elle les cherche désespérément alors qu'on lui rabâcher que c'est dangereux de vivre des souvenirs en touchant des objets à l'aveugle.
- Mais une créature se tapie dans les ombres de la bibliothèque et les souvenirs semblent se détériorer.
- Cette créature, c'est l'archiviste (sa mère)
- La vraie histoire : Minerva et Zoé (iel) sont les parents de Elisa. Zoé est mort.e. Minerva a vécu son deuil par le refoulement, en essayant d'oublier. Mais Zoé avait besoin d'elle, et de ses souvenirs, pas que ceux-cis disparaissent.
À la fin, elles sont prêtes à se souvenir et à créer de nouveaux souvenirs ensemble.
- queer
- magie
- souvenirs
Dès 12 ans ?
D'autres conseillent dès 9 ans mais même moi j'ai eu du mal à comprendre le début donc pour moi ça me semble un peu tôt.
November 2, 2026
The Library of Memories follows Copanhagen, a young amnesiac committed to repairing the swiftly spreading damage of a memory library whilst searching for her own lost memories in a bizarre and magical clockwork setting. This reality-twisting tale leaves something to be desired in the realm of coherence and logic. Younger readers may struggle to follow the gaps between scenes and the repetitive motion of the early story, which are abstract enough to be nonsensical at times, whereas those older may find it too predictable to fully enjoy. Still, not all is lost: this graphic novel is bursting with gorgeous candy-colored illustrations you'll yearn to sink your teeth into, and the core themes will strike true for most readers: the importance of learning to process grief and loss in our own time, without letting it taint the sweetness of what once was
November 5, 2026
J'ai aimé que le début soit in medias res, ça rend les premières pages très mystérieuses (et la suite l'est autant).
J'ai beaucoup aimé me plonger dans la bibliothèque des souvenirs aux côtés de Copenhague et Lawrence - puis Minerva.
Les dessins sont vraiment beaux et certaines planches sont très originales (j'adore quand on dépasse des cases).
J'ai beaucoup aimé la morale sur les souvenirs, le deuil, et j'ai aimé retrouver de la représentation queer.
J'ai été très émue lors des dernières pages entre Elisa et Minerva.
C'était une bonne découverte !
J'ai beaucoup aimé me plonger dans la bibliothèque des souvenirs aux côtés de Copenhague et Lawrence - puis Minerva.
Les dessins sont vraiment beaux et certaines planches sont très originales (j'adore quand on dépasse des cases).
J'ai beaucoup aimé la morale sur les souvenirs, le deuil, et j'ai aimé retrouver de la représentation queer.
J'ai été très émue lors des dernières pages entre Elisa et Minerva.
C'était une bonne découverte !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a cool concept that is well-executed, but as an adult reader, the overall simplicity makes it feel a bit too childish for my personal taste. To be fair, it's explicitly a middle-grade book, and for its target audience, it does a fantastic job!
It handles heavy themes like grief, loss, and the natural importance of not suppressing painful memories in a very age-appropriate, thoughtful way. The artwork is well-crafted—the design of the mechanical animals gives it a really fun, distinct steampunk vibe, even if the style didn't totally blow me away.
The first half of the book can feel a little confusing, but that actually works as a clever byproduct of the story itself, since Copenhagen has no memories and is just as lost as the reader. What did grate on my nerves, though, was how she constantly ignored every single rule and instruction from the mechanical bird, touching memories she shouldn't have and making things unnecessarily difficult for everyone around her.
Because the story is fairly simple, I had the entire mystery and ending mapped out halfway through. Still, for younger readers—or anyone looking for a sweet, compassionate middle-grade fantasy about processing grief—it’s a solid 3.5-star read.
It handles heavy themes like grief, loss, and the natural importance of not suppressing painful memories in a very age-appropriate, thoughtful way. The artwork is well-crafted—the design of the mechanical animals gives it a really fun, distinct steampunk vibe, even if the style didn't totally blow me away.
The first half of the book can feel a little confusing, but that actually works as a clever byproduct of the story itself, since Copenhagen has no memories and is just as lost as the reader. What did grate on my nerves, though, was how she constantly ignored every single rule and instruction from the mechanical bird, touching memories she shouldn't have and making things unnecessarily difficult for everyone around her.
Because the story is fairly simple, I had the entire mystery and ending mapped out halfway through. Still, for younger readers—or anyone looking for a sweet, compassionate middle-grade fantasy about processing grief—it’s a solid 3.5-star read.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
E ARC provided by Netgalley
In a vaguely Steampunk Victorian setting replete with talking birds in waistcoats, we meet a young girl who is excitedly working at a library. Unfortunately, it turns out that she has no memory of the library or her own life, so has to keep being told the various rules and procedures. One of the rules is that she shouldn't touch memories without gloves, or she will experience the memory and cause it to lose power. Because she is so desperate to regain her own memories, she tends to ignore this, which infuriates Lawrence, a bird who helps her out. The girl, who goes by the name Copenhagen, is looking for a lost girl but can't find it, and creates her own so that she can take notes. One of the reasons for the problems in the library is that raw memorat is leaking into places where it shouldn't be. It's hard to fix problems in the library when no one can identify what they even are, since the library is constantly changing. Eventually, Copenhagen happens upon a boiler room, where memories seem to be discarded, and finds that there are some memories, including ones that might be her own, that are using their own energy to stay active. Is the brusque and mysterious Bookkeeper the key to Copenhagen's own memories?
Strengths: Most readers, especially librarians, are all in when it comes to books set in magical libraries. I still recommend Shulman's 2010 The Grimm Legacy to students who want this sort of book! There aren't as many fantasy graphic novels, and Marlin's artwork is beautiful. Copenhagen has a good attitude about her memory loss, and is very energetic and motivated to solve all of the library's problems. There's a nice Steampunk vibe, and the talking birds will appeal to fans of Warriors books.
Weaknesses: I don't do as well with graphic novels, so I struggled a bit to understand the setting as well as Copenhagen's dilemma, but graphic novel fans won't have that problem. My major objection, however, is the treatment of grief. I don't want to spoil anything, but there is a loss portrayed, and a mother putting all of the things that remind her of the child in the attic. This is wrong. The mother more likely would have given everything AWAY, if she didn't want to be reminded. There's nothing wrong with trying to utterly forget people. One can often move on much better that way. That's a personal objection, however, with which most people will not agree.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like graphic novels like Aldridge's The Pale Queen or Nijcamp's Ink Girls or middle grade novels focusing on grief, like Haydu's Eventown. I probably won't purchase this, because my graphic novel readers are easily confused, and I think they will have trouble following the plot of this one. Other reviewers have made similar comments.
In a vaguely Steampunk Victorian setting replete with talking birds in waistcoats, we meet a young girl who is excitedly working at a library. Unfortunately, it turns out that she has no memory of the library or her own life, so has to keep being told the various rules and procedures. One of the rules is that she shouldn't touch memories without gloves, or she will experience the memory and cause it to lose power. Because she is so desperate to regain her own memories, she tends to ignore this, which infuriates Lawrence, a bird who helps her out. The girl, who goes by the name Copenhagen, is looking for a lost girl but can't find it, and creates her own so that she can take notes. One of the reasons for the problems in the library is that raw memorat is leaking into places where it shouldn't be. It's hard to fix problems in the library when no one can identify what they even are, since the library is constantly changing. Eventually, Copenhagen happens upon a boiler room, where memories seem to be discarded, and finds that there are some memories, including ones that might be her own, that are using their own energy to stay active. Is the brusque and mysterious Bookkeeper the key to Copenhagen's own memories?
Strengths: Most readers, especially librarians, are all in when it comes to books set in magical libraries. I still recommend Shulman's 2010 The Grimm Legacy to students who want this sort of book! There aren't as many fantasy graphic novels, and Marlin's artwork is beautiful. Copenhagen has a good attitude about her memory loss, and is very energetic and motivated to solve all of the library's problems. There's a nice Steampunk vibe, and the talking birds will appeal to fans of Warriors books.
Weaknesses: I don't do as well with graphic novels, so I struggled a bit to understand the setting as well as Copenhagen's dilemma, but graphic novel fans won't have that problem. My major objection, however, is the treatment of grief. I don't want to spoil anything, but there is a loss portrayed, and a mother putting all of the things that remind her of the child in the attic. This is wrong. The mother more likely would have given everything AWAY, if she didn't want to be reminded. There's nothing wrong with trying to utterly forget people. One can often move on much better that way. That's a personal objection, however, with which most people will not agree.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like graphic novels like Aldridge's The Pale Queen or Nijcamp's Ink Girls or middle grade novels focusing on grief, like Haydu's Eventown. I probably won't purchase this, because my graphic novel readers are easily confused, and I think they will have trouble following the plot of this one. Other reviewers have made similar comments.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review."
The Library of Memories, written by Barbara Perez Marquez and illustrated by Lissy Marlin, is a breathtakingly beautiful graphic novel about a child named Copenhagen as they explore a mysterious and magical world of memories while fighting every step to hold onto their own. This fast-paced story blends elements of fantasy and mystery. While the story has a lighthearted tone due to Copenhagen's continued optimism, the graphic novel deals with an overarching theme of grief and loneliness in a considerate and age-appropriate way.
This graphic novel is worth reading for the art alone, from the well-done panelling to changes in tones to help show changes in setting. The beautifully coloured and creative backgrounds were hands down my favourite part. I would easily give the art five stars.
However, I do have a few minor reservations about the story. At times it feels disjointed, like there are key details of the story missing at random points that are necessary to help with comprehension and flow. I felt disoriented reading this story at times, with its quick pace and random jumps between events. I believe the author did this intentionally to try to help the reader understand the disorientation Copenhagen was feeling travelling between the memories while forgetting their own. However, I also feel that they missed the mark a bit. I believe this feeling could have been conveyed in different ways without sacrificing important story details and making the story less comprehensible. As an adult, I struggled to follow along with this story several times. I'm concerned that many of my middle-grade students, who are the target audience and just beginning to learn inference skills, may struggle even more.
This graphic novel would appeal to any art fans, readers struggling with grief, or anyone looking for a fast-paced adventure in a magical world.
The Library of Memories, written by Barbara Perez Marquez and illustrated by Lissy Marlin, is a breathtakingly beautiful graphic novel about a child named Copenhagen as they explore a mysterious and magical world of memories while fighting every step to hold onto their own. This fast-paced story blends elements of fantasy and mystery. While the story has a lighthearted tone due to Copenhagen's continued optimism, the graphic novel deals with an overarching theme of grief and loneliness in a considerate and age-appropriate way.
This graphic novel is worth reading for the art alone, from the well-done panelling to changes in tones to help show changes in setting. The beautifully coloured and creative backgrounds were hands down my favourite part. I would easily give the art five stars.
However, I do have a few minor reservations about the story. At times it feels disjointed, like there are key details of the story missing at random points that are necessary to help with comprehension and flow. I felt disoriented reading this story at times, with its quick pace and random jumps between events. I believe the author did this intentionally to try to help the reader understand the disorientation Copenhagen was feeling travelling between the memories while forgetting their own. However, I also feel that they missed the mark a bit. I believe this feeling could have been conveyed in different ways without sacrificing important story details and making the story less comprehensible. As an adult, I struggled to follow along with this story several times. I'm concerned that many of my middle-grade students, who are the target audience and just beginning to learn inference skills, may struggle even more.
This graphic novel would appeal to any art fans, readers struggling with grief, or anyone looking for a fast-paced adventure in a magical world.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for a free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
The Library of Memories by Barbara Perez Marquez follows Copenhagen, a girl who finds herself in a magical library with no memories of her own. She helps the librarian Lawrence to repair the library, which is mysteriously being drained of its memories.
First off, the illustration style of this book is beautiful, combining a kids-show-esque rendering style with a surreal naturalistic steampunk world to really great effect. This was my favorite part of the book.
The story is on the weaker side. It feels like it is missing a lot of connective tissue. Scenes will just randomly transition to each other, time will seemingly loop, etc. While I understand that part of the intention here was to put us in the shoes of Copenhagen—amnesia is legitimately disorienting—it feels like the book goes too far with it, especially for the middle grade genre. At the same time, Lawrence, who acts as Copenhagen’s babysitter through the story, constantly over-explains how the library works. Honestly, if Copenhagen’s solitude and disorientation was the goal here, as it seems to be in the metaphor the book is making, I think his character should have been cut.
(Spoiler sidebar, if Lawrence knows so much, why does he have the misunderstanding he does throughout the course of the book?)
I did like the central message of the book and think it’s an important topic for young readers. The message does unfortunately get muddled by the gaps in the story, and I’ve seen it handled better elsewhere (Spoilers: Such as in Steven Universe, Bridge to Terabithia, etc.). I’m just not certain that the reveal itself works and would have liked more foreshadowing of the book’s “villain” in the text of the story rather than just in the illustrations.
If I have to choose one over the other, I prefer graphic novels to have a stronger story and weaker illustrations. But even though that wasn’t the case here, I still enjoyed my time reading this book.
The Library of Memories by Barbara Perez Marquez follows Copenhagen, a girl who finds herself in a magical library with no memories of her own. She helps the librarian Lawrence to repair the library, which is mysteriously being drained of its memories.
First off, the illustration style of this book is beautiful, combining a kids-show-esque rendering style with a surreal naturalistic steampunk world to really great effect. This was my favorite part of the book.
The story is on the weaker side. It feels like it is missing a lot of connective tissue. Scenes will just randomly transition to each other, time will seemingly loop, etc. While I understand that part of the intention here was to put us in the shoes of Copenhagen—amnesia is legitimately disorienting—it feels like the book goes too far with it, especially for the middle grade genre. At the same time, Lawrence, who acts as Copenhagen’s babysitter through the story, constantly over-explains how the library works. Honestly, if Copenhagen’s solitude and disorientation was the goal here, as it seems to be in the metaphor the book is making, I think his character should have been cut.
(Spoiler sidebar, if Lawrence knows so much, why does he have the misunderstanding he does throughout the course of the book?)
I did like the central message of the book and think it’s an important topic for young readers. The message does unfortunately get muddled by the gaps in the story, and I’ve seen it handled better elsewhere (Spoilers: Such as in Steven Universe, Bridge to Terabithia, etc.). I’m just not certain that the reveal itself works and would have liked more foreshadowing of the book’s “villain” in the text of the story rather than just in the illustrations.
If I have to choose one over the other, I prefer graphic novels to have a stronger story and weaker illustrations. But even though that wasn’t the case here, I still enjoyed my time reading this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Copenhagen suddenly shows up in a library with a watch that doesn’t move in her hands. She doesn’t know how she got there or how she got the watch. She’s totally lost her memory of who she is and where she’s from – again. Apparently, she’s been in the Library of Memories many times and each time she’s misaligned the Raw Memorat (RM), which leaks into the library, causes issues and she loses her the Library’s memory again. Just when the Library’s memories are regained through gears, clocks and watches, Lawrence the bird points out to Copenhagen that she should be focusing on regaining her own memories. The first thing of order is to go to the inactive part of the Library for repair where RM cannot reach. Copenhagen loves the Library so much and is confident that she will be successful in restoring memory order to herself and the Library. Although Copenhagen has a difficult journey ahead of her, will she be able to achieve her goal?
I love the author’s stories and am always happy when she has a new graphic novel. Many portions of the story are wordless because the illustrations tell a thousand words. I want to categorize this story as steampunk, but the illustrations and bold and bright colors defy that theme. I will say the plot carries a steampunk flavor due to the usage of gears and clocks. The illustrations were lovely and creative. Not being a huge fan of fantasy or steampunk, I wasn’t totally pulled into the story but I did enjoy it. Fans of those genres will definitely love this book and will call it one of their favorites.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.
I love the author’s stories and am always happy when she has a new graphic novel. Many portions of the story are wordless because the illustrations tell a thousand words. I want to categorize this story as steampunk, but the illustrations and bold and bright colors defy that theme. I will say the plot carries a steampunk flavor due to the usage of gears and clocks. The illustrations were lovely and creative. Not being a huge fan of fantasy or steampunk, I wasn’t totally pulled into the story but I did enjoy it. Fans of those genres will definitely love this book and will call it one of their favorites.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Source: NetGalley
Pages: 328 Pages, paperback
Format: NetGalley Reader
Trigger Warnings: LGBTQ representation, Grief, Depression, Violence, Loss
★★★☆☆ | 3 / 5
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for this advance copy, in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fantasy graphic novel for ages 8-12. It is the story of a young girl named Copenhagen who discovers she is living inside a Library of Memories. She has lost her own memories and is trying to find herself in this vast landscape. There is mystery and magic surrounding the main character as we journey through the halls of the Library with her.
The artwork is stunning, with expressive facial expressions and beautifully designed environments and characters. There are many small details throughout the story that I found charming and appreciated.
However, the story fell short by leaving too many questions unanswered. How did the Library of Memories come into existence? Does it hold other people's memories, or was it solely designed for her, or by her? There are some clues that point towards that, but it is left unresolved and vaguely up to the reader to discover.
From a child's perspective, I think this story may hold some important life lessons to consider, especially when it comes to the topic of grief and loss. Unfortunately, the story may just as well confuse them as it did me. There is also LGBTQ+ representation in this graphic novel, for parents who would prefer to know this ahead of time.
Pages: 328 Pages, paperback
Format: NetGalley Reader
Trigger Warnings: LGBTQ representation, Grief, Depression, Violence, Loss
★★★☆☆ | 3 / 5
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for this advance copy, in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fantasy graphic novel for ages 8-12. It is the story of a young girl named Copenhagen who discovers she is living inside a Library of Memories. She has lost her own memories and is trying to find herself in this vast landscape. There is mystery and magic surrounding the main character as we journey through the halls of the Library with her.
The artwork is stunning, with expressive facial expressions and beautifully designed environments and characters. There are many small details throughout the story that I found charming and appreciated.
However, the story fell short by leaving too many questions unanswered. How did the Library of Memories come into existence? Does it hold other people's memories, or was it solely designed for her, or by her? There are some clues that point towards that, but it is left unresolved and vaguely up to the reader to discover.
From a child's perspective, I think this story may hold some important life lessons to consider, especially when it comes to the topic of grief and loss. Unfortunately, the story may just as well confuse them as it did me. There is also LGBTQ+ representation in this graphic novel, for parents who would prefer to know this ahead of time.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Library of Memories is a graphic novel following Copenhagen as they try to repair a magical library that contains memories and find their own memories in the process.
To start with the positives, the artwork and eco steampunk aesthetic and setting is absolutely gorgeous. All of the automatons and the library itself is a total dream of a setting that would appeal to fans of Howl’s Moving Castle and Castle in the Sky, and the hints of setting make me want to read other graphic novels set in this world.
Where Library of Memories fell apart was the story itself. Buried in it is a sweet story on grief, memories, and how coping mechanisms can sometimes hurt, and that in itself could have worked really well. However the story and plot is incomprehensible for the first half of the novel as readers are thrown into the world and given no context for anything. It appeared to be trying to show memory loss, but I was convinced that the copy I was reading was missing sections because it would jump from being in the middle of Copenhagen being confused and have forgotten something to immediately having remembered at least some context in the next panel.
The artwork and idea was really well done, but I can’t honestly recommend this to someone looking for a comprehensible plot as this does not have one until the second half.
Library of Memories is a graphic novel following Copenhagen as they try to repair a magical library that contains memories and find their own memories in the process.
To start with the positives, the artwork and eco steampunk aesthetic and setting is absolutely gorgeous. All of the automatons and the library itself is a total dream of a setting that would appeal to fans of Howl’s Moving Castle and Castle in the Sky, and the hints of setting make me want to read other graphic novels set in this world.
Where Library of Memories fell apart was the story itself. Buried in it is a sweet story on grief, memories, and how coping mechanisms can sometimes hurt, and that in itself could have worked really well. However the story and plot is incomprehensible for the first half of the novel as readers are thrown into the world and given no context for anything. It appeared to be trying to show memory loss, but I was convinced that the copy I was reading was missing sections because it would jump from being in the middle of Copenhagen being confused and have forgotten something to immediately having remembered at least some context in the next panel.
The artwork and idea was really well done, but I can’t honestly recommend this to someone looking for a comprehensible plot as this does not have one until the second half.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The illustrations for this graphic novel are beautiful. The storytelling is very confusing which is probably intentional because this is a novel about a girl named Copenhagen who lost her memories and is bumbling around the library trying to make sense of things. As the reader, I felt I was stumbling around for the first 60% confused and trying to make sense of it as well. It was like we were dropped in the middle of the story and I checked to see if I got volume 2 without reading volume 1 first. Because it was so hard to understand, I put it down for long stretches of time and then forgot things and had to reread several times. When I finally powered through and made it to the end, then it made sense, but I had a hard time getting there. I wish the story would have made it to the end faster to leave room for more character development. That's where the heart of the story seemed to be. The end felt too rushed. However, it does have a good message about grief and persistence. The book is very G rated and there is some passive non-binary representation which I thought was good. Again, the artwork is beautiful, and I spent a lot of time looking at that. Overall, 3.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for an ARC OF this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for an ARC OF this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.75 stars
I'm a huge fan of reading and teaching graphic novels for MG and YA audiences. They're such a great way for folks to think differently about literature and especially for reluctant readers to access content that they might typically be very hesitant to approach. These details are why I had some surprising struggles with this particular graphic novel.
Copenhagen, the protagonist, is determined to figure out who she is, and she works hard toward that goal at the titular Library of Memories. There is a lot of great messaging about grief, loss, and the ways that people (kids especially but not exclusively) respond to trauma. However, Copenhagen's journey is not exactly linear. It is pretty disjointed, which structurally supports the motifs but makes it difficult to follow at times. I thought several times that even my college literature students might struggle with figuring out how certain events tied together, and that led me to think that the younger target audience would have even more pronounced challenges.
The art is beautiful, and the sentiment is, too. There's definitely value here, but there are some challenges to contend with as well.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Ink for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I'm a huge fan of reading and teaching graphic novels for MG and YA audiences. They're such a great way for folks to think differently about literature and especially for reluctant readers to access content that they might typically be very hesitant to approach. These details are why I had some surprising struggles with this particular graphic novel.
Copenhagen, the protagonist, is determined to figure out who she is, and she works hard toward that goal at the titular Library of Memories. There is a lot of great messaging about grief, loss, and the ways that people (kids especially but not exclusively) respond to trauma. However, Copenhagen's journey is not exactly linear. It is pretty disjointed, which structurally supports the motifs but makes it difficult to follow at times. I thought several times that even my college literature students might struggle with figuring out how certain events tied together, and that led me to think that the younger target audience would have even more pronounced challenges.
The art is beautiful, and the sentiment is, too. There's definitely value here, but there are some challenges to contend with as well.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Ink for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“The Library of Memories” follows a young girl named Copenhagen who is trapped in a library full of memories, but unfortunately has lost her own. She spends each day trying to find her lost memories and discover why they’re gone in the first place.
Honestly I think the concept was good-it’s about a child dealing with grief. However the execution was not great. Let me start with things I enjoyed first-
The art style is super cute, colorful, and detailed. I think this will appeal to kids/the target audience. I also liked the overall message that you cannot ignore or push away your grief.
What did not work for me was the beginning of the story and how it was executed. I spent about half the graphic novel extremely confused. I think each panel had TOO much going on in the background, and although very detailed I had a hard time figuring out what was going on. It wasn’t until the very end of the book that the story began to make sense, to the point where I almost dnf’d. If it’s confusing to get a grip on the setting for an adult, I think it’ll also be difficult for a child. So unfortunately this is a 3/5 stars for me.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Honestly I think the concept was good-it’s about a child dealing with grief. However the execution was not great. Let me start with things I enjoyed first-
The art style is super cute, colorful, and detailed. I think this will appeal to kids/the target audience. I also liked the overall message that you cannot ignore or push away your grief.
What did not work for me was the beginning of the story and how it was executed. I spent about half the graphic novel extremely confused. I think each panel had TOO much going on in the background, and although very detailed I had a hard time figuring out what was going on. It wasn’t until the very end of the book that the story began to make sense, to the point where I almost dnf’d. If it’s confusing to get a grip on the setting for an adult, I think it’ll also be difficult for a child. So unfortunately this is a 3/5 stars for me.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
May 20, 2026
A beautifully written and illustrated graphic novel about memory and how we deal with grief. I thoroughly enjoyed the setting of this book. A library full of steampunk elements like mechanical birds is right up my alley. I adored our free spirited main character along with her companion, Lawrence. Lawrence reminded me so much of Archimedes from Disney’s The Sword in the Stone. The whimsical, mechanical library reminded me of something straight out of The Mirror Visitor series. The illustrations were detailed and immersive. The story was written beautifully. How the author and illustrator depicted memories and processing grief was genius. I honestly would love to see this as a Studio Ghibli movie. As the story unraveled there were some emotional moments that made me a little teary eyed. This book is being compared to Inside Out, which I think is a great comparison. This is especially apparent with the memory system. The ending and overall message reminded me a bit of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Ultimately, the story begs the question: would you forget all your memories of someone, just so you didn’t feel the grief from the loss of them? A truly stunning book.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!*
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!*
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I liked the concept for this graphic novel, if not the execution. The creative drawings and beautiful color palette always gave me something pretty to focus on.
There were too many ideas stuffed in this book and none of them ever had the space to develop. The characters and the world-building suffered. Our main character did not have much of a personality beyond one or two quirky traits. And the world made no sense and little was explained to the reader. I understood what the writer was trying to accomplish and that using a reader's confusion intentionally can create tension and intrigue, but it didn't work for me in this instance. I was mostly annoyed while reading this.
The word bubbles were sometimes confusingly organized. This was not aided by the confusing dialogue. There was one page where I could not figure out how the bubbles were supposed to be organized - and the character dialogue provided no clarity.
This graphic novel could work for people who don't need clear world-building, don't mind being confused as a plot unveils itself, and/or want to be surrounded by fantastical scenery and beautiful coloring.
Thanks to Little, Brown Inc and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
There were too many ideas stuffed in this book and none of them ever had the space to develop. The characters and the world-building suffered. Our main character did not have much of a personality beyond one or two quirky traits. And the world made no sense and little was explained to the reader. I understood what the writer was trying to accomplish and that using a reader's confusion intentionally can create tension and intrigue, but it didn't work for me in this instance. I was mostly annoyed while reading this.
The word bubbles were sometimes confusingly organized. This was not aided by the confusing dialogue. There was one page where I could not figure out how the bubbles were supposed to be organized - and the character dialogue provided no clarity.
This graphic novel could work for people who don't need clear world-building, don't mind being confused as a plot unveils itself, and/or want to be surrounded by fantastical scenery and beautiful coloring.
Thanks to Little, Brown Inc and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Library of Memories follows Copenhagen, a girl who finds herself in the Library of Memories with little to no memory of how she got there. Throughout the story, Copenhagen loses more of her memory, explores other memories, and endeavors to find her lost memories. I can only assume that, in an effort to truly immerse the reader into Copenhagen's world, the author begins this book in a rather confusing manner. It took me more than halfway through the story to get my bearings. It very much felt like I wasn't reading a first book in a series, but a sequel. While I enjoyed the illustrations that brought this story to life and appreciate the author's efforts to represent grief, the story itself was poorly executed, in my opinion. As someone who is deeply connected to their emotions and can find empathy in so many places, this book left me feeling numb. Considering I struggled to comprehend and enjoy this book as an adult reader, I'm unsure a middle grade reader would be able to follow along with the story as well. Unfortunately, this was a dud for me and not one I would recommend.
Content Notes: LGBT+ representation
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Content Notes: LGBT+ representation
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The art in this graphic novel is bright and colorful and gorgeous... but I spent most of it just confused. That isn't helped by the fact that the main character has lost her memories and is trying to find them.
The combination of characters who don't know what's going on and the reader not knowing what's going on made the whole thing feel like a pointless series of vignettes. The story skips around as well, and there are abrupt scene changes and time shifts that throw off any sense of continuity that manages to creep in.
There are darker, more sinister things in the art that sort of fizzle once everything is finally revealed. There just isn't much payoff for the amount of time spent wondering what's going on and why it matters.
The book's portrayal of grief was a little odd and I think it was undercut by how disjointed everything was for most of the book and how quickly everything moved at the end. There just wasn't time, once the reader finally knows what's going on, to connect with the characters and story.
I did appreciate the LGBT+ representation. And the art, of course, is stunning. I just wish the story itself and the narration had been less disjointed.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Ink for providing an early copy for review.
The combination of characters who don't know what's going on and the reader not knowing what's going on made the whole thing feel like a pointless series of vignettes. The story skips around as well, and there are abrupt scene changes and time shifts that throw off any sense of continuity that manages to creep in.
There are darker, more sinister things in the art that sort of fizzle once everything is finally revealed. There just isn't much payoff for the amount of time spent wondering what's going on and why it matters.
The book's portrayal of grief was a little odd and I think it was undercut by how disjointed everything was for most of the book and how quickly everything moved at the end. There just wasn't time, once the reader finally knows what's going on, to connect with the characters and story.
I did appreciate the LGBT+ representation. And the art, of course, is stunning. I just wish the story itself and the narration had been less disjointed.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Ink for providing an early copy for review.
August 4, 2026
The Library of Memories is a visually stunning graphic novel that took me a while to get into. It is a story about a girl named Copenhagen who doesn't remember who she is and has hardly any memories of her past. She lives in The Library of Memories and helps the mechanical creatures take care of it. Copenhagen works to be able to find and remember her missing memories.
The story is a mystery where the reader gets just as confused about what is happening as the protagonist. I understood why this was done but it did take me out of the story quite a bit. The second half did pick up once we found out what was going on.
There is a very important message in Copenhagen's tale about grief. My goodness the final about third of this book made me like this so much more. I appreciate how grief was handed, especially dealing with memories. Beautifully done. The illustrations are stunning throughout the entire work and those pages were even more. I believe the message from the end of this book alone made it worth reading, even if I didn't love it as much as I wanted to.
*Thank you to Little Brown Books, Barbara Perez Marquez, and NetGalley for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
The story is a mystery where the reader gets just as confused about what is happening as the protagonist. I understood why this was done but it did take me out of the story quite a bit. The second half did pick up once we found out what was going on.
There is a very important message in Copenhagen's tale about grief. My goodness the final about third of this book made me like this so much more. I appreciate how grief was handed, especially dealing with memories. Beautifully done. The illustrations are stunning throughout the entire work and those pages were even more. I believe the message from the end of this book alone made it worth reading, even if I didn't love it as much as I wanted to.
*Thank you to Little Brown Books, Barbara Perez Marquez, and NetGalley for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
1.5
I gave The Library of Memories by Barbara Perez Marquez 1.5 stars. While I really appreciated the art style, the story itself unfortunately didn’t work for me. The illustrations were expressive and atmospheric, and there were several visually beautiful panels that kept me interested at first. The color palette and character designs created a unique mood that suited the emotional tone of the book well.
However, the narrative felt very confusing and poorly structured. I often struggled to understand what was happening, how the scenes connected, and what the story was ultimately trying to say. The pacing jumped around too much, making it difficult to stay emotionally invested in the characters or their journeys. Some plot points seemed underdeveloped, while others were introduced without enough explanation or payoff.
I also felt that the dialogue and storytelling lacked clarity. There were moments that seemed intended to be emotional or meaningful, but because the narrative flow was so disjointed, those moments didn’t have the impact they could have had. The concept behind the story had potential, but the execution left me frustrated rather than engaged.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I gave The Library of Memories by Barbara Perez Marquez 1.5 stars. While I really appreciated the art style, the story itself unfortunately didn’t work for me. The illustrations were expressive and atmospheric, and there were several visually beautiful panels that kept me interested at first. The color palette and character designs created a unique mood that suited the emotional tone of the book well.
However, the narrative felt very confusing and poorly structured. I often struggled to understand what was happening, how the scenes connected, and what the story was ultimately trying to say. The pacing jumped around too much, making it difficult to stay emotionally invested in the characters or their journeys. Some plot points seemed underdeveloped, while others were introduced without enough explanation or payoff.
I also felt that the dialogue and storytelling lacked clarity. There were moments that seemed intended to be emotional or meaningful, but because the narrative flow was so disjointed, those moments didn’t have the impact they could have had. The concept behind the story had potential, but the execution left me frustrated rather than engaged.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This gorgeously illustrated graphic novel tells the story of Copenhagen, a human child living in the Library of Memories - an infinite library filled with all the memories of the world. Though Copenhagen can access any of the memories she touches in the library, she can not remember her own life before coming to the library. She spends her days helping the gyrotrons - mechanical creatures that live in the library - repair it, as she also searches the library for memories that might be her own. As she delves deeper into the library, it becomes clear that something - or someone - is working to break the library and destroy the memories stored there.
This is a story that deals with the pain and grief that come with the loss of a loved one. It asks the question of whether it is better to shield your heart from grief by forgetting the memories you have of the person you've lost or open yourself to the pain - but also joy - of remembering the times you spent with them.
This is a story that deals with the pain and grief that come with the loss of a loved one. It asks the question of whether it is better to shield your heart from grief by forgetting the memories you have of the person you've lost or open yourself to the pain - but also joy - of remembering the times you spent with them.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
On one random day, a young girl appeared in the Library. A place full of forgotten memories and the mechanical creatures that take care of them. Her name is Copenhagen, and while she helps the Library of Memories preserve those floating orbs of light and feelings, she begins to slowly lose her own memories of who she was beforehand. Then she chooses to dive deeper into the catacombs of the Library, learning secrets along the way and the harsh truths that could tip the very foundations of the Library forever.
Gorgeous and vivid, this standalone graphic novel shows how memories affect us. For Copenhagen, it’s learning who she was before and who she can become in the future. With the petal pinks and baby blues, the design of the Library is as intricate as the memories of those who have lost them. Beautiful and yet tragic, this story draws the reader into a world of magic and doesn’t let go.
On one random day, a young girl appeared in the Library. A place full of forgotten memories and the mechanical creatures that take care of them. Her name is Copenhagen, and while she helps the Library of Memories preserve those floating orbs of light and feelings, she begins to slowly lose her own memories of who she was beforehand. Then she chooses to dive deeper into the catacombs of the Library, learning secrets along the way and the harsh truths that could tip the very foundations of the Library forever.
Gorgeous and vivid, this standalone graphic novel shows how memories affect us. For Copenhagen, it’s learning who she was before and who she can become in the future. With the petal pinks and baby blues, the design of the Library is as intricate as the memories of those who have lost them. Beautiful and yet tragic, this story draws the reader into a world of magic and doesn’t let go.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Read: June 2nd
Format: E-Book
Rating: 2.5 Stars
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The art in this is pleasant, with the memory magic being especially pretty. The art also plays around with colors in a way that is 👌🏼Once we get to the climax, the plot also has some punchy moments. Overall, though, this comic was just fine. The beginning especially was shaky, since I didn't understand what she'd forgotten and what she knew and if I missed her re-learning because she asked questions then new again the next scene. And all the magic was just hand wavy. None of the characters really had any character outside of the FMC, the antagonist, and a bird that might as well have been Sebastian from The Little Mermaid.
So it was fine overall, but nothing great, and mostly held up by its nice art style.
Format: E-Book
Rating: 2.5 Stars
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The art in this is pleasant, with the memory magic being especially pretty. The art also plays around with colors in a way that is 👌🏼Once we get to the climax, the plot also has some punchy moments. Overall, though, this comic was just fine. The beginning especially was shaky, since I didn't understand what she'd forgotten and what she knew and if I missed her re-learning because she asked questions then new again the next scene. And all the magic was just hand wavy. None of the characters really had any character outside of the FMC, the antagonist, and a bird that might as well have been Sebastian from The Little Mermaid.
So it was fine overall, but nothing great, and mostly held up by its nice art style.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A truly engaging art style visualizing a very intriguing concept that is ultimately hindered by an unnecessarily confusing introduction to the premise. I'd reread the first few pages multiple times to make sure that I wasn't missing something, because it felt like I'd missed an explanation as to what was going on. It's understandable that the audience isn't fully in the know, since the characters aren't either, but it's executed in such a frustrating way. What works so well about the narrative is its exploration of grief and the utilization of harmful coping mechanisms to escape it. It grants the wish of many in mourning: to escape their grief by forgetting memories entirely. What else do you lose in the process? Well, you'll have to tune in to find out!
Thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the arc!
Thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Library of Memories opens with shared confusion between the main character, Copenhagen, and the reader. Copenhagen is living in the library of memories amidst the animal workers and endless items with stored memories, but she cannot track down any of her own. Every morning is seemingly a blank slate. She has a special ability to experience memories when she touches them, which may be putting the library in more danger than it already is. The illustrations of the library are full of magic and beauty. Ultimately, Copenhagen learns that painful memories can still be worth remembering. This message is told very blatantly rather than shown through experience. I never felt quite settled in the world, but I was rooting for Copenhagen to solve the mystery of the library.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
October 9, 2026
We know nothing about the protag, and we have no reason to care about her. The only things we get from her are her outward actions within the story. Want to know what those are?
1. She smiles and gets excited a lot. (Is that supposed to make me smile and get me excited about the same things? It doesn't.)
2. She does whatever she wants. (She ignores every word of wisdom, piece of advice, and even every simple request of her only companion in the book.)
3. She blithely enjoys every moment of her day. (Including moving on like Pollyanna after any minor disaster she's caused.)
4. She does whatever she wants, again.
5. She does whatever she wants some more.
Basically, we're presented with a flat portrait of a thoughtless, self-centered brat.
I couldn't even skim past the book's 50% mark. It was just so lifeless.
1. She smiles and gets excited a lot. (Is that supposed to make me smile and get me excited about the same things? It doesn't.)
2. She does whatever she wants. (She ignores every word of wisdom, piece of advice, and even every simple request of her only companion in the book.)
3. She blithely enjoys every moment of her day. (Including moving on like Pollyanna after any minor disaster she's caused.)
4. She does whatever she wants, again.
5. She does whatever she wants some more.
Basically, we're presented with a flat portrait of a thoughtless, self-centered brat.
I couldn't even skim past the book's 50% mark. It was just so lifeless.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Library of Memories is a colorful children's graphic novel full of wonder and whimsy. While I loved the color scheme and the characters, the pacing felt off to me, particularly in the beginning. This book was a confusing jump in that left me disoriented as a reader for the first several pages. RM is still a confusing concept for me. I think that, in graphic novels, there is less of a need or desire to explain concepts because we can *see* some of them. Unfortunately, I felt this needed a bit more exposition. I also was a bit unclear why Copenhagen was at the library in search of her memories to begin with. I would have loved some earlier insight into that.
I did love the page turn by the character about a quarter of the way through. I thought that was so fun and creative!
I did love the page turn by the character about a quarter of the way through. I thought that was so fun and creative!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Library of Memories is full of beautiful, colorful art and creative character designs. While I really enjoyed the plot reveal and ending, the first half of the book felt vague and confusing in a way that nearly deterred me. I do believe that the confusing nature of the plot is somewhat intentional, as we follow Copenhagen along in her pursuit to recover her memories. However, I found that being dropped down into the story with little context meant I felt pretty distant from the plot for a good portion of the book. Younger readers will certainly enjoy the whimsical art and Copenhagen's exuberant personality, and this may be enough for initial investment as the story unfolds.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Ink for the digital ARC!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Ink for the digital ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you so much to the author and netgalley for the opportunity to ARC read this graphic novel.
This was seriously the most adorable graphic novel I have ever read. We have the FMC visiting the library of memories, the only problem is, she can't seem to remember her own memories. Through the story she helps her companion work on rebuilding and fixing the library. While she does this, she has a bad habit of touching things, which leads to reliving that memory of someone... But, waking up the next day of no memory of what happened.
The entire story was fantastic, and the ending had my heart healing and breaking at the same time. The graphic designs were so well done too and the color pallette used went sooo well with the book!
This was seriously the most adorable graphic novel I have ever read. We have the FMC visiting the library of memories, the only problem is, she can't seem to remember her own memories. Through the story she helps her companion work on rebuilding and fixing the library. While she does this, she has a bad habit of touching things, which leads to reliving that memory of someone... But, waking up the next day of no memory of what happened.
The entire story was fantastic, and the ending had my heart healing and breaking at the same time. The graphic designs were so well done too and the color pallette used went sooo well with the book!
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